Richard Greer is a former motorcycle speedway rider[1] in the 1970s and 1980s.[2]
 | |
| Born | 29 November 1946 Peterborough, England |
|---|---|
| Current club information | |
| Career status | Track Curator, Alwalton |
| Career history | |
| 1970-1973, 1979-1981 | Peterborough Panthers |
| 1971 | Oxford Cheetahs |
| 1973 | Reading Racers |
| 1974-1975 | Oxford Rebels |
| 1976 | White City Rebels |
| 1977-1979 | Birmingham Brummies |
| 1980-1981 | Eastbourne Eagles |
| Individual honours | |
| 1974 | Oxford Best Pairs (with John Dews) |
| Team honours | |
| 1975 | Midland Cup winner |
Career
editRichard Greer, who completed seven years in Peterborough Panthers colours was a member of the inaugural team of 1970, and is one of only eight riders that have scored more than 2,000 points for the club in their 51-year history to date.
Richard rode for Peterborough between 1970 and 1973 before moving up to the top sphere of racing with Oxford Rebels, White City Rebels and Birmingham Brummies.[3] He attained heat leader status with all three clubs and was team captain for Peterborough Panthers, White City Rebels and Birmingham Brummies in his time.[4]
His first match with Oxford was on 21 March 1974, where he impressed with 10 points and Oxford beating Ipswich Witches 40-37 in a Knock-Out Cup match. He matched that point performance away to Hull Vikings and another Oxford victory 41-37.Later, in May, with John Dews (speedway rider), he won the Radio Oxford Best Pairs Tournament. In a side affected by injuries, Greer continued to perform, scoring a maximum against Coventry Bees on 27 June.[5]
In 1975, he was part of the Midland Cup winning Oxford Rebels, which saw exciting draws against Swindon Robins home and away, requiring reruns, and an amazing away win against Wolverhampton Wolves to clinch the cup.[6] He joined White City Rebels in 1976.[7]
Two serious injuries restricted his career however, and he returned to spearhead the Panthers from 1979 to complete another three seasons for his home town, before retiring at the end of the 1981 season. At retirement he had earned four international caps for the England national speedway team.[2]
He rode in 234 official matches for Peterborough scoring 2,088 points for an impressive career average of 8.39, scoring 35 paid and full maximums along the way, a figure surpassed by only two other Panthers.[8]
When he retired from racing, Richard became a regular at Peterborough and became Clerk of the Course at Alwalton, later also becoming an FIM official at that level, officiating in that position at several British Grand Prix at Cardiff and the World Cup held at Eastbourne. Keeping a connection to speedway, he was the Peterborough Panthers co-promoter in 2021 and was the president of Peterborough Speedway Supporters Club.[9]
Personal life
editRichard played ice hockey for 15 years for a veterans team, in countries such as Czech Republic, Canada, Ireland, Holland and Germany.[citation needed]
His wife, Joan, died in 2014; they had been married for 46 years. His son, Paul, lives in the West Country and works in computer animation.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ Lawson, K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. ISBN 978-0-244-72538-9
- ^ a b "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ Bamford, R & Shailes, G (2007). "The Story of Oxford Speedway". ISBN 978-0-7524-4161-0
- ^ Lawson, K (2018) “Rebels 1975 – The Last Season”. ISBN 978-0-244-99725-0
- ^ "Richard Greer". Acton Gazette. 18 March 1976. Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Richard Greer". WWOS backup. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ "Peterborough Panthers legend is back at the Showground as a co-promoter". Peterborough Telegraph. Retrieved 26 November 2023.