http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Vic_HardingVic Harding - Revision history2026-05-14T07:02:44ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.1http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Vic_Harding&diff=5118879&oldid=previmported>BD2412: /* Career */ Clean up spacing around commas and other punctuation fixes, replaced: ,K → , K2025-06-21T21:54:51Z<p><span class="autocomment">Career: </span> Clean up spacing around commas and other punctuation fixes, replaced: ,K → , K</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Motorcycle speedway rider}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}<br />
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}<br />
{{Infobox Speedway rider<br />
| name= Vic Harding<br />
| image = Vic Harding.jpg<br />
| nationality = British (English)<br />
| birth_date = 5 July 1952<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|1979|6|8|1952|7|5|df=y}}<br />
| birth_place = [[East Ham]], London, England<br />
<br />
| years1 = 1974<br />
| career1 = [[Sunderland Stars|Sunderland Gladiators]]<br />
| years2 = 1975-1977<br />
| career2 = [[Weymouth Wildcats|Weymouth Wizards]]<br />
| years3 = 1975<br />
| career3 = [[Exeter Falcons]]<br />
| years4 = 1977-1979<br />
| career4 = [[Hackney Hawks]]<br />
| years5 = 1977<br />
| career5 = [[Crayford Kestrels]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Victor John Harding''' (5 July 1952 in [[East Ham]], London – 8 June 1979 [[Whipps Cross]], London) was a [[motorcycle speedway]] rider.<ref>[http://www.hackneyhawks.co.uk Hackney Hawks Website] accessed 25 July 2007.</ref><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=13 May 2024}}</ref><br />
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== Career ==<br />
[[File:WN Ht 4 PhilMichelides, Vic Harding, Melvyn Soffe, Brian Havelock,.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Vic Harding (left) in action for Weymouth during 1975]]<br />
Harding began at the Rye House training school in 1970 run by [[Len Silver]] and spent several seasons trying to break into a league team.<ref name=hh>Fenn, C.(2003). ''Hackney Speedway, Friday at Eight''. {{ISBN|0-7524-2737-7}}</ref><br />
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In 1974 the [[Sunderland Stars|Sunderland Gladiators]] handed him the chance. In 1975, he moved to [[Weymouth Wildcats|Weymouth]] Wizards.<ref>Lawson, K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. {{ISBN|978-0-244-72538-9}}</ref> He became the club captain at Weymouth.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005096/19770720/365/0024 |title=Kestrels to sign Harding |website=Kent Evening Post |date=20 July 1977|via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 September 2024}}</ref><br />
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In 1977 [[Len Silver]] signed him for the [[Hackney Hawks]] from Weymouth and spent most of that season as reserve. In 1978 he began improving so much that by 1979, he was a heat leader.<ref name="hh"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003432/19770809/625/0029 |title=Close formation picture feature |website=Lynn Advertiser |date=9 August 1977 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 September 2024}}</ref><br />
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== Death ==<br />
Tragedy struck on 8 June 1979 when Harding was killed whilst riding for Hackney at [[Hackney Wick Stadium]], Waterden Road.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19790609/465/0018 |title=Vic Harding killed |website=Reading Evening Post |date=9 June 1979 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 September 2024}}</ref> He was in a heat as a replacement for [[Bo Petersen]] but during the race he was involved in a terrible crash with [[Steve Weatherley]]. Harding was killed and Weatherley was left with a broken back and paraplegia.<ref name="hh"/><ref name=sil>Jacobs, Norman (2001). ''Speedway in London''. {{ISBN|0-7524-2221-9}}</ref><br />
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Following this tragic accident, the Hawks hosted a Vic Harding Memorial Trophy every season in Harding's honour. It was in fact the last ever meeting hosted by the [[Hackney Hawks]].<br />
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== See also ==<br />
* [[Rider deaths in motorcycle speedway]]<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harding, Vic}}<br />
[[Category:1952 births]]<br />
[[Category:1979 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:British speedway riders]]<br />
[[Category:English motorcycle racers]]<br />
[[Category:Motorcycle racers who died while racing]]<br />
[[Category:Hackney Hawks riders]]<br />
[[Category:Sunderland Stars riders]]<br />
[[Category:Exeter Falcons riders]]<br />
[[Category:Weymouth Wildcats riders]]<br />
[[Category:Sport deaths in England]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]]</div>imported>BD2412