The  Jim Mc Leod
 Collection
    New Zealand International Solo rider - Jim Mc Leod - was one of the first New Zealand riders to ride at The Sydney Showground Speedway in 1937 with fellow New Zealander Brian Smith -  Jim also rode at the official opening Speedway meeting at the Sydney Sports Ground Speedway in November 1937. 

  He was contracted to American Stunt and Speedway rider Orren 'Putt'  Mossman and was also a top J.A.P. engine tuner. 
Jim rode in the American colours with Mossman and his Solo teams in Australia. 
     Jim later went on to be Captain of Easts Solo League team when League racing was introduced at Sydney Speedways
 in the late 1930s. 

I met and befriended Jim in later years and he allowed me to access his photo collection - presented below on two pages - with some later photos shot by me on later outings with Jim after re introducing him to Speedway in his later years - which he thoroughly enjoyed and was a proud member of the VSRA..... Brian 
On to page 2
Some of the great photos from Jim's history 
with American Orren 'Putt' Mossman.
Click here to view page 2 .
Jim in the early 1930s in New Zealand.  He rode grass track and dirt track 
Jim out front in a heat in NZ.
Jim's Australian contract with Putt Mossman.
Jim riding for the USA Team with the Putt Mossman Troupe at Ipswich in Queensland.
The official opening of the Sydney Sports Ground Speedway on November 13 1937 - by Mr Buttenshaw - Minister for Lands - Jim McLeod far left with white helmet -next to Ray Duggan - Frank Dolan- Putt Mossman and Bobby Hill. 
( the first Speedway meeting was actually held on October 30 1937
two weeks before this event )
Nov. 1937 - Sydney Sports Ground Speedway 
L to R : Frank Dolan - Jim McLeod - Frank Arthur - Vic Huxley.
Jim at the Sydney Sports Ground Speedway. 
Jim's ACU Racing Licence.
Jim at Bode's Oval Speedway 
Woolongong in 1938
Woodville NSW - Jim - Historian Bill Harrison - 
Wayne Robinson. Wayne and I were in the planning stages of the Australian Speedway Museum which we hoped to build at Maitland Showground.
1995 - Afternoon tea at Jack Patman's Home in Greenacre.
Jim - Jack Patman - Dennis Fry. Jack rode at Bathurst, Maroubra, Wentworth Park - Pratten Park in the 1930s and Dennis was a TT rider having ridden at the Isle of Man.( aka. Mann ) 
1991 - Bill Harrison ( left) with Jim at the site at Maitland Showground where the Museum was to be built.
Jim enjoying being astride Keith Ryan's J.A.P. after being out of the saddle for 55 years at the Veteran Speedway Rider's Re Union at Banksia in 1995.
Early pioneer rider Bill Melluish with Jim at the VSRA( Veteran Speedway Riders Association of Australia ) Re Union Dinner in 1996. 
1995 - 3 staunch VSRA members at the Bathurst Long Track meeting - Jim with -Wal Johnson - a 1950s rider - and Frank Griffiths - Wal's mechanic in those days.
1937
1998 VSRA Re Union Dinner - Jack Patman- Reg Challenger - Jim.
1938 - Sydney - Spring League Solo Racing- Jim is Captain of Easts - riding aqain Bill Melluish of Norths -  Photo below - 
58 years later at the 1996 Veteran Riders Re Union 
 Bill & Jim sit together.