Norman Strachan
{{Short description|British motorcycle speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| name = Norman Strachan
| image =
| caption =
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1934|9|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = Poole, Dorset, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| career1 = Poole Pirates
| years1 = 1953–1956, 1958–1967
| career2 = Newport Wasps
| years2 = 1968–1970
| career3 = Oxford Cheetahs/Rebels
| years3 = 1971–1972
| career4 = Coatbridge Tigers
| years4 = 1973–1974
| career5 = Long Eaton Rangers
| years5 = 1973
| teamyear1 = 1955, 1961, 1962
| teamhonour1 = League champion (tier 2)
| teamyear2 = 1955
| teamhonour2= Knockout Cup (tier 2)
}}
Norman Edward Strachan (born 18 September 1934) 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=3 May 2024}}{{cite web |url=http://www.poole-speedway.co.uk/725-2 |title=Norman Strachan |website=Poole Speedway |access-date=3 May 2024}}
Biography
Strachan, born in Poole, was a cycle speedway rider before he learned how to ride speedway at the Matcham's Park training facilities. He began his British leagues career riding for Poole Pirates during the 1953 Speedway National League Division Two season.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1953fixtures.pdf |title=1953 season |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=3 May 2024}}
Strachan built up his reputation at Poole and would become a fan's favourite at the club and helped the Pirates win the double of league and Knockout Cup in 1955{{cite web|url=https://cybermotorcycle.com/archives/exeter-speedway/leagues-52.htm |title=1952 to 1957 |website=Cyber Morotcycles |access-date=3 May 2024}} but suffered a serious hand injury working in a local sawmill in 1956.
The injury affected his speedway career for the next few seasons and it was not until 1960 that he returned to regular action. In 1962, he was described as an enigma because of his contrasting form{{cite news |title=The Pirates from Poole are all-conquering |work=Porthcawl Guardian |date=25 May 1962 |access-date=3 May 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004337/19620525/184/0018 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} and contributed towards Poole's two consecutive Provincial League titles in 1961 and 1962.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=3 May 2024}}
He made 303 appearances for Poole from 1953 to 1967 and was inducted into the Hall of fame in 1994. In 1968, he left Poole when he was allocated to the Newport Wasps{{cite news |title=League speedway gets going |work=Wolverhampton Express and Star |date=4 April 1968 |access-date=3 May 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003126/19680404/587/0044 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} and rode for them for three seasons before moving on to Oxford Cheetahs in 1971.{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/2741/norman-strachan |title=Norman Strachan |website=WWOS backup |access-date=3 May 2024}}
He retired after the 1974 season, by which time he had also ridden for Coatbridge Tigers and Long Eaton Rangers.
References
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Category:British speedway riders
Category:Long Eaton Invaders riders