Kenneth Lloyd Goffe (30 January 1913 [1] – 18 October 1984) was a British motorcycle speedway rider. He earned one international cap for the England national speedway team.[2]
| Born | 30 January 1913 Reading England |
|---|---|
| Died | 18 October 1984 (aged 71) Reading, England |
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1937-1938, 1950-1951 | West Ham Hammers/Hawks |
| 1937 | Leicester Hounds |
| 1938-1939, 1948-1950 | Harringay Tigers/Racers |
| 1938 | Lea Bridge Cubs |
| 1946-1947 | Wimbledon Dons |
| 1951-1952 | Odsal Tudors |
| 1952 | St Austell Gulls |
| Team honours | |
| 1948 | Anniversary Cup Winner |
Career edit
Goffe began his racing career in 1934 at the sand track in the resort of California near Wokingham, riding for prize money.[3][4] He then concentrated on grasstrack racing, winning the South of England Grass Track Championship at Basingstoke in 1936.[3] He bought a 500cc Rudge bike from "Froggy" French in 1936, which he used in his early speedway rides, impressing sufficiently to receive offers from both Hackney Wick Wolves and the Johnny Hoskins-managed West Ham Hammers, signing for the latter in 1937.[3][4] He had a brief spell with the Leicester Hounds team, riding in three matches in 1937 before the club withdrew from the Provincial League.[5]
His performances progressed after transferring to the Harringay Tigers later that season, staying with the team until the outbreak of World War II.[3] During the war, he served as a fitter in the Royal Air Force.[4]
After the end of the war, Goffe joined the Wimbledon Dons in 1946. His riding style led to him being nicknamed "Cowboy".[4] In 1948 Goffe rejoined Harringay (now the 'Racers') for a £1,350 transfer fee,[5] where he won the Anniversary Cup in 1949 and by 1950 his career completed a full circle when he rejoined West Ham.[6]
In 1951 he rode for Odsal Tudors and started the 1952 season there before he joined the St Austell Gulls.[4]
World Final Appearances edit
- 1949 –
London, Wembley Stadium – 14th – 2pts
References edit
- ^ Addison J. (1948). The People Speedway Guide. Odhams Press Limited
- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d Storey, Basil (1947) "From an Office Stool to Cinders", in Speedway Favourites, Sport-in-Print, p. 5
- ^ a b c d e May, Cyril (1963) "Riders I Remember: Fighting 'Cowboy'", Speedway Star, 30 November 1963, p. 14
- ^ a b Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester: The Pre-War Years, Automedia, p. 180
- ^ Belton, Brian (2003). Hammerin' Round. Stroud: Tempus Publishing ISBN 0-7524-2438-6