Barbara Horley on Speedway

Sport in History Podcast

Katie talks to Barbara Horley about the Speedway's boom time from the 1930s to the 1960s. Barbara is a doctoral candidate at the International Centre for Sports History and Culture at De Montfort University. Barbara previously taught Philosophy and Religious Studies before deciding to pursue her PhD. Her research involves looking at speedway from its British inception in 1928 through to 1965 when the British League was formed, with a particular focus on the Midlands. Having watched speedway with her father and uncle from an early age, speedway had always been a passion and the opportunity to study it during its heyday in the late 1930s and 40s was obviously appealing. Barbara is also a qualified speedway referee and this has taken her all over the country refereeing in speedway’s three leagues.