12/07/2025
Here is a cool and historic patch that’s close to the heart of any longtime American Speedway fan. It’s a 1982 World Team Cup patch from White City Stadium in London. It was at this event—staged on August 15th—that the USA won its first World Team Cup Championship.
The U.S. team, consisting of Bruce Penhall, Dennis Sigalos, Kelly Moran, Shawn Moran, and Scott Autrey, began its march to the title by placing second—just one point behind England—at the Commonwealth Round in King’s Lynn on May 16th.
Six weeks later, at the famous Speedway Center in Vojens, Denmark, the Americans bested the Danes on their home turf by six points to win the meeting and earn a ticket to the final at White City. The only change to the U.S. squad was Bobby Schwartz coming who came in for Scott Autrey. By the way, the Danish powerhouse team that the Stars and Stripes defeated consisted of Ole Olsen, Erik Gundersen, Hans Nielsen, Tommy Knudsen, and Preben Eriksen.
The final was held at White City on August 15th. With England eliminated in the second round, only 3,500 fans showed up for the final, which featured a rematch between the USA and Denmark. Also in the field were West Germany and Czechoslovakia, who, in reality, were competing for the bronze medal.
That rematch never materialized into the showdown many insiders had predicted. Team USA—racing in memory of Denny Pyeatt, who passed away earlier that year at Hackney—dominated the competition and won the meeting with 37 points, compared to Denmark’s 24, West Germany’s 18, and Czechoslovakia’s 17.
Bruce Penhall and Kelly Moran top-scored for the USA with 10 points each. Bobby Schwartz contributed nine, Shawn Moran tallied eight, and Scott Autrey, who only took one ride, finished with zero.
That World Team Cup series may have been the shining moment of Kelly Moran’s career. Over the three meetings, he started 12 races—and won 10 of them! In the only two races he didn’t win, he placed third.
The USA went on to win the World Team Cup four more times—in 1990, 1992, 1993, and 1998.
At the time of the final, White City Stadium—which was originally built for the 1908 Olympic Games and hosted the finish of the first modern marathon—had a rich and diverse history. In addition to Speedway and the Olympics, it hosted a 1966 World Team Cup match, boxing, stock car racing, swimming, concerts, and more. Sadly, the stadium was demolished in 1985.
