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| 28th April 2013 |
Snapshots of YesteryearMore from Peter Colvin - this time looking at Reider Eide and memorable visits to Glasgow by the Poole Pirates and Mildenhall Fen Tigers. |
Johnny Gibson's JAPCary Cotterman shares some pictures he took in Johnny Gibson's motorcycle shop in 1967. Johnny was displaying the JAP machine he rode in Ireland in the 50s. |
Dream Team : Alan PenningtonAlan selects his all-time favourite seven - including his personal hero Ray Harris and Briggo who he reckons was the best ever. |
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"Last time I visited Belle Vue was 1964 Provincial League Final. I think the Boro Bears representative was Bluey Scott, don't remember what position he finished, I think he was riding a push bike!!!!!!" "What a coincidence to read the post re the Phillips Speedtrack cycle speedway bike and Welling Wings! Around 1954 or 1955 I owned one of these bikes when riding for several teams run by Vic Duffy who came from Canning Town in east London. The teams included Brockley Boomerangs (where I was captain!) and later Vic tried a brief revival (I think in 1955) of Welling Wings, but this venture was short-lived. I rode for both of these teams - under the name of Jack Brodie." "The recent article on Stoke's 40th anniversary meeting, was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Back in 1987 when I was part of the consortium at Wimbledon, we welcomed Stoke as part of the old "second division". But the heartbreaking aspect of the pictures was the crowd, or lack of it. The massive gaps on the terraces, especially the grandstand shows that the club, now in the third tier of league racing is up against it, and yet the current promotion continue their love of our magnificent sport. Long may it continue there, at least Stoke have a chance of continuing, but the news as regards any continuance of speedway at Wimbledon continues to get bleaker by the week." "Isn't there a photograph somewhere of Jack Millen riding with a broken left leg and his steel shoe strapped directly on to his plaster cast?" "Lovely comments about my dad. Thank you. He was an incredible individual and his loss is felt always by our family. Speedway knew one side of him, as children we only knew kind, caring and loving - and immensely funny. 35th anniversary in a weeks time - still seems like yesterday. It is both incredible and moving that he is still written and talked about all these years later. " "Spent much of my youth on the pits turn hill watching Jacko smash his way to another track record. Happy days!" |
| 21st April 2013 |
Stoke's 40th AnniversaryPhilip Dalling on his recent trip to Loomer Road for Stoke's 40th Anniversary meeting. |
Ash Suttor's Speedway MuseumSome pictures of another private speedway museum. This one is situated in Bathurst in New South Wales and is hosting an open day in a couple of months that will be of interest to those in the region. Thanks to Margaret Yule, Tony Webb and John Hyam for assistance with this article. |
The Phillips SpeedtrackFrederick Pallett is able to answer Bert Harkins' recent query on a cycle speedway bike from the middle of the last century. |
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"The dreadful car accident that ended the life of Jack Millen, was a terrible tragedy for speedway as a whole. He was a breath of fresh air in our wonderful sport, at a time when we seemed to be losing so many of the great characters. Great entertainers, guys the other side's supporters loved to boo! Men who gave 100% effort and had no time for those who didn't! The sort of men who got people through the turnstiles ... where are they now? RIP JACK MILLEN. You never won the world championship but oh how you entertained us all. God bless you always. xx" "Very interesting recollections. I remember he American team coming to the Perry Barr track in Birmingham that season when although they were well beaten, they put up a good performance and their team included plenty of colourful personalities. Birmingham wanted to sign Ernie Roccio and he took part in a number of second half races before he encountered a problem with the immigration board and had to return to the USA. Apparently, he needed a work permit to ride in this country and didn't have one and was riding supposedly as an amateur whilst on "holiday." By the time the issue was resolved, Wimbledon moved in an got him to sign for them. Sadly, Ernie later lost his life in a crash at West Ham. " "Great article which ended rather suddenly. I hope this indicates that it is just part 1 of a series. I saw Nick riding for Wimbledon at Bristol on 23rd March 1951 alongside the Roccio brothers." "Seeing those pictures and reading what folks had to say about Hyde Road certainly brings back memories. I was born across the road from Belle Vue and before I attended my first match back in 1963 used to hear the roar of the bikes every Saturday night, the streets were blocked with cars. I later became secretary of the Aces Supporters club before a certain SB took over, the death knell sounded the minute he took over but nobody heard it until it was too late. R.I.P Hyde Road, pleasant memories and enjoyable times, and I made many friends during that time as well. " "I lived next to the speedway at Holt Road. My dad was a second half rider in the late forties. I remember Ove's first appearance at The Firs. It was like a breath of fresh air. No disrespect to Reg Trott and Billy Bales etc." "In response to Bernie Davenport's query, the track featured in "The Sweeney" was White City, and the riders were Trevor Geer and Paul Gachet." "I believe the track on the Sweeney was White City and featured in the episode 'May'. Anyone ever seen the cult film 'Bullfrog Bronco'? There is a short sequence at Hackney Speedway. The film was shot circa 1969/70. The speedway clip is on you tube." |
| 14th April 2013 |
Speedway MemoriesAmerican rider Nick Nicolaides shares his memories of riding in Ireland and the UK in the early fifties. |
Track Pix: LelystadMore from Ian Presslie this week - featuring Lelystad a track in Holland that Ian visited during his extensive travels. |
