The Boston Barracudas were a speedway team that competed from 1970 to 1987 and again from 2000 to 2008. the team were based at Boston Sports Stadium in New Hammond Beck Road, Boston, Lincolnshire.
History Origins and 1970s
The Boston Barracudas were founded mid-season in 1970 by promoters Cyril Crane and Gordon Perkins. Planning permission was received to construct a track at the Boston Sports Stadium and the promoters bought the second tier team known as the King's Lynn Starlets from Maurice Littlechild. The Barracudas first home fixture was an inter-counties cup match against Peterborough Panthers on 16 August. The team fulfilled the remaining King's Lynn fixtures and finished the season in 13th place.
The team continued to compete in the second division and during the 1973 British League Division Two season completed the league and cup double by finishing 1st in the league table and winning the Knockout Cup. The team led by Arthur Price was backed up by Carl Glover, who had improved his average significantly to 9.62 and six other riders who posted averages from 8.42 to 6.88.
The remainder of the decade was less successful and from 1975 they competed in the National League (the new name for division 2). Also in 1975, the Barracudas signed 16-year-old Michael Lee on loan from King's Lynn. Lee would be a world champion just 5 years later. With no Price, Glover or Lee, the team could only record a best finish of 7th in 1977.
1980s
With riders such as David Gagen and Rob Hollingworth, Boston were consistent but were unable to challenge for honours. In late 1984 promoter Cyril Crane was unhappy over new rules and wanted to sell his promotion rights. Despite signing riders for 1985, the club withdrew from the league just days before the start of the season, when Crane relinquished his interests.
The team soon returned for the 1986 season, under a new promotion team of Richard Green, David Cox and Glen Norton. However, after just one season the team entered 1987 and suffered heavy defeats and financial issues. This resulted in the Barracudas withdrawing mid-season with the last fixture being a heavy home defeat to Eastbourne on 1 August 1987, the Barracudas results were expunged.
2000s
In 2000 the club was reformed and entered the third tier Conference League but riding at King's Lynn Stadium because the Boston Sports Stadium had closed in 1987. During the 2000 Speedway Conference League the team finished 4th and won the Conference League Knockout Cup defeating Rye House Rockets in the final.
The team won the 2003 Conference Trophy riding as the Boston Barracuda-Braves and competed up to the end of the 2008 Speedway Conference League season. The last honours for the club were two consecutive Pairs Championship wins in 2007, won by Paul Cooper and Simon Lambert and 2008, when won by James Cockle and Lambert.
Season summary
Year and leaguePositionNotes 1970 British League Division Two season 13th 1971 British League Division Two season 4th 1972 British League Division Two season 2nd 1973 British League Division Two season 1st Champions & Knockout Cup winners 1974 British League Division Two season 3rd 1975 New National League season 5th 1976 National League season 12th 1977 National League season 7th 1978 National League season 17th 1979 National League season 16th 1980 National League season 6th 1981 National League season 6th 1982 National League season 8th 1983 National League season 16th 1984 National League season 6th 1986 National League season 12th 1987 National League season N/A withdrew, results expunged 2000 Speedway Conference League 4th Knockout Cup winners 2001 Speedway Conference League 3rd 2002 Speedway Conference League 6th 2003 Speedway Conference League 4th rode as Barracuda-Braves 2004 Speedway Conference League 5th rode as Barracuda-Braves 2005 Speedway Conference League 9th rode as Barracuda-Braves 2006 Speedway Conference League 5th rode as Barracuda-Braves 2007 Speedway Conference League 4th Pairs winners 2008 Speedway Conference League 2nd rode as Barracuda-Braves, pairs winners
Notable riders
See also
List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway)
References