Nationality England Career status Retired | Name Harry Shepherd | |
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Died 17 May 1988(1988-05-17) (aged 85) 1930-19331934-19361936-19391937 Crystal Palace GlaziersNew Cross Lambs/TamersBristol BulldogsWimbledon Dons 19371931, 1934 Provincial LeagueLondon Cup | ||
Harry shepherd playing a 40 s piano medley
George "Harry" Shepherd (5 May 1903 – 17 May 1988) was an international speedway rider who has been credited with the invention of the starting gate still used in speedway today.
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Brief career summary
Born in London, England, Shepherd appeared in the finals of the 1931 Star Riders' Championship, the forerunner to the Speedway World Championship. His final season, 1939, saw Shepherd make his international debut for England.
In 1933 Shepherd, along with New Cross promoter Fred Mockford invented the starting gate which is still in use today, by stretching a set of tapes across the track which were then released by a hand operated electric mechanism, similar to those used in horse racing. This starting procedure allowed for much fairer starts.
Shepherd died in May 1988 at North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand. His final resting place is Leamington Cemetery in Cambridge, New Zealand. The ashes of Harry and his wife Anne . Are in the headstone of the grave of their daughter in law Joy Shepherd