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"One of the most exciting riders ever." "It is so sad that Football seems to be the be all and end all in this country, I HATE Football with a passion but i always have loved Speedway... The biggest problems I see with Speedway now though, is, promoters do not wish to spend any money whatsoever on track equipment, or even the covers the sport so badly needs, in fact it seems now promoters do not even like paying for the sites they use.Tthere are still a few tracks dormant but still intact around the country, yet we moan that there are too few teams, when will the people with the money and the power do something about it. If I had the money (I never will) I would if need be build a new venue in new area where Speedway has yet to be, then seek election to the Elite League, when will speedway get its house in order and help itself ?" "3 cheers for Geoff Langley's article - let's NOT turn the clock back. I suppose, by design, and being the sport it is there are thousands that gaze longingly at the action photo's of the 40's and 50's, taking place in packed stadia, but Geoff is 100% correct. We must look to the day, and speedway must face up to current day problems. I really can't add to his article, except to say I sincerely hope we as the sport I have loved since a 9-year old not just survives, but begins to prosper again as it surely deserves." "My family left Yorkshire in 1950 when I was nine. Every sat. night we went to watch Odsal. I know Joe Abbot, Jack Biggs were tragically killed in the sport.What became of the captain Ron Clark? I know Oliver Hart died a few years ago. Any info from the 40's and 50's about Odsal would be much appreciated." "Also speedway featured briefly in the Sweeny, Regan (John Thaw) went to interview a informer at a track one minute of speedway, dont recognise the track. Any ideas?" "Unfortunately the comments about using Donington Park for Speedway will not be allowed as the noise becomes a problem, there can be no engines run after 8pm due the to the planning conditions already in place. It doesn't matter that DHL are flying over our homes at midnight, the Download Festival plays music into the small hours or that a Russian Antonov comes into East Midlands Airport and rattles the windows for several miles around. How about Long Eaton forming a partnership with Hull Vikings, as they are trying to open Craven Park again, with City council backing. Would Long Eaton fans travel to Hull to see a match?" |
| 7th April 2013 |
The Golden Greats 1988Dudley Jones shares some pictures from the 1988 Golden Greats meeting held at Brandon. He recalls that Terry Betts was the star of the show. |
Woffy's Charity RideYou'll probably have seen details of this charity fund-raising initiative elsewhere, but no apologies for giving it another plug here. Good luck to young Tai, many of us will have fond memories of his father's exploits - both on and off the track. |
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"As a schoolboy Tigers' fan at Glasgow White City, "Hurri-Ken" McKinlay was my favourite rider. Whilst Tommy Miller was lightning fast from the gate and won most of his races that way, Ken was a notoriously slow gater but almost always came through to win the race. When I think about what a terrific 'Gater' Ken was later in his career, I think that Ian Hoskins must have paid him to miss the gate and give the fans some excitement with his overtaking. " "Tracy Holmes, have to agree with your view of the sport." "Yes I remember Peter. and those bars very well, riding for Rayleigh at Barrow in the early seventies. I certainly recall, as has been mentioned, his rapid gating and hard riding style. An exciting rider to watch." "The grandstand in the picture was originally the stand from the Gymnasium ground home to St Bernards FC. It was dismantled and rebuilt at Meadowbank." "Have to say that I am one of the dreamers who constantly hark back to the 'old days', but then it was always sunny in the summer time and winters always had ten feet of snow!! However having read this excellent piece I can only agree entirely with the comments contained, to coin a phrase' we are were we are' and perhaps we should just get on with it and support the sport that we all love for one reason or another." "Excellent article. You hit the nail on the head when you say ''you shouldn't look back to fix today's problems''. When I was in the UK riding some 23 years ago the sport had exactly the same issues and they had been around for 10 years or more before that. How can Sports { if that is what they are } such as Darts and Poker have such huge followings..Because they have adapted for the modern age and then got their marketing strategies in order. Speedway must drop the guest system and introduce squads of perhaps 10 riders, fans can then identify with a true team. Clubs if not already doing so need to use fully every social media for advertising and get the youngsters back. The biggest issue is the sport is run by people who are in it and make rules to suit themselves, bring in an independant CEO and you will see Speedway move forward again.....Thats my 2 cents worth...." "Have to disagree with large portions of this article. Writer suggests £17 not out of the way to watch speedway compared to other forms of entertainment-would suggest that merely indicates there are many forms of entertainment that average punters can't afford on a weekly basis and unfortunately speedway is now one of many in that category-folk don't say "well, speedway is still not as unaffordable as other sports, so I'll go", they simply say "I'll keep my money for other luxuries such as food, the mortgage and putting some petrol in my car." Sorry, I reckon I'm not too badly off, but the prospect of spending something like £34 (for two) plus prog and a cup of tea even takes me up to about £40 for my weekly entertainment. Multiply that by 4, and that's about £160 a month. Most folk can't afford that level of cost every month unless they're exceptionally lucky, so if you work out that you can maybe do it only every other week or less, you're reducing significantly your hard core of fans. If that means that Speedwayplus becomes a close relative of the "Speedway Star" letters page, that's maybe got more to do with the contributors having a realistic grasp of reality as it is in the UK at the minute." |