{{Short description|Australian motorcycle speedway rider}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Use Australian English|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox Speedway rider | name = Frank Dolan | image = | caption = | nationality = Australian | birth_date = {{birth date text|2 April 1915}} | birth_place = Sydney, Australia | death_date = {{Death date and age|1988|7|12|1915|4|2|df=y}} | death_place =
| career1 = Harringay Tigers | years1 = 1938–1939, 1947–1948 | career2 = Lea Bridge Cubs | years2 = 1938 | career3 = Southampton Saints | years3 = 1938
| indivyear1 = 1946 | indivhonour1 = Australian Solo Championship | teamyear1 = 1948 | teamhonour1 = Anniversary Cup }}
'''Francis Owen Dolan''' (2 April 1915 – 12 July 1988) was an Australian motorcycle speedway rider. He was champion of Australia in 1946 and earned eight international caps for the Australia national speedway team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref>
== Biography== Dolan, born in Sydney, was noticed by the England captain Jack Parker riding in Australia in early 1938. He persuaded Dolan and fellow Australian Ray Duggan to travel with him to the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news |title=Speed Riders for Harringay |work=Daily Mirror |date=5 February 1938 |access-date=22 February 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19380205/345/0030 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> He began his British leagues career riding for Harringay Tigers during the 1938 Speedway National League season but was then loaned out to Southampton Saints and Lea Bridge Cubs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1938record.pdf |title=1938 season |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=World Speedway qualifiers |work=Daily News (London) |date=21 July 1938 |access-date=22 February 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19380721/216/0013 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
In 1939, he rode for Harringay but then lost six years of his career due to World War II. However, in 1946, he returned and gained significant success when he the Australian Solo Championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/indmaustralii.php |title=Individual Australian Championship|website=Historia Sportu Zuzlowego |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref>
On his return to British speedway in 1947, he was once again a Harringay rider<ref>{{cite news |title=Harringay want Australian Speed aces |work=Daily Mirror |date=8 February 1947 |access-date=22 February 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19470208/113/0012 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> and averaged a respectable 8.05 for the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref> His final season in 1948, saw him win the Anniversary Cup with Harringay.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html |title=Year by Year |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dolan, Frank}} Category:1915 births Category:1988 deaths Category:Australian speedway riders Category:Harringay Tigers riders Category:Australian expatriate speedway riders in England Category:Lea Bridge speedway riders Category:Southampton Saints riders Category:Australian expatriate speedway riders in Scotland