MAJOR, Clive George

  Birth Notes:

It is a strange and remarkable speedway fact that a rider as loyal as George Major actually rode for a grand total of thirteen different clubs during a racing career which lasted for over sixteen years, although it must be stressed that George had little say in many of the track to track moves which came about during the period when a body known as the "Rider Control Committee" was in operation, and being an easy-going and affable type of character, George was philosophical enough to take all the moves uncomplainingly and in his stride!

Born in the university City of Oxford on 26th October 1939, George Major like many speedway stars before him, was a product of the cycle-speedways, having pushed his pedals with considerable success in the Oxford and Thames Valley Leagues and winning several individual trophies in the process, but after purchasing his first motor-speedway machine and spending some weeks practicing on a disused rubbish tip, he had his first taste of the real thing in second half events at his home town track in 1958.

By the following season George had shown sufficient promise to be offered a place in the Aldershot team who were competing in the Southern Area League and with the formation of the Provincial League in 1960, he crossed the country to East Anglia to take up a place in the Yarmouth team where he began to make something of an impact. Yarmouth however, survived for only a single season and wandering George phlegmatically embarked on the lenthy weekly jaunt north to ride for Newcastle who had joined the burgeoning Provincial League for the following campaign but a promising season was abruptly cut short when he broke his jaw in a nasty crash at Brough Park during the latter half of that single campaign in the Geordie's colours.

For the 1962 season, George linked up with former Wembley rider Trevor Redmond in the unsuccessful attempt to launch speedway in the South Wales town of Neath where despite an excellent season on the track with the club finishing in second place in the Provincial League, and some entertaining racing on a well-shaped circuit, attendances never rose above the modest, and recognizing that this brave venture had failed, Redmond cut his losses and moved the Neath operation to St. Austell in Cornwall, for the last month of that season, taking the all of the Neath riders with him in the process.

For 1963, Redmond was anxious to keep the Neath team together and made strenuous attempts to find a suitable alternative venue, and it is a little known fact that he came extremely close to agreeing a deal to bring the operation to Perry Barr before finally deciding to persevere at St Austell. This however, proved to be for just the one season, and for 1964 which was the season that the Provincial League broke away from the authority of the Speedway Control Board and operated as a pirate competition.

Like many riders, George was initially cautious about the prospect of riding "black" and being in consequence, subject to disciplinary action by the Speedway Control Board and the start of the campaign found him riding for Norwich in the National League but by the end of May the shortage of meetings and the consequent reduction in earnings compelled him to reconsider his situation, and he moved to the Midlands to don the colours of Cradley Heath where he soon blossomed into a consistently high points scorer, gaining his maiden maximum in only his fourth appearance in the Heathens' colours, and producing a splendid performance to finish in second place behind the great Ivan Mauger in the Alan Hunt Memorial Trophy which was staged at Dudley Wood in July of that year.

A highly successful first season at Cradley in which he scored over 300 points and in which his end of season average of 8.93 was second only to Ivor Brown, was marred by a crash at Newport in which a broken wrist brought the 1964 campaign to a premature end for him, but he continued from where he left off when he resumed racing at the start of 1965 which was the year in which the warring National and Provincial Leagues finally buried their differences and combined to form the new British League. George took part in the inaugural British League fixture between Coventry and Cradley Heath in April 1965 when a 20,000 Brandon crowd saw him top the Cradley scorers.

The first British League season proved to be an unlucky one for Cradley Heath with a succession of injuries wrecking their season, and George suffered his share of these injuries, sustaining severe concussion and knee injuries against Wolverhampton which kept him out of action for a month and then, shortly after returning to action, crashing once again and aggrevating the knee injury, this time putting himself on the injured list for over six weeks. Despite these injuries limiting his appearances that year though, George was still able to produce nearly 250 points for the Heathens in his remaining matches and his end of season average of 7.53 although down on the previous year, was achieved against much stronger opposition and represented very good progress.

To the great surprise of himself and others, George and his team-mate John Hart was allocated by the Rider Control Committee to Sheffield for the 1966 season where despite the fact that his scoring declined, he gave good service to the Tigers for the next two seasons before Rider Control once again took advantage of his good nature by deciding that he should be moved to Leicester, although by now living in the Staffordshire town of Aldridge, George would not have been too unhappy about a move to a track closer to his home. His old friend John Hart also made the move to Leicester and the pair regularly formed an effective partnership at Blackbird Road for another two years.

