Rick Timmo
{{Short description|New Zealand speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox speedway rider
| image = Rick Timmo 01.jpg
| name= Frederick Timmo
| nationality = New Zealander
| birth_date = {{birth date|1947|7|27|df=y}}
| death_date =
| birth_place = Napier, New Zealand
| years1 = 1967-1974
| career1 = Oxford Cheetahs/Rebels
}}
Frederick "Rick" Timmo (born 27 July 1947 in Napier, New Zealand) is a former motorcycle speedway rider. He earned 19 caps for the New Zealand 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=27 August 2024}}
Career
Timmo had his first rides at Napier, where he spent three years before being advised by Colin McKee to try his luck in England. McKee fixed a trial for Timmo at Hackney but promoter Danny Dunton signed him up for Oxford Cheetahs for the 1967 British League season.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005377/19670504/241/0013 |title=James Bond to ride at Brafield |website=Peterborough Evening Telegraph |date=4 May 1967 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 August 2024}} He stayed at Oxford for a number of years and became a fans favourite.{{cite web |url=http://www.speedwayplus.com/RickTimmo.shtml |title=Riders to Remember....Rick Timmo |website=Speedway Plus |access-date=11 August 2023}}
Barry Briggs, another Kiwi, tried to tempt Timmo to ride for Swindon Robins but he declined.{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11023283 |title=Speedway stars recall fast, furious days |website=Hawkes Bay Today |access-date=11 August 2023}}
In the season 1968–69, Timmo toured with the British Lions in New Zealand. His performance made him a favourite and he would go on to ride for his home country against England, Australia and Sweden.{{cite web |url=http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/nzveng.htm |title=INTERNATIONALS - NEW ZEALAND |website=International Speedway |access-date=11 August 2023}}
His career was prematurely ended when he had a nasty crash at a grasstrack meeting and broke his hip.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002490/19741011/269/0026 |title=Rick Timmo will be back |website=Buckinghamshire Examiner |date=11 October 1974 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 August 2024}}
Retirement
Retiring from speedway he returned home to Napier where he set up a business – Timmo Motorcycles. His son, Spencer, became a speedway rider for Mildenhall Fen Tigers and Newcastle Diamonds, and now races cars in the UK.
File:Rick Timmo 02.jpg, Oxford. 1974 match against Wimbledon Dons]]
