Harry Shepherd
1903 births | bristol bulldogs riders | english motorcycle racers | new cross rangers riders | speedway riders
Harold 'Harry' Shepherd (born 5 May 1903 in London, England)Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2003) Bristol Bulldogs: 50 Greats, Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2865-9 was an international speedway rider who has been credited with the invention of the starting gate still used in speedway today.Bamford, R. & Stallworthy, D. (2003) Speedway - The Pre War Years, Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2749-0
Brief career summary
Shepherd appeared in the finals of the 1931 Star Riders' Championship, the forerunner to the Speedway World Championship.Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5 His final season, 1939, saw Shepherd make his international debut for England.In 1933 Shepherd, along with New Cross promoter Fred Mockford invented the starting gate which is still in use today, by stretching a set of tapes accross the track which were then released by a hand operated electric mechanism, similar to those used in horse racing. This starting procedure allowed for much fairer starts.Bamford, R. & Stallworthy, D. (2003) Speedway - The Pre War Years, Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2749-0
References
Category: 1903 births Category: Speedway riders Category: English motorcycle racers Category: New Cross Rangers riders Category: Bristol Bulldogs riders
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