Custom House Years
Home of the 'Appy Ammers'
West Hams World Champs
Jack Young 'Youngie'
Photo Thanks to Norman Jacobs
For an Australian tribute to Jack 
Arthur 'Bluey' Wilkinson
Photo thanks to Norman Jacobs
Our Bluey was a one club rider and that club was West Ham. Bluey set out for
The History behind Bluey's arrival in 
For an Australian Tribute
Our World Champions!
Photos thanks to Norman Jacobs Photo thanks toBrian Darby
Remaining top 5
Arthur Atkinson
Photo Thanks to Norman Jacobs
Bjorn Knutsson
This Swedish World Champion became West Ham skipper on the return of speedway at Custom House in a Challenge match with wimbledon on the the 7th of April 1964. the Hammers won the match 46 - 38 and Knuttson scored a Maximum. He only rode one season for the Hammers in the provincial league with an Average of 10.5 and became World Champion in 1965, but Alas not as a West Ham rider !
Eric Chitty
Photo thanks to Raymond Chitty
Born in Toronto in 1909 this Canadian's career with the hammers spanned either side of the second world war and some would say he missed his peak in the war years!
Eric was an electrical engineer by trade and took up racing in 1928. In 1930 he was runner up in the Canadian Speedway Championship. he retired due to ill health but returned in 1934 to win the title. In 1935 he came 3rd in the Eastern US Championship and decided to try his luck in England. He arrived with 10/- in his pocket and had trials with the Hammers. Johnny Hoskins signed Eric for 1936 but he had a poor year, scoring 15pts in eleven matches and the Hammers finished bottom of the league. Johnny was persuaded, however, to give him another go in 1937 by Tom Morgan 9The Broadsider) of "The People" newspaper. Eric never looked back; he rode for the Hammers from 1936 through to the War and was allocated to the Hammers after the war as their grade 1 rider and made Captain and rode for them until 1951.
During his 1st spell at custom House he won the London Riders Championship at New Cross in 1938 and during the war rode at Belle Vue winning the unofficial British Individual Championship in 1940,1941 & 42. In 1942 he won the Belle Vue Grand Prix, The Northern Championship & the Hundred Guineas Trophy. He Won the English Best Pairs Championship in 1941 with Ron Johnson & in 1943 with Fred Tuck. 1n 1944 he won the National Trophy (individual) and the British Empire Best Pairs with Ron Chttp://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=22638larke.
In 1945-46 he toured Germany as the captain of the ENSA Speedway team. Although called a team, it was more a speedway circus with solo events and challenges against local army dispatch riders, many being speedway riders before the war
Eric Winning at Belle Vue in the War 
Photo thanks to Norman Jacobs
From New South Wales Australia, Aub 1st rode in this country for Middlesbrough in National League Div 2 in 1939, but finished the season in the top flight with Wembley in Div 1. He also made the World Final that year, However, it was cancelled due to the war. Aub made the final on numerous occasions and last qualified in 1960, 21 years later! His best performance was in 1958 when following a race off he finished in 3rd place behind Barry Briggs & Ove Fundin.
Following the War in 1947 he returned to these shores to ride for the Hammers until 1951. His best season being 1951 when started by defending the match race title against World Champion Freddie Williams & topped the averages with 10.12. He also Won the London Riders Championship & the Laurels.
For an Australian Tribute 
John Robert Vickers (Ken) Mckinlay
Photo Thanks to Jim Blanchard
Hurri-Ken captain of West Ham's treble winning side of 1965.
This ever popular Scot was probably, the finest skipper to lead the Hammers and arguably the best in speedway! Famously Ken made the bobble hat fashionable and was noted for being well groomed! He would always look to team ride and was one of the greatest exponents of the art!
He started his Career with Glasgow Tigers in 1949 riding with them until the closure of the track in 1954. Ken then moved to Leicester Hunters and stayed with them until they dropped to the Provincial League, moving onto ride for the Coventry Bees from 1962 to 1964. During his time with the Hunters he became Midland Riders Champion 3 times in 1956, 57 & 59.
In 1965 big changes to speedway occurred with the amalgamarition of the National and Provincial Leagues, this meant major rider movement to balance out the sides and Ken luckily for the Hammers was chosen to lead them for there push for the title. He topped scored for the season in the league with an average of 11.375 with 15 full maximums and 5 paid, finishing 4th in the national averages. In his 53 appearances for the Hammers in 65 he scored a total of 564 points.
