| White City Rebels | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Club information | |||
| Track address | White City Stadium Wood Lane London | ||
| Country | England | ||
| Founded | 1929 | ||
| Closed | 1978 | ||
| Club facts | |||
| Colours | Red, White and Blue | ||
| Track size | 420 yards (380 metres) | ||
| Major team honours | |||
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The White City Rebels were a motorcycle speedway team who operated from the White City Stadium, Wood Lane in London. [1]
White City were inaugural members of the Southern League in 1929 but only raced for the one season. The White City team were due to race in the 1930 Southern League, but they withdrew from the league before it started. [2] The stadium then ran once again using an Open Licence and held occasional one-off meetings between (1953–1958, 1961).
A new league team was formed, from the Oxford Rebels team in 1976. They re-opened in 1976 under the promoters Danny Dunton and Bob Dugard. They were managed by Danny Dunton's son, Lee Dunton. They had previously raced at Oxford as the Oxford Rebels, but a threat of track closure and sell-off for development in 1975 caused the promoters to seek a new venue. [3]
In 1977, White City Rebels won the 1977 British League season title in only their second season of existence. The London team caused a surprise with their consistent form throughout the season with heavy scoring of Gordon Kennett leading the team. The success came from a group of five other riders hitting around a seven average to support Kennett. The five were Englishmen Mike Sampson, Steve Weatherley and Trevor Geer, Pole Marek Cieślak and Finn Kai Niemi. [4]
The team closed after only three seasons due to poor crowds levels, despite finishing the 1977 season as champions of the British League. [5] The teams riders and assets were sold to Eastbourne Eagles.
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White City Stadium in London, England, was built for the 1908 Summer Olympics. It hosted the finish of the first modern marathon and swimming, speedway, boxing, show jumping, athletics, stock car racing, concerts and a match at the 1966 World Cup.
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Ole Bjarne Olsen is a Danish former professional motorcycle speedway rider.
Gordon William Kennett was an English motorcycle speedway rider. In 1978, he won the World Pairs Championship and finished runner-up to Ole Olsen in the 1978 Individual Speedway World Championship, at Wembley. He earned 53 international caps for the England national speedway team.
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Kai Juhani Niemi is a former international motorcycle speedway rider. He was the champion of Finland on a record nine occasions and earned 22 international caps for the Finland national speedway team.
The 1976 Gulf British League season was the 42nd season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the 12th season known as the British League.
Marek Kazimierz Cieślak is a former speedway rider and current coach. He earned 29 international caps for the Poland national speedway team.
The 1977 Gulf British League season was the 43rd season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the 13th season known as the British League.
The 1978 Gulf British League season was the 44th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the 14th season known as the British League.
The 1979 Gulf British League season was the 45th season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the 15th season known as the British League.
Dag Lövaas is a former international motorcycle speedway rider, who reached the finals of the Speedway World Championship in 1974. He earned 9 caps for the Norway national speedway team.
Trevor Geer is a former motorcycle speedway rider, from England.
Dennis Clifford Dunton was an English international motorcycle speedway rider and promoter who reached the final of the Speedway World Championship in 1950, achieving 12th place with 5 points. As well as riding, Dunton promoted Peterborough Panthers and co-promoted Oxford Cheetahs, then Oxford Rebels and finally White City Rebels.
The 1976 National League was contested as the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom having been renamed from the previous season's moniker of New National League.
John Dews was a motorcycle speedway rider from England.
Robert Leonard Dugard, better known as Bob Dugard. was a motorcycle speedway rider and promoter from England.
Roy Sizmore is a former motorcycle speedway rider in National League (speedway) and Grasstrack rider.