"Hi Steve, very much enjoyed that, thanks. I'm a World Final fan but only because of the era I come from. There were 49 World Finals and when the GP took over, I was pretty deflated. Over 30 years later, I have sort of got used to it.
As for Jerzy Szczakiel, Egon Muller and Per Jonsson, they all rode magnificently on World Final night and 100% deserved their Gold Medals. Could they have done it over a GP series? Jonsson for sure. Szczakiel and Muller, maybe not but that in no way takes any shine from their well earned World Title's.
Looking at 2K, yes, Mark Loram made 3 Finals and 3 Consolation Finals. His consistency in all made him World Champion. It wasn't that he did not try to win each Final, the way it turned out, he did not need to. I see that Billy Hamill also made 3 Finals. Winning two and a second. But he made just the solitary Consolation Final. Hamill fans may not have enjoyed that outcome at all. But I guess already having been World Champion helped soften that blow.
For me, the World Final had the 'Big Top' fun of the fair but GP fans will have their own unique passion. My only plea is not to let it become woke nonsense like the horrible SON event. I'm looking forward to other comments as I enjoy a good debate. Thanks again for for the spark."
"The suggestion the colonials were poorly treated in 1973 completely ignores history, and how the face of international speedway and much else was changed by geopolitical activity around that time. As of January 1, 1973, Great Britain became a member of the European Union and for good or (in the opinion of many) for ill, the old relationships with Australia and New Zealand sporting and globally were immediately redrawn. The ramifications continue to this day.
On the speedway front, Oz and NZ had been under the jurisdiction of the Auto Cycle Union but from that point on, began to handle their own affairs. The combination of circumstances including the definition of Australia and New Zealand as competition entities in their own right, as demonstrated by the 1972 international tournament which preceded the 1973 expanded Daily Mirror version, meant that not before time they and England were able to compete under their own identity rather than in the hybrid fashion of earlier years.
Of course British speedway at large owed a huge debut to the likes of Ivan, Barry and Ronnie, Jack Young, Jim Airey and others before them, but when everybody went their own way it certainly wasn't before time. And of course the BSPA recognised the value of a blossoming English scenario as the likes of Peter Collins and company were now moving right up there with the very best. Ivan and Briggo briefly bridled a bit at the thought their contribution to Great Britain performances in the World Team Cup, Pairs and Test matches for more than a decade may have been undervalued but it certainly wasn't. In the long run they acknowledged the merits and benefits of the new world order; Australia's WTC win in 1976 (with John Boulger) and New Zealand's 1979 triumph (Ivan captain, Briggo team manager) were stellar moments in the career of those who were involved.
As far as the 1973 selections were concerned, Chris Pusey and Eric Boocock were higher-placed in the averages than any of the 'Take Five' who won the World Team Cup at Wembley, but nobody would say the choices made were wrong. A few months before he died I had correspondence and then a conversation with Len Silver, who was the England team manager of the day. His recollection was that he was the prime mover in the all-England team concept. Mine is that I had been campaigning both in print and at BSPA level for maybe two or three years to separate the Brits and the colonials. The initiative was pro-speedway and not anti anybody or country.
In any case, the story contains an entirely fictional description of the selectors' alleged conduct. If you want a balanced and accurate summary, maybe check it out with someone who was there and was actually privy to the whole sequence of events."
Tracy Holmes looks back on the history of the WTC, with particular emphasis on the wind of change that blew through the competition in the mid-seventies.
"Hi Dave, the story was about Mich after he had won the World Final. His previous Finals would be a whole other story. As for 1973, yes he was a favourite along with Mauger, Olsen, Jancarz, Plech & Szczakiel. For Olsen, it depended upon his injury which proved to be too m uch. Anyone of those three Poles, which ever had the best day, as it turned out to be so. Maybe Mich was over-confident? His round one duck was a disaster and as he said, "It must click from the start." I'm glad you enjoyed that, thanks for your comment."
"Hi Barrie, thanks for that, glad you enjoyed it. My info on Crumpie's bike came from an interview by Neil Street. Happy to be corrected of course but Neil was on the mark, I'm sure. Cheers."
"Great article about Super-Mich. But you missed out 1973 - when Michanek was on fire domestically and beat all before him - and was odds on favourite along with Ivan to lift the World Crown, but only scored 6 points. What went wrong in '73?"
"Is your comment about Phil's Street at the World Final correct? I was always under the impression that Phil rode a different engine, possibly a tuned 2-valve Jawa in that meeting? But thank you for a great article on the Greatest Crewe King."
London League Publications continue their valuable support of speedway literature, helping bring new books to market for fans and historians alike. Their latest release, Racers, Tigers and Canaries - Harringay Speedway 1928 to 1961, is a welcome addition. Co-authored by Jim Henry and Keith Corns, the book shines a light on one of London's lesser-celebrated tracks - Harringay - and tells a story that until now has remained largely undocumented.
"It brings back happy memories having lived 100 yards from The Firs in the 1950's but started to see speedway when I was 12 as my mother was a great fan and Phil Clarke was a distant relative. A great fan of Ove Fundin who is still alive at 91 - same as me! Also remember Bert Spencer one of the last of the foot trailers, Billy Bales and many more. Those were the days never to be repeated sadly. I left Norwich in about 1957 and now in Hastings."
"Truly the end of an era, the sad passing of the one and only, "Uncle" Len Silver. A showman and promoter literally "out of the top drawer", a man of many talents (and many businesses!), truly one of the legends of the sport on both sides of the fence.
Who can forget those wonderful years at the Wick, especially from 1969 to 1973, and the cup winning side of 1971?
Who can forget the lucky 50p piece thrown into the crowd, the ritual burning of his trousers at the last meeting of the season, the watering of the track incident at Wembley, and his true and genuine love for speedway, a love that spanned nigh on 80 years?
Who can forget his enthusiasm at Rayleigh and his eventual rescue of Rye House, where he put his all into treating the crowd to the best show he could put on.
When I was chairman of Wimbledon for one year, back in 1987, I met him quite a few times, usually on the centre green at both Hackney and Wimbledon and he was a mine of information, always willing to pass on a tip or two about the sport. And always forthright with his opinions if he thought you weren't doing things correctly!
RIP "Uncle" Len - and thank you for all the years of entertainment and interest you gave the UK speedway public. "
This is the first update to the website in several months and we start with a tribute to Len Silver who sadly passed away last October. Steve Haire wrote this tribute at the time and we apologise for the delay in bringing it to you.
An appeal from David Pickles, contact us if you can help him.
My cherished (and precious) West Ham Speedway badge from 1964 has, for some reason, lost all its year bars. I wear it with pride wherever I go and I think one of the links may have broken and they have fallen off somewhere and are probably lying in a distant Wetherspoon's somewhere!
The offending bars, in order are:-
1964
Wooden Spoon
1965
British League
Ko Cup
London Cup
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
It's a million to one shot, but can anyone locate me a similar replacement set? Obviously I'd pay for them (plus the postage) so if there are any old Hammers fans out there who don't require them any more would be eternally grateful.
They will end up six feet under with me eventually but I'd like to wear them again before I get "expunged from the records" so to speak!
"My father was quite friendly with Norrie Isbister, perhaps related to competition hill climbing, car and/or motorcycle. I went with him to White City a couple of times around 1946. I remember seeing lots of speedway photos of riders at home and met Norrie. I was 11 at the time, and Norrie had either a Fraser Nash or Fraser Nash-BMW."