It was not just his point scoring power but his leadership and team ethic, which was such a great bonus for the Hammers and inspired the team to there greatest ever season!
British League Record for the Hammers
He Rode in 180 matches between1965 and 1969 he had 755 rides gaining 1680 points with 118 bonus points giving a total of 1798 points at an Average of 9.47 with 25 Full maximums & 19 paid giving a total of 44
Ken rode and captained Scotland, England & Great British teams throughout his career and was a regular visitor to Australia with various touring sides. Whilst on tour in 1960/61 Ken met and married his Aussie wife Rena.
He made the World Final on 8 occasions 1956,57,58,60,61,62,64,69 was in the top 10,six times and best placed 5th in 1956 and 58. He was runner up in the Bitish Riders Championship in 1964 and made the rostrum again in 1965 coming third.
Photo thanks Norman Jacobs
A Son's Tribute:- 
10 more of the top 20
Sverre Harrfeldt
Photo thanks to Jim Blanchard
Sverre was born just outside Oslo, on the 23rd of November 1937. He was educated at the local primary school, then at an Oslo High School. He first started riding in Oslo in 1958 and his career was nearly over before it had started when on his second meeting he lost control, going down the straight he somersaulted over the handlebars and broke his back. 1963 was Sverre's 1st season in British speedway, brought in at Wimbledon in July to cover for Ronnie Moore who had broken his leg. Sverre was an instant hit at Wimbledon and also made a big impact in the sport as a whole by finishing third in the 1963 World Final at Wembley, scoring 10pts
Sverre or "Heart Throb" as the ladies knew him, Joined "the Ammers" from Wimbledon on the formation of the British league in 1965. It was not long before the West ham faithful took him to there hearts, His round the Boards Style of riding earned him the reputation of being one of the most exciting riders of that era. His British average between 1965 and 1968 was 10.428 and he nearly joined the list of World champions on the 23rd of september 1966 at Ullevi Stadium Sweden, finishing 2nd dropping only a single point to eventual winner Barry Briggs! 
Sverre Runner up 66
However in 1968 Sverre was badly injured in the European final in Poland. He was riding against the advice of the Norwegian's, who, said he must not race as a protest against the Soviet invasion of Chechoslovakia. Leading up to the meeting, Sverre was not making starts and was plauged with mechanical problems. This meant taking extra risk's, which on the night, lead to the crash in which Sverre broke his leg and pelvis.
British League Record for the Hammers
Rode in 145 matches between 1965 & 1970 rode 561 times gaining 1442.5 points & 44 bonus points, total points 1486.5 at an Average of 9.126. He produced 38 full maximums and 6 paid giving a total of 44
In the programme of the European final of 1971 Eric Liden of Speedway Star and News writes:-
'Remember one of the darkest hours 1968 - the invasion of Czechoslovakia by other communist powers. That was also the year which nearly saw a death..when Sverre Harrfeldt refusing to accept a Norwegian decision that he must not race, by way of protest against the invasion..did ride and finished up in hospital with dreadful from which he has not fully recoverd to this day'
The West Ham promoter Dave Lanning wrote in the programme of september the 3rd 1968:-
'Sverre, victim of a spectacular European final crash, lies seriously injured in the surgical clinic of the University of Wroclaw. At this stage it is impossible to predict the future that lies ahead for him. Enough to say that the inspiration behind so many hammers wins, faces a very tough struggle ahead.
He may rest assured that everyone at West Ham and indeed, in British speedway, is 100% solidly behind him in this, his darkest hour, his greatest race...back to fitness'
Sverre's injuries prevented him riding in 69 and West Ham turned to another Wimbledon favourite Olle Nygren to fill the huge Gap left in the West Ham team. Sverre returned in 1970 but soon was out again after breaking his arm on May the 12th. Then came the worst event in West Ham's and Speedways History when the side was decimated at Lokeren. Sverre Subsequently stepped in as manager after the Loss of Phil Bishop and later made a comeback at reserve but was a shadow of his former self, averaging 4.85 from just 11 matches.
