25th March 2018

A Night to Remember John Fray tells us about a special night at Oxford, early August back in '63.

Kiwis in the Overseas Final - 1994 Tracy Holmes on the battle to qualify for the last ever World Final.

Details of a new web-based speedway game: SpeedwayManager.net is a browser-based manager game in which players have the opportunity to lead their own speedway team, playing the role of its manager. The game created by Marcin Lewandowski, the creator of the popular "Speedway Manager on Facebook", focuses only on the coaching and tactic aspect - it omits other elements, such as taking care of club finances or the stadium. Such a solution allows you to enjoy the game itself and develop riders' skills. What's important, SpeedwayManager.net does not require a player to devote a lot of time and commitment to it. Matches are of course the most exciting element of the game. During the meeting, players can change riders, change tires or give tactical commands. The production is available on the official website, completely for free, at the address: https://speedwaymanager.net

Bert Harkins on Book Review: Bert Harkins Autobiography: "Many thanks for the kind comments on your review of my autobiography. Regarding the comment about not enough written about my days at Wimbledon and Sheffield, as you mentioned, I thought that it would be more interesting letting UK Speedway folk hear a bit more about racing in other countries. Most of my UK exploits have been in the pages of Speedway Star and I did not want the book to read something like,..."I scored 10 points here and then I went there and scored 5 points", etc and have it as "Me,Me, Me". Anyway, thanks again and I hope that if anyone buys the book they will enjoy it and have some laughs and tears along the way. I am thinking of supplying a box of tissues and some "Deep Heat" muscle relief with every book as the reader may need them as he or she turns the pages and learns about "My Crazy Speedway World". Regards, Haggis" Click here to leave your own feedback

 

15th March 2018

Book Review: Bert Harkins Autobiography Our review of the new book from Bert "Haggis" Harkins.

Kiwis in the Overseas Final - 1993 Mitch Shirra was the sole Kiwi to get a ride in the 1993 final. Tracy Holmes tells us more.

Well done to Robert Rogers who is still spreading the word about the lasting legacy of West Ham Hammers. He's giving a talk on the subject at Royal Docks Learning Centre at 6.30pm on 28th March.

Steve Haire on Ivan Mauger - The Greatest?: "Ivan Mauger, the greatest? Perhaps, especially when you consider he was the oldest to win a world final and won three world long track championships. He is what you'd call the first true professional, may be wrong but I think he more or less introduced big company rider sponsorship. However I'm of the belief that Tony Rickardsson, Hans Nielsen's, Greg Hancock and possibly Jason Crumps' achievements have surpassed Mauger's. The one off world championships would entail perhaps 2 or 3 world class fields to qualify for the world final. GPs, a rider has to be in the top eight to definitely qualify for next years rounds and approximately ten world class meetings to be crowned world champion and since the mid 80's bikes are more technically advanced and riders are much fitter and more psychologically adept to the mental strains put upon them to suceed. I dare say had like likes of Mauger, Briggs, Fundin, Moore and Craven been around today they would have still been amongst the best. " David Pickles: "BT Sport have today (9th March) committed to at least another two years of live speedway, by signing a new contract. I have e-mailed my thanks to them and think it may be an excellent idea if everyone who reads this excellent website does the same. If you go to www.bt.com and click on bt sport and just follow the links. I'm sure it will be much appreciated by BT Sport to get many e-mails of praise and can only ensure that our beloved sport continues to be covered on national TV." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

3rd March 2018

Leningrad Neva Visit Britain in 1968 John Hyam looks back on a historic tour that took place 50 years ago.

Kiwis in the Overseas Final - 1992 Tracy Holmes reports as Mitch Shirra progresses towards his seventh World Final.

Here's the latest newspaper advert from the Save Oxford Stadium group. Click on the picture to see it in a larger size.

Bert Harkins on Celebration of Speedway's 90th Anniversary: "What a pity that Terry Stone's exhibition at the Rayleigh Museum for Speedway's 90th Anniversary clashed with the annual Celebration of Speedway at Paradise Wildlife Park for the 90th Anniversary which is not too far from where it all began at High Beech in February 1928." Ken Ryan on Craven and the Chads: "The Craven family lived as a neighbour to my family, I had always assumed that the team name came from the Road name where Peter lived 'Prestbury Road' L11 3DU, apparently when the houses were newly built the gardens at the rear were not fenced off and they used the area for practice!" Ian Westhead on Ivan Mauger - The Greatest?: "Ivan Mauger: The absolute professional of the sport he chose to be the best of. Not one of my favourite riders, but I think he would of been the greatest in any era, the man was to painstakingly perfect in everything he did to the point of obsession. He did whatever it took to win, studying, watching other great riders, toughing it through injury and pain, keeping in top physical condition, In a nutshell, nothing was left to chance, like if you had to stake your money on one race and one rider, Ivan Mauger was the man. " John Hyam: "What a delightful poem (of sorts!!!) from Bert Harkins. As the old saying somehow goes "He's a poet but doesn't know it!". I have been aware of Bert's writing skills since around 1956. I was then editing 'Speedway Star" and he used to send in reports and updates on cycle speedway in the area where he lived in Scotland." Click here to leave your own feedback