Dick Harris (speedway rider)
{{Short description|British motorcycle speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| name = Dick Harris
| image =
| caption =
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = {{birth-date|24 January 1909}}
| birth_place = Littlehampton, West Sussex, England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1987|2|5|1909|1|24|df=y}}
| death_place = Broad Oak, Wealden Heathfield, East Sussex
| career1 = Harringay Tigers
| years1 = 1938–1939
| career2 = Lea Bridge Cubs
| years2 = 1938
| career3 = Wimbledon Dons
| years3 = 1946–1950
| career4 = Wolverhampton Wasps
| years4 = 1951
| career5 = St Austell Gulls
| years5 = 1952
| career6 = Plymouth Devils
| years6 = 1953
}}
Richard Cranwell Harris (24 January 1909 – 5 February 1987) was an international motorcycle speedway rider from England. He earned five international caps for the England national speedway team.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=7 December 2023}}
Biography
Harris, born in Littlehampton, West Sussex, worked in the printing and carpentry trades before earning enough money to buy a motorbike to ride in grasstrack competitions for the Hastings Motorcycle Club during 1935. He won the Silver Wings trophy in 1936.{{cite news |title=New Thrills |work=Hastings and St Leonards Observer |date=6 June 1936 |access-date=7 December 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000293/19360606/300/0015 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} He began his British leagues career riding for Harringay Tigers during the 1938 Speedway National League and also appeared for the Lea Bridge Cubs in the second division.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1938record.pdf |title=1938 season results |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=7 December 2023}}
Harris continued with Harringay in 1939 but broke his leg in August, which ended his season. As it turned out, the entire league season ended shortly afterwards due to the outbreak of war.{{cite news |title=Speedway Notes |work=Eastbourne Gazette |date=2 August 1939 |access-date=7 December 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001928/19390802/199/0019 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} During the war years, Harris appeared in charity meetings earning funds for the war effort. When league action returned in 1946, he joined Wimbledon Dons and he enjoyed a solid season in 1947, averaging 5.61 for the London club.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=7 December 2023}} At the end of the 1947 season he was selected for England to tour Australia during the winter.{{cite news |title=Speedway Riders for Australia |work=Halifax Evening Courier |date=2 October 1947 |access-date=7 December 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003295/19471002/155/0003 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
After a failed transfer exchange with Odsal Boomerangs in early 1948, he remained with Wimbledon until the end of the 1950 season but his form failed to improve any further.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html |title=Year by Year |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=7 December 2023}} Odsal made another attempt to sign him in April 1951 but he eventually rode a few matches for Wolverhampton Wasps instead. He then rode matches for the St Austell Gulls during the 1952 Speedway Southern League.{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Cornish Guardian |date=3 July 1952 |access-date=7 December 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002823/19520703/148/0008 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}