Broncho Dixon

Broncho Dixon
Born17 October 1907 (1907-10-17)
Darlington, England
Died1986
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
1929Middlesbrough
1930–1931, 1939Sheffield Blades
1932–1933Belle Vue Aces
1934, 1936–1938West Ham Hammers
1935Wembley Lions
1936Hackney Wick Wolves
Team honours
1933, 1937National League
1933National Trophy
1938ACU Cup

John William Dixon (17 October 1907 – 1986) was an international motorcycle speedway rider who rode in the early days of speedway in the United Kingdom. He rode under the nickname Broncho Dixon.[1][2]

Career

Dixon rode for Middlesbrough during the inaugural season of speedway in the United Kingdom, in the 1929 Speedway English Dirt Track League[3] and gained a reputation as a wild rider, which led to his nickname of Broncho; he would be involved in multiple crashes and lost the tops of two fingers.[4]

He spent the next two seasons with Sheffield.[5][6] In 1932, he then switched to Belle Vue Aces, after the formation of the National League. He was still a member of the Manchester-based team when they won the league and cup double during the 1933 Speedway National League.[7]

He went on to ride for West Ham Hammers, Wembley Lions and Hackney Wick Wolves until his last season in 1939. He won a second league title with West Ham in 1937 and the A.C.U Cup in 1938.[6][1][8]

Players cigarette cards

Dixon is listed as number 12 of 50 in the 1930s Player's cigarette card collection.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022, Broncho Dixon" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Custom House Years West Ham Speedway". Custom HouseKid. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Exciting Finishes". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 1 July 1929. Retrieved 29 July 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ a b "Speedway Riders". Speedway Museum Online. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Owlerton Speedway reopens". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. 14 April 1932. Retrieved 29 July 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ a b "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  7. ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - PRE-WAR ERA (1929-1939)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Free Art Plate of Broncho Dixon". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 9 May 1939. Retrieved 29 July 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.