"Ronnie Moore beat Peter Craven 2-1 at Ipswich in a Golden Helmet decider on 3rd May 1956. Craven won the first race in a slow time after Moore retired. Ronnie then won the other two heats. Moore had won the first clash 2-0 at Wimbledon on 16th April, with Craven winning 2-0 at Belle Vue on 28th April."
"I came in contact with Gary in the '70s' when we used to go practicing at Hackney every Saturday. Even top riders would turn up to try things out. I even purchased one of Barry Briggs ex bikes, it had twin floats. Anyway, used to talk to Gary each week and he would give some tips regarding racing, one thing he said to me was " If you look at when your racing, and think, the person infront of you is stealing money off you, what would you do to get it back, well you would do anything to get it back." I suppose what he should have said was, gate a bit better and you wouldn't be behind. "
"Thanks for the review. Ordered a copy. I was living in Cumbria in 1987. That year's truncated Glasgow season at Derwent Park, Workington, reignited my interest in speedway. Went to a number of the 'home' meetings."
"I saw Ronnie Moore several times at Foxhall Speedway Ipswich I am not sure when the larger rear tyres were introduced but he rode against Peter Craven for the Golden Helmet decider. Ronnie Moore won the decider by 2 races to nil. Late 50 early 60,s. Any Ideas ????"
"Hi Ian, hope you are all well mate. Glad you enjoyed that. Just a bit of fun innit ?! Bob Andrews used to print all my stuff in the NZ Vets magazine and appreciated all my amateur contributions. Club members around the Speedway world. But The Vicar, aka Colin Tucker took over and Briggo became Lord of the Rings. Who from on high, intructith said Vicar 'Thou shalt not print anything from Tracy Holmes' And The Vicar does just so. As you can see, to put it kindly, Briggo doesn't like me very much. And so, all my fellow club members don't get to share what I have, even if it isn't very good. And often magazines carry stuff not even connected to Speedway, just to fill pages. All the while, crying out for input. Funny old world innit ?! Haha"
"Love your series Tracy on Ivan vs Best of British (and one Aussie!). You are a real bright spot in the empty cupboard of NZ speedway nowadays, it is a pity your writing doesn't get a wider audience"
"Just read the article after seeing today's article in the EDP (23.8.24), it brought back so many memories, whilst I never visited the Firs. I first went to a speedway meeting in 1966 with my husband-to- be, and from then through the 70s I lived and breathed speedway.
My husband became a "pusher" and then Pits Marshall at Long Eaton, and I also did various jobs at the Station Road Stadium, selling raffle tickets, programmes, and on the turnstiles. The worst job was laying the plastic sheeting on the greyhound track before each meeting and even worse removing it afterwards and tipping the shale back onto the speedway track. But it was fun, we were all volunteers and also did jobs such as painting banners and the box with the club emblem where the flags stood.
I do recall Ove Fundin guesting for us, it was considered a great honour. In those days there was a second half for novice riders and we used to put some of them up overnight at our home if they had travelled from afar, I remember Pip Austin from Kent, who never did make it into the team."
"I'm hoping to find more photos of Brafield, especially Eric Eadon. Not much to go on online. My Dad Wayne Barry rode for the Badgers in the 60's. Any help would be amazing."
We can put anyone that can help in touch with Brett - contact us
"Steve Haire's article "Rose tinted spectacles" was both amusing and informative, and bought back some happy memories of Friday nights at the "Wick".
Although West Ham was my primary team, the end of the school, then working, week couldn't come quick enough with a trip on an old coach, literally falling to bits, from Stratford Broadway to the stadium. Free at first, then Len decided to monetise it by charging 6d (2-1/2p for those under 60). "Uncle" Len was one of the best showmen in the game, and a shrewd promoter.
One thing I think Steve may have got slightly wrong is the reference to Len saying "we are top of the league" if they won their opener - in fact it was usually with Wolverhampton, who were then a fellow Friday night track and that was the reason we opened with a league encounter.
Sadly the glorious 60's and 70's are now long gone and just a fading memory, but memories are something that can never be taken away, and they are all happy ones. I'm still as besotted by the sport as I always was, but Steve is right - it was better in our day. Fings just ain't what they used to be."
"I also was at the stadium the night Dave Wills was killed, I was 9 years old at the time, I was standing with my father on the bend ( under the Tote ) where it happened,
I remember at the time everyone there knew it was serious, the following morning I remember my father continually phoning the stadium for news of his condition only to eventually get through to someone who told him that Dave had passed away during the night.
Today 26/6/2024 to mark the anniversary of what happened I visited the very site where the accident happened ( now a housing development ) and in my thoughts were the tragedy of events that night when Dave lost his life, as a West Ham supporter I never knew him and I never met him, but he is still remembered. "
Giuseppe Scalzolar [giuseppe.scalzolaro@gmail.com]:
" I kindly wanted to know if you can find: photo or program of the international pairs competition held in Wiener Neustadt on 17/06/1984. won by Valentino Furlanetto and Giuseppe Scalzolaro. For me it would be very important. Thank you "
"What a legend was Bill Andrew. And such a unassuming person. He worked as a plasterer for his dad in his teens, meanwhile developing his jockey and speedway skills. Eventually he mastered both by age 20 and they became his raison d'etre. He was riding with world champs in the UK, yet the NZ public hardly knew his name. "
"My farther raced his Norton at Crystal Palace in the early years of racing, he was born in 1905 so I guess he would have been around 25/28 years of age when he would race there.
He lost the top of a finger in a race accident and under pressure from family and girl friend (who he married) gave up racing. Not to be deterred he bought a Morgan 3 wheeler with the 1000cc V JAP engine which I have photos of.
I now live in Australia and am 79 years old also owned 2 Nortons in my younger years but graduated to ultra light aircraft gyrocopters and did all the flying for the Mad Max 2 movie.
I still manufacture rotor blades rotor heads along with other components. We are located 300 kilometres west of Sydney on a farm with our own airstrip so I guess my Dad's spirit of racing still lives on in me.
Once you have smelt the smell of burnt Castrol R there is no going back!"
"A very interesting and probably long needed analysis of British riders in 60's and 70's World Finals. And, it demonstrates a lot about attitude and preparation. Looking forward to the other articles in the series."
"The DVD is very good to watch, I was as a great supporter of the Crusaders from day one in 1968. I was behind the riders as part of the starting line crew at every race in 1968 & 69. It's a shame there is very little about those first 2 years at Kingsmead."
Tracy Holmes starts a new series where he contrasts the successes of Ivan Mauger against those of some of the best the UK could offer at the same time. Why was he much more successful and why did the Brits fall short? First up is Nigel Boocock.
"I enjoyed the preview and I was wondering if any of the books feature Liverpool Stanley track. I was only a kid when I used to go with my dad and older brother to watch the Chads and then the Pirates. I was too young to travel to Away tracks, but remember going to Belle Vue once. I used to love the "smell" of the track! Only just joined the site, really enjoying it."
