Arthur Payne (speedway rider)
| Born | 28 August 1923 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
|---|---|
| Died | c. October 2025 (aged 102) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Career history | |
| 1947-1948 | Tamworth Hounds |
| 1948-1954 | Birmingham Brummies |
| Team honours | |
| 1948 | Anniversary Cup (Div 2) winner |
| 1948 | National Trophy (Div 2) winner |
| 1953, 1954 | Midland Cup |
Arthur Frank Payne (28 August 1923 – c. October 2025) was an Australian international speedway rider, who finished fifth in the 1952 Speedway World Championship final.[1][2]
Life and career
[edit]Payne was born on 28 August 1923.[3] He arrived in the United Kingdom in 1947, and signed up with the Tamworth Hounds in the National League Division Three. After scoring almost three hundred points for the Hounds, he was subject to a failed transfer to Wimbledon[4] before he was transferred to the Birmingham Brummies for £500, a record fee for a third division rider at that time.
Payne struck up an excellent partnership with Brummies captain Stan Dell[3] and the Brummies were promoted from National League Division Two at the end of the 1948 season. In 1949, with the Brummies in National League Division One, Payne had ridden in all three divisions within the first three years of his career.
It was with the Brummies his career flourished, reaching the World Final three times in four years, finishing fifth in his second appearance. He twice won the Midland Cup with Birmingham in 1953[5][6] and 1954 respectively.[7]
In September 2015, it was noted that Payne, aged 91, was living in the Hervey Bay area of Queensland, and still regularly played golf.[8] In October 2025, it was announced that Payne had died at the age of 102.[9][10]
World final appearances
[edit]- 1950 -
London, Wembley Stadium - 16th - 0pts - 1952 - London, Wembley Stadium - 5th - 9pts
- 1953 - London, Wembley Stadium - Res - Did Not Ride[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ a b Buck, B (2007) Brummies Legends, Pendragon Books. ISBN 0-9541671-2-0
- ^ "Hounds prepare for coming season". Tamworth Herald. 13 March 1948. Retrieved 23 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Bees well beaten at Birmingham". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 28 September 1953. Retrieved 18 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Birmingham's easy win in Midland Trophy". Birmingham Weekly Mercury. 4 October 1953. Retrieved 18 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Bees just failed in Midland Cup". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 18 October 1954. Retrieved 18 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Speedway Past: Arthur Payne
- ^ "Arthur Payne who has died at the age of 102...RIP". Brummies Speedway Forum on Facebook. 23 October 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ "With the recent passing of Arthur Payne (at the age of 102), Ove is now the oldest surviving former World finalist! And still looking very sprightly I'm pleased to say. 😀". Ove Fundin History! on Facebook. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
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