Dave Perks

Dave Perks
Born16 December 1951 (1951-12-16) (age 74)
Halesowen, West Midlands, England
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
1972–1981Cradley Heathens/United
1979Nottingham Outlaws
1980–1981, 1984Oxford Cheetahs
1982–1985, 1989Long Eaton Invaders
1982–1983Reading Racers
1986Newcastle Federation Specials
1987Stoke Potters
Individual honours
1980Highest league average
1984National League Riders' runner-up
Team honours
1979British League KO Cup Winner
1984National League Champion

David Ernest Perks (born 16 December 1951) is a former speedway rider from England.

Speedway career

Perks (second from right) racing for Cradley at home to Oxford, British League 1975

Perks rode in the top two tiers of British Speedway from 1972 to 1987, riding for various clubs.

Perks began a cycle speedway career with a team called the Oldbury Lions and after one appearance for Scunthorpe Saints joined the Cradley Heathens in 1972. He won the Ivor Hughes Trophy for best novice during his inaugural season at Dudley Wood.

In 1980, Perks joined Oxford Cheetahs and topped the league averages during the 1980 National League season with a 10.82 season average before sustaining a serious back injury in July. He became the club captain and exceeded a ten point average again during the 1981 National League season. He returned to Long Eaton in 1982 but never reached the heights of his two years at Oxford.

In 1984, Perks won the silver medal at the National League Riders' Championship. Perks captained Newcastle Diamonds in 1986.

References

  1. 1 2 "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Dave Perks rider profile". Cradley Speedway. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  3. ↑ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "History Archive". British Speedway. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  5. ↑ "Things are perking up for Perks". Sports Argus. 5 August 1972. Retrieved 4 October 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ↑ Bamford/Shailes, Robert/Glynn (2007). The Story of Oxford Speedway. Tempus Publishing Ltd. pp. 119–124. ISBN 978-0-7524-4161-0.
  7. ↑ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  8. ↑ "Dave perks up after a thriller". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 31 May 1986. Retrieved 4 October 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.