George Hunter (speedway rider)

George Hunter (speedway rider)
1939-1999 Career of 23 years as speedway rider
Personal information
Nationality Scotland Scotland
Date of birth 30 January 1939
Place of birth    Ladybank, Fife
Date of death    11 May 1999 (aged 60)
Current club information
Career status 1983
Career history
Motherwell
Edinburgh Monarchs
Newcastle Diamonds
Glasgow
Wolverhampton Wolves
Oxford Cheetahs
Edinburgh Monarchs
Berwick Bandits		 1958
1960–1967
1970
1971–1972
1972–1977
1978–1979
1980–1981
1982
Individual honours
Scottish Open Champion 1964
Team honours

George Hunter (30 January 1939 – 11 May 1999) is a former motorcycle speedway rider. He rode for the Edinburgh Monarchs and the Wolverhampton Wolves.

Career

Hunter's early career was on grass. He joined Motherwell Speedway team in 1958 and moved to Edinburgh Monarchs in 1960. Known as the “Ladybank Express”, he rode in 360 league matches for the Monarchs over his lifetime career.

In 1963 he was ahead of Peter Craven in the race at Old Meadowbank that cost Craven his life, when he clipped Hunter's wheel and crashed. He was a cert for Provincial Riders Champion when his engine failed while leading in the final, and the title went to Ivan Mauger.

Hunter was a British Finalist in 1966, 1967 and 1976.

He retired in 1983.

Personal life

Hunter was born in Ladybank, Fife, Scotland. He and his wife, Barbara, have a daughter, Natalie. He died of cancer in 1999.

External links