"Anyone seen the Daily Mail Speedway Book. It was a paper back, quite thin all about learning to ride speedway. I would guess either prewar or shortly after. It has leg trailing as well as modern style. I have a good colour copy I took from a deceased friends original but don't know where that is now. We used the front cover in lovely coloured art works to make wall clocks with battery movements. "
"There is a really good photo of the scrum that was pushing off riders after the rider introductions at Powderhall. In the early 1980s there were 8 rakers and 8 pushers off to 14 riders. Have a look at the opening page of the Scottish Speedway Riders Association Facebook site. It was great fun and tested your agility. "
"I am truly delighted to find this article. I am also from Marlow and consider myself very fortunate, with a great interest in vintage bikes George and I struck up a great friendship. During many visits to his workshop I discovered the JAP speedway bikes, George picked up on my interest and before long we had a lovely chrome bike topped up with Castro R and fuelled up. A quick jaunt through the footpath beside his house to the lake area and I had my first experience of sheer power! And that was just in a straight line! I'm hooked!! We went to quite a few training days at reading and Oxford, George was such a great friend and mentor. Very special memories, thank you for the article, he was a true gentleman. "
"I stand corrected, in America the 'World Series' is Baseball not Football (Superbowl), easy to get it wrong as both are basically played and watched by only Americans. Basketball, the other major American sport, the championship trophy is the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy (had to google that), anyway, the funny thing is that Baseball and Basketball, two of their top sports are games originated in for girls, Rounders and Netball, and as far as American Football is concerned we have Rugby where players don't we ar half a ton of protective clobber.
Just read about the Kings Lynn refereeing 'fiasco', will not comment on it but how long before we have to have VAR, appreciate it will mean extra expense, perhaps they could get it sponsored by Specsavers.
The 'Ambition' topic, I think Oxford are being ambitious in running teams in all three leagues."
"Don't include me as not acknowledging the vital part Oxford City Council played to save the Oxford Stadium, since I for one have never failed to mention when writing about the renewed success of the track and team the major part the council played and how important it was when they recognised the site as the city's heritage sports arena. Thereby ensure that houses could not be built on the land or the stadium demolished.
This advice I have also passed on to those wanting to rescue Brandon and Peterborough, emphasising how important it is to ensure that the council is on the promoters and supporters side and not the owners of the land that just want to destroy what is there in order to build houses with their get rich schemes. Every council and individual councillors should be left in no doubt that speedway is one of the few spectator sports that can be enjoyed by the whole family free from gambling and violence. "
"There was only one winner that day, I would say that Peter was more at home looking for the dirt/drive more than anyone else which proved essential on the day. He regularly changed lines looking for the advantage and found it. Surely if Malcolm felt his engines werent up to it he would have looked into it a lot more? As has been said, if PC needed to overtake Ivan in his last ride he looked as though he had a lot in reserve following Ivan to the flag. "
"Just a small correction to Steve Haire's comment on, "What's Wrong With Ambition?" American football's top competition is, in fact, called the "Superbowl". The "World Series" is the baseball equivalent, and actually includes a Canadian team, the Toronto Blue Jays. There were two Canadian teams before the Montreal Expos relocated to Washington D.C."
Tracy Holmes looks back on this test series, which proved to be rather one-sided, with the visitors able to track a side full of up-and-coming superstars.
"Another good article by Dave Pickles. Ambition, still exists but probably lower expectations of what can be achieved. America's national sport is American Football, their top competition is called the 'World Series', yet no other country competes. Their game has not changed over the years but their support hasn't wained.
A few years ago they tried to introduce football to Britain with games with top American teams playing at prestige stadiums including Wembley and although well supported at the start it was a sport which us British never took to. Speedway is becoming the same, Poland has become the prime country or centre stage for speedway. Any rider with ambition now aims to get into a Polish team to compete with the best and further their career, years ago it was the British league that riders headed for to progress.
For some reason when speedway get's it right the authorities deem it neccesary to dumb down a competition and change the format. A good example the World Cup, for years it was a team of four riders riding as indivuals with the top four teams qualifying for a final, worked for years until Poland started winning it practically every year, so what do they do? change the name to 'Speedway of Nations', reduce it to a pairs meetings (the least number of riders you can call a team) with seven teams qualifying, bear in mind there wasn't that many nations that had leagues and some struggled to field two riders (fortunately it's more or less gone back to the old world cup format).
If memory served me right they tried to introduce speedway to an Emirate country consisting of a top class field of riders, also I think they attempted it in Spain but either it failed or didn't come about.
Speedway has seen so many changes to technology and safety, chain guards, silencers, four valve bikes, wheel spoilers, cut out switches, dirt deflectors, multi link forks, back and neck protectors and air fences (I think they ruined the racing at a lot of tracks became narrower), so how long before we have electric speedway bikes? Of course stadium car parks will need elctric chargers for patrons to charge their cars to get home. "
"France, yes !!! Australia too but from my very limited understanding, no-one wants it because it would be a financial flop. As for China, India or Saudi Arabia. Just makes me cringe in horror. It would just be a novelty side-show and treated like a day at the circus. But the USA is where I would love to see it happen. True, you would have to put up with all the Yeehah crap they would serve up but the action would be taken seriously especially if you had Bruce Penhall, Greg Hancock and Billy Hamill on the promotion team. Just a thought. "
"Russians I quite agree with Steve about the situation of the Russians being allowed to race in Britain. Ukrainian sports people are serving in the Ukrainian army, and being killed!. This is good press for the Russians which is Bad. Can you really see the Russian riders being called up for National Service ?. "
"My comments on farcial guests - when telling the story of Hackney vs Birmingham, the rider they were using at number seven and rider replacement for was BOB VALENTINE not Bob Paulson, not that it really matters to the daftness of the situation. "
"fantastic photos of the old Hyde Road track. I am an old Aces fan my Father first took me to watch Peter Craven the first home match after he won his first World championship in 1955, one of the memories I have is Craven doing a lap of honour on the tractor with the World championship trophy, I have recently bought some photos of him doing this, one of them his Mother is standing near the starting gate holding a bunch of flowers."
We heard the sad news this week that regular contributor John Hyam passed away on 14th October at the age of 91.
John had been contributing articles to the site for nearly 20 years and in his working life he was editor of Speedway Star and Speedway Mail magazines.
As way of tribute, here are a couple of his articles, starting with the very first one we published back in 2004.
"Just for once I don't agree with Dave Pickles opinion. I don't think the Russians should be allowed to compete on any sporting stage until the Russia Ukraine situation is rectified. To say sport has nothing to do with politics is ridiculous, everything has to do with politics and when there's 'backtracking' it's usually done on a monetary consideration not a moral one.
When top sportspersons are banned it is unfortunate that the supporter loses out and of course it devalues any competition. Dave questioned what if back in the day the likes of Mauger and Rickardsson had been banned, well in 1973 Mauger and Briggs (more or less the top two in the world) were told they had to sign for a British League team otherwise they wouldn't be allowed to compete in the world championship. At that time all commonwealth riders had to go through British qualifying rounds, as it happened Mauger signed for Exeter, Briggo didn't complete in 73 after he lost his finger in the '72 world final at Wembley but signed for Wimbledon in '74.
Some will argue Laguta and Sayfudinov have denounced Russia's attacks on the Ukraine and ride under Polish licences but I don't think that justifies inclusion into the GP's. I think the qualification process for the GP's has devalued the competition. I could never work out how you can have the GP qualifier for the following season half way through the current GP series. The idea of a 'local wildcard' was done on a monetary consideration, not on who deserved to be in the series.
Speedway of course is not the only sport to make weird decisions, in football England's national World Cup side had Swedish Sven-Goran Ericsson take over from Kevin Keegan as their team manager, always thought the team manager was part of the team. Still, GP's loss is British leagues gain.