Injuries however, continued to take their toll and after another lengthy spell on the sidelines, George was a late starter for the 1970 season but when he did reach full fitness, he found himself surplus to requirements at Leicester. It seemed that his racing career may have come to an end until Joe Thurley who was then promoting at the ailing Doncaster track, persuaded him to travel north to help bolster his struggling team's fortunes, and Joe recalls how at the time, numerous rival promotors had been reluctant to take on a rider whom they considered to be injury-prone. Joe was told forcibly by several of them of how lucky he would be to get a full season out of George, but remembers with great satisfaction that he did actually have five outstanding campaigns from a rider whom he still regards as being one of his best ever acquisitions.

George's fine riding transformed Doncaster's wretched season but it was not sufficient to help keep the track afloat in the face of poor attendances and a track made difficult from its dual use as a stock-car circuit, and it seemed inevitable that the days of speedway at Doncaster were numbered and that George Major would once again be on the move for 1971.

When it was announced in January 1971 that Thurley intended to transfer the Doncaster licence and team lock stock and barrel to Birmingham for the new season, this could only be the ideal move for George Major who had by now established a business less than four miles away from the Perry Barr track, in Aldridge, and as captain of the new Brummies, George proved to be the ideal leader in the brave new venture which was to turn out so outstandingly successful.

In truth, the 1971 Birmingham team was anything but a strong one, but George Major with his consistency, his spectacular riding and his enthusiasm, held the side together frequently standing alone in preventing complete anhililation in some of the tougher away matches, and just as often being responsible for snatching a narrow victory at Perry Barr through his tenacious riding and his outstanding teamwork. George's commitment to the club and to his team-mates and his approachability quickly and deservedly made him a great favourite with the crowd. Within weeks of the re-opening of the Perry Barr circuit, George discarded his old black leathers in favour of the bright yellow set with which he was soon to become synonymous, and his appearances on the track became the source of great anticipation on the part of his many supporters - if the opening three heats of a match proved to be drab and uneventful, then there was always the prospect of George Major coming out for the fourth heat to brighten up the scene and provide some excitement!

In his five years at Perry Barr, George led the Brummies to two league championship successes and to the memorable knockout cup final win over Eastbourne - still remembered by many supporters as one of the most thrilling and tension-filled meetings ever seen in Birmingham, and in that never to be forgotten meeting, he was involved in the race which turned the match the Brummies way when he resisted the fierce challenge of Eastbourne's Paul Gachet and regained the lead he had lost before Gachet finally lost control and fell. That particular meeting being a story of its own!

When promotion to the British League's First Division was finally achieved in 1976, the end of George Major's glorious racing career was finally in sight, although George recalls that he never did make a firm decision to retire! Realising that his best days were behind him, George had no illusions about being a top liner again in the First Division but he still believed that he could be a useful tail-end member of the team and it was a great disappointment to him that he was not given an opportunity to put this notion to the test. He was offered a team place at Swindon but although minded to give it a whirl, he was wise enough to realize that his expanding business needed to be given priority and he never did get round to going down to Swindon to take up the chance.

Some years later, George sold the business and moved home to the Isle of Wight where to the surprise of everyone a new speedway track was launched at a disused athletics stadium in the town of Ryde. George was given the task of overseeing the construction of the new track and was later appointed to the post of Team Manager. At one stage he was even invited to re-don his leathers and ride for the new team, but at the age of 54 he was sensible enough to resist the obvious temptation! Many doubted the potential of a speedway venture on an Island was a small population but twelve successive season in the Premier League remains a testimony to the enthusiasm and the work-rate of George Major and others.

A heart attack in 2006 put a temporary break on George's activities but happily he has made a full recovery and his passion for speedway remains undiminished. He took a very keen interest in the battle to bring the sport to Perry Barr and despite his heart problem he was always determined to be present for the opening meeting in March 2007.

He remains one of Birmingham Speedway Club's most popular, durable and successful riders. He raced speedway for a living, but it remained for him a sport to be enjoyed and to be fostered. He made time for his fans and always appreciated their interest and their support, and perhaps the best tribute that can be offered to George Major is that team-mates, opponents, promotors, home and opposition supporters - everyone liked him. He was a true racer, a gentleman and a sportsman and deserves his standing as one of the Brummies best ever captains.


Liked this article? Then why not buy the book? Click the image on the left to order your copy now.

  Events

1. Occupation: Professional Speedway Rider: Http://Www.Brummiesfans.Com/Main/Template.Php?cms=Article_16.