Marine Gardens 1928

Speedway was first raced in Edinburgh in 1928 at Portobello's Marine Gardens complexon 2nd May 1928. A demonstaration event was held and the star turn was American Sprouts Elder. A week later on the 9th May Ivor Creek and Stewie St. George were the attractions at a second demonstration event. Marine Gardens must have been pushing hard for bussiness because local football club Leith Athletic moved into the ground on 15th May . On the 18th of May newspapers reported that Messrs Smith Fletcher & Co. Ltd., of High Street Edinburgh had started work to errect chain link fencing and the construction of a motorcycle dirt track. 
On 19th May the first meeting was held the first race heat 1 of the Scottish One Mile Invitation featured Sam Reid, Robert Landale George McKenzie and .L Morton
Sam Reid has the distiction of being the first rider to win a race at Edinburgh speedway and also the first tournament because he went onto win the event and the prize money of £10 . The main event was an International contest The Golden Helmet. In the first race Sprouts Elder faced Paddy Dean at a second attempt in the first race both had suffered engine faliers. The American was the victor and qualified for the semi finals. In the other heats Stewie St George Drew McQueen and George Meredith all qualified. The semi finals were won easerly by St George and McQueen both of their opponents fell. In the final St George was the victor of the 6 lap final and picked up £25 in winnings and would recieve £5 a week for every week he managed to hold onto the helmet. The final event for the evening was an Open Invitation with £15 to the winner. 4 heats the winner going into the semi final and then a final. Eric Burnet was the winner defeating Andy Marr in the final.
In all 20 meetings that year were held at the Marine Gardens at attendanceso0f 19,000 were not uncommon this was more than Scottish League side Leth Athletic were able to attract. Only two meetings were cancelled during the year and both of these were to allow for track improvments.
Fixtures
2 May 1928
demonstration event featuring Sprouts Elder.
Meeting Details

9 May 1928
demonstration event featuring Ivor Creek and Stewie St George
Meeting Details

19 May 1928
Gold Helmet International Race Stewie St George
Scottish 1 Mile Invitation Race Sam Reid
Open Invitation Race Eric Burnet

Meeting Details

22 May 1928
Edinburgh Handicap Rex De La Haye
Flying 8 Paddy Dean

Meeting Details

26 May 1928
cancelled to allow for track improvements.

2 June 1928
Edinburgh Handicap Bill Barclay
Scottish Gold Helmet Stewie St George

Meeting Details

16 June 1928
Edinburgh Handicap Chris Hughes
Scottish Gold Helmet Ivor Creek

Meeting Details

30 June 1928
Edinburgh Handicap Sam Reid
Scottish Gold Helmet Paddy Dean

Meeting Details

18 July 1928
Edinburgh Handicap Drew McQueen
Flying 8 Eric Burnet

Meeting Details

21 July 1928
Edinburgh Handicap Drew McQueen
Scottish Gold Helmet Eric Burnet

Meeting Details

28 July 1928
Edinburgh Handicap Eric Burnet
Marine Speedway Scratch Race Harry Duncan

Meeting Details

4 August 1928
Edinburgh Handicap James Logie
Scottish Silver Gauntlet Harry Duncan

Meeting Details

11 August 1928
Edinburgh Handicap Jimmy Valente
Scottish Gold Helmet George McKenzie

Meeting Details

18 August 1928
Edinburgh Handicap Bill Dickie
Scottish Silver Gauntlet Jimmy Valente

Meeting Details

25 August 1928
500cc Scottish Championship Jimmy Valente
350cc Scottish Championship Drew McQueen

Meeting Details

1 September 1928
Edinburgh Handicap Andy Milne
Scottish Gold Helmet Jimmy Valente

Meeting Details

8 September 1928
Edinburgh Handicap Donald McDonald
Scottish Silver Gauntlet Sprouts Elder

Meeting Details

17 September 1928
Edinburgh Handicap Drew McQueen
Scottish Gold Helmet Ivor Creek

Meeting Details

22 September 1928
Edinburgh Handicap Drew McQueen
Flying 12 Eric Burnet

Meeting Details

29 September 1928
Edinburgh Handicap George McKenzie
Scottish Gold Helmet Ivor Creek

Meeting Details

6 October 1928
cancelled to allow erection of track lights

13 October 1928
Edinburgh Handicap Bill Barclay
Scottish Gold Helmet Roger Frogley

Meeting Details

20 October 1928
Edinburgh Handicap Drew McQueen
Marine Gardens Track Championship Drew McQueen

Meeting Details

27 October 1928
Edinburgh Handicap Drew McQueen and John Jackson
Scottish Gold Helmet Roger Frogley

Meeting Details