More Info →Bruce Abernethy, motorcycle racer

Description

Bruce MacKenzie Abernethy (1926-1999) was a Wellington dirt bike racer. He was a popular and frequent speedway competitor at the Palmerston North Showgrounds, from 1948 to 1959.

Bruce Abernethy started racing at Taita, Lower Hutt in late 1947 and was noticed by racing great, Wallace "Wally" Kilmister. Kilmister arranged for Abernethy to race for the Wembley Lions in the British Speedway League. On return from his first UK season, 1948, Pamerston North speedway goers watched his performance with anticipation and interest. Abernethy continued to race for the Wembley team until 1951.

Abernaethy won consecutive New Zealand Speedway Championships in 1950 and 1951, and continued solo bike racing until 1959.

He was inducted into the New Zealand Speedway Hall of Fame in 2020.

Identification

Object type

Image

Date

circa 1948 to circa 1951

Digitisation ID

2024P_IMCA-DigitalArchive_041972

Format

B&W print

Held In

"IMCA Digital Archive"