25th January 2015

Liverpool Speedway - Sydney Peter Hunter brings us a potted history of Liverpool Speedway in Sydney. It's now more than a quarter of a century since its last meeting.

Dream Team: Norman Chadwick Norman selects his all-time favourite seven. He includes Darcy Ward and hopes that he'll be back riding in 2015.

It's 40 years ago this year since the Paisley Lions were formed. To commemorate the event a Birthday party is scheduled to take place in Paisley on Saturday 26 September. A number of former Lions have already indicated that they will be attending, including one who will be flying in from the other side of the world, and the organiser is initmating that any ex riders and fans (of any team) who are interested in attending should contact Bill Elliot, as the level of interest will determine if the event will go ahead. Email: bettens6@talktalk.net Telephone: 07854 724184 or via Facebook

Ron Malm on MILDURA - Australia: "Noticed a request for a photo of Mildura in 2015. It is taken from the first turn looking back down the main straight. There is more banking on the track, although the photo doesn't show it. The pits have been moved from behind bends 3 & 4 to now being behind the main straight. The pit entrance is now immediately behind the judging box at the start line. The spectator area also appears flatter, possibly to accommodate temporary grand stands." Chris Berezai on The Long Eaton Project: "Anyone considered the derelict land out on Fields Farm Road near to Forbes Hole Nature Reserve? No-one is using the site (and it's been derelict for years), no houses right nearby as it's industrialised and right on one of the main roads into the town. Parking wouldn't be an issue as the Industrial units wouldn't be open in the evenings, and traffic could be managed (and a damn sight easier than at Station Road). I would have thought it was a perfect site!" Click here to leave your own feedback

 

18th January 2015

The Etihad is Great News Ivor Craine is adopting a positive attitude to the GP series' return to Australia.

Oh, What a Night! Tracy Holmes turns the clock back 41 years to recall a memorable pairs event at Palmerston North.

If you enjoyed Arnie Gibbons' series on Speedway's Civil War then you may be interested to read the Shawcross Report that led to the formation of the British League. It's now avalilable on the 1965 page of the Speedway Researcher website.

Peter Hunter on Best of the Modern Era: Tony Rickardsson: "Saw Rickardsson race a few times in Australia during the 1990's. The first was at North Arm in Adelaide when he was part of the touring Swedish team that defeated the Aussies 3-2 in a 1991 test series. Also saw him race a few times in the Series 500 (Australian Masters Series) during the mid-late 90's when the show visited the Wayville Showground. He won the inaugural Series 500 in 1995 from Simon Wigg and Sam Ermolenko and finished 3rd behind Craig Boyce (1st) and Ermolenko in 1996. He was every bit as good as people say he was." John Gregory on MILDURA - Australia: "Anyone got photo's of the 2015 Mildura track?" Cary Cotterman on PINJAR PARK - West Australia: "This looks very much like a California speedway track. In fact, with the eucalyptus trees it could easily be mistaken for California, if it weren't for the lamp standards in the centre. " Click here to leave your own feedback

 

11th January 2015

Track Pix: Gorzow Updated pictures of Gorzow, courtesy of Peter Heinzl. The stadium has been completed since we last brought you pictures from this most-impressive track.

Dream Team: Grahame Darlington Grahame selects his favourite seven riders from down the years, including a few who have made their name in recent seasons.

Eamon McDonald on LEICESTER - Blackbird Road: "I started going in the mid fifties to Blackbird Road and I have to say it was one of the best Tracks in England. Racing was always good there but the team didn't have much in the way of home Team advantage, as it was such a fair Circuit. Nice to see these Photos again. " Kevin Foster on New Zealand Solo Final 2015: "It's a shame for speedway these days to have so many sub-standard riders, back in the late seventies we had a GB team go to Oz / NZ to do the winter tour. As the Oz scene has died no one cares anymore, If the sport had bog standard motor from the factory untouched for the season unless it blows up then we would see a down turn in costs, no body cares about super fast times just a good old close race for 1st to 3rd, not enough passing like it was in the 1970s, " Andy Davidson on ADELAIDE - Wayville Showground: "I think you will find that the Wayville track is big. I saw the 500 series there and they cut the laps down to 3 per heat, Reason given was that it was blowing up / making the engines too hot to work with. AGAIN the powers to be, need a good long hard look at Gillman." Peter Hunter on PINJAR PARK - West Australia: "Because of its small size (142 metres or 155 yards), Pinjar Park is used for both senior and junior racing. It also has had a few American visitors in its short life as its very similar to the length of the tracks in California (such as Costa Mesa) where most of the motorcycle speedway there takes place. When at home in Perth (and he's actually racing and not taking time off), Pinjar Park is the home track of 2013 World Champion Tai Woffinden." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

4th January 2015

Speedway's Civil War - Part III: It's War Arnie Gibbons concludes his series on the turmoil of the 1963/1964 winter.

The World Pairs Final 1993 The final part of Tracy Holmes' series on the World Pairs Championship.

New Zealand Solo Final 2015 Tracy Holmes made it along to yesterday's New Zealand final in Christchurch. Here's his report on the outcome - was it another win for Bunyan?

Peter Hunter on MOUNT GAMBIER - Australia: "More noted as a car track, regularly hosting Sprintcars, Speedcars (Midgets) and Super Sedans, Borderline has also hosted a round of the Aussie Solo Championship (2007) and also hosts sidecar racing. The track surface is clay and Borderline Speedway is 372 metres (407 yards) in length." Andy Davidson on Australian Speedway is Virtually Dead: "Re;Australian GP 2015 It should have gone to Gillman in Adelaide in South Australia, it's just the place for great racing, Dave Parker has done wonders to the place and with MA and the council chipping in some money it would be THE place to hold the GP. " Tony on Australian Speedway is Virtually Dead: "You can rule the ekka out as it fails to conform to FIM standards and due to the infra structure it is virtually impossible to carry out alterations. The ANZAC stadium was considered but there are transport logistics that rules this one out. The Wayville showground has similar problems to the ekkka to re construct the track to FIM. Victoria has a good base of vintage interest in speedway and I am sure that an inner city location is a wise choice. There are movements to have many speedway related events in the lead up and beyond the SGP date including Broadmeadow on the sunday and Mildura the following weekend." Click here to leave your own feedback