29th April 2018

Jack Millen - Forty Years On Today marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Jack Millen in a car crash. Despite the passing of the years, this great character is still well remembered by all who watched him.

Kiwis in the Overseas Final - 1999 The penultimate instalment of this series from Tracy Holmes. Can you remember who represented New Zealand in the 1999 final?

Peter Baldwin on WORKINGTON - Derwent Park: "Very much like the old Shay track 1971-85. Would be a much better race track if the entrances and exits to the bends were wider. Their current narrowness makes the racing processional. Same problem at Berwick. The 1970 circuit until its closure provided better racing." Robin Smith on Riders to Remember....Jackie Biggs: "I knew Jackie Biggs when I was a kid, his workshop was at the top of Elmhurst Road in Tottenham. He was a terrific bloke, I used to mingle with him often. He also used to take me home in East Finchley where his wife Sheila would feed us, very nice lady. He used to work there after the garage closed where most riders would have their engines rebuilt by him. The most helpful man you could ever wish to meet and fondly remembered." David Pickles on Ivan Mauger: "Wiithout doubt THE greatest speedway rider I have ever had the privilege to see. Even though we all had the pleasure of booing him as youngsters, he grew with us, and as adults we came to appreciate his professionalism and determination. Never to be equalled, it would be fascinating today to see him mix it with the elite. One wonders, what would existing track records stand at today with the likes of Mauger around. Thank you for the fantastic memories Ivan, rest in peace." Mike Wilson on Kiwis in the Overseas Final - 1998: "I was the reason Paul ''Nobby'' Atkins emigrated to NZ and actually helped him win the 1997/98 NZ final by quoting the rule book to the Referee who had no idea about the rules for bikes as he was mainly a Car racing Ref { this sort of thing still happens now!!! }. When Paul went back to the UK for the Overseas Final he had been riding brilliantly but suffered from a lack of racing and no UK practice before the final. He was genuinely better than the 3 points gained and don't forget it was also a terribly wet meeting. " Andrew Gallon on Opening Nights: Shawfield 1988: "Quite a contrast to the previous half-season at Workington where the rutted, dusty, crash-every-race track was better suited to moto X than speedway and 'crowds' were in the 250-500 range. Who can forget the Tigers-Middlesbrough Bank Holiday Monday afternoon match when the track was watered with slurry? None of the riders, I'm sure! I was living and working in west Cumbria at the time (1987), and Glasgow's shambolic spell at Derwent Park revived my interest in speedway. I went along to a few of Glasgow's 1988 meetings at Shawfield. It really couldn't have been more different to the miserable months of 'Workington Tigers'! A shame it didn't last. " Anthony Williamson on Opening Nights: Shawfield 1988: "Re comment from David Pickles. I have not been to a Speedway meeting since Wimbledon closed. Admission £18 now. Maybe this has something to do with the low crowds?" Click here to leave your own feedback

 

22nd April 2018

A Bandits' Dozen Have you heard the one about the club that needed 12 riders to complete a four team tournament series?

Kiwis in the Overseas Final - 1998 Some of the finest riders the world has ever seen came from New Zealand. With all due respect, their representative in the 1998 Overseas Final wouldn't fall into that category.

The Mauger Campaign Website has opened an online condolences book after the sad passing of Ivan Mauger.

Peter Baldwin on Odsal Stadium: "Used to drive here every Saturday from our home near Newcastle. Best track and stadium in the country 1986-1995, very much like the Halifax track 1965-1970. Spoiled a little in 1996 when the RL insisted that more of the rugby pitch corners had to be left in place which squared the track off. Fortunately I still have plenty of videos of the meetings there. Hard to believe that in 1997, when the Dukes were champions, the crowds went down! Speedway killed by the increasing success of the Bulls and the onset of the GP series. The standard of presentation by the Ham's was better than many major meetings in other parts of the world. To have speedway there again they would have to demolish that appalling hospitality block to restore the 3rd and 4th bends. " David Pickles on Opening Nights: Shawfield 1988: "What promoter now wouldn't wish for almost 8,000 on an opening night? This was one year after my involvement at Wimbledon. We pulled in around 1,700 on our opening night and averaged around 1,200 in 1987. Imagine it now with the current day admission prices. 8,000 x £18 = £144,000. Probably enough to fund half a season. Happy days!" Click here to leave your own feedback

 

16th April 2018

Ivan Mauger The speedway world is in mourning following the passing of the great Ivan Mauger, six times World Champion and voted Speedway Star magazine's "Man of the Millennium" in 1999. As you would expect, Ivan has been mentioned many hundreds of times on this website over the years. By way of tribute, here are some of the comments the great man inspired:

Ivan Mauger Photographs Photographer Keith Lawson took these pictures of Ivan in the seventies and would like to share them with you today.

 

15th April 2018

Opening Nights: Shawfield 1988 Thirty years ago today, Glagow Tigers kicked off an exciting new era at Shawfield Stadium.

Kiwis in the Overseas Final - 1997 The Kiwis had a new representative this year, was Penny in for a pounding? Tracy Holmes looks back on the big day at Odsal.

Peter Baldwin on HALIFAX - The Shay: "The track between 1965 and 1970 was much wider than the bigger track 1971-85 and provided better racing. After the alterations were made in 1971 to meet with the demands of the FA the track was a little faster but much narrower on the bends which resulted in more processional racing. Always spectacular to watch though." David Pickles on Riders to Remember....Bjorn Knutsson: "My childhood hero at my beloved West Ham. "Knutty" - never forgotten. " Anthony Perry on Riders to Remember....Peter Craven: "I'm proud to say that I've seen Peter Craven ride for the ACES. Remember the day he passed on like it was yesterday, I was 11 years old and my Hero has gone. Like most kids I had the photos and the rosettes on my wall, had the central pages from the programme Belle Vue put out after his passing, that was the first and only time I seen tears in my Dad's eyes. I've been a fan from 1955 until today." Ronnie Collins on GLASGOW - White City: "I grew up in Glasgow and supported the Tigers at White City and rarely missed a match. Charlie Monk was virtually unbeatable around the circuit and was my hero, but my abiding memories were of Ivan Mauger and Barry Briggs being the guys that Charlie could rarely beat at the time. In my mind at the time Ivan was virtually unbeