Brian Anthony Craven (21 March 1932 – 24 April 1993) was a motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1]
| Born | 21 March 1932 Liverpool, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 24 April 1993 (aged 61) |
| Career history | |
| 1950, 1960 | Liverpool Chads/Pirates |
| 1954–1957 | Belle Vue Aces |
| 1959 | Yarmouth Bloaters |
| 1961 | Stoke Potters |
| 1962–1963, 1965–1966 | Newcastle Diamonds |
| Team honours | |
| 1961 | Northern League |
Biography
editCraven, born in Liverpool, joined the Liverpool Chads winter training school, aged just 17 and performed well enough to earn a team place in the senior side.[2] He began his British leagues career riding for the Chads during the 1950 Speedway National League Division Three season.[3] Despite breaking into the team during the season, he would not ride the following season with Liverpool because he was undergoing his National Service in the British Army and his brother Peter Craven took possession of his bike.[4]
In 1954, his return to speedway did not go to plan, he joined Belle Vue Aces but struggled and failed to break into the first team, where his brother Peter was the leading rider. He also suffered a bad injury, breaking his arm and collarbone in a crash.[5]
It was not until the 1956 season that he began to ride regularly and posted an improved league average of 6.29 for the season[6] and reaching the final of the National Trophy.[7]
After missing the 1958 season he joined Yarmouth Bloaters in 1959 before speedway returned to Stanley Stadium in Liverpool again in 1960, with new team name of Liverpool Pirates. Craven raced for the Pirates until the end of the season, when speedway in Liverpool ended for good.[8]
His career began to finally blossom from 1961 onwards, he averaged 8.64 for Stoke Potters during the 1961 Provincial Speedway League season and then 9.60 for Newcastle Diamonds in 1962,[9] where he topped the team averages. He also reached the British Final round of the 1962 Individual Speedway World Championship.[10][11]
He remained at Newcastle but missed the 1964 season following the tragic death of his brother Peter. He retired after the 1966 season.[12]
Personal life
editCraven had four sisters and an younger brother, Peter Craven, who was a two time speedway champion of the world.[13]
References
edit- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Speedway Novices". Liverpool Echo. 13 February 1950. Retrieved 25 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "1950 season" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Luck - as well as the other riders - passed poor Peter by". Daily Mirror. 30 July 1951. Retrieved 25 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Big brother speeds on young peter's wheels". Manchester Evening News. 20 August 1954. Retrieved 25 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Speedway again in Liverpool". Liverpool Echo. 18 July 1959. Retrieved 25 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Hunters' trophy meeting line-up". Leicester Daily Mercury. 18 April 1962. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "1962 World Championship". Metal Speedway. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "1962 World Championship". Speedway.org. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Brian Craven". WWOS backup. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Liverpool's world champion dad remembered years after freak death". Liverpool Echo. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2024.