California Poppies
{{Short description|British speedway team}}
{{about|the motorcycle team|the plant|Eschscholzia californica}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox motorcycle speedway team
|clubname = California Poppies
|image = 100px
|track = Longmoor Speedway
California,
California Country Park
Nr Wokingham
Berkshire
|country = England
|founded = 1933
|closed = 1957
|league =
|colours =
|tracksize =
|track record time=
|track record date=
|track record holder=
|honour1 = Southern Area League Champions
|year1 = 1954
}}
California Poppies were a British speedway team based at Longmoor Speedway
California in England, California Country Park, Nr Wokingham, Berkshire.{{cite web|url=http://www.national-speedway-museum.co.uk/track%20c.html |title=California UK |publisher=Speedway Museum Online }}{{cite web |url=https://wokingham.today/speedway-reunion-at-california-country-park/ |title=Speedway reunion at California country park |website=Wokingham Today |access-date=26 October 2024 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003557/19550429/007/0007 |title=Thrills and Spills Draw Them Again |website=Wokingham Times |date=29 April 1955 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=31 October 2024 }}
History
File:Marshland at California Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 2352012.jpg
Speedway in California first started in 1933{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html |title=Year by Year |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=31 October 2024 }} at the California Country Park, an area known as California in England at the time. The track was situated on the north west side of Longmoor Lake (51°22'54.3"N 0°52'35.4"W) on land that formed part of Longmoor Bog and the track had a concrete starting grid.{{cite web|url=https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/478237/165359/10/101324|title=OA Plan - partial 1961|publisher=Old maps.co.uk}} Events were held every year from 1933 to 1940 before the Reading and District Motor Club ended racing due to World War II.{{cite web|url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/California%20in%20England%20Speedway.htm |title=California in England |publisher=Defunct Speedway |access-date=31 October 2024 }}
The team known as California Poppies first raced league speedway in 1954 in the 1954 Southern Area League and were crowned champions.{{cite book|last=Rogers|first=Martin|title=The Illustrated History of Speedway|year=1978|page=129|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-904584-45-3}} The following season in 1955, they finished runner-up to Rye House Roosters{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1946-1964|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=27 August 2021}} before they competed for one more league season in 1955, finishing 4th.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=27 August 2021}}
The team disbanded the following season with the promotion and nickname moving to Aldershot to become the Aldershot Poppies. The move was primarily made because of the petrol rationing caused by the Suez Crisis.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003558/19570201/005/0005 |title=Speed Track Move |website=Wokingham Times |date=1 February 1957 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=31 October 2024 }}
Season summary
| class="wikitable" | ||
| width=350|Year and league
!width=50|Position !width=350|Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| align=center
|align="left"| 1954 Southern Area League | 1st | Champions |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1955 Southern Area League | 2nd | |
| align=center
|align="left"| 1956 Southern Area League | 4th |
Notable riders
- Jimmy Gleed
- Gil Goldfinch
- Peter Mould
- Tommy Sweetman
See also
- {{cat|California Poppies riders}}
- List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Speedway in the United Kingdom}}
{{United Kingdom Speedway Seasons}}