Laurie Etheridge

British motorcycle speedway rider

Laurie Etheridge

Born|  (1948-09-12) 12 September 1948 (age 76)
Pulborough, England
Nationality| British (English)
Career history
1967| Exeter Falcons
1968–1969| Rayleigh Rockets
1968–1980| Hackney Hawks
1975–1982| Crayford Kestrels
1979| Sheffield Tigers
1980–1981| Coventry Bees
1983| Canterbury Crusaders
Individual honours
1975| New National League Riders Champion
Team honours
1971| British League KO Cup Winner
1971, 1973| London Cup
1980| National League Fours Champion

Laurie Etheridge (born 12 September 1948 in Pulborough, England) is a former international motorcycle speedway rider[1] from England. He earned one international cap for the England national speedway team.[2]

## Career

[edit]

His first attempt at speedway, in 1963, was thwarted when his bike was stolen and he did not resume the sport until 1966.

In 1967, he signed for Exeter Falcons and managed three appearances for them in that season.[3] His career really started the following year, when he was signed up for Hackney Hawks by Len Silver and their partner team Rayleigh Rockets. A good season for Rayleigh resulted in a full-time contract for Hackney.[4]

He was a Crayford Kestrels[5] regular for eight years from 1975, achieving nearly 300 league and cup appearances as a Kestrel. Crayford held a testimonial season for Etheridge in 1982.[6]

In the 1975 National League Riders' Championship at Wimbledon on 27 September, Etheridge and Brian Collins both finished on 13 points but in the run-off for the title, Collins fell off in the first lap and Etheridge rode a solitary four laps to be crowned champion.[7]

Etheridge was in the side when Crayford won their only trophy during the 1980 National League season. The Crayford team became the Fours Champions during the 1980 National League Four-Team Championship, however due to machine troubles Etheridge didn't start a race in the final of the tournament.[8]

His last race was at Newcastle for Canterbury in 1983.[9]

Notable performances:

* England v Russia (1974)
* National League Riders Champion (1975)
* National League series GB v Denmark (1978) – there was also a series against Australia
* National League Four Team Tournament (1980)
* Testimonial Year Crayford Kestrels v England (1982)

## Retirement

[edit]

Post-speedway, he worked in industrial plumbing and central heating. He lives in West Sussex with his wife, Denise, and they have two married daughters and four grandchildren.[citation needed]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. ISBN 978-0-244-72538-9
2. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
3. ^ "Laurie Etheridge". WWOS Backup. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
4. ^ "names of riders 1935-1996". Hackney Speedway. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
5. ^ Lawson,K (2018) “The Cheetahs 1976 – The Resurrection”. ISBN 978-0-244-69934-5
6. ^ "HISTORY". Crayford Kestrels. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
7. ^ "Lee's title bid fails". Cambridge Daily News. 29 September 1975. Retrieved 17 June 2023 - via British Newspaper Archive.
8. ^ "Speedway". Daily Mirror. 28 July 1980. Retrieved 10 May 2023 - via British Newspaper Archive.
9. ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 16 November 2023.