Wigan Album

I was a keen supporter of Wigan Warriors speedway team who raced at Poolstock in 1947 and remember Percy Brine.
Found the following:-
http://www.greyhoundderby.com/wigan_warriors.htm


http://www.sheffield-tigers.co.uk/atoz.html#BIBBY
BRINE, Percy - Born: Elstree, Hertfordshire 7 June 1908
Pre war rider at Crystal Palace and Hackney who was a stunt rider at the famous Elstree film studios. Tried to establish himself at various Second Division tracks after the war, including Sheffield in 1946. Found more success at Division Three level with Liverpool in 1950 and 1951 but was forced to retire after losing the sight of an eye in an operation

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/oldtimespeedway/conversations/topics/65

Percy Brine.
There is an interesting 1957 photo of Percy Brine in a midget car in the PHOTOS section. It
was taken at Rye House in a meeting also featuring separate races for speedway bikes and
sidecars.

Percy started on speedway at Barnet around 1937, and post-war his tracks included
Birmingham, Sheffield, Wigan, Fleetwood and Rayleigh.

He took up midgets in a brief venture organised by Charles Batson in 1957. Besides the Rye House meeting, the cars also appeared at Aldershot and, possibly Wimbledon. The three drivers were Brine, Batson and a stock car driver Darkie Wright. The latter was also a Camberwell, South London-based car builder, and helped in the development of Batson's midgets.

They may have raced or just appeared in demonstrations elsewhere. Little is known about them.

Percy Brine was an older brother of England and Wimbledon speedway rider Cyril Brine. Percy had an injury to his eye at some time, I was told he was blind in one eye. He also had another brother besides Cyril. "Salty" Brine .......Ted Brine was Team Manager for some years at Wimbledon with Ronnie Greene as Promoter.

I see they are making a right PIGS EAR of the new Belle Vue track. I loved speedway..
I used to go with my mother and father to Woodhouse Lane to watch the WIGAN PANTHERS around the early 1950's

I`m surprised about the new Belle Vue, Ron. Looking forward to see, on Eurosport, what it`s like.
I watched the Panthers in 1952. Remember an interval where there were cars acrobating with the first Goodyear tubeless tyres. After every stunt they had to go back to the pits and blow the tyres up!

An interesting read thanks Ernest. Go the J.A.P's. The new Belle Vue is all set up for the media Ron. Tekni logical revenue and all that.