Bluey Wilkinson

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Arther George 'Bluey' Wilkinson (born 27 August 1911 Millthorpe, Australia - died 27 July 1940)^[1] was a speedway rider.

1 Early life
2 Career
3 Death
4 External links
5 References

[edit] Early life

He was nicknamed Bluey because of his red hair (an Australian custom). At the age of four, Bluey's family moved to Bathurst, New South Wales which he really considered to be his home town.

[edit] Career

He rode in the UK for the West Ham Hammers^[2] from 1929 to 1939. 1935 saw Bluey win the Australian Championship, winning it again in 1938, both the three lap and four lap titles. He also finished third in the Star Riders' Championship, the forerunner to the Speedway World Championship in 1933.

In 1937 He won the League Championship with the Hammers and won the ACU Cup the following year. However the pinnacle of his career was becoming World Champion in 1938 after finishing third in the inaugural competition in 1936.

[edit] Death

Bluey was killed in a road accident in Australia when the motorcycle he was riding was struck by a lorry which had swerved to avoid a car. He was killed instantly but his wife Muriel, who was riding pillion survived with serious head injuries.