Ginger Lees

Harry Riley (Ginger) Lees (born 1905, date of death unknown)[1] was a former international motorcycle speedway rider who rode in the first ever Speedway World Championship final in 1936. He was born in Bury, England.

Career summary

Lees also raced in the first recognised speedway meeting held in Manchester on 3 March 1928. When the league competitions started he joined Burnley. He then moved onto Liverpool Chads in 1930. In 1931 Lees moved onto Preston and wes selected to ride for England against Australia in the third test match at Wembley. He impressed so much that he was signed up to ride for the Wembley Lions in 1932 when he won the inaugural National League.[1]

Lees was a regular England rider until 1934, the year he finished third in the Star Riders' Championship, the forerunner of the Speedway World Championship. He also qualified for the finals of the World Championship in 1936 and 1937, before he retired at the end of 1937.[2]

Lees also appeared in the 1933 British film Money for Speed which starred John Loder, Ida Lupino, Cyril McLaglen and Moore Marriott. Lionel van Praag, Frank Varey and speedway promoter Johnnie Hoskins also featured.[3]

World Final appearances

References

  1. ^ a b Jacobs, N & Lipscombe, P (2005). Wembley Speedway : The Pre-War Years. Stroud: Tempus Publishing ISBN 0-7524-3750-X
  2. ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
  3. ^ "Money for Speed (1933)". The Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024346/. Retrieved 2008-10-01.