Wal Phillips

Walter Hartley 'Wal' Phillips (17 October 1908 in Tottenham, England – 1998)[1] was an international motorcycle speedway rider who rode in the first ever World Championship final in 1936.[2]

Wal Phillips
Born(1908-10-17)17 October 1908
Tottenham, England
Died(died 1998 aged 89)
NationalityEnglish
Current club information
Career statusRetired
Career history
1929-1932Stamford Bridge Pensioners
1933-1936Wimbledon Dons
Team honours
1929Southern League Champions
1932National Association Trophy

Career summary

Phillips began his speedway career alongside Gus Kuhn at Stamford Bridge Pensioners in 1929, winning the Southern League Championship, and stayed there until they closed at the end of the 1932 season, where he also appeared in the final of the Star Riders' Championship . Philips then joined the Wimbledon Dons, staying there until the end of the 1936 season.[3]

Phillips represented England from 1930 until 1936. His career was ended on the 1936/37 tour of Australia when he suffered a broken leg at the Sydney Showground.[4]

World Final appearances

Engineering

Phillips was a renowned engineer, his uncle was a development engineer and works rider at JA Prestwich Industries Ltd (JAP), and was instrumental in the development of the JAP engines used in speedway. Stan Greening was developing an engine specifically for speedway but the results were not impressive after testing by Australian riders Billy Lamont and Vic Huxley. Greening and Phillips stripped down Phillips' Rudge bike and used some of the ideas in that engine with the new one of their own. When Phillips rode the bike at a meeting at Stamford Bridge stadium he beat the track record time. The JAP engines remained in use until the mid-1960s.[5]

Phillips was also known for what he termed as his fuel injector, a carburettor replacement mainly intended for motorcycles and scooters.

References
  1. Bamford, R. & Stallworthy, D. (2003) Speedway - The Pre War Years, Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2749-0
  2. Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
  3. Jacobs, Norman (2001). Speedway in London. Stroud: Tempus Publishing ISBN 0-7524-2221-9
  4. Foster, P. (2005) History of the Speedway Ashes, The History Press Ltd. ISBN 0-7524-3468-3
  5. "Wal Phillips". www.GusKuhn.net. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
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