Karl Fiala
{{Short description|British speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox speedway rider
| image = Karl Fiala-24.jpg
| name= Karl Fiala
| caption= Fiala in 1977
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|1|30|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Harlow, England
| death_date =
| years1 = 1975-1980
| career1 = Rye House Rockets
| years2 = 1976-1980
| career2 = Hackney Hawks
| teamyear1 = 1979
| teamhonour1 = National League KO Cup Winner
| teamyear2 = 1980
| teamhonour2 = National League Champion
}}
Karol Roman Fiala (born 30 January 1956) better known as Karl Fiala, is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=20 June 2023}}Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. {{ISBN|978-0-244-72538-9}}
Career
Fiala began grasstrack racing in 1973 and began his league racing career with Rye House Rockets during the 1975 National League season.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003122/19750710/152/0019 |title=Rockets hit by injury |website=Herts and Essex Observer |date=10 July 1975 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 September 2024}} The following season he doubled up with parent club Hackney Hawks, for whom he rode sporadically.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldspeedwayriders.org/rider/29/karl-fiala |title=Karl Fiala |website=World Speedway riders Sport |access-date=21 September 2024 }}
On 1 May 1977, Fiala won a World Championship qualifying round at Rye House with a 15-point maximum.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19770502/222/0030 |title=Speedway |website=Daily Mirror |date=2 May 1977 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 September 2024}} Fiala continued to ride primarily for Rye House and won the silver hemlet match race twice in 1979 and helped his team win the 1979 Knockout Cup.{{cite book|last=Bott|first=Richard|title=The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4|year=1980|page=99|publisher=Stanley Paul & Co Ltd|isbn=0-09-141751-1}}
The 1980 season resulted in Fiala helping Rye House to win against Middlesbrough Bears on 9 October, with a paid 15 point maximum. He won the last race of the match to secure the league title for Rye House during the 1980 National League season.{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1981 Speedway Yearbook |year=1981 |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=0-86215-017-5}}
Personal life
Karl also worked as an engineer for a company that made Life Support and Anaesthetic Equipment.{{cn|date=September 2024}}
In 1988, he joined a Direct Mail Print Company and, in 2002, started his own business in this line, which is still running today.{{cn|date=June 2023}} A keen squash player until knee-joint problems forced retirement from league competition.{{cn|date=June 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
- Fenn, C. (2003). Hackney Speedway, Friday at Eight. {{ISBN|0-7524-2737-7}}.
- Jacobs, Norman (2007). 70 Years of Rye House Speedway. {{ISBN|978-0-7524-4162-7}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fiala, Karl}}
Category:British motorcycle racers
Category:British speedway riders