Lionel Levy

{{Short description|Australian motorcycle speedway rider}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Use Australian English|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox Speedway rider | name = Lionel Levy | image = | caption = | nationality = Australian | birth_date = {{birth date text|16 October 1916}}{{cn|date=August 2024}} | birth_place = Sydney, Australia | death_date = {{Death date and age|1968|2|21|1916|10|16|df=y}} | death_place =

| indivyear1 = 1952, 1953 | indivhonour1 = Australian champion | indivyear2 = 1957 | indivhonour2 = New South Wales champion }}

'''Lionel William Levy''' (16 October 1916 – 21 February 1968) was an Australian motorcycle speedway rider. He was twice champion of Australia in 1952 and 1953 and earned 16 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=18 February 2024}}</ref>

== Biography== Levy, born in Sydney, was discovered by Norman Parker and Parker brought him to England in 1948.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bright Wimbledon speedway hopes |work=Daily News (London) |date=25 February 1948 |access-date=18 February 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19480225/132/0004 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> He began his British leagues career riding for Wimbledon Dons during the 1948 Speedway National League season<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1948.html |title=1948 fixtures |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=18 February 2024}}</ref> and Coventry Bees in the 1948 Speedway National League Division Three, where he recorded a 7.43 average.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=18 February 2024}}</ref>

He spent four seasons with Coventry (but missed the 1951 season)<ref>{{cite news |title=Brandon Bees will be without Lionel Levy |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=24 February 1951 |access-date=18 February 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19510224/214/0017 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> before riding a few times for Southampton Saints in 1953.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html |title=Year by Year |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=18 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Missed Holland but got Levy |work=Portsmouth Evening News |date=17 July 1953 |access-date=18 February 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19530717/179/0018 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

He gained valuable experience from his competition in the British leagues and became the Australian champion, after winning the Australian Solo Championship in 1952 and 1953.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/indmaustralii.php |title=Individual Australian Championship|website=Historia Sportu Zuzlowego |access-date=18 February 2024}}</ref>

He also won the New South Wales champion in 1957 and went on to be the Australian team manager. He died in 1968, after fracturing his skull in a race at the Sydney Showground Speedway.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-Bee dies in Australia |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=24 February 1968 |access-date=18 February 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19680224/920/0075 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Levy, Lionel}} Category:1916 births Category:1968 deaths Category:Australian speedway riders Category:Coventry Bees riders Category:Australian expatriate speedway riders in England Category:Motorcycle racers who died while racing Category:Sport deaths in Australia Category:Motorcycle racers from Sydney