29th July 2012

George Pepper John Hyam looks back on the relatively short career of Canadian rider George Pepper.

It's All About You....Poppy Currie Poppy is the first person to take part in this feature in quite a number of months. Here she shares some memories from the seventies. If you'd like to follow her lead then click on the link at the bottom of the article.

Here's Tony Webb in front a recent library display in memory of Noel Johnson. The library in question was Coopers Plain Library in Queensland. On a similar theme, there's a little speedway content in the temporary Newham Museum in Stratford. The museum is an Olympic attraction and our old friend Robert Rogers has made sure that his beloved West Ham Hammers are represented. The museum can be found at 306 Stratford High Street - opposite the Stratford High Street DLR station.

Keith Anderson on Trackin' Down: Gerald Short: "Good to read Gerald's article. I didn't know about his Birmingham story, very interesting as I rode for Brum 74/75 and also had some good scraps with him on the grass, though he wouldn't know that as I was always behind him!" Steve Harland on Dream Team : Ian Graham: "Geoff Maloney was a great rider to watch when he raced at Middlesbrough's Cleveland Park back in 1969/1971 for the Rayleigh Rockets. One of my favourite away riders." Steve Magro on Speedway on Screen: "Re "Sidecar Racers" filmed at the Sydney Showground in 1974, it features Bill Landels, John Langfield, Greg Kentwell and Gary Wade. The bikes appeared briefly as the film is dominated by the sidecars. " Ivan Blacka on Poem: Speedway: "It's great to see Bob's poem on Speedwayplus. He is a big Speedway fan and contributes lots of history to the Speedway sites on Facebook." John Hyam on Dream Team: Ray Allen: "Bradford. My dream team would have included Ron Clarke, Eddie Rigg, Oliver Hart, Ernie Price, Alec Statham, Max Grosskreutz and Joe Abbott. They were my Odsal heroes and the riders I went to watch when the Boomerangs and 'the man who started it all' (???) their boss Johnnie Hoksins visited London in the late 1940s." Paul Cruse on ELLESMERE PORT - Thornton Road: "Great stuff! Best picture I ever saw was Phil Collins in the Speedway Star, putting the yellow/black on his helmet for his first ride at 16 years old! I was a 9 or 10 year old White City and Rye House fan, this picture was larger than life. I did have a bike at 10 but never rode. Great site :-)" Brian Turner on Over Too Soon - Brian Turner: "I read this article many years ago and it brings back so so many great memories from the years of racing. I took a look at it again just a few weeks ago and have decided to get myself fit and have another blast (just for fun) hopefully in the 2013 season. Business commitments will have to come first but i would love to just have another 4 laps :-) thankyou for a great write up." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

22nd July 2012

Track Pix: Rochdale Thanks to Richard Watson who answered our call for additional pictures of the old Rochdale circuit. We're always looking for pictures of defunct or obscure tracks so get in touch if you have any you could share.

Poem: Speedway A poem by Bob Wilson about the shale sport. Certainly more literal than some of the others we've featured and we'll sure you'll recognise the themes.

Tracy Holmes is looking for programmes from some big international meetings - Can You Help?

Mike Edwards on Rye House Snapshots: "Rye House, I believe the rider labelled as being Allan Emmett might be Jack Walker ex Panthers and Bee's rider from about 1974?" Keith Anderson on Jack Young's 1951 World Final Bike: "Well done,you have saved a great piece of history and made a good job by the looks." Steve Harland on Stonecliff Speedway: "Brilliant story - really enjoyed digesting it. I hope someone finds a photograph though highly unlikely. " Ian Westwell on BELLE VUE - Hyde Road: "What fantastic memories. I went to Belle Vue in about 1970 when I was 13 used to get the 192 bus from Hazel Grove and walk from the A6. Really was a fan straight away! My mate Tony grew up round the zoo anf moved to the Grove and we were school mates, that is how I was introduced to speedway and we didn't miss a Saturday for age. Were great teenage memories and it wasnt long before I lost a bet and joined the riders on their side of the fence! Iive no regrets there, met some fab people fans and riders over the years and still go now, but not quite the same - air fences, body armour! We had wooden even metal fences! Not a prob you had so much room you had to be unlucky to hit them! Great memories." Gary Spencer on Interview: Jim McMillan: "One of my memories of Jimmy is together with his two uncles, four other riders, one team mechanic & one team manager arriving at Swindon on a Saturday night having driven all through the night in just two Jaguars with four bikes on each trailer. Could you imagine that from today's riders? " David Housley on BELLE VUE - Hyde Road: "Great track and some great teams - Was up visiting my grandparents during the summer holidays in '78 when I was 12 years old. We went with my cousins (Halifax supporters) to watch the double header Belle Vue v Halifax & Vue v (my heros) Exeter Falcons. Watching us stuff our opponents week in week out at the County Ground, I was confident of a closely fought match, with the possibility of a win. We got well and truly stuffed, Vue were in the 50 pts and we were in the 20's. All my heros were made to look decidedly average. From what I remember Autrey was the only one to put up any resistance. PC and Mort were on a different planet - overtaking all and sundry, winning races with ease, no rush to overtake." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

