Born | Scott Brian Autrey (1953-07-09) 9 July 1953 (age 71) Maywood, California, U.S. |
---|---|
Nationality | American |
Career history | |
1973-1979 | Exeter Falcons |
1980 | Swindon Robins |
1981-1982 | Poole Pirates |
Individual honours | |
1978 | Daily Mirror Golden Hammer |
1978, 1979, 1980 | Strongbow Golden Gauntlets |
1978, 1979 | Daily Express Spring Classic |
1979 | Daily Mirror/Berger Grand Prix |
1980 | Midland Riders Champion |
Team honours | |
1974 | British League Winner |
1978 | Spring Gold Cup Winner |
1982 | World Team Cup winner |
Scott Brian Autrey (born July 9, 1953) is an American former professional motorcycle speedway rider. In 1976, he became the first American rider to reach a speedway world final since Ernie Roccio in 1951. He earned 22 caps for the United States national speedway team.
Motorcycle racing career
Born in Maywood, California, Autrey began his motorcycle racing career in 1964 by competing in flat track racing at Perris Auto Speedway. In 1968, he had a major off-road racing victory when he won the 100cc class in the Rosarita Grand Prix in Mexico. He also competed in road racing, placing second in the novice road race class held before the 1971 Daytona 200.
In 1972, Autrey finished second in the United States Speedway National Championship. After witnessing the 1972 Individual Speedway World Championship in Wembley Stadium, he made the decision to concentrate fully on speedway racing. In 1973, Autrey was recommended by Ivan Mauger to join the Exeter Falcons in England, where he stayed for seven years.
In 1980 he joined Swindon Robins, before moving on to Poole Pirates from 1981 to 1982.
He finished 3rd in the 1978 World Speedway Championship at Wembley and won the World Team Cup with the USA in 1982. He retired from the sport at the end of 1982 at a relatively young age.
Automobile racing career
After his two-wheeled racing career ended, he became a NASCAR driver who made one Nextel Cup start. He competed in the Winston West Series full-time. That Cup race came in 1985, when Autrey started 29th in the forty-one car field, where he dropped out late with transmission issues. He finished 34th as a result.
World Final appearances
Individual World Championship
- 1976 - Chorzów, Silesian Stadium - 9th - 7pts
- 1978 - London, Wembley Stadium - 3rd - 11pts + 3pts
World Team Cup
- 1980 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Bruce Penhall / Dennis Sigalos / Bobby Schwartz / Ron Preston) - 2nd - 29pts (9)
- 1982 - London, White City Stadium (with Bruce Penhall / Bobby Schwartz / Kelly Moran / Shawn Moran) - Winner - 34pts (0)
World Longtrack Final
- 1978 Mühldorf (11th) 9pts
References
- Oakes, Peter; Mauger, Ivan OBE, MBE (1976). Who's Who of World Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN 0-904584-04-6.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Edwards, Andrew (1977). Autrey Reached For The Stars. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
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ignored (help) - "Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- "Trailblazers Hall Of Famer 2018: Scott Autrey". motorcycle.com. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
- Kocks, Rick (1971). The 1971 Daytona Classic. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
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:|work=
ignored (help) - "Mighty Belle Vue still hold the aces". Leicester Daily Mercury. 6 March 1973. Retrieved 1 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "Gramstad sold to Leicester". Western Daily Press. 21 February 1980. Retrieved 26 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- Lethbridge, Tony (January 2004). Speedway in the South West. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-2915-9.
- Beasley, J. (2003) Poole Pirates Speedway, Paleface Publications. ISBN 0-9539608-9-7
- Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
External links
- Scott Autrey driver statistics at Racing-Reference
- 1953 births
- Living people
- People from Maywood, California
- Sportspeople from Los Angeles County, California
- American motorcycle racers
- American speedway riders
- Exeter Falcons riders
- American expatriate speedway riders in England
- Poole Pirates riders
- Swindon Robins riders
- NASCAR drivers
- Racing drivers from Los Angeles
- Individual Speedway Long Track World Championship riders