Jim Lightfoot (speedway rider)

James Arthur Lightfoot (11 November 1933 – 24 February 2023) was an international Motorcycle speedway rider from England.^[1] He earned one international cap for the England national speedway team and three caps for the Great Britain team.^[2]

Jim Lightfoot

Born	11 November 1933 Coventry, England
Died	24 February 2023(2023-02-24) (aged 89)
Nationality	British (English)
Career history
1953-1966	Coventry Bees
1967	Long Eaton Archers
Individual honours
1963	Speedway World Championship finalist
Team honours
1954	Northern Shield
1960, 1966	Midland Cup
1961	Central Shield

Speedway career

Lightfoot reached the final of the Speedway World Championship in the 1963 Individual Speedway World Championship.^[3]

He rode in the top tier of British Speedway from 1953 to 1966, riding for Coventry Bees.^[4] Jim was born within 4 miles of Coventry's Brandon Stadium and captained his team for a number of years.^[5]

He helped Coventry win the Midland Cup on two occasions in 1960^[6] and 1966.^[7]

Lightfoot died on 24 February 2023.^[8]

World final appearances

Individual World Championship

• 1963 –   London, Wembley Stadium – 14th – 4pts
• 1964 -   Gothenburg, Ullevi - Reserve - Did not ride

References

1. "WORLD INDIVIDUAL FINAL - RIDER INDEX". British Speedway. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
2. "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
3. "World Speedway finals" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
4. "History Archive". British Speedway. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
5. "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
6. "Bees' Sparkling Win in Midland Cup Final". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 26 September 1960. Retrieved 19 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
7. "Coventry Win Midland Cup". Birmingham Daily Post. 20 September 1966. Retrieved 19 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
8. "IN MEMORIAM". Save Coventry Speedway. Retrieved 6 August 2023.