Hastings Saxons
Hastings Saxons were a British motorcycle speedway team which operated for two years between 1948 and 1949 at the The [Pilot Field|Pilot Field] in Hastings.
History
At the end of 1947, the Eastbourne Eagles were forced to close down due to a petrol ban enforced at their Arlington Stadium. They decided to transfer their team to Hastings and at the beginning of 1948 the Speedway Control Board granted a licence to Hastings to stage speedway. They entered the Speedway [National League Division Three|National League Division Three] under the management of ex-Wimbledon rider Charles Dugard. In their first meeting at their track at Pilot Field, approximately 5,000 people saw Hastings beat Stoke 44–39.Hastings finished the 1948 [Speedway National League Division Three|1948] league season in a mid table position in sixth place. They completed the 1949 season in a similar mid table position. At the end of 1949, Hastings were forced to close after a group residents living near to the track took legal action to prevent further racing. The residents claimed that the noise from the speedway motorcycles was a public nuisance. An appeal by Hastings Speedways Ltd in January 1950 was unsuccessful.
The Pilot Field is still in use by football team Hastings United.