15th July 2012

Stonecliff Speedway Allan J. Baker was just a young lad when he saw bikes heading down the dirt-track to Stonecliff Speedway in New South Wales. He shares his vague memories from over 50 years ago and would love to know more about the track.

You Have Two Minutes.... Tracy Holmes catches up with Geoff Mardon, Ian Ross, Jim Wells and Roger Wright.

Lee Richardson Badges Steve Davies has produced a collection of badges which will be sold to raise money for the Lee Richardson fund.

Thanks to Lee Lawrence for the above picture of the old track at Rochdale. Can anyone add further pictures from this Belle Vue nursery circuit?

Anita George on Garage Mahal II: "A truly stunning collection Steve-well done. I would love to see it if I ever get to Florida." Wayne on Rye House Snapshots: "Yeah I don't think that picture is Alan Emmett, he's my Dad and I'd know him anywhere" Richard Maloney on Dream Team : Ian Graham: "Yes Geoff Maloney my Dad is still with us, just as entertaining with his grandchildren now as he was for his fans back in the good old days. Love the pages." Dudley Jones on DVD Review: Memories of West Ham Speedway: "I have to say that, for me as a former Hammers supporter, this DVD is a great trip down memory lane. It's very well produced. I didn't time it but there seemed to be about 3 hours worth. The contributors really took me back, not only to my times at Custom House in the sixties, but made me feel close to the 30's and 50's times too. I have always wished that I had seen Aub Lawson ride, just missing his days at Norwich. I can now see him on this DVD (actually two DVDs). I suspect that this DVD will appeal to a wider audience than Hammers folk - I hope so as it deserves to.I have the recent Rayleigh DVD also (I supported them in the Len Silver years). I couldn't put a price on memories they have brought back. I recommend them to all readers.." Kel Palmer on BELLE VUE - Hyde Road: "How refreshing and almost heartbreaking to see the pictures of the old Belle Vue and to read the comments of folk who knew and loved it. My first visit there as a wide eyed youngster was on the same Day in late April 1938 when my Dad initiated me at Old Trafford with United and then we cycled (yes cycled with me on his crossbar) from Stretford to Belle Vue where the opponents were Wembley Lions. Belle Vue's main rivals in those early days and just after the war were Wembley, New Cross, Harringay, Bradford and Halifax and later Leicester, Ipswich and Kings Lynn. My early idol was Jack Parker but I had a special feeling for Dent Oliver and Louis Lawson who were more entertaining riders, whereas Jack was a model of riding proficiency and speed from the gate. But that was one of Hyde roads secrets, even if you missed the gate or screwed up the first bend, you then had four laps of Belle Vue's wide open spaces in which to thrill the crowd and show the full repertoire of skills. The ghosts come trotting from the past-greats like Bill Kitchen, Anders Michanek, Barry Briggs, Split Waterman,and Soren Sjosten followed by Neilsen, Peter Craven, Larry Ross etc. I'm a sporting nut, but amongst my strongest memories of a life time will always be that moment at 7pm on Saturday as the red, white, blue and yellow/black heads went down and looked left on the first race of the evening and the crowd roared as the guy in red came out of the first corner in the lead and fought off the challenges ,inside-outside on those wide sweeping bends. My special era was introducing my 4 sprogs to Belle Vue in the days when Ivan Mauger was skipper, Alan Wilkinson No5 with two tearawy magnificent reserves named P.Collins and C,Morton with Ray Tyler later when PC went to No1. So many great tussles but ones stand out were PC versus Mauger when he'd gone to Exeter and they passed and re-passed each other over four 4 laps. Another in the BRLC when Chris Morton duffed up the favourite Neilsen on the first bend and went on to victory. The only downside for me was that after the exciting racing at Hyde Road, you went to much smaller narrower tracks where overtaking was a lottery and first out meant first home. I suspect that is what killed off many supporters when we moved to the greyhound venue. Now I look wistfully at teams containing hardly any home grown riders, no teararse reserves coming through to wreck the fences, no established British riders etc -and have to sigh that "Those were the days". We had the great days of speedway and of the Aces at Hyde Road and - "Oh no, they can't take that away from me" My regards to all those Aces fans who filled the great old stadium with noise, laughter and sheer sheer excitement." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

