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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Stock Car Racing

4 Comments

Stock Car Racing
Stock Car Racing
Photo: Eddie(Ted)Porter
Views: 3,179
Item #: 23161
What's the date of this Poster.Been in my workshop since late 50s early 60s.

Comment by: Ernest Pyke on 8th April 2013 at 03:58

Eddie, I put `Stock cars Woodhouse track` in Search box.
Comment extracted from Poolstock Speedway Track - Wigan Messageboard:-

"Posted by: jont65 (72)
Paul Carter who had a barbers shop top of Canal St used to look after the track on Woodhouse Lane.
It was used mainly for dog racing then the speedway started followed by stockcars about a year later.
Paul Carter said the stockcars did more damage in one night than the speedway did in a season.
There was also kennels in a field closed to the track where they used to keep some of the Greyhounds they caught fire one night and a lot of dogs perished.
Replied: 7th Jan 2009 at 15:30 "

The `Wigan Panthers` speedway team only rode at Woodhouse Stadium in 1952. Refer Album, Sports, Wigan Speedway, photo 22.

Comment by: Ernest Pyke on 8th April 2013 at 04:38

Eddie, using Google, Wikipedia states:-
"History: Stock car racing was brought to Britain in 1954. Taking place on existing greyhound or speedway tracks, the cars were mostly road cars from the 1930s with locked rear axle differentials and added armour for contact racing. After the first couple of years custom-built cars began to appear eventually making the 'stock' car name something of a misnomer. Since the early days of stock car racing in Britain the sport has developed into many different classes. In addition, non-contact oval racing became known as Hot Rods, while the original kind of armoured road car used in the 1950s developed into banger racing."

I also found that the first stock cars meeting at Belle Vue, Manchester was in 1954

Comment by: Carl on 29th April 2022 at 10:57

The poster is for the opening meeting, on Monday 2nd August 1954. There were 7 meetings in 1954 but that was it.
Two more stock car meetings were held at Poolstock Stadium in May 1955 but did not get much of a crowd and no more were held.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 29th April 2022 at 11:36

Carl any info, photos etc. on the Speedway? I'm in the process of trying to compile a History of Speedway in Wigan. 1947-1962

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