Harold 'Tiger' Stevenson
Photo thanks to Nick Wells
Harold Stevenson was born on the 1st of November 1907 in
“His trouble in those early days was that he tried too hard. It was one of the sights at West Ham Stadium to watch young Stevenson and his machine literally fighting one another for four hectic laps, or often less, for the duel usually ended with Stevenson pitching headlong over the handle-bars. That machine would buck worse than any broncho, and catch its rider on the chin or mouth, to break his front teeth and sometimes his nose”
Stevenson was not put off by this and fought like a Tiger to master his art and his efforts where rewarded by the fans 
giving him the title of “Tiger the
Tom Stenner writes:- “He modelled his style on that of Elder, with head well down over the handle- bars, the machine laid down to such an angle that the left knee almost touched the ground, and the rear wheel sending up a black cloud of cinders.” When Sprouts was able, he lent Tiger his machinery and this proved to very successful as far as Tiger was concerned.
Tiger Stevenson was to become an early star of the speedways, riding in the first wave at the birth of the sport in 1928, and continued, when the early stars gave up the sport once team racing was adopted. His early progress was stopped by a broken arm and collar-bone which kept tiger out for several months. Tiger had high hopes for 1931 but these where dashed when he tore the ligaments in his leg in a serious road smash and it was feared at one point he would not be able to ride again. After a lengthy period on the sideline, Tiger returned near the end of the season.
His place in the side was now in serious jeopardy and in 1932 the pressure was on him to come up with the goods. But at the start of the season he had another track crash, falling in front of an opponent who subsequently ran into him. He was obviously hurt but continued to ride and it seemed the old fire had gone. There was the inevitable talk of Tiger loosing the captaincy and his place in the side. Tiger new this and in a meeting with Belle Vue, Tiger had a great meeting inspiring his side on to an unexpected victory. On returning to the pits he collapsed and it was diagnosed he had a fractured collar-bone.
Tiger had kept this quit since the earlier Crash and only a doctor friend and a masseur new of the injury. How he raced was unbelievable and his story seemed to captivate the speedway world, which seemed to inspire him to great things once he became injury free.
1933 will go down as Tigers year. He won the British Individual Championship from Ron Johnson. Tiger was riding in the best form of his life injury free following a couple of injury hit seasons that curtailed Tiger's progress. He broke several track records finished 2nd in the West Ham averages behind Bluey Wilkinson & 10th in the National league averages with an average of 8.015. In the 1933/34 winter tour to
Tiger continued with the Hammers, right up to the start of the war, captaining them from the Autum of 1929. On race nights, the "Tiger Rag" was regularly played over the PA in honour of Tiger!
Tiger made the Star Riders final in 1930 & 1935; he was an
Tiger Riding For England 1933
After the war Tiger still was closely associated with the Hammers taking up the reigns of Manager in 1955. He also ran a successful series of training schools at
Tiger's School, Winter 1946/47, Alexander Stadium
Thanks to Alan Jordan for sharing the photo
Alans uncle is pictured in the group, Tiger can be seen holding the papers. Stan Dell with a cigarette in his right and Les Marshall the Birmingham promoter is in the middle of the shot. The winter school was set up to look for local talent a discovery from these sessions was Alun Hunt
Tommy Croombs
Photos Thanks Reg Fearman
Born in New Maldon in 1906 he took to riding at
Tommy was a regular for his country during the pre war period though some say he never did himself justice. He made frequent appearances for England against the Aussies from 1931-1939 he made the touring team for the 1936/37 Australian series. He rode for England against the USA 
in193, for England/Australia against USA/Canada in 1938 and represented England against USA/Canada in 1939.
He was renowned as a 'white-liner' and he always tried to establish a winning lead, because he was hampered by an old hand injury, which meant he tended to fade late in the race. he was a regular heat leader for the Hammers always high in the averages prior to the war. After the war Tommy did not start back racing in 1946 but came out of retirement in 1947 to assist the hammers as in 1946 they had becombe too reliant on Chitty and Craven to get the points with the loss of Colin Watson mid season. He scored 124 points from 23 matches making him the third heat leader.
In 1948 he topped 100points again and represented England one last time in a test series against the old enemy, but this was to be his final season and he retired for good and choose to emigrate.
Gerry Hussey
Photo thanks to Norman Jacobs
Wally Green
Wally Green who represented West Ham from 1946 to 1955 sadly died recently following a short illness. I would like to take this opportunity to express my condolences to his family and friends.
