31st December 2017

It's All About You....Fred Pallett Fred was a regular at Wembley in the immediate post-war era and his recollections concentrate on that period.

Kiwis in the Overseas Final - 1983 Belle Vue staged the 1983 final, though home comforts were lacking for some of the Brits. Tracy Holmes takes us through the results.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the site in 2017. Ivor Craine - John Fray - Bill Hamilton Peter Heinzl - Jim Henry - Tracy Holmes John Hyam - Tony McDonald - Charles McKay David Pickles - Brian Pratt - Arthur Price Mike Redfern - Robert Rogers - Fred Taylor Stuart Towner - Tony Webb - Martin Wilkins New contributors are always welcome - Contact Us.

Judith Aldridge on Dream Team: David Pickles: "Ronnie Moore joined the Dons in 1950 and reached the world final that year at the age of SEVENTEEN and became the youngest ever world champion at the age of Twenty-One. Both Barry Briggs and Ivan Mauger have said that Ronnie was the greatest rider ever, though I think it is a toss up with Peter Craven but they are for sure the best two riders I have ever seen race and who both rode together for Great Britain (As did Barry & Ivan)." John Hyam on Charlie Appleby: "Further to the comments in regard to the late Charlie Appleby, this information has just been passed to me: Charlie Appleby was born Robert Charles Appleby in Payton, Saskatchewan, Canada on the 10th October 1913." David Pickles on All Hope Exhausted for Wimbledon: "I make a very brief comment on this, and as the original author, would be honoured, if that's the word, to see anything in print. It saddens me beyond belief, to think that Plough Lane, as the last London "OVAL" is going to be bulldozed and gone forever. The home, not only of one the most famous teams in speedway, but the annual "Internationale", a wonderful yearly excursion to SW19, to witness not only the greatest names in the sport, but also some of the best and most competitive racing in the history of speedway. RIP Plough Lane, and thanks for many memories over the years." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

24th December 2017

South African Tour of Europe in 1951 John Hyam shares details of a European tour that was never reported in the British speedway press.

Kiwis in the Overseas Final - 1982 Tracy Holmes looks back at how the Kiwis got on at White City in London.

The good folks at the Save Oxford Stadium group have produced another fabulous calendar for the year ahead. The 2017 edition raised over £300 for the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund and the proceeds from this one will go to the same cause. You can order your copy online for £10. Graham Gleave [ grahamgleave1945@gmail.com ] is looking for some programmes from Dunmore: "I am wondering if anyone can assist me, I am trying to get a programme or photocopy of one, for the Belfast Bees v M/C Starlets 10/6/50. I have tried to contact Belfast newspapers without any success, no doubt they don't know it existed.

David Pickles on New Hope at Oxford?: "Many thanks to John Fray for the excellent article and superb front page with the action photo from the Oxford Mail. Oxford was always a friendly place to visit, the banter with the home supporters always a highlight of a visit. Unlike football, speedway fans are, on the whole, friendly, knowledgeable and above all else more than willing to acknowledge a good meeting regardless of the result. The fans at Oxford always came high on those attributes. There is far too much greed around these days regarding property development, the continuing clarion call of a "housing crisis" playing right into the hands of developers (witness Wimbledon's fate) and greedy landlords. Three cheers to the council for their refusal to buckle under. All our great sport needs now is a vote of confidence in the stadium's future, a compulsory purchase and it could well be tapes up in 2019." Chris Page on Jack Millen: "As a speedway supporter from what to me we're the golden days of the sport the 1970's and one time track taker at the old Blackbird Road stadium I think I only saw Jack there once riding as a reserve guest for Reading I believe? However I did used to travel to Peterborough on race nights back then when I could as it's not far up the A47 from Leicester. Of all the nights in speedway I have witnessed and there are plenty I happened to attend Panthers v Stoke Potters with their number one rider Les Collins and Jack Millen as second heat leader. I still have the programme somewhere. Jack scored 13 points that night and I can still remember him driving the fans crazy on both sides and he rode his heart out in his black leathers what a match, unfortunately I failed to write down if he won the old rider of the night! I do have him winning his heat but not the final result shame. Anyway after all these years RIP Jack I salute you a true warrior and still missed. God bless." Judith Aldridge on The Tebbys - Stan and Jim: "We have to be fair to Cyril because he was given the choice of losing Jim or Trevor and that was no choice at all." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

16th December 2017

DVD Review: Memories of Coventry Speedway 2017 has been a horrible year for fans of the Coventry Bees, losing their Brandon home and being withdrawn from the league on the eve of the season. Bees fans looking to lift the gloom will be pleased to hear of a new DVD dedicated to their great club.

New Hope at Oxford? John Fray shares the front cover from last weekend's Oxford Mail, which offers fresh hope for speedway fans.

All Hope Exhausted for Wimbledon There's no hope left at Wimbledon as the stadium now seems certain to be demolished. David Pickles reports on the latest news.

Barry Pickering on DVD Review: 101 BIG World Championship Moments: "Great article, but there are a couple of minor corrections. The Mauger-Davis clash happened at London White City in 1977 and Gary Havelock was victorious in Wroclaw in 1992." David Pickles on It's All About You: John Hyam: "With reference to Jim Henry's comments, I touched upon speedway promoting itself a while back, but to encapsulate it needs to (A) visit all schools in the area of the track, (B) all promoters need to pay into a fund to facilitate cinema advertising in the local area, (C) offer free admission for one meeting to infant and primary school children accompanied by a paying adult, and (D) hold local High St stalls showing races on DVD and include the riders with a display of bikes." Click here to leave your own feedback