Talking of devaluing competitions I bet next year British league won't change, still 6 or 7 Premier tems, less champiomship ones and doubling down with tons of guests (some against their own team). Hope they show common sense and just have two leagues. "
"It seems that I'm always commenting and agreeing with Dave Pickles's observations. Being lost to the sport I've no idea who lots of these riders are in British Speedway but Jack Smith being a Belle Vue rider guesting for Ipswich is just ridiculous and as Dave queries how was this allowed.
I remember there was a time when you couldn't use guests for reserves, you had to use a junior. However this is nothing new as to the abusing of the guests rules. A few years ago Rye House vs Newcastle I think it was used 7 guests on both sides.
Another example was back in the 70's at Hackney, Birmingham had a Bob Paulson riding for them, he'd just come back from a serious injury and he was allowed to ride at no.7 but they still used rider replacement for him at no.2.
The decison regarding excluding Zmarzlik from last Grand Prix, another bad decision, he was fined for the infringement of the rules so why exclude him? If I was a 'conspiracy theorist' I'd say it was done to make the last GP interesting.
Another article just posted I found interesting is Ivor Crane pointing out that 25% of British League are Australians. It is also nice to see pictures of Oxford Stadium which is one of the few succes stories along with Workington but unfortunately this is cancelled out by news of the loss of Wolvehampton and Peterborough stadiums.
I'm guessing next big talking point will be electric v conventional speedway bikes. Electric seems to have faster acceleration so would it mean doing away with clutches, perhaps requiring more throttle control. Certainly interesting times ahead. "
"As a now long retired town planner and speedway fan I was pleased to read the item on Oxford speedway. Whilst I am pleased that the stadium was saved by the dogged determination of Oxford Council to prevent redevelopment I am saddened that the speedway community has singularly failed to give the Council due recognition for their efforts.
However, it saddens me to watch the loss of so many venues to redevelopment and the prospect of the more than likely loss of more long established venues in the future. Perhaps now is the time for the widest speedway fraternity to secure the services of professional planners to work to ensure that no other venues are lost to redevelopment.
To use a turn phrase, seek to future proof speedway stadiums, by using the their knowledge of the wider (national, regional and local) planning system. With professional planners on board it is more than likely they could provide sound support to anyone / group seeking to establish new venues. The planning system is, I fear, no place for lay people these days.
Given my time retired from the profession, I would fall pretty much into the lay person category these days. It is time for speedway boldly face up to the future rather than let it fade away without as much as a whimper. "
Nigel Limb from Lincolnshire shares an inspirational story about a life-changing racing incident that robbed him of his eyesight and how building an electric speedway bike has given him a purpose.
Pictures from one of British speedway's greatest successes in recent years - the re-opened stadium in Oxford. Fingers crossed that one day we can feature Coventry, Rye House, Bradford and elsewhere in similar style.
David Pickles wasn't too impressed that Ipswich Witches were able to select Jack Smith as a guess at the N.S.S this week.
Ivor Craine:
"Where would British speedway be without Australian riders? In the 2023 season there are 24 Australian riders competing for a Premiership or Championship club and many doubling up and riding for a club in each division. With only 112 team spots available over 25% are filled by Aussies and there would be a big hole without them. Ashfield are the only club without an Aussie on their books."
Rob Bamford is looking for heat details from a number of meetings in the 80s and 90s. Could you have a filled in programme that contains the information he seeks?
"Good reading, Ian. Speedway's biggest problem - given the sport's desperately low profile, it may be insurmountable - is almost the entire GB population being unaware of what it is. Partly through changes in how the various branches of the media cover sport (now, everything but football struggles to get a mention), speedway has become, at best, a forgotten sport.
Your 16,000 weekly aggregate attendance observation speaks volumes. I've lost count of the number of times, in recent years, that I've mentioned speedway in conversation with a casual acquaintance, only to be met with a blank look. Even those living within a few miles of a track (quite an achievement in 2023, I know) can be completely ignorant of speedway. Of how many sports can you say that?
In common with several other minority sports, speedway really needs to bring in a disinterested party (or parties), from outside, without prior knowledge or prejudice, to examine thoroughly its problems and recommend positive courses of action. That's going to cost money - something the sport doesn't have, unfortunately.
Speedway's long-standing failure, even during the 'good' times, to develop venues it owns and controls is now biting it on the backside, big time. Too many clubs are at the mercy of ruthless landlords who, understandably, want to maximise revenue from an asset. As things are, speedway is not a money-generating option.
On the subject of football, incidentally, most clubs in the top tier of the National League (tier five) are now fully professional, along with a number in the tiers below. "
"Following on from my mention regarding the film "There is another Sun", have recently come across a 1937 film on Talking Pictures, "Cotton Queen. This not only includes footage of the Belle Vue amusement pa rk, but also a good few minutes of the storyline featured footage of speedway action from the Hyde Road stadium. Not sure if "Cotton Queen" has been covered previously on this section of your website, but certainly worth another mention anyway, at least so it can give the opportunity for fellow speedway fans to look out for a future screening on Talking Pictures."
"I raced at the last ever meeting at the ONLY real Belle Vue, but sorry guys, I was on the dark side... I raced Stock Cars, but I loved this place, I was brought up in Gorton so the whole complex was magical. I had the pleasure of working at Belle Vue as well. How Manchester let something of the likes of Belle Vue die, I'll never know - or forgive them for that matter. I've been inspired by the photos to try and make a 1.76 scale model. I'll post it if I ever get it done... you know what life is like... best laid plans etc. Brilliant site."
Pictures of the new home of the Workington Comets. Such is the rate of progress with this new development, that these pictures from last week are already out of date, with additional seating appearing on the first bend this week.
"Great article with many useful point. My top changes are: A better all round fan experience = comfortable, modern and clean stadiums, and value for money - right now you get just over 15 minutes of actual racing (tapes up to chequered flag) for around £20 - That's not value for money IMHO. As I've said many times, and Ian points it out, millions of people have never even heard of speedway, so that's a good starting point, but you have to have an overall plan, and someone from outside the sport needs to oversee it, else it'll fall back on self-interests. Never say never! "
"An excellent and deeply thought out article from Ian Davey. The problems facing speedway in the UK at the moment are very deep rooted, but over the years many missed chances have been and gone. Even today some simple but effective things could be put into place but aren't. This may sound silly, but ITV's "Tipping Point" features regular prizes each day "courtesy of so & so". Why not 2 VIP tickets to the Cardiff Grand Prix each year? The prizes are given on a regular basis, it would cost nothing for say 100 tickets to be allocated this way, and would give speedway a very cost-effective boost on prime time ITV every day for a set period.
If we don't take every opportunity we can to promote our beloved sport then the downward spiral will inexorably continue. When my generation are finally gone the number of young people taking up the mantle will surely be that much less and our sport will end up even less than a "minority" sport. Hard to believe that 40 short years ago Wembley was packed to capacity for an enthralling World Final, and surely there is now evidence that the writing is on the wall if no action is taken very soon."
"Interesting follow up article by Ian. Usually when anybody discusses the topic of British speedway it is compared to football. Where as football just needs a bit of land for a ground and is usually located within easy reach of public transport with the lower teirs regionalised and played by amateurs speedway is expensive and too risky to compete as an amateur plus for supporters tracks have been and are located in places not easily accessible by public transport, examples Eastbourne, Mildenhall and Iwade. In the old days youngsters would have raced in the second half on second hand bikes and leathers and progressed into the team as they improved.