8th July 2012

DVD Review: Memories of West Ham Speedway Our verdict on the new double-DVD that covers the history of the West Ham Hammers. It's been forty years since the last meeting at the track, but the Hammers can now come directly into your living room.

Track Pix: St. Johann Pictures from this Austrian circuit. Thanks to photographer Zdenek Flajshanz who visited the track last month.

Thanks to Doris Howe for sending us this picture of an Eric Chitty record label. Eric was the popular Canadian that rode for West Ham and often sang to the crowd during the interval.

John Hyam on Dagenham: "In 1938, two riders - Harry Rogers and David Jackson - died after accidents at Dagenham, These fatalities had no bearing on the continuation of racing at the track. It also operated in 1939 while, as previously mentioned, a few meetings also took place there in 1946." Ian Hawkins on GLASGOW - White City: "I used to go to White City every Friday from Edinburgh on a 50cc Honda (and I used to regularly get lost on the way back) - no motorways then." Richard Williams on Inside Story : Elfield Park: "I used to ride at Elfield Park when Mick ran the training schools, happy day's! Names that I remember racing with included Kevin Howse, Anthony Brown, Long haired Kev, Rob & many others! I was the one that always broke many footrests & toes!! I then later refereed the 2003 Championship of GB. I was on a training course in Milton Keynes & took a walk along where our little track used to be, I could almost smell and hear the old DOHC's & Wessie's. It may not of been Wembley, more like Bomb site central, but to me it was pure Heaven!! :)" John Sandys on Riders to Remember....Ronnie Moore: "Ah Ronnie Moore! I remember going to Wimbledon in 68/70, to the sound of Desmond Decker and the Beatles, the smell of hot dogs, burgers and meat pies and the visual perfection of Ronnie Moore on the back of a speedway bike. The Team at Wimbledon then consisted of the likes of Bob Dugard, Cyril Maidment and the irrepressable Trevor Hedge, all being led by this genius on a bike with his scarf blowing in the wind. Fantastic memories of Gulf British league matches, Daily Express Spring Classics, plus pairs and four team tournaments. I still have a picture signed by the great man at the end of one of the spring classics as well as several rosettes sporting his picture. The lure of purchasing a pin badge/picture/rosette proved all too much every time we exited the grand stand, and oh! the smell of the bikes!!! What happy memories." David Briggs on Crystal Palace Book: "I have this book and is a valued possesion. Lionel autographed it for me, he was a regular at Wimbledon. Wouldn't it be wonderfull if The Crystal Palace Athletics stadium could be returned to speedway racing!! After the Olympics the Olympic stadium should become our National Athletics stadium, not a new home for some soccer team. Lionel told me that there is (was at that time) a small section of the old track still remaining, and as I live nearby, I went looking for it, I think I did find a suspicious area in the corner of the stadium. The book contains some fabulous photos of racing and of the old Crystal Palace itself, highly recccomended purchase for all fans." David Pickles on All Time World Final: "Andy Dixon's article re the World Final, was not only a mine of information, but a vertiable cornucopia of stats. Firstly, many many thanks for it, it made fascinating reading. Having been a fan of almost 50 years standing, and seen most of the line up he used (sadly not the likes of Jack Young and Jack Parker, or Bill Kitchen), the names alone bought back superb memories. Having seen Knutsson, Mauger, Fundin, Briggs, Nielsen, Collins et al at their peak it has been an honour and a privelige to have been part of the sport (briefly on the other side of the fence). I cannot fault the work gone into here, or the final result. To my mind, Ivan Mauger was the consumate professional, his average in 1969 (I think it was 11.69 losing just 6 races all season home and away) was the proof positive of the master in action. Thanks again Andy." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

