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| 26th October 2014 |
Chris HolderGareth Hinton takes a look at the career to date of the 2012 World Champion. |
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The World Pairs Final 1983 Part 16 of Tracy Holmes' history of the pairs. |
Eric JollyJohn Hyam brings us the sad news of Eric Jolly's passing. |
"The only speedway programme that I still have is the last West Ham Bombers match at the stadium, which I believe, without going thru' all my bits was against Hull Vikings, which unfortunately West Ham lost." "I read this article on Jack Millen with a lump in my throat.Along with my late husband we lived adjacent to Crewe speedway.(c1972/4) Jack and his friends were regular visitors to our home.True, he could drink most of us under the table but his sense of fun, compassion and generosity and talent was second to none.There was also another young man, Phil? I think he was their mechanic. He kept in touch when we moved North.I have a horrible feeling that he sadly died too. SHAME on you Gifford, Jack was a breath of fresh air!" "I was a staunch Harringay Racers fan from when my father took me to see speedway for the first time in 1947-8 through to 1953 when Harringay closed down. I never missed a home match and sat in the supporters stand in the first bend. I remember a special night when, prior to the match commencing, a young Swedish rider called Olle Nygren was introduced to the fans, he did 4 solo laps on his orange painted bike and became an immediate Racers favourite. Olle's new team mates in those days were Split Waterman, Ron How, Jeff Lloyd, Jackie Biggs, Arthur Atkinson, Jimmy Squibb and possibly Lloyd Goff. Years later, early 80's, BBC Radio Norfolk presenter Roy Waller invited me to lunch so as to meet Olle, sadly I had to decline the invite due to tour commitments. " |
| 19th October 2014 |
Hastings MemoriesJohn Hyam brings us a great tale from Hastings about local man Harold MacNaughton. |
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The World Pairs Final 1982 Tracy Holmes continues his detailed history of the World Pairs Championship. The year is 1982 and the action has moved down under to Liverpool. |
New Book: Cobble Street Speedway StarDetails of a new speedway novel by Michael Hansen. The story is set in 1928, just as speedway makes its way to Britain. The book is available to purchase from speedwayfiction.co.uk |
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"I cannot believe the superb growth of Rye House as a speedway venue. A friend of my parents took me to Rye House on two or three occasions, but in those days, the early fifties there was basically nothing apart from the track itself. I recall the 'safety fence' comprised sheets of corrugated iron attached to wooden posts. The shale was not of the best quality, but you could get a close-up of it as you could stand next to the fence on the far straight, if you reached out you could touch a rider as he came past....hence you either ducked down or copped for a mouthful of shale....but it was all good fun....I think the star rider for Rye House was Albie Golden. Congratulations to who have built Rye House into a track to be proud of. " "I'd just like to say a few words about Mike Broadbank. A couple of Sunday's back, my friend Colin and I went to Rye House to watch the NLRC and we met Mike in the pub garden next door before the meeting. He was a thorough gentleman and spent quite some time with us answering questions and telling us the story of how he started speedway, and before that cycle speedway with Len Silver. A truly entertaining and brave rider, and a pleasure to talk to. Best wishes for the future Mike." "Bo bo valentine would love to here from you. I brought your bike and kit when you went home. All so see my web site all star classic speedway." "How would Arnie Pander & Ronnie Genz have ridden if they were paid a collosal amount of money. If they took home £30 for an evenings riding they were lucky." |
| 13th October 2014 |
New Book: The Comet ManTony Webb tells us about his new book all about one of the backroom boys who influenced the sport. |
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The World Pairs Final 1981 Tracy Holmes looks back on the 1981 World Pairs championship. The Americans were at their peak and were strongly fancied in the Katowice final. |
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"There is a samll town called Sannahed just next to it and few other houses, so your kind of right. And I would say these pictures doesn't make the track right. It's pretty long, 375m. And the banking is there, at least enough too give some of the best speedway in Sweden when it's rightly prepared." "I have been to Kumla about 5 times and it is in my opinion the finest track in Elitserien these Days. It's located I believe in the village of Sannahed and houses aren't too far away." "Martin, In fact it's not in the forest and the stadium is along a fairly major road close to some form of wild life park. I would guess that's the stadium is around three miles from Kumla. Of course it's surrounded by trees and maybe it's on the edge of a forest." "Sadly, I never got the chance to see a match at the Belle Vue track, although I was a staunch supporter of the Harringay Racers from 1947 to 1953, a visit by Belle Vue was always a much contested match. In my day the team was captained by the legendary Jack Parker whilst the management was in the more than capable hands of the great Johnny Hoskins. A regular event always took place whenever Belle Vue visited Harringay.....near the end of the match, Split Waterman would steal Johnny Hoskins' trilby hat and burn it....it must have cost Mr Hoskins a fortune in hats. Thinking back to those great days of wonderful speedway racing, I cannot recall a single team that stood out as easy opponents to beat, Belle Vue, Wimbledon, New Cross, West Ham, Bradford, Wembley, Birmingham all had their ace riders....(my opinion) BelleVue - Jack Parker, Wimbledon - Barry Briggs and Ronnie Moore, New Cross - Ron Johnson, West Ham - Jack Young and Malcolm Craven, Bradford - Arthur Forrest, Wembley - Tommy Price and Freddie Williams, Birmingham - Graham Warren....while Harringay (during my time) - Vic Duggan, Jackie Biggs and Split Waterman, then later, the great Olle Nygren. Sorry if I missed out your favourite/s. " "Yes, I was and am the same person. Now 76 years old and thanks to the internet, still clued in to European speedway." |
| 5th October 2014 |
Track Pix: KumlaPhil Rice was over in Sweden this week to watch Indianerna take on Vetlanda in the Play Offs. He captured these pictures of the Indian's home track for us. |
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The World Pairs Final 1980 Tracy Holmes takes us into the eighties, where PC and DeeJay were re-united for the Lions and the final was held in Yuogslavia. |
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"Does anyone have any info about Santry Speedway? When was it operational? Was it on the site that is now used for karting in that area?" "The two Appleby's who rode for Birmingham in the 1940's were not related. Ernie Appleby being English and Charlie Appleby Canadian. The memorial plaque I mentioned in the earlier message is now in place on the wall in the entrance foyer at Perry Barr Stadium and was unveiled by the Vicar of Perry Barr Dr. Crispin Pailing in the presence of nine members of the Appleby family including his son Martin and his daughter in a very moving ceremony." "Yes, so sad to see it go was such nice evenings after been working in a factory all day and I was about a hour away from Hull but thoroughly enjoyed every moment." "Many thanks Ian. All helps with the fun of the affair. Cheers !" "Great to see the Tis Was episode with Bruce Penhall. I wonder where the set of Leathers is now that they gave away?." "Ron How was an ongoing favourite with Harringay Racer fans. One problem Ron may have had regarding a rise to total stardom was that he was usually paired with the great Split Waterman....such usually resulted in a 5-1 or 4-2 point tally, with Ron riding as wing-man to Split. He was a nice and charming guy who always ha d time for us kids and all other fans. I extend my most sincere respects to his family and friends, I'm sure Ron How will be very much missed by everyone who knew him." |