One thing that is made clear from Ian's article is speedway needs to go back to scatch and start again. You cannot maintain a Premiership league with 7 teams, especially with 4 going into play-offs (Scottish Premiership league has 12 teams with 10 teams in the other three leagues). Unfortunately as with any top sports, charities or business's the people running it cannot relate to the people they are providing a service for with speedway perhaps being the worst example where they cannot relate to what the supporter wants.
I keep emphasising the fact that sport is about competition and that speedway has always penalised successful teams with one of the best examples being my 1988 team Hackney where the following year they were forced to lose half their team through team averages. So I can't see anything changing, it will remain the same as everybody will still be out for themselves and relying on somebody to bail them out when things go wrong. It's a shame but I can't see anything improving within my lifetime. Unfortunately I'm lost to speedway as I have no 'team' to support or track to watch it live. Still, if Oxford can turn their fortunes around lets hope others can do the same. "
"Met Colin Caffrey at Glasgow Tigers meeting v Berwick bandits at Ashfield on Friday 28th April 2023, had a good chinwag about speedway, very enjoyable evening and Tigers won 58-32.".
"Commenting on my own photos after several years: Just look at those skinny boys with their 22-inch rear wheels, straight unsilenced exhausts, nitro-methane, leathers, Barum tires, and Maely steel shoes. God, that was a beautiful period in speedway and motorcycling history. Can hardly believe it was well over half a century ago. I'll never forget Steve Bast and all the other lads from those days. Some are old men, and some are gone, but they'll always be my boyhood heroes. "
Lionel first saw speedway (just) before the start of World War II and was a keen fan of the Walthamstow Wolves in later years. His favourite rider of all-time is Georgie Newton.
"What can I say....one of the best riders of my youth that will stick with me until the day I die. Gary Peterson was a fantastic rider and for me part of a great Bradford team. Gary gave thrills and excitement when ever he rode. You could say that Gary and the Bradford riders got me hooked on speedway, but there was only one Gary Peterson. Style and speed. he was just a brilliant rider who gave 110 percent in every race. Sadly missed. Never forgotten."
"I totally agree with Jim Henry's comments. We've had this discussion on the British Speedway Forum several times, and it disturbs me how many people seemingly want a meeting finished in less than an hour! I used to drive all over the country to watch speedway, and I wouldn't have wanted to do a seven hour round trip for a 45-minute meeting! I also liked Jim's comments about "meeters, greeters, and explainers", as it would certainly help newcomers to the sport to feel involved."
"My parents were huge Speedway fans at the Shay and used to take me as I was growing up, I love looking back over these things and remembering the smell of the fumes as we drove down into Halifax. We have a good collection of old programmes from back then and wondered if there is a market for them today?"
Julian Dunn has uncovered a JAP engine that his father Gerald rode at Coventry in the 50s. He'd welcome expert comment on the engine and is also hoping to find a cylinder head for it.
"Oxford had a great season with so many good nights with the Cheetahs and Chargers. The riders all had their moments that made us cheer like made. Nothing comes easy in our sport and we lost a few home matches, but each time by only a few points. We had many last heat deciders that kept us on edge. It was fantastic when we pulled it off. Obviously not so good when we lost. However the size of crowds never suffered they just kept coming. All were happy that we had our track back and teams to support.
It was therefore so good to be at World Speedway Riders Association dinner to see Oxford receive their track of the year award. Thanks go to the Promoter, Team Managers, riders and all the staff and supporters that made the dream come true. We now look forward to the 2023 season with a team to set our hearts beating again and the hope that Coventry, Swindon and Reading can make it back to their tracks again."
"I disagree that a tractor drawing grader can draw more material to the white line than rakers. If you want a decent surface for every race you need rakers drawing in dirt before every heat and for it to be spread by a tractor drawn wire mesh grader. Two to three tractor laps between each heat. Tractors with blade graders, spinning wheel etc going out after every four laps cannot draw in and spread the same amount of shale as 4 rakers (6 at Berwick) going out after every race.
The best dirt coverage by tractor is before heats 1,5,9,13 (and 15).The track progressively slickens off in the racing lines and dirt progressively builds up round the outside before 2,3,4 and so on.
Being a hard grafting raker isn't a jolly. Raking after each race doesn't need to hold up / slow down a meeting. In fact I'd feel robbed if a meeting were over in an hour.
As an aside, the time between races need to taken up by good presenters building up excitement between races. (Say) giving a summary of the meeting thus far and assessing who might do what in the upcoming race. They could encourage home and visiting fans to get behind their team and newcomers to join in and support a rider in the next race irrespective of team they ride for. In this way they might get caught up in on track action rather than just be bystanders who may feel left out of it. Maybe we need meeters greeters and explainers to help newcomers get the most out of their night."
Tracy Holmes was inspired by reading the new Peter Collins Autobiography and revisits heat 20 of the 1975 World Final. Would Peter have won it if the title had been within his grasp?
"Just a minor correction, but Bill didn't leave for the UK in 1965, as at that point he was a neighbour of my family in London. He might have visited Australia in 1965 but he was back in London after that date, I know as he taught my mum to drive, when we were living in Brockley. He left circa 1968 and I visited him and Kay in the Sunshine Coast around 2002. He visited the UK once in the 1980's when Kay wanted to visit a relative in Rumania. This was an Iron Curtain country at the time, and the visit distressed Kay greatly. He had a scrapbook that had a cartoon in the UK Times of him racing, with an image of Hitler complaining that Bill was getting more attention than him.. which I think was from 1938. "
"An excellent article. A lot of the points I would concur with. I also attended the Cardiff Grand Prix and the British final. One was very poor entertainment and the other was as good a meeting as I have seen. I will give you a few observations from my time watching speedway, my first match was 1975.
The first is that most fans in all sports are only casual supporters. I think speedway has lost 95% of its casual fans. I think this is one of the main reasons for the decline. Looking at cricket as a comparison. There are an awful lot of fans who are only interested in winning and have very little interest in the detail of cricket. For example I attended a 20 20 cricket match last summer. The entertainment in my opinion was very poor, a one sided game, no contest between bat and ball, team A won because they scored a few more boundaries than the other. I was a long way away, could see little, no interest in drinking and I was totally bored.
Another example I can point to, this time speedway. I attended a match between Peterborough and Edinburgh. A hard fought match with the Monarchs just winning. Lots of overtaking on a very good track. The majority of Panthers fans did not enjoy the match. A fair few probably stopped going because their team could no longer win the league.
My first season was 1976 when I watched Birmingham. The team was poor and so were results, the entertainment though was excellent. Crowd levels dropped a lot from the previous year when the Brummies were winning the league I suspect that I am in a minority (probably a large minority) but look for good racing.
I have been to Belle Vue and I have never seen a bad meeting. The key to me is good track preparation, where the two racing lines inside and outside should have equal opportunity. I have been to a lot of tracks where first out of the gate always wins. I went to Coventry a lot in the late 70's and saw some very boring racing. The team was doing well and crowds were good. What does that say?
The plus points to speedway are:
* On most tracks you can see 100% of the racing
* Most other sports are better on the television, cricket especially.
Some items that I think have caused the decline:
* Lack of atmosphere - Cradley v Birmingham and Coventry v Wolves derbies, to mention a couple were very good
Loss of local newspapers - during the 70's the coverage at Birmingham was brilliant, full back page spread most weeks. As a casual fan you could not miss it. The decline of the Birmingham Evening Mail I am sure prevented the Brummies from attracting casual fans. On the plus side the Express and Star coverage of the Wolves is excellent so casual people in the area still know there is speedway, not the case in Birmingham in my view.
