Education
He also finished on the rostrum of the British Speedway Championship finals twice, second in 1964 and third in 1965. He went on to captain the team and finished in joint sixth place in the 1948 Combined Services Speedway Championship.
He also finished on the rostrum of the British Speedway Championship finals twice, second in 1964 and third in 1965. He went on to captain the team and finished in joint sixth place in the 1948 Combined Services Speedway Championship.
His nickname Hurri-Ken was given to him by famous speedway promoter Johnnie Hoskins. McKinlay took up speedway while serving with the British Army in Germany, riding for the Neumunster forces team On his return to Britain, he started his career with the Glasgow Tigers in 1949 and had five successful seasons there.
However in 1954 the track closed and Ken transferred to the Leicester Hunters for a club record fee.
He spent eight seasons with the Hunters, moving up with them into the First Division in 1957, and averaging close to 11 points in the 1958 and 1959 seasons. A spell with the Coventry Bees followed after Leicester dropped down to the Provincial League.
When the British League was formed in 1965 Ken was allocated to the West Ham Hammers, and as captain led them to winning the 1965 treble of League Championship, KO Cup and London KO Cup trophies. He was renowned for his team-riding with younger riders and his contribution throughout his five season with the Hammers was immeasurable.
1970 saw him return to the Coventry Bees for one season before he moved to the Oxford Cheetahs for a further two seasons.
Ken considered retirement but in 1973 he was approached by the management of the Scunthorpe Saints to become rider/coach of the second division side. He stayed with the Saints for three seasons before retiring in 1975 aged forty-seven. While still a Second Division rider with Leicester he rode for England in the 1955 Test series against Australasia, top scoring for England in the third test with 11 points, and going on to represent England regularly until the early 1970s.
Ken McKinlay was also a success when he ventured to Australia to race in the late 1950s and through the 1960s, winning the Australian Individual Speedway Championship in 1964 at the 509m Sydney Showground Speedway.
He placed third in 1967 at Adelaide"s Rowley Park Speedway and tied for second in 1969, again at the Sydney Showground. Mckinlay was also successful in various Australian state championships.
Ken had two short spells as team managers of Scunthorpe and Long Eaton. Ken died in 2003 aged seventy four.
Individual World Championship
1955 - London, Wembley StadiumReserve - did not ride
1956 - London, Wembley Stadium - 5th - 10pts
1957 - London, Wembley Stadium - 7th - 8pts
1958 - London, Wembley Stadium - 5th - 11pts + 1pt
1959 - London, Wembley Stadium - Reserve - did not ride
1960 - London, Wembley Stadium - 9th - 6pts
1961 - Malmö, Malmö Stadion - 11th - 5pts
1962 - London, Wembley Stadium - 7th - 9pts
1964 - Göteborg, Ullevi - 11th - 6pts
1965 - London, Wembley Stadium - 13th - 4pts
1966 - Göteborg, Ullevi - Reserve - did not ride
1969 - London, Wembley Stadium - 8th - 7pts
World Team Cup
1960 - Göteborg, Ullevi (with Peter Craven / Ron How / Nigel Boocock) - 2nd - 30pts (8)
1961 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Ron How / Bob Andrews / Peter Craven) - 3rd - 21pts (4)
1964 - Abensberg, Abensberg Stadion (with Ron How / Barry Briggs / Nigel Boocock / Brian Brett) - 3rd - 21pts (7)
1965 - Kempten (with Barry Briggs / Charlie Monk / Nigel Boocock / Jimmy Gooch) - 3rd - 18pts (7).