Wally was, as a young lad a Wembley supporter and on leaving school became an apprentice gas fitter. He could be seen raking at Barnet grass track and this really inspired young Wally who got hold of a
Following the war, Wally worked at
Wally steadily improved from reserve to second string, heat leader and eventually second only to the great Jack Young in the West Ham line up! The highlight of Wally's Career was undoubtedly his runner up spot to Fred Williams in the World final at Wembley 1950 ahead of riders such as our own Jack Young', Graham Warren, Vic Duggan, Jack Parker, Ronnie Moore, Split Waterman! Another highlight and Wally’s own personal highlight was being honerd as
Wally retired in 1955 on medical advice and was active member of the Veteran Speedway Riders' Association being a past president and a regular visitor to
With Aussie Pals
Cliff Watson And Jack Young
Malcom Craven
Photos thanks to Reg Fearman
Malcolm Craven was born in Ilford, Essex in 1915 and started out road racing at Donington but was soon to try his luck oval racing at Barnet and in his first meeting was to finish third in the final of the South Midland Championship. He soon started visiting Wembley and was taken under the wing of another Ilford lad Colin Watson, Malcolm’s idol. Colin advised Malcolm to try his luck at Arthur Warwick’s training school at Dagenham. Malcolm soon showed what he was made of by equalling Frank Hudson’s track record in his first outing. In 1937 he had a trial at 
He won Hackneys Opening meeting of the 1938 season with a 15 point maximum! Malcolm had arrived and was to make the Wembley line up improving to make third heat leader by the end of the season and lining up for
1939 was to see Malcolm consolidate his place in the Wembley Line up Lining up for
Sadly the War curtailed Malcolm’s rise but at the end of hostilities Malcolm was allocated to West Ham in 1946. He was 2nd heat leader to Eric Chitty, West Hams pre war star and was to link up again with Colin Watson, his old hero who was having a renaissance. Malcolm saw out the remainder of his Carrier as heat leader for the Hammers retiring in 1954. He made the British Riders Championship in 1946 (scoring 10pts) and 1948 he sadly never rode in a World Final. He represented
Norman Hunter
Photo thanks to Jim Blanchard
By Harry Ward
In 1962
Basse Hveem
Photo Thanks John Somerville **
Cliff Watson
Photo thanks to Brian Darby (Just Solos)
Cliff was born in
Photo thanks to Reg Fearman
Colin Watson
Colin was one of the pioneers of the sport, starting out in 1928 on the match race circuit and joining White City in 1929. In 1930 he moved to Wembley, where he was to remain until suffering a fractured leg in the opening pairs meeting at West Ham in 1935. Colin was at that time one of the top riders, making the Star Riders 4 times and being a regular in the England test side and captain 5 times! However, it was 1937, before Colin started racing again with one outing for Wembley. Following the crash Colin’s form dipped and in 1938 he rode in only 2 matches for Wembley, before representing the hammers and then moving onto 2nd division Sheffield. In the final year before the War, Colin moved back to West Ham where he struggled especially away from home.
After the War Colin was allocated to West Ham in 1946, where he was something of a revelation, at 47 he was getting back to the form he had shown early in his carrier however it was all to go wrong at Odsall on the 13th of July after scoring 12 points for the Hammers in an ACU cup match, Colin was to involved in a horrifying crash in a 2nd half scratch race when he hit a lighting standard half falling from his machine and being dragged for some distance head down. He was rushed to hospital with a fractured skull and a punctured lung. 
He remained unconscious for days and remained critical for weeks. A month to the day after the crash, it was
announced at the World Championship qualifying round at Custom House that Colin was able to take a cup of tea and a piece of bread and butter. Sadly he never rode again but a benefit for him raised the sum of £2000.
Les Wooten going around with the colletion for Colin at the1946 Bennifit meeting on th 28th Sept Photo from the G Harrison Collection @@ Further photos from the meeting from the G Harrison Collection are shown below!
Malcolm Craven leading 28th Sept 1946
Note the size of the Crowd @@
A picture of the Crowd at the meeting note the pram in the foreground!
They started supporting at an early age back then! @@
Programme 28th Sept 1946
Last but not least !
