Vic Harding
| Vic Harding | ||
 | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nationality |  England | |
| Date of birth | 5 July 1952 | |
| Place of birth | East Ham, London, England | |
| Date of death | 8 June 1979 (aged 26) | |
| Nickname | Viccy | |
| Current club information | ||
| British league | - | |
| Career history | ||
| Sunderland Stars Weymouth Wildcats Hackney Hawks |
1974 1975 1977-1979 | |
| Individual honours | ||
| Hackney speedway champion | ||
| Team honours | ||
| None | ||
Vic Harding (5 July 1952 in East Ham, London – 8 June 1979 Whipps Cross, London) was a motorcycle speedway rider.[1]
Career
Harding began at the Rye House training school in 1970 run by Len Silver and spent several seasons trying to break into a league team.[2]
In 1974 the Sunderland Stars handed him the chance. In 1975 he moved to Weymouth. In 1977 Len Silver signed him for the Hackney Hawks from Weymouth and spent most of that season as reserve. In 1978 he began improving so much that by 1979 he was a heat leader.[2]
Death
However, tragedy struck on 8 June 1979 when he was killed whilst riding for Hackney at Hackney Wick Stadium, Waterden Road. He was in a heat as a replacement for Bo Petersen but during the race he was involved in a terrible crash with Steve Weatherley. Harding was killed and Weatherley was left with a broken back and paraplegia.[2][3]
Following this tragic accident, the Hawks hosted a Vic Harding Memorial Trophy every season in Harding's honour. It was in fact the last ever meeting hosted by the Hackney Hawks.