* Loss of Saturday night is massive. Certainly if Belle Vue raced on a Saturday night it would encourage me to go, travelling back over an hour on a Monday just takes too long
* Loss of Terrestrial television - Football just takes over and Cricket has also suffered. May be worth trying to get a highlight package on ITV4.
* Loss of the stars - Everybody had heard for example of Ivan Mauger and Kenny Carter. Very few know Tai which is very sad.
Some items that may improve things:
* Given the limited fixture list I see little point racing in March and October. During June, July and August try and race once a week. Although this is unusual, no other sport expects customers to come every week.
* Look to have the British final with all British riders. Belle Vue may be too small. Try Bradford and pay Tai and Robert the money they want.
* Look to have a couple of major individual meetings on a Saturday during the summer. Try Belle Vue, get all the best riders, it will be a gamble.
* Look to have something above the premiership. Only the really well supported teams, perhaps four teams. Home and away, very high limit. At least three GP riders per team. Try to get it on a Saturday. Charge say £30, get it on television as well.
* Don't stop races and warn riders, just let them carry on and at the end of race just exclude them. Will soon stop riders trying to cheat. Nobody wants to see a drawn out heat. Technology would improve the issue. Same as athletics, if they react to soon exclude.
* Covers for tracks. I know it would not prevent all rain offs but it would stop the track been unfit due to rain for days before. If my local cricket team can afford covers then so can speedway. Nothing worse than driving to see a track which is unfit and it is not raining. "
"As a track raker of many years experience until the demise of Lakeside I feel I should clarify a few points in David Pickles article "Raking Over Old Coals".
From the outset it has to be understood that modern high-revving engines do an enormous amount of damage to the track, compared to the old uprights. We now see great ruts appearing on the start line that just didn't happen years ago. The rules require the start marshal and referee to co-operate in ensuring that the riders get a "fair and equal start " so the riders are entitled to prepare their starting area. Just how much time they are allowed is up to the referee considering all the circumstances. Some referees are stricter than others and arguably there should be a few more exclusion for time wasting at the start.
However if a rider is excluded that results in even more delay while he goes back to the pits and a reserve has to get his helmet and goggles on and get himself out to the start. Also, imagine what would happen if riders were not allowed to fil a few ruts in. One rider gets an advantage off the line and the fans are robbed of what might have been a decent race. It is a difficult problem with no easy answer.
Next we have the problem of delays by riders going back to the pits after a restart. Again this is in the hands of the referee. It is in the referees power to put the two minute warning on straight away do but we forget those times and remember the delays. Sometimes there is good reason to allow more time. For example, if a race is stopped because of first bend bunching it is not a riders fault he has been knocked off, perhaps is a bit winded or needs to make minor repairs to his bike.
That brings us to what I believe is the real reason for long drawn out meetings - there are too many crashes in modern speedway. Modern engines with narrow power bands are very volatile and unpredictable. I was talking to Olle Nygren a few years before he died. He said that in his day he reckoned to do about 100 meetings a season and only fall off once or twice. He said Briggs, Mauger and the others top riders were the same. Compare that to today and I think most riders would be lucky to go a few meetings without a crash let alone a season. I dont want to sound like an old fogey but I really agree with Olle Nygren that modern engines are much to blame for the demise of the sport. They are certainly responsible for the demise of team riding.
I have been at meetings were it has taken 45 minutes to get through the first four or five races because of crashes. At Lakeside the flag marshals always doubled as track rakers. Safety requires meant we have two to each bend although we normally had three. I dont know wher ethe idea came from that they don't exist now, but maybe they are just not seen on TV. The safety rules are that rakers stand four metres behind the white line and in the event of a crash or stoppage the rakers should only go on the track when all the bikes are off and don't touch the fallen rider. The first aiders attend to the rider, the mechanics deal with the bike and the rakers deal with repairs to the track.
Track rakers should go out between races to rake the dirt back, but there is a skill to it. As the dirt get sprayed to the outside by the bikes during racing we tend to leave on the outside on bends one and three, where the bikes are sliding into the corner and rake it back to the dirt line on bends two and four where the riders need grip accelerating out of the corner. The tractor usually brings the dirt back closer to the white line because he can do it more evenly than a raker.
It takes a lot of skill for a track curator to prepare a good race track. Unfortunately there are not many really good track curators these days and it is a bit of a dying art, with detrimental effects on the quality of the racing. There is more to it than just driving a tractor round. Remember next time you see a decent track that the curator has probably been working on it long before the meeting starts and will still be there long after the fans have gone. As others have said, a great sport, but I think the best parts of it are behind us now. "
Retro-Speedway may have announced their intention to stop publishing their regular magazines, but they'll still be producing nostalgia-laden DVDs like these.
"Ian Davey has a good stab at what hundreds of others before him have also done - tried to state what has gone wrong with British speedway. And no doubt, those hundreds before him had just as many different opinions, and I count myself amongst all of that, on various fourms and publications over the years. He certainly has a point that, compared to F1, no-one central body seems to be in charge of the sport, which probably hasn't helped. There's always comparisons with other sports, but this can sometimes be divisive.
Given the cost of living crisis, speedway is not value for money, with around 20mins worth of actual action, at best. I've been to Stock Car meetings which give you far more for your buck. Millions (and I don't think I'm exaggerating here) of people in the UK don't even know what speedway is! I await Part 2 with interest, and although we should never say never... It's dead, but it won't lie down."
"Ian, This is a well written and very fair facual summary, so much better than many that are just keen to bash and blame promoters. I will look forward to the second article and hopefully some practical discussion on the future."
"An excellent article from Ian, and one that older fans especially, will echo. Its almost impossible to pinpoint when the rot set in, and looking back its almost impossible to believe that over 92,000 fans packed into Wembley in 1981 for what was to be the last ever World Final there, and yet 5 years later attendances at some tracks had collapsed.
John Berry once told me that his plans to revamp the sport would have worked, whether they would or not is open to debate and I never got the full story, but I think promoters made a huge mistake in 1986 by voting not to at least put him at the head of it. His vast experience could only have done good.
Since those days of course we've had machinery changes, start rules change and quite frankly interminable delays between races all combine to ruin speedway as the spectacle it once was. Of course old romantics such as myself look through rose-tinted glasses as far as the quality of racing is concerned, but I well remember tramping home from West Ham and Hackney some weeks disappointed with the fare on offer, only to return the following week to witness a corking meeting. The product hasn't basically changed since 1928 and to me is still the best sport by far on the planet, but it needs somehow to attract the youngsters and that I'm afraid will be very difficult with the plethora of alternatives on offer as Ian has rightly pointed out.
We have been betrayed in reality by the media who no longer publish the results, and TV companies in particular. The BBC has always made a point of ignoring us, begrudgingly showing highlights of The Internationale in the 1970's but very little else, and ITV really haven't been much better. Sky should hang their heads in shame for not just abandoning us but not even featuring us on their sports news channel any more either. I think the best we can hope for is that current interest and attendances are maintained for the foreseeable future."
"The decline of speedway! Yes , a very sad state of affairs and I look forward to reading Ian's suggestions on what he thinks needs to be done to hopefully get back to something like the glory days. I have posted many comments on this website over the years.
