World" after one of his visits to Australia to captain England in numerous test matches at the ground against the Australians who often had among their ranks Speedway World Champions Lionel Van Praag, Bluey Wilkinson, and later Jack Young. During its 18 years of operation, the Sports Ground Speedway also played host on occasion to the Australian Solo Championship, Australian Sidecar Championship, Australian Speedcar Championship, NSW Solo Championship, NSW Sidecar Championship and the NSW Speedcar Championship. On 19 June 2004 a plaque was unveiled on the site of the former Sports Ground. It reads: Fatalities In an era when death was an accepted risk of the sport, 12 competitors lost their lives while racing at the Sydney Sports Ground. In the most tragic accident, close friends off the track Norm Clay and Ray Duggan both died after crashing together in a Solo race there on 21 January 1950. The 12 Speedway competitors who lost their lives at the Sports Ground are Les Dillon - Speedcar (22 May 1938) Claude Miller - Speedcar (25 April 1939) Len Behrmann - Solo (1945) Jack Daly - Speedcar (5 January 1946) Bob Hibbert - Solo (10 May 1946) Norm Gillespie - Solo (2 April 1948) Jack Sharpe (John Sharpe Gibson) - Solo (22 October 1948) Norm Clay - Solo (21 January 1950) Ray Duggan - Solo (21 January 1950) Ken Le Breton - Solo (5 January 1951) Bill Annabel - Speedcar (23 October 1953) Noel Watson - Solo (6 November 1953) Track records in 1952 Solo (1 lap rolling start): 0:16.2 - Lionel Levy () Solo (1 lap clutch start): 0:18.2 - Lionel Levy () Sidecar (2 laps flying start): 37- 1/5 secs - Jack Carruthers () Sidecar (2 laps clutch start): 39- 1/5 secs - Jim Davies () Speedcar (1 lap rolling start): 16- 4/5 secs - Frank Brewer (/) Speedcar (2 laps rolling start): 33- 3/5 secs - Ray Revell () Speedcar (50 laps rolling start): 16:49.0 - Beale Simmons () References External links The Sydney Sportground Speedway Boxing contests at the ground http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page10876209?zoomLevel=5 Sydney Roosters Sports venues in Sydney Defunct rugby league venues in Australia Defunct speedway venues in Australia South Sydney Rabbitohs Balmain Tigers Sports venues completed in 1911 Sports venues demolished in 1987 1911 establishments in Australia Demolished buildings and structures in Sydney 1987 disestablishments in Australia Defunct soccer venues in Australia Defunct rugby union stadiums in Australia Demolished