Harry Bastable is a former international motorcycle speedway rider and promoter.
Career summary
Harry Bastable's was a novice at the Alan Hunt 1949 wintertraining school when he was signed up by Cradley Heath Heathens. For experience he was loaned to the 3rd DivisionNational LeagueTamworth Hounds speedway club for the 1950 season, with occasional rides at reserve for 2nd Division Cradley. He returned full-time to Cradley Heath in 1951 and in 1952 was the Heathens' top scorer. Following the closure of speedway at Dudley Wood at the end of 1952 the Cradley team amalgamated with 3rd Division neighbours Wolverhampton Wasps to operate in the National League 2nd Division in 1953, but Harry Bastable never liked the track and didn't show his Cradley form, moving to Birmingham Brummies in August of that year where First Division racing proved hard going. In 1957 Birmingham closed mid-season following the track fatality of Harry's mentor and Brummies skipper Alan Hunt and the ensuing 'South African Affair.' He then transferred to Leicester to ride for the Leicester Hunters, where he initially found a new lease of life. After much badgering he shocked no one when in 1960 he left the Hunters mid-season to return to ride for his first love, Cradley Heath Heathens as their skipper in the newly formed lower level Provincial League, where he finished his racing career. A highlight of that career was when Harry and Cradley partner Ivor Brown, became the top two points scorers in the 1961 Provincial League. Although announcing his retirement at the end of 1964, Harry Bastable was recalled to make 16 further appearances for the Heathens at senior level racing in the new British League of 1965 to cover for injuries at Cradley, before fully retiring from riding in that same year. He started a motor-cycle business "Speedaway Motors" in Blackheath, West Midlands, In 1973 Harry turned to the management side of speedway, to become the manager of the Cradley Heath team, whom he renamed 'Cradley United'. In 1975 he moved into promotion, taking over the licence of Stoke Potters with co-promoter Tony Allsopp, and in 1976 saved speedway at Cowley Stadium, Oxford by resurrecting Oxford Cheetahs after the departure of Oxford Rebels to White City under Danny Dunton.
