The world’s largest collection of speedway and grass track machines and memorabilia is to be auctioned by HJ Pugh at its salesrooms in Ledbury, Herefordshire, on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 July.
The first day is devoted to speedway automobilia, including 400 speedway vests. The second is devoted to more than 100 speedway and grass track race bikes, plus five classic bikes and some hand-made bicycles.
1927 American Indian 350 has £100,000 potentialThis stand-alone auction is for the contents of a private collection created by former speedway rider Ian Paterson in Loanhead, Edinburgh. His failing health has prompted the sale. Former Berwick Bandits racer Paterson, now in his 80s, started collecting 40 years ago. He set up the Cinders to Shale Museum in Edinburgh, which he started to open to the public on selected days five years ago.
Though HJ Pugh has not listed estimates, it reports worldwide interest in the 850-lot sale, and says it has £1m potential. Star lot is an American 1927 Red Indian dirt tracker expected to make up to £100,000.
1929 P&P – earliest known laydown engine typeSam Jones, who runs Yeomans Motorcycles of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, has been helping HJ Pugh motorcycle specialist Henry Biss with valuations.
The National Speedway Museum, which opened in 2007 at Paradise Wildlife Park, Hertfordshire, and is run by the Speedway Riders Association, is among potential buyers. Park owner and former speedway rider Peter Sampson said: “It’s a magnificent collection coming to auction, and probably two to three times bigger than ours. Members of the committee will definitely be there on preview and auction day. We’ll have to see what we can afford.”
1947 Vampire Vincent 500 prototypePaterson invited HJ Pugh to run the sale because, in 2019, the auction house handled his friend Noel Clark’s collection sale of speedway and grass track machines, parts and memorabilia. The Clark collection was based in Chaddersley Corbett, Worcestershire.
HJ Pugh, founded in 1990 by Howard Pugh, entered the motorcycle world 20 years ago and usually runs four bike auctions a year. This year, they are planning six motorcycle auctions and expect to sell 1500 machines in total. Their planned 6-7 September sale includes several small speedway bike collections. Their best bike results so far have been £1m gross and 350 bike entries.
In 2019 the house moved into a purpose-built facility in Ledbury and currently employs a total staff of 17, some part-time, working in auctions and an estate agency. HJ Pugh lists 150 auctions in 2024, from plants and shrubs to antiques and machinery. Motorcycles and machinery provide their biggest income.
HJ Pugh
Henry Biss 07935 587155
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