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Oxford Cheetahs

The Oxford Cheetahs are a British speedway team based at Oxford Stadium, in Oxford, England. They were founded in 1939 and are five times champions of Britain, in 1964, 1985, 1986, 1989 and 2001. The club folded in 2007 but returned to racing when participating in the SGB Championship 2022.

During their history they have run under several other names; from 1972 to 1975, they were known as Oxford Rebels and from 2003 to 2005, they were known as Oxford Silver Machine. They have also run junior sides known as the Oxford Cubs, Oxford Silver Machine Academy, Oxford Lions and Oxford Chargers. In 2024 and 2025 the club ran two teams in addition to the Cheetahs, one under a new guise of the Oxford Spires in the Premiership and the Chargers in the development league. In 2026 the Spires dropped out of the Premiership and only the Cheetahs and Chargers will compete.

The Oxford Motorcycle Speedway Club moved to Oxford Stadium in 1939 from a grass circuit in Sandford-on-Thames. The Secretary Ted Mander orchestrated the move and the first individual meeting was held on Easter Saturday 8 April 1939 won by Roy Duke. The club contested team meetings against Smallford, Wisbech, High Beech and Reading.

Racing resumed on 28 April 1940, with guest teams racing. This was followed by just two meetings in 1941 before Mander announced that racing would be suspended for the duration of the World War II. Despite the war ending in 1945 there was no racing from 1942 to 1948. However, during 1948 the stadium owner Leslie Calcutt unsuccessfully applied to the Speedway Control Board for a licence to race in the Third Division.

Following major track renovations in 1949, the club joined the 1949 Speedway National League Division Three. The club took the nickname 'Cheetahs' following a competition for the general public, held by the local Oxford Mail newspaper. The team manager was Ron Bear and the club colours were dark blue and yellow, with the first match being an away fixture at Exeter on 18 April 1949. Oxford lost heavily 60–24 and three days later lost to Hastings 47–37 in their first home fixture. The Cheetahs finished in last place during their inaugural season and used 24 different riders.

The Cheetahs went from finishing last in 1949 to winning the division 3 league and cup double in 1950 and were subsequently promoted to Division two in 1951. Pat Clark was the team's number 1 rider, hitting a season average of 9.99.

After finishing bottom of the division two in 1952 they rode in the third division called the Southern League in 1953 but following a league restructure, which included the signing of Ronnie Genz, the Cheetahs returned to division two in 1954.

Following a league merger the Cheetahs rode in the top tier for the first time in 1957. The team continued to race in the top tier but did not manage to gain any notable success.

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