Bob Harrison
Photo Thanks to Reg Fearman
Bob started riding with Belle Vue in 1929 and continued to ride for them until the outbreak of the war in 1939. In 1930 he had a brief spell with White City (Manchester) and in 1931 also had rides for Manchester (belle Vue reserves) in the southern league (taking over Harringay's fixtures). Bob rode in the English team from 1930 and made the Star Riders Final in 1934. He made the 1936 World Championship Final at Wembley and qualified in 1937 but had to withdraw through injury. He also toured Australia in the 1938/39 series with England. Bob without doubt had his best seasons with Belle Vue prior to the war. After the war, the call to the cinders became too strong and he came out of retirement to sign for West Ham, following the initial rider allocation. Bob rode solidly for the Hammers from 1946 to 1948 but after the initial league match in 1949, Bob returned home to Belle Vue. A notible protégée of Bob's was Dent Oliver of Belle Vue!
Jimmy Gibb
Photo thanks to Norman Jacobs
George Wilks
Born in Statford , East London.George was a motor mechanic who turned to riding. He started his Carreer on the Barnet Grass track and was spotted and signed as a novice by Harringay. in 1936 George moved to Hackney Wick and it soon became evident he had the makings of a top class rider and was soon snapped up by Wembley in 1938 and gained international honours with England in the test series in 1938-39. Aafter the war he started back with Wembley and rode for them until 1953. He again rode in the 1947 Test series when at reserve he sensationally bagged 19 points. During his spell with Wembley he was loaned out to the "ammers" in 1949 to cover for the injured Eric chitty and performed well to come away with an average of 6.25!
Charlie Spinks
Photo thanks to Nick Wells
Our 70's Stars
Christer Lofqvist
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Photo Thanks to David Williams
Christer who's followed in his fathers footsteps by taking up speedway in 1965 but then stopped following pressure from his mother who was worried he would be killed like his father due to a speedway accident. Following a brief break from the game, Christer returned with a bang in 1967 when he won the Swedish Junior Championship. In 1970 the Hammers were suffering from lack of riders and Gordon Parkins sent Olle Nygren talent scouting and he recomended Christer to the Hammers.
Gordon wrote in the match progamme of Christers 1st Meeting
"The 1st step on the uphill rode, and it is an uphill rode is the signing of Thrisster Lusqvist...never heard of him, you may say...Not many people outside Sweden have heard of him, but then very few had heard of Ove Fundin when I 1st brought him to England in 1955. As you know, Olle Nygren was tallent scouting for me in Sweden last week and this is the boy he recommends. Olle is a shrewd judge of talent, and Thrister has all the qulifications that go to make a great rider. He is strong,, fit, fearless and ambitious with a style similar to Ivan Mauger."
Obviously Gordon had never heard of him as he tought he had signed Thrister Lusqvist? Also his referance to a similar style to Ivan Mauger is somewhat tenuous! However Goron had undoudtably unearthed another great rider.
In 1971 he won the Swedish Best Pairs with Tommy Jansson. In 1972 he reached the World Individual Final finishing 4th, and again in 1974 where he finished 9th. He was also a full Swedish International. Following the demise of the Hammers in 1972 Christer joined Poole before moving to Hackney in 1975.
Photo thanks to Jim Blanchard
Olle Nygren
Photo thanks to Jim Blanchard
Olle was Born in Stockholm Sweden on the 11th of November 1929, he was educated at an ordinary state school in Stockholm and later at night college. He first rode at Norkopping. Sweden, at the end of 1947. Olle is a multi talented motor bike rider who has turned his hand to motor-cross, road racing and long track. Olle lists as one of worst moments when he was road racing in the Hedemora Grand Prix in Sweden around 1957 he was in a bunch of riders when one falls and everyone scatters to miss him and Olle is taken off the road at 90m.p.h, over a ditch, through some trees & hedges. Olle was heading through the woods for nearly a minute before he stopped. Olle put it down to his motor-cross experiance that he escaped unhurt.
Olle was the fist Swede to really impress in this country and was to have spells with Harringay, Bristol, New Cross, Southampton, Bristol and Wimbledon before becoming a Hammer in 1969 replacing Sevrre Harrfeldt following his Accident in 1968! Olle was Five times a World finalist, his best performance being in 1954 when he finished 3rd. In his 5 appearances he managed to accumilate 54 points at an average of 10.8 . He represented his Country for most of his long carrier.
Olle soon became a favourite with the Hammers
faithful even though he had transferred from local rivals Wimbledon! He was known for his trademark white boots. Sadly he was all to often like Jack Young before him relied upon to make the scores with little back up from the remainder of the team.
About This Site
Thank you for visiting this site.
The site has been created for people who remember the good old days down at Custom House, to provide a historical database with the aid of your recollections and help.
