Part of the complex of buildings and attractions that formed
Belle Vue Zoological Gardens the Hyde Road stadium was originally constructed in 1886, as an athletics ground. It was named after
Hyde Road, a road which begins at the east end of Ardwick Green South in
Ardwick and runs east towards
Hyde. At the boundary between Gorton and
Denton it continues as Manchester Road. In 1928, the owners of the gardens decided to convert the stadium for use as a speedway venue. It was already used at that time as a football ground for the
Manchester Central F.C. The opening speedway meeting here was staged on 23 March 1929, when Arthur Franklyn won the Golden Helmet. Following the announcement that Stuart Bamforth had sold the stadium for redevelopment, the last speedway meeting was staged on 1 November 1987, when a double header took place. Firstly, Belle Vue defeated the
Coventry Bees in a replay of the League Cup before losing to the
Cradley Heath Heathens in the final league match ever raced at Hyde Road. Speedway returned to Belle Vue Greyhound stadium and remained there. Some of the more famous riders who rode at Hyde Road, either for international meetings, as a Belle Vue Ace, or as a visiting team rider include
Speedway World Champions Jack Young,
Peter Craven,
Ronnie Moore,
Ove Fundin,
Barry Briggs,
Ivan Mauger,
Ole Olsen,
Peter Collins,
Anders Michanek,
Egon Müller,
Michael Lee,
Bruce Penhall,
Erik Gundersen, and
Hans Nielsen. The speedway at Hyde Road was in length. The site of the old Hyde Road stadium is now the site of the
British Car Auctions Ltd. ==Speedway World Finals==