"Wow, thrilled I have found all these memories from West Ham at Custom House. Probably started going age16 in 1962. My dad always rode a motor bike and Speedway on Tuesday night's was my whole life, Stood just in front of the commentary box with Dave Lanning. My absolute favourites were Bjorn Knuttson snd Sverre Harfeldt. Used to wait to see them come out at the gate, When I started courting we went speedway 4/5 times a week. West Ham on Tuesday, Plough Lane, Wimbledon on Thursday, Hackney on Friday, Rayleigh on Saturday and my hubby started racing at Rye House on Sunday, Love it even though I am 70."
"Very good article, went to Cradley about a dozen times from my home in London, was a West Ham regular as they were my team but was then and always will be a MASSIVE Erik Gunderson fan, probably the best rider I've even seem in my almost 55yrs of being a speedway fan."
Colin was a big fan of the many variations of Teesiders, Tigers and Bears that raced at Cleveland Park. Unsurprising therefore that Steve Wilcock is his all-time fave.
Tracy Holmes continues his series on New Zealanders and their performances in the Overseas round of the World Championship.
Shaun James [ srbjames@gmail.com ] is looking for information about an Australian rider by the name of Mark Bitter (or Bittner) that may have made his way to King's Lynn during the late sixties or early seventies. Can you help?
"Further to the photos in the Wal Morton article: I would like to record my appreciation to the renowned photo collector MIKE KEMP for providing most of these."
"l have been a West Ham supporter since the early 1960s. Glad to see the local authority have marked the old site with a plaque and named all the World champions who rode for us."
Tracy Holmes continues the story of the Overseas Final. It was 1984 and Les Collins found that big brother Peter was watching as a non-riding reserve.
Tracy Holmes [ raebo_nz@hotmail.com ] is looking for some programmes. Does anyone have copies they are willing to part with? They are both from the 1973 Daily Mail World League. New Zealand v England at Leicester on June 26th. New Zealand v Poland at Exeter on July 2nd.
"Sadly, Crystal Palace speedway is now long forgotten. As mentioned in the article the last racing there was 68 years ago. The sport is long forgotten in the local area. The nearest there has been to a mention of speedway in Crystal Palace has been the speedway displays by former Wimbledon rider Jon Stevens. In 2016 and 2017 he staged exhibitions in regard to speedway at the now annual 'Motorsport at The Palace' events. At the moment Stevens has still to decide if he will again feature a speedway display at the 2018 motorsport show."
David Pickles:
"Three cheers to Tai Woffinden for coming across as the consummate professional on the Clare Balding Show on BT Sport, over the Christmas/New Year break. Tai, as usual, was a great ambassador for the sport, it's a pity the questioning from Clare though wasn't more thorough as regards the history of the sport, and its current state. Tai though, was ever eager to stamp his mark on proceedings and his comment that he didn't ride in the UK, because speedway "wasn't run to the level he wanted" (he was quoted as saying he could take over the running of it), showed his passion for our great sport. All in all a very enjoyable show, and at last speedway to the fore. I suggest we all e-mail Clare Balding in the new year to ask if other riders can make appearances. It's a start!"