1st July 2012

All Time World Final Andy Dixon is a professional analyst/statistician and thought he'd apply these skills to speedway. In this article he presents a hypothetical all-time World Championship, based on the results of World Finals or the nearest equivalent. This article is presented as a PDF file.

Track Pix: Malmo Pictures from Malmo - home of the Allsvenskan team Gnistorna. These are courtesy of Arnie Gibbons.

Pauline Elliott believes that her Grandfather Thomas Edmund Tompson was secretary of Wembley Speedway - Can You Help?

Chris Gosling on Riders to Remember: Terry Betts: "Wonderful article on Terry Betts, riders come and go, we have been very fortunate to have seen some incredible riders at Kings Lynn. Terry, Malcolm Simmons, Howard Cole (the first Kings Lynn rider to reach a World Final) Phil Crump {started his first division career at Saddlebow Road}, Michael Lee, Dave Jessup, Mark Loram, Henka Gustafsson, Simon Wigg, Tony Rickardson, Jason Crump, Leigh Adams, Nicki Pedersen. I have enjoyed watching each and every one of them, and many others too. However I firmly believe that none of these will ever be so fondly remembered, so idolised as Terry was. He was a very good rider, very good natured, very funny and just has a place in the hearts of the Kings Lynn public that can never be matched. I also must take this opportunity to defend Martin Rogers role in Terry's departure, and also recognise Martin's significant contribution to the rise and rise of Kings Lynn throughout the seventies. There were some dissappointments occasionally, but with Martin's input and ability as General Manager, Kings Lynn were one of the "glamour clubs" of the British League, with consistantly high levels of support home and away. It's no coincidence that the great CO at Coventry enquired of his intentions at the time, Martin was incredibly polished on the microphone, as good a presenter as anywhere, and was revered as a very able administrator, and welcomed onto the BSPA management committee. As Martin mentioned in his excellent book "In my view" his relationship with Terry was both personal and professional, and it was very difficult to interpret Terry's intentions during the winter of 1978. Also the Kings Lynn promotion of the time failed to recognise that Martin was merely carrying out his duties as had been agreed by all until such time as the Kings Lynn public decided they wished Terry to stay, and we can all understand why they would have. Sadly the Kings Lynn hierarchy conveniently used their General Manager as the scapegoat for a plan they had all stood behind until such time as it didn't appear to be successful. So let's all enjoy the memories of the entertainment that Terry gave us, and also finally realise that Martin's actions at all times were always with the best of intent." John Owen on Tables are turned?: "If memory serves this was the first time Ken was defeated in a race at west Ham in the 1965 season and it was in June! Quite some feat." paul on Dagenham: "How nice to read about the speedway which was near to the ship and shavel pub. I was told that one of the riders was killed and that's why the speedway was closed?" Ivan Blacka on Long Eaton Speedway Reunion 2012: "It's great to see Glen McDonald in the photo. I remember in 79 in Rockhampton Aussie Glen met the US boys and took us down to the sea for some sightseeing. Real nice bloke and a good host. Wonder what brings him to the UK?" Jim Henry on The Birth of the Glasgow Tigers: "Sorry Ian. Celtic Park did not run in 1927. I was 1928 and proto speedway had been staged at Glasgow Nelson before Celtic Park. If anyone wants an electronic copy of my book - Glasgow's Speedways - the Pre War Years (1928 - 1940) - let me know by email and I'll email them a copy covers and all. " James Culbert on The Birth of the Glasgow Tigers: " Great stuff,in the 60's there was no reason to think that the Tigers and Monarchs were run by Ian. There was always entertainment at Old Meadowbank and a great track. White City was a visit away for me and I even made a trip through on my first motorcycle a BSA Bantam 175cc. Later it was by car included a blow out at Coatbridge and a visit with three others to the GRI and the car written off." Click here to leave your own feedback