Tony Webb brings us details of his new book along with a short extract to illustrate what you can expect. We hear that Keith is currently spending some time in hospital, we wish him well.
"Read the whole book in 3 days (obviously I had other things to do work, kids etc lol) but every spare moment I couldn't put it down. A great read but obviously very sad for many reasons but the last chapter was so positive and I'm so glad it was. Hope life keeps on the up for you."
"Sorry to hear that this is advertised as the last instalment - it has been brilliant. I recall that there was an official photographer around that time (I used to travel with him occasionally to Motherwell stock cars & speedway with Hans Copeland in his Morris Marina) - he always said that it was well named as it leaked like a seive. I cannot remember his surname but he had loads of Glasgow Speedway photos. There were other photographers = hopefully someone can find the photos and publish them. They wouls be a suyperb addition to Peter's contribution."
"Looks to me like it could be Hackney. The banking on the 3rd/4th bends was open to spectators in 1964 up to around the late 60's as I remember. Could be wrong, but would bet the house on it being the Wick."
"I've known Maureen since my school days in south Essex UK. I settled in Adelaide Australia in 1969 and in the early 70s found Maureen had arrived as well. Bit of a turn up for the books to find a school friend landing in the same place as I so long ago. Maureen has been a part of the speedway scene for longer than I can remember and probably a bit longer than she can remember. I remember seeing some of her work on visits to her home, her hubby Dave does the same thing in timber veneer. Wonderful to see her on here displaying her talents to all. Thanks to Speedway plus for featuring Maureen's work. "
"Fabulous stuff! I too have found in over 40 years of collecting, annuals like 'Eagle', 'Boys Own' and more have been a rich field of gems for the picking. Hours of digging have been rewarded by some excellent snaps of speedway, longtrack, grasstrack and Ice. Snaps I have not seen in speedway publications. Here in Christchurch NZ, most of our 2nd hand bookshops have gone thanks to the earthquakes that have not stopped either !!! But no trip to the survivors or weekend markets is complete until all of the books have been thoroughly checked out and especially these annuals and yes, even the girls ones! You can find some rare diamonds in the most unlikely places. Thanks for the great article!"
"I know two of the autograph hunters! Would never have known if one of them hadn't told me, but the rider signing autographs is Kevin Russel I am told."
"Good to find out what happened to Chris.Was there at Holker street, the night it all went wrong (Ian Hindle was the other rider guesting for Teeside in a challenge match of all things).Barrow certainly missed Mr Bailey's scoring after that."
"Ken McKinlay is one of those that riders that is still talked about by the older generation of fans that remember him in action. That speaks volumes about how great he was."
"Thanks Speedwayplus for posting that picture. Have to get Bruce and Bobby to sign it then I can frame it and hang it in the hallway. I would like to thank Speedway Star Australia for that picture that they posted on one of the Speedway sites. Forgot all about that. 1979 Sydney Showgrounds Australia. Don't know why I look so small when we all are about the same height. Cheers mu ch appreciated on the best Speedway web-site ever. I would also like to thank Nigel Boocock for the use of the Speedway frame when I was in Australia. Without him I would have not had one.. Thank you Nigel..."
The last instalment in this series of Peter Colvin's vintage photograph articles. We'd be delighted to hear from anyone else who would like to share their own collection and memories in the same way,
"Dene Davies is my uncle, and doing well in Adelaide, Sth Australia. My father, Laurie Davies, also rode speedway back in the 50's, mainly at Rowley Park and Port Pirie's famous "The Mile" dirt track. He has since passed away. Rode a Norton, ...which he spent many hours in the shed creating and converting a twin engine beast that bloody flew! Sure wish I still had some pics of that. I must send Dene the link here as he would probably love to have a read, and maybe get in touch with some of the riders he used to compete with and against. Love the old pics you've posted. I am glad I stumbled across your site, you have to love Google!"
"Tony Rizzo is my brother and I am shocked at how little he is mentioned across the board of speedway sites I have visited on-line! He raced for the Edinburgh Monarchs in the 1980's alongside Brett Saunders and Roger Lambert whom used our family home garage to store, maintain, clean, repair their bikes and leathers! :) Tony may not have been an high 'point at every meeting' scorer but he did have his moments and was well liked by male and female fans a swooning! I remember him always crashing well at Powderhall and silencing the crowd after the mighty 'whoah!' It would be a happy feeling to see some pictures/photographs with several well chosen describing informative words about my brother and then my daughter and I can share the pride when we show our friends how good we Rizzo's really are at achieving and failing! Yours hopefully!"
"Very interesting article, I live so near to The Crystal Palace but so far away in time regarding the Dirt Track racing all those years ago. Maybe, and it's probably just a dream, when the 2012 Olympics are done and dusted, perhaps the athletics stadium at the Palace will become redundant, wouldn't it be wonderfull if the old oval could be re utilise d for a much needed return of speedway racing to South London......sorry, just day dreaming again."
"I used to go over Hackney every Sunday during the close season (along with a few others including Tiger Beech) to help dear old uncle Len repair bits in the stadium, reclaim shale etc., Jack Biggs sometimes came to do a bit as well. The first week he was there he found out all our names without asking any of us and never forgot them always addressing us by name from then on. Some memory he had and some gentleman he was! I was in the queue at Wimbledon one night at the turnstile by the pits when Jack arrived, he called me over and got me to carry his bag into the pits, getting me in for free to see the match.The only time I ever got in for free at Wimbledon! He did the same at Halifax once, telling the guy on the gate that me and a mate of mine were helping in the pits that nig ht. A great man still sadly missed by all who knew him."
