Dick Smythe
{{Short description|Australian speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| image = File:Dick_Smythe_motorcycle_speedway_rider_cigarette_card.png
| name= Dick Smythe
| nationality = Australian
| birth_date = {{birth-date|17 August 1907}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1967|2|27|1907|8|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| death_place = Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| years1 = 1931–1932
| career1 = Stamford Bridge Pensioners
| years2 = 1935
| career2 = Wembley Lions
| years3 = 1936–1937
| career3 = Harringay Tigers
| teamyear1 = 1932
| teamhonour1 = National Association Trophy
}}
Richard Charles Smythe (17 August 1907 – 27 February 1967) was a motorcycle speedway rider from Australia. He would earn ten Australia national speedway team international caps.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022, Dicky Smythe |website=British Speedway |access-date=5 August 2023}}{{cite web |url=http://www.speedwaymuseumonline.co.uk/playerscigarettecards8.html |title=Dicky Smythe |website=Speedway Museum Online |access-date=5 August 2023}}
Career
Smythe a former jockey and butcher's roundsman{{cite web |url=http://www.guskuhn.net/GKuhn/Stamford%20Bridge/Bridge.htm |title=the Bridge |website=Gus Kuhn |access-date=5 August 2023}} was an early pioneer speedway rider in Australia and the United Kingdom.{{cite news |title=Dirt Tracks and Democracy |work=Derby Daily Telegraph |date=17 August 1928 |access-date=2 January 2024 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000327/19280817/063/0008 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} He first arrived in the UK during 1928 and rode in various exhibition matches.{{cite news |title=Crystal Palace Speedway |work=Reynolds's Newspaper |date=29 July 1928 |access-date=5 August 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001034/19280729/405/0022 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} He returned to Australia for 1929 and 1930 and won the 1930 Golden Sash and First Division handicap during 1930.{{cite web |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/97669454 |title=Smythe scores again |newspaper=Sunday Mail Brisbane |date=19 January 1930 |access-date=5 August 2023}}
His first taste of league speedway in Britain was for the Stamford Bridge Pensioners, when he joined the London club for the 1931 Speedway Southern League season.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=4 August 2023}} On the formation of the National League in 1932, he was retained by the Pensioners and won the National Association Trophy with them.
Smythe spent 1933 and 1934 in his native Australia before being signed by Wembley Lions for the 1935 Speedway National League.{{cite news |title=Crystal Palace Speedway |work=Daily News (London) |date=26 January 1935 |access-date=5 August 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19350126/293/0016 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} The following season he moved clubs after joining Harringay Tigers, his 1936 season was ended following a crash in which Smythe suffered spinal injuries.{{cite web |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/38486187 |title=Speedway rider badly hurt |newspaper= The Courier-Mail Brisbane |date=20 July 1936 |access-date=5 August 2023}} His last season in Britain was in 1937, again with Harringay.
Players cigarette cards
Smythe is listed as number 42 of 50 in the 1930s Player's cigarette card collection.