Alan Hunt (speedway rider)

Infobox Speedway rider


ridername= Alan Hunt
nationality = flagicon|ENG England
dateofbirth = 1925
dateofdeath = 2 February 1957
nickname = Whacker
cityofbirth = Aston
countryofbirth = England
retired = Retired
career = Cradley Heath Heathens
Birmingham Brummies
years = 1947-1950
1951-1956
indivhonour = None
indivyear =
teamhonour = National League Champions
teamyear = 1937

Alan Hunt (born 1925 Aston, England - died 2 February 1957)Buck, B (2007) "Brummies Legends", Pendragon Books. ISBN 0-9541671-2-0] was an international motorcycle speedway rider who qualified fo the Speedway World Championship final four times.Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). "A History of the World Speedway Championship". Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5]

Career

Hunt attended Tiger Stevensons training school in the winter of 1946-47 and impressed so much he was given the reserve berth with the Cradley Heath Heathens for the 1947 season who were competing in the National League Division Two. After his fourth season with the Heathens, Hunt was averaging over ten points per meeting and it was not surprising that he was attracting the attention of top flight teams.

In 1951, the Harringay Racers thought they had a deal with the Heathens to sign Hunt on a full transfer but at the last moment the Birmingham Brummies promotion took over the Heathens and transferred Hunt to them.

In his first season at Birmingham he qualified for the World Final but only manage two points. It signalled the start of his dislike of the Wembley track although it was similar to the Cradley Heath track he learnt his speedway skills on.

Hunt was also selected to ride for England, the highlight being a six ride, six win maximum against Australia in 1956.

World Final Appearances

* 1951 - Flag|GBR Wembley - 16th - 2pts
* 1953 - Flag|GBR Wembley - 14th - 3pts
* 1954 - Flag|GBR Wembley - Res - Did not ride
* 1956 - Flag|GBR Wembley - 11th - 6ptsBamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). "A History of the World Speedway Championship". Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5]

Death

On 1 February 1957 Hunt was riding in a meeting in South Africa, where he was planning on emigrating and only living in the UK during the speedway season, when he fell and was hit by the machine of the folowing rider, fracturing his skull. He was rushed to hospital but died in the early hours of 2 February. He was only thirty one years old.

References