George Howard Cole (born 29 December 1943) in Cardiff, Wales is a former international motorcycle speedway rider. He rode for the Long Eaton Archers in 1964, the King's Lynn Stars for six years, and the Cradley Heathens in 1966 and 1974. For much of his career he was known as Kid Brodie and did not ride under his birth name.[1]
Howard Cole
Born
(1943-12-29) 29 December 1943 (age 80) Cardiff, Wales
World Championship qualifying round winner Glasgow, 14 pts
1972
World Championship qualifying round winner Exeter, 14 pts
1972
Track record: Ipswich, 9 May
1973
Pottinger Best Pairs Trophy with Bernt Persson, Cradley Heath
Career summaryedit
Cole first appeared at the age of three in a short British Pathe film titled Child Motorcyclist 1948.[2]
Cole began riding speedway in 1961 for the Wolverhampton Wolves when he was 17. Because he was still at Wolverhampton Grammar School at the time he rode under the nom de plume "Kid Bodie" so that the school would not find out.[3] He also used the nom de plume because he had been a mascot for the Wolverhampton and Birmingham teams in the early 1950s and did not want this to be known at the time. The following year he transferred to Stoke and rode for the Potters until he broke his arm in 1963. In 1964-1965 he rode for the Long Eaton Archers. In 1966 he joined the Cradley Heathens for a year. He then had six years with the King's Lynn Stars before rejoining Cradley for two seasons in 1973-1974.[4] He qualified for and rode in the 1969 World Final at Wembley.
He also rode in three British Championship finals from 1969–1971 and won the New Zealand Championship in Christchurch in 1967. He regularly rode in New Zealand and Australia during the English winter months and represented England in team contests in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. At retirement he had earned 10 international caps for the England national speedway team and 1 cap for Great Britain. With no Welsh national team, Welsh riders were eligible to ride for England.[1]
After retiring from speedway he moved to live in Sydney. He graduated with a teaching degree in 1978 and taught at Sydney Grammar Prep School until his retirement in 2003.
^ ab"ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
^"Child Motorcyclist 1948". British Pathe. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
^"Cradley Heath Speedway website, riders A-Z". Retrieved 9 January 2012.
^"Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
^Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN0-7524-2402-5
January 01, 1970
howard, cole, speedway, rider, george, howard, cole, born, december, 1943, cardiff, wales, former, international, motorcycle, speedway, rider, rode, long, eaton, archers, 1964, king, lynn, stars, years, cradley, heathens, 1966, 1974, much, career, known, brodi. George Howard Cole born 29 December 1943 in Cardiff Wales is a former international motorcycle speedway rider He rode for the Long Eaton Archers in 1964 the King s Lynn Stars for six years and the Cradley Heathens in 1966 and 1974 For much of his career he was known as Kid Brodie and did not ride under his birth name 1 Howard ColeBorn 1943 12 29 29 December 1943 age 80 Cardiff WalesNicknameKid BodieNationalityBritish Welsh Career history1961Wolverhampton Wolves1962 1963Stoke Potters1964 1965Long Eaton Archers1966 1973 1974Cradley Heathens United1967 1972King s Lynn StarsIndividual honours1964Ace of Herts Trophy Rye House1967New Zealand Champion Christchurch 4 February1968Track record Palmerston North1969Pride of the East King s Lynn1971World Championship qualifying round winner Glasgow 14 pts1972World Championship qualifying round winner Exeter 14 pts1972Track record Ipswich 9 May1973Pottinger Best Pairs Trophy with Bernt Persson Cradley HeathCareer summary editCole first appeared at the age of three in a short British Pathe film titled Child Motorcyclist 1948 2 Cole began riding speedway in 1961 for the Wolverhampton Wolves when he was 17 Because he was still at Wolverhampton Grammar School at the time he rode under the nom de plume Kid Bodie so that the school would not find out 3 He also used the nom de plume because he had been a mascot for the Wolverhampton and Birmingham teams in the early 1950s and did not want this to be known at the time The following year he transferred to Stoke and rode for the Potters until he broke his arm in 1963 In 1964 1965 he rode for the Long Eaton Archers In 1966 he joined the Cradley Heathens for a year He then had six years with the King s Lynn Stars before rejoining Cradley for two seasons in 1973 1974 4 He qualified for and rode in the 1969 World Final at Wembley He also rode in three British Championship finals from 1969 1971 and won the New Zealand Championship in Christchurch in 1967 He regularly rode in New Zealand and Australia during the English winter months and represented England in team contests in the United Kingdom Australia and New Zealand At retirement he had earned 10 international caps for the England national speedway team and 1 cap for Great Britain With no Welsh national team Welsh riders were eligible to ride for England 1 After retiring from speedway he moved to live in Sydney He graduated with a teaching degree in 1978 and taught at Sydney Grammar Prep School until his retirement in 2003 World Final Appearances edit1969 nbsp London Wembley Stadium 16th 1 pt 5 References edit a b ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX 1929 2022 PDF British Speedway Retrieved 9 August 2023 Child Motorcyclist 1948 British Pathe Retrieved 9 August 2023 Cradley Heath Speedway website riders A Z Retrieved 9 January 2012 Rider averages 1929 to 2009 PDF Speedway Researcher Retrieved 9 August 2023 Bamford R amp Shailes G 2002 A History of the World Speedway Championship Stroud Tempus Publishing ISBN 0 7524 2402 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Howard Cole speedway rider amp oldid 1182798503, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
