Edinburgh vs Glasgow 20/06/1939

Edinburgh 32 20 June 1939
Glasgow 22 Challenge
Edinburgh 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 T B
1. Oliver Hart ef 3 3 6
2. Chick Brine 1 1 1 3
3. Laurie Packer 3 3 3 9
4. Jack Hancock 2' 0 0 2 1
5. Jack Gordon 3 3 3 9
6. Bill Nisbet 2' 0 1 3 1
Glasgow
1. Gruff Garland 3 1' 2 6 1
2. Elwood Stilwell 2' 2 1' 5 2
3. Frank Woodroffe 1 2 2 5
4. Curly Thompson 0 0 0 0
5. Harold Jackson 0 2 2 4
6. Joe Crowther 1 1' 0 2 1
Heat 1 Garland, Stilwell, Brine, Hart (ef) 1min 24.4
Heat 2 Packer, Hancock, Woodroffe, Thompson 1min 22
Heat 3 Gordon, Isbister, Crowther, Jackson 1min 23.6
Heat 4 Hart, Woodroffe, Brine, Thompson 1min 22.6
Heat 5 Packer, Jackson, Crowther, Hancock 1min 22
Heat 6 Gordon, Stilwell, Garland, Isbister 1min 23.4
Heat 7 Hart, Jackson, Brine, Crowther 1min 23.2
Heat 8 Packer, Garland, Stilwell, Hancock 1min 22.8
Heat 9 Gordon, Woodroffe, Isbister, Thompson 1min 24

Captains Match Race 
Oliver Hart Bt Gruff Garland 1min 21.8

Match Race 
Laurie Packer, Oliver Hart, Gruff Garland, Jack Gordon 1min 26.8

Scottish Silver Gauntlet 
Heat 1 Laurie Packer, Norrie Isbister, Curly Thompson, Dick Dennie 1min 25 Heat 2 Joe Crowther, Frank Woodroffe, Jack Hancock, Jack Clemenson 1min 28.4
Heat 3 Oliver Hart, Elwood Stilwell, Harold Jackson, Leo Lungo 1min 24.2
Heat 4 Gruff Garland, Jack Gordon, Bill Nisbet, Chick Brine 1min 24.2
Final: Oliver Hart, Laurie Packer, Gruff Garland, Joe Crowther 1min 22.8
 A well deserved victory over their Glasgow rivals was scored by the Edinburgh speedway team on 20 June.

The visitors started off well, gaining full points in the first heat, although Edinburgh were unlucky to lose Hart, their captain, whose machine failed. Brilliant riding was shown by Packer who gained maximum points for his side as well as Jack Gordon who also gained full points. Glasgow’s captain Gruff Garland was the most successful of the visitors scoring six points. The match finished with the final score Edinburgh 32 points Glasgow 22 points.

In the match team race Packer and Hart had a great duel. Only great skill and splendid riding by Hart prevented him from colliding with Packer when the latter refused to be passed on the bends. Packer won this race in the fastest time of the evening, his time being 1 minute 21 and four fifth seconds.

The opening heats of the Scottish Silver Gauntlet produced some very exciting incidents. Packer continued his run of victories in the first heat, when he won easily from Norrie Isbister. In heat two Woodroffe looked like winning when his machine cut out and gave Crowther an easy victory. Crowther in this race prevented what might have been a serious accident. Jack Hancock came off at the stand bend with Crowther close on his heels. A crash seemed inevitable but Crowther, with a magnificent effort, lifted his machine right round to avoid the fallen rider.

Glasgow and Edinburgh were evenly represented in the final, the lineup reading Garland and Crowther (Glasgow) and Packer and Hart (Edinburgh). Packer was favoured to crown his evening’s run of successes but Hart’s characteristically fine start won him the lead and he held on to this to win his first trophy since he started riding for Edinburgh.