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Motorsport in Palestine 1917-1948 ?


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#1 duby

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Posted 24 November 2012 - 16:36

hellow

between 1917-1948 there was a british rule in what was called back then palestine.

i know that there were some motorsport activity by the british soldiers and civilians who were staying there- some rallies and autotests but cant find much info about it.


any help will be good

thnx
duby

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#2 Allen Brown

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Posted 24 November 2012 - 16:56

It still is called Palestine, but it depends who you're taking to.

#3 Rob29

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Posted 24 November 2012 - 17:28

It still is called Palestine, but it depends who you're taking to.

This is a motorsport forum and that coment is of no interest-most of what was then caled 'Palestine' is now called Israel.Only attempt at motor racing I have recorded was an F2 GP at Askkeon-in 1974 which was abandoned after practice.I did visit Israel in 1991 & 94 and found it a safe & friendly place-could not find the race circuit though!

#4 Doug Nye

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Posted 24 November 2012 - 18:11

This is a motorsport forum and that coment is of no interest-most of what was then caled 'Palestine' is now called Israel.Only attempt at motor racing I have recorded was an F2 GP at Askkeon-in 1974 which was abandoned after practice.I did visit Israel in 1991 & 94 and found it a safe & friendly place-could not find the race circuit though!


For Askkeon read Ashkelon, the fleeting 'Barnea Beach circuit'...

DCN

#5 Tim Murray

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Posted 24 November 2012 - 18:50

... and the race was scheduled for 22 November 1970, not 1974:

GP of Israel 1970

#6 duby

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Posted 24 November 2012 - 18:50

the ashkelon race was on november 1970 and it was in ISRAEL.

the topic is about motor-sport before Israel got indipendent (14/5/48) .


duby

#7 RS2000

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Posted 24 November 2012 - 19:56

One who might have been able to answer the original question, but is no longer with us , was Major Richard Chichester of Wiscombe Park who was, I was told, based there up to I think the end of the British Mandate. I have no idea whether his friend Major Charles Lambton (of Calne?) is still around but I gather they returned to UK in a Rolls Royce they found in the desert.

#8 Michael Ferner

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Posted 25 November 2012 - 08:53

This is a motorsport forum and that coment is of no interest-most of what was then caled 'Palestine' is now called Israel.Only attempt at motor racing I have recorded was an F2 GP at Askkeon-in 1974 which was abandoned after practice.I did visit Israel in 1991 & 94 and found it a safe & friendly place-could not find the race circuit though!


It is still Palestine, the temporary occupation doesn't change that basic fact. You're right, though, this is a motorsport forum, but the thread was clearly defined as to the period of 1917-1948, so your comment about racing in Israel is of no interest.

#9 taylov

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Posted 25 November 2012 - 09:54

My Dad served in pre-war Palestine, first as a Trooper in the 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars. When his Army contract was up in 1937, he stayed on in the Palestine Police Service (PPS) until they were "kicked out" in 1948.

Like most former Army horsemen, he found himself motorised and spent much of his time in a splendid Rolls-Royce armoured car. There's a good article here

http://www.rroc.org....rary/sg_ac.html.

Dad became a top single-seater racer in Palestine - single seat and four legs - racing camels in his time off with local Arabs. I've gone back through the PPS Association Journals which describe a great deal about life in Palestine but can find no mention of organised motor sport during the time of the British Mandate (pre-1948).

Tony

Edited by taylov, 25 November 2012 - 10:04.


#10 Vitesse2

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Posted 25 November 2012 - 11:20

We should refrain to make gratuitous political statements which other members may disagree with and have no opportunity to reply to, exactly because it is a motorsport forum.

:up:

Getting on topic, I can't say I've come across anything about four-wheeled motor sport during the Palestine Mandate. However, I have seen a reference (Motor Sport October 1944) to the establishment of a Palestine branch of the wartime Bar None Motorcycle Club, which was originally formed in Egypt in May 1944 and ran trials, scrambles, hillclimbs and speedway races using Army bikes.

There is a brief history of the club, written by Cliff Gaskin:

http://www.the-mia.c...lease136061.pdf

The book "Warzone Speedway" also apparently mentions Palestine, presumably in the same context:

http://www.readingsp...p?extend.1247.2

http://www.speedwayp...wayReview.shtml

https://sites.google...motorcycle-club

http://www.google.co...j...4xg&cad=rja

I've never read either book, so can't vouch for how much information might be in them.

#11 Dipster

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Posted 25 November 2012 - 11:51

We should refrain to make gratuitous political statements which other members may disagree with and have no opportunity to reply to, exactly because it is a motorsport forum.



I have spent a good few years in the area (up until 2005) but I never heard of any motor racing at all, ever. But I doubt there never was any. But most people living there had so many other things to occupy their time and worry about over the years.

But interestingly after 2005 I believe the British Consulate Geneal in Jerusalem did (does?) officialy support a team of Palestinian girls racing a BMW 3 series I think) in local events. So I guess racing is now organised.