As the post-war speedway boom period in Britain was ending and several tracks encountered financial difficulties, the sport was introduced at Shelbourne Park in Dublin, Ireland. Initially, large crowds flocked to see meetings there in 1950.  The first incarnation of the Tigers team relied heavily on the assets of Wimbledon, London, where Shelbourne clerk of the course and technical adviser Ronnie Greene MBE was the promoter and managing director.

In 1951 Ronnie Greene fulfilled his ambition to bring over riders from the United States to form the Tigers team and to tour lower division tracks in the United Kingdom.  This initiative lasted one year, before the Wimbledon connection was restored for the 1952 season.  As tracks continued to close in Britain, support also waned in Dublin and Shelbourne Park closed its doors to speedway racing after only two meeting were staged in 1954.  This is the story of those few seasons when the bikes roared in Ringsend in the 1950s.

The book looks at the early days of dirt track/speedway racing in Ireland and covers the backgrounds of the personalities who introduced the sport to Shelbourne, including connections to the 1916 Easter Rising against British colonial rule.  Attempts to establish speedway in the late 1940s and early 1950s at the Santry and Chapelizod tracks in Dublin are referred to.  The competition from other sports is described, as well as the impact of social and economic conditions in Ireland at the time.  An underlying conflict between the speedway interests of Wimbledon and Shelbourne is also examined.

A comprehensive statistical section is included, along with summary reports of matches.  In addition to those at Shelbourne, the American riders’ team matches and Official Tests in the United Kingdom in 1951 are covered, as well as the late-season tour of Scandinavia.  Profiles of riders are included and a chapter is dedicated to the exploits of Ronnie Moore, the master of Shelbourne Park.

The Foreword by author and journalist Philip Dalling concludes with the comment:

“I have no hesitation in saying that this is one of the most fascinating sporting books I have read and enjoyed for a very long time.”