Dave Hankins

David Herbert Hankins (26 May 1937 – July 2011) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1][2]

Dave Hankins
Born26 May 1937 (1937-05-26) (age 86)
Northampton, Northamptonshire, England
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
1954–1955Brafield Flying Foxes
1956Southern Rovers
1957Norwich Stars
1958–1959Ipswich Witches
1959–1961Leicester Hunters
1959Yarmouth Bloaters
1963Cradley Heathens
Individual honours
1959Southern Area League Riders' Championship

Career

Hankins started racing in the British leagues during the 1954 Southern Area League season, when riding for the Brafield Flying Foxes.[1] He remained with the club the following season, improving his average to 5.91.[3]

In 1956, Brafield were replaced in the Southern Area League by Southern Rovers and Hankins rode a couple of times for the club in the 1956 Southern Area League.[4] His career was revived the following season when he joined the Norwich Stars in the top division and he rode alongside the likes of 1956 world champion Ove Fundin.

For the 1958 season he joined Ipswich Witches but it is not known if he actually started for them.[5] In 1959, he rode for Leicester Hunters in the top division[6] and doubled up in the Southern Area League, riding for Yarmouth Bloaters and later Ipswich Witches. It was during 1959 that Hankins achieved his greatest success when he won the Southern Area League Riders' Championship. The final was held at Foxhall Stadium on 26 September.[7] His season got better after he received a contract to ride in the 1960 Australian season.

He remained with Leicester for the 1960 season, where he had a promising season and entering 1961 with Leicester he was still only 23 years of age. However, he received a double blow in 1961, first in May he suffered pneumonia and pleurisy[8] and then during a World Championship qualifying round he broke his femur.[2][9] The serious injury effectively ended his career because he underwent 18 months rehabilitation and was only fit to ride by 1963.

In 1963, he did join Cradley Heathens but only made two appearances for the club before calling it a day after he picked up another injury.[2]

References
  1. "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022, Dave Hankins" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  2. "Rider Profile". Cradley Speedway. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  3. "1955 season results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  4. "1956 season results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  5. "Eagles scrape through with three point win". Wishaw Press. 11 July 1958. Retrieved 17 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "Hunters start on Friday". Leicester Evening Mail. 14 April 1959. Retrieved 17 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Local riders win best pairs event". Eastbourne Gazette. 30 September 1959. Retrieved 17 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Speedway". Sunday Mirror. 28 May 1961. Retrieved 17 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. "Tough luck for Dave". Leicester Evening Mail. 6 July 1961. Retrieved 17 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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