Most sports and businesses reinvent themselves to generate interest to a younger generation. Instances being the 'locals' pub has disspeared and have now become 'Kitchen and Bar', Vehicles are switching to electric, Cricket brought in the 1 day game, Rugby changed the name of teams and have mascots and in some cases cheerleaders, Rugby along with Football has started promoting Ladies teams with television channels willing to broadcast games. British Speedway has not adapted, they brought in play-offs as the Americans do, but even that now is a joke as you have 6 teams in the Premiership (name adopted from football) and four go into play-offs.
The decline I feel is down to three basic facts, speedway has always penalised teams that are good (originally a gate handicapping of top riders, rider control and then team averages) the only team sport I can think of that does this. Promoters never promoted the sport, they relied on papers reporting events and thirdly they never had the foresight to purchase or build stadiums, always renting them.
It's hard to know now how to improve the situation, promoters have never listened to the supporters, they've always been concerned about their own business interests and not as the sport as a whole. The only thing I can think of to improve their lot is to try and sell the sport to television companies or to start a 'British' Speedway channel that people can subscribe to, so you can live pause and record. Of course you need to improve your product which means no limits on teams strengths, you simply run on what you can afford.
My situation is at the moment I have no means to stream and I can't get to see any live speedway although I do subscribe to Premier sports to watch Swedish and Danish Speedway . I look forward to Ian's ideas on how to save our beloved sport. "
"I agree with your comments and wish speedway could provide fans with a meeting each week like we used to have, this is why crowds are down once a month is just not good enough to keep people coming back. I think the promoters need to find a group of ex-riders and supporters to decide on a new rule book and the promoters to rigidly stick to it"
Tracy Holmes and Steve Baker conclude their series on the Golden Hammer. The last time the meeting was staged at senior level was at Stoke in 1996, home that year of the Cradley & Stoke Heathens.
"Years ago I did raking at Rye House plus I doubled up at Hackney whenever there was a shortage of track staff. You were not paid but did get free entry, a programme and at the interval a cup of tea. From what I remember the rules were 5 minutes from the start of one race until the start of the next which would include any track preparation that needed to take place with only a extra time given if a rider had two rides on the trot, starting gate malfunctions or fence repairs.
These days you have to wait for riders to go back to the pits after an unsatisfactory start, wait ages for any air fence repairs (old days you just put the kick board back).
For us olduns who cannot get to watch live speedway the solution is simple, get a sky or virgin box and subscribe to watch speedway, that way you can live pause or record and watch at a time to suit you. I've been informed that you cannot do that if you stream a match which means you are back to watching them take two hours to run a meeting.
These days I am quite happy to record the highlights of the British League matches (when they decide to show a league match) and Grand Prix's on Quest which ironically with the league matches, unless there's loads of re-runs or delays you get to see all 15 heats in an hour programme and I subscribe to Premier Sports to watch the Swedish (Tues &Thurs) and Danish (Wed) where even if there is a delay due to the weather they will still show all the match, even though you do tend to be watching the same riders in both leagues most of the times.
Interesting enough for those who don't follow the Danish league they have 5 riders in a 14 heat format which makes it a bit awkward if somebody gets injured.
Having moaned about all that Speedway is still a great sport. Perhaps they should take a leaf out of footballs pages and have a ladies speedway league, how many of us would watch that?"
"I suspect the demise of rakers was to save on staff costs & free entries. I raked at Powderhall many years ago and I do think that rakers can refresh a surface in.very short time working with one track grader. Rakers have to forget about filling programmes and get out as soon as the last bikes go past.
I do not think the multiple tractors etc move much dirt in towards the white line to be honest. Rakers are better on wet nights as they can get druse Shale on to the slick bits and shift any slop as needed. Might be worthwhile giving rakers a try again - you would only need two at each end if the flag marshals at each bend joined in."
Tracy Holmes and Steve Baker on the last Golden Hammer to be staged at Dudley Wood.
Iain Giles is looking for some help:
"I found your site when trying to research two medals I bought at auction several years ago. I wonder if there is any history you may be able to provide me about the riders and the races please.
Both medals have Portsmouth Motor Club on the front.
On the reverse, one is a winners medal and reads 'Wymering Park Races 16.2.30 600cc S. Watkins'
The other reads 'P.M.C. Wymering Races W. DURANT 3rd 350cc. FEB 1931'
I am originally from Wymering but had no idea there had been a race track there. "
We suspect that Wymering was more of a grasstrack or scrambling circuit. Anyone able to confirm?
"I think the enquirer answers his own question as Malcolm Craven was the only Craven who rode for West Ham and could have performed at this time. Details of the years the various Cravens rode can be found on The Speedway Researcher web site."
"I'm making a short film about motorcycle stunt riders and am looking to find out more about Bill Deegan's Hell Riders - especially their last years in the late 70s I believe. Does anyone know anyone who was with them, or can direct me to any descendants of Bill, or perhaps knows where I can find photos or videos from the shows? Thank you!"
"I cannot believe the dog track has closed. I have been working away for a long time, but I have come home now . I was talking to my grandsons and I told them we should go. So I checked it out and I could not believe it was not there anymore. I used to go three times a week for years, well it will save me a few quid ha ha"
"A "minor miracle" indeed John. A little while back I published a brief article in the World Speedway Riders' Association magazine ("Tapes Up") about my memories of going to see Oxford Cheetahs when I was a student there. I concluded it by wishing the campaign to re-open Oxford every success in re-establishing one of the most well-known brands in the history of British Speedway, but I have to admit I never thought it would happen. Now it has.
Congratulations to you and your fellow campaigners,John. It's a real boost for the sport and gives hope to Coventry, Reading etc.
In August I'll be returning to see the Cheetahs, exactly 50 years since my last visit, accompanied by a friend who was a fellow student, who I've also not seen for 50 years! Should be a great night. "
Based on the best information available (the Speedway Control Bureau regulations) we've added a programme generator for the new Premiership Pairs competition. Gate positions appear to be decided on heat colours, with the Red and Blue pair being able to place either rider on gate 1 or 3. The same would apply for the white/yellow pair and gates 2 and 4.
Some creative writing from David Walsh, partially inspired by the recent reunion of the Ellesmere Port Gunners. David was a key component of their 1985 side that won the National League.
We've had a surprising number of requests for a programme generator that can be used while watching the Danish League meetings on Premier Sports. The good news is that we have been able to make one available. Special thanks to Terry Akiens for his assistance with this. We hope to have one available for the Premiership Pairs meetings later in the season.
"My dad, Fred RIGG rode for the DUKES, the Shay, Halifax, West Yorkshire. He was born 1925 and died 2014. I used to watch the DUKES at Halifax when I was 14 but shortly after they went to Bradford ( I think). I have no records of him having rode speedway in the 1950s. There was an Eddie RIGG ( ?) but don't know of him. I would love to find something with his name or details on it. Can you help? "
"Hi Andrew just seen your reply. I have been back watching for about 8 years. One of my daughters got me back in to going, we are in the South Stand as it exits turn 2. That's incredible about your sister and parents - such a small world."
Tony Webb:
"The Ipswich rider is 1957 World finalist Norwegian Aage Hansen. He is on face book. Aage was reported to have knocked a whole second off the Ipswich track record in an unofficial practice session in 1957 and scored 11 in his first meeting."
Wednesday was a real night to remember in Oxford as the Cheetahs raced back into action at their spiritual home. John Fray was one of those who never gave up hope and was lucky enough to secure a ticket for the grand reopening meeting.
"My wife and I have Grandchildren in NZ and we visit - covid permiting - for 4 or 5 months each UK winter. Having known Fred and Carol since the late 60's we always visit them at their home outside Napier. Fred is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet.
I rode with him in a few Grasstracks. During one he rode Bill Davies Douglas. Danny and Lee Dunton, Jim Gregory and John Stallworthy were also riding. Fred has a big collection of Vintage and Classic bikes as well as his last speedway ride, his ESO-JAP.
Last time we visited, his lovely mum Dot greeted us pushing a wheelbarrow full of stable sweepings. She had just finished 'Mucking out' the stalls. Like all true eccentrics she was wearing a nice skirt and blouse, a twin string pearl neclace and wellies! Dot's life had just improved as she had had her cararact done.
Note the singular - she only had sight in one eye! She had terrible trouble convincing the surgeons to do it. If it went wrong, she would have been blind. She, with typical Kiwi forthrightness said " I'm bloody well blind as it is - you can't make it much worse! "
So they did it - successfully. Cant wait until we can get together again, hopefully in 2022."
"Lovely to finally learn more about my Dad, Angus McGuire and his speedway days. He rode with the Liverpool Chads for late 1949 and through 1950. Then with the Fleetwood Flyers during late 1950 and 1951. He loved motorcycles for the rest of his life and could fix any of them."
"In 1971 the Oxford Section of the VMCC ran a Vintage Grass Track ot the Sports Trust playing fields in Kidlington. We had help from the Oxford Ixion MCC, borrowing their ropes and stakes to mark out the circuit, A bumper entry included Bill Davies, Rick (Fred) Timmo, Danny Dunton, Lee Dunton, Jim Gregory, John Stallworthy, Titch Allen, founder of the VMCC, Roger Gagg and yours truly. As well as George Bason with a 250 Triumph! I remember George as a very polite and well turned out chap. He spent a lot of time speaking with Bill Davies and John Browne of Carterton. John Brown was one of the founders of the Oxford Speedway at Cowley pre war. He and George went back a long way. Happy Memories."
"I remember a little about Jack racing at Western Springs NZ with his sister as pusher. I still remember last time I seen Jack he was on top of a steel beam welding at shopping centre in Otara South Auckland. How did I know him? I was in his class at Penrose High School. RIP Jack"
" Such a wonderful thing, to still see, my dear departed Dad's article here still, he passed away in 2012. He loved West Ham, I'm 59 now and used to go in the early seventies, actually just before the ground at Custom House was redeveloped. He was passionate about letting people know about the old days and ways, I remember him telling me how Prince Regents Lane was crowded like a football match on race days in those times. Paints some many wonderful pictures. He was involved in the disaster fund for the West Ham team, when their van crashed in Belgian. I remember talking to Garry Hay on the phone, such a thrill for a young lad! We also met Len Silver at Hackney, when Dad did some advertising for him, I remember, the GO-Hackney pointers! Happy Days, keep up the good work."
"Nice piece about a great meeting, the greatest individual meeting in the world. First time I was there was 1986. I had been racing the famous Dr. Joe Bailey 1926 TT Douglas - Briggo rode it a couple of times - in an International Vintage Road Race at the Autodrom in Most, followed the next weekend by an 11 kilometre tarmac hillclimb at Sternberk. I got on the box in both events - it was a really fast bike - second at most, winner at Sternberk.
I was travelling with my wife, our 3 year old and a twelve week old baby. We got to Pardubice in time for the last heats and the two finals. A very young Tomas Topinka won that year. Many Czechs were interested in the old Douglas and after meeting some enthusiasts and getting contact details for the Zlata Prilba club I blagged a ride for 5 Brit veteran riders on Vintage bikes the following year. The riders were myself, Douglas, Roy Nowell, Douglas, Dave Kirby, Rudge, Dave Sparks, JAP and Dickie Brown, Martin JAP. Rudolph Havelka, technical guy in charge of the Zlata Prilba clubs workshops and a fine rider joined us on an early ESO. We must have put on a good show as we were invited back many times as well as getting a skid at the Lubos Tomicek Memorial meeting at the Marketa Stadion in Prague on the Monday night.
In 1986 I fell off in front of a full Stadium during our race at the Golden Helmet. 60,000 fans - they make for a great atmosphere. I have a picture of my wife wearing Jeremy Doncasters Golden Helmet during the after race party.
Wonderful memories. Your 1938 query, Gunzenhauser started IIRC, but failed to finish. The race for the Golden Helmet was run, in those days, around the racecourse used for the Czech Grand National horse race. IIRC one lap was 4 kms, and ten laps were run. It was very fast and dangerous. There is a memorial garden for the six riders who lost their lives racing there. Franta Juhan, Gunzenhausers teamate under the British designer and team manager George Patchett, won on another Jawa. Gunzenhauser took the OHC model leaving the slower, but as it turned out, more reliable OHV bike to Juhan. In 1996 Franta Juhan's brother and Frankie Juhan, Franta's son, sponsored a Memorial Meeting at Pardubice, won by Todd Wiltshire. The Vintage bikes were there too, and it became the start of the Oldtimer Euro Series of Speedway and Longtrack events of which I and a dozen other Brits became a large part of. Great times.."
"I had the pleasure of working with Bob Leverenz at Radio Rentals in Adelaide. I was very impressed in his demeanour and he had a great influence on my decision to become a freemason. (I went on to become Grand Master 2003 - 2006) His philosophies on life were absorbed and never forgotten. A former member of Glenelg Lodge and the Lodge of Sportsmen. "
"Best wishes to Barry Grindrod. Barry - do you remember Stock Car - The Magazinbe for the Sport, which Geoffrey Kingscott and myself edited for The British Stock Car promoters Asssociation (Charles Ochiltree in effect)? You were the magazine's man at Nelson, as I remember. I also visited Nelson for speedway. If memory serves me right Long Eaton got a rare Division Two away point at Seedhill. Saturday May 3rd 1969. A 38-38 draw. Pete Gay and Tony Lomas both got 11 points for the Rangers. Alan Knapkin with 12 was the top scorer for the Admirals."
"Lovely. seems you had a great time. My first time was at Rye House aged 10 stood by the fence and got smothered in wet cinders, not sure but seem to remember Ronnie More made a guest appearance at Rye House.Thanks for your story. "
"I was PR for the Admirals working full time as a journalist on the Lancashire Evening Telegraph. I used to be big mates with Stu Riley. I lost track of Stu many, many years ago. Anybody know where he is or what has happened to him. Better still are you out there Stu?"
"My father Ernie Deighton rode at Rye House before WW2. My nan Deighton showed me the magazine with my Dad's name in he was known as 'young Deighton', might your old records have any photos or information on my Dad? "
Mike Coombes raced motorcycles of different types for 45 years, including establishing the amateur speedway scene in Britain. Here he looks back on his involvement over the years.
"hi Mike Thanks for your update. have a Motorcycle magazine from the sixties with a photo of your Kermond but it was called a Hynes in the caption. Kermond is a mystery and very little is known after he returned to Australia. I have done a lot of research on Dave Hynes, Huck Fynn and Arthur Payne all mates together. Arthur is 98 and has a good memory."
"Mark Halliwell..only just seen your comment !...you were indeed that person who introduced me to speedway so thanks for that...I hadn't been to any meetings since 1993 but have attended some Belle Vue meetings again this year with my youngest son and been pretty impressed..my sister married ex rider Glenn Doyle and she and my parents have lived in Australia for over 20 years now, 30 years in her case so you could say your introduction to speedway for us changed our lives !"
