Trevor Redmond

Trevor John Redmond (16 June 1927 – 17 September 1997) was a motorcycle speedway rider from New Zealand. He earned 17 caps for the New Zealand national speedway team and 11 caps for the South African national team. Redmond also opened a speedway track in Neath, Wales in 1962 and le later became a promoter of stock car and hot rod racing, mainly in southwest England, through his Autospeed organisation.

Career Rider Redmond started riding speedway in 1949 at the Aranui track in Christchurch. He moved to the UK when he won a team place with the newly formed Aldershot Shots in 1950. He was successful enough to attract the Wembley Lions to sign him in 1951, following an unsuccessful attempt by Walthamstoe to sign him. He remained at Wembley until their closure in 1956. Whilst with the Lions, Redmond qualified for two World Championship finals.

A season in non-league speedway followed in 1957 but in 1958 he did not ride at all, instead he opened a track in Cornwall at St Austell. He returned to racing for a spell with the Swindon Robins and moved onto the Bristol Bulldogs in 1960. As a Bristol rider, Redmond won the Provincial League Riders' Championship, held at Dudley Wood Stadium on 24 September 1960.

The Bristol track closed at the end of that season and in 1961 Redmond had a brief spell with the Wolverhampton Wolves. In subsequent years he was rider and promoter of league teams at Neath,(1962,) St. Austell,(1963) and Glasgow,(1964-65.) He was one of only 2 riders to appear in all 5 Provincial League Riders Championship Finals, being winner in 1960, and a disappointed Runner-Up in 1961 after a broken chain in his final ride cost him the title.

Promoter In 1958, Redmond promoted at St Austell, on an open licence, and in 1961, he also promoted open meetings in Dublin (Shelbourne). In 1962, he opened a track in Neath, Wales. The team was named the Neath Welsh Dragons and operated in the Speedway Provincial League. The team finished in second place, which was considered a remarkable achievement by the speedway press.

World final appearances 1952 - London, Wembley Stadium - Res - Did not ride 1954 - London, Wembley Stadium - 13th - 5pts

Trevor set up the business Autospeed and opened tracks in Newton Abbot and St Austell where they raced Bangers, Hot Rods and stock cars. Autospeed were the first to run Auto Rods which were to become the Saloon Stock Cars. They were also the first to run SuperRods which started as Jags and Fords as big engined Hotrods.