EGYPT
Inter-war: Zamalek Post-war: Tel el Kabir 1979: Cairo
1928/29
Amongst African countries Egypt has had the longest exposure to speedway racing other than South Africa, with 3 different and distinct phases over a 50 year period, - all British led and organised.
After the initial 1928 UK season a group of 20 riders were involved with a promotion at Zamalek near Cairo, constructing a track within an existing greyhound circuit. Over a short two month period a dozen or so meeetings were staged, but when totaliser betting started race fixing became so apparent as to dissilusion the paying public and the exercise folded. Press articles
Post-War
During the British post-war occupation of Egypt many soldiers based in the Canal Zone filled their free time constructing ovals and racing stripped-down despatch-rider bikes, on a purely amateur basis. From Alexandria to Cairo, and on the canal, they gave themselves team names such as Suez 'Lions', Fayid 'Dicers' and Tel-el-Kabir 'Dons'. An Army Championship was also staged, see photo below. Press articles.
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Inter-war: Zamalek Post-war: Tel el Kabir 1979: Cairo
1928/29
Amongst African countries Egypt has had the longest exposure to speedway racing other than South Africa, with 3 different and distinct phases over a 50 year period, - all British led and organised.
After the initial 1928 UK season a group of 20 riders were involved with a promotion at Zamalek near Cairo, constructing a track within an existing greyhound circuit. Over a short two month period a dozen or so meeetings were staged, but when totaliser betting started race fixing became so apparent as to dissilusion the paying public and the exercise folded. Press articles
Post-War
During the British post-war occupation of Egypt many soldiers based in the Canal Zone filled their free time constructing ovals and racing stripped-down despatch-rider bikes, on a purely amateur basis. From Alexandria to Cairo, and on the canal, they gave themselves team names such as Suez 'Lions', Fayid 'Dicers' and Tel-el-Kabir 'Dons'. An Army Championship was also staged, see photo below. Press articles.
1979
In 1979 a second tour of the Middle East arranged by Mssrs. Fearman Chandler and Boothroyd for 16 British League riders was extended that year to include 2 meetings in Cairo in addition to Kuwait and Abu Dabi. Sponsored by Craven 'A' cigarettes, a 30,000 crowd sell-out saw riot police on duty as Chris Morton won the championship event from Peter Collins. On the second night the Morton and Collins clans again dominated, Dave M. and Phil C. (4th and 5th on day 1) taking 3rd and 2nd spots respectively behind second-time winner Chris M. Report and full scores.
In 1979 a second tour of the Middle East arranged by Mssrs. Fearman Chandler and Boothroyd for 16 British League riders was extended that year to include 2 meetings in Cairo in addition to Kuwait and Abu Dabi. Sponsored by Craven 'A' cigarettes, a 30,000 crowd sell-out saw riot police on duty as Chris Morton won the championship event from Peter Collins. On the second night the Morton and Collins clans again dominated, Dave M. and Phil C. (4th and 5th on day 1) taking 3rd and 2nd spots respectively behind second-time winner Chris M. Report and full scores.
KENYA
In August 1951 Nairobi, capital of Kenya, saw its first proper speedway meeting, a local enterprise with local European and Asian riders, attended by a paying crowd of 12,000 (plus a few thousand more over the fence.) Team matches between the Pirates, Dragons and Gazelles were staged at the monthly meetings.
Initially bikes were ex-WWII Matchless and Bitzas but 12 JAPs were soon imported and sold on to the best riders, who were mainly Sikhs, as trials idenified that 100-octane aviation fuel was best for the local conditions.
The track at Pumwani was 485 yards, around a football pitch, and a 1-lap track record was set at 24.90 secs. by Mohamed Shaffi. Top European was Pat Dale, a some-time West Ham novice, but it was Shaffi who took the first season's points' championship. Because of their religion Sikh riders were given dispensation to wear turbans rather than a helmet as long as it was tied under the chin, after some had blown off !
The project ran for at least 2½ years, with some riders attending from Mombasa on the coast and neighbouring Kampala in Uganda, until political disturbances intervened. On relaxation in the 'sixties a plan was put forward in '61 to resurrect the sport, but only when scot Alex Hughson landed in Nairobi in early 1968 and came upon a poster advertising a "speedway" meeting, he reckoned to be the first in 10 years, did any progress seem to have been made.
More information is given in the three press articles, (3), HERE.
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