The Boston Barracudas were founded mid-season in 1970 by promoters Cyril Crane and Gordon Perkins. Planning permission was received to construct a track at the Boston Sports Stadium and the promoters bought the second tier team known as the King's Lynn Starlets from Maurice Littlechild.[2] The Barracudas first home fixture was an inter-counties cup match against Peterborough Panthers on 16 August.[3] The team fulfilled the remaining King's Lynn fixtures and finished the season in 13th place.[4]
The team continued to compete in the second division and during the 1973 British League Division Two season completed the league and cup double by finishing 1st in the league table and winning the Knockout Cup.[5][6] The team led by Arthur Price was backed up by Carl Glover, who had improved his average significantly to 9.62 and six other riders who posted averages from 8.42 to 6.88.[7]
The remainder of the decade was less successful and from 1975 they competed in the National League (the new name for division 2). Also in 1975, the Barracudas signed 16-year-old Michael Lee on loan from King's Lynn. Lee would be a world champion just 5 years later.[8] With no Price, Glover or Lee, the team could only record a best finish of 7th in 1977.
1980s
Boston vs Ellesmere Port on 31 May 1981
With riders such as David Gagen and Rob Hollingworth, Boston were consistent but were unable to challenge for honours. In late 1984 promoter Cyril Crane was unhappy over new rules and wanted to sell his promotion rights.[9] Despite signing riders for 1985, the club withdrew from the league just days before the start of the season, when Crane relinquished his interests.[10]
The team soon returned for the 1986 season, under a new promotion team of Richard Green, David Cox and Glen Norton.[11] However, after just one season the team entered 1987 and suffered heavy defeats and financial issues. This resulted in the Barracudas withdrawing mid-season with the last fixture being a heavy home defeat to Eastbourne on 1 August 1987, the Barracudas results were expunged.[12][13]
^"Teenager joins 'Cudas". Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian. 7 February 1975. Retrieved 29 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Speedway boss plans takeover talks". Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian. 20 December 1984. Retrieved 29 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Cudas' future hangs in balance". Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian. 28 February 1985. Retrieved 29 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Cudas back in action". Skegness Standard. 6 December 1985. Retrieved 29 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
^"Speedway shutdown". Sleaford Standard. 13 August 1987. Retrieved 29 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Speedway". Shropshire Star. 24 October 2000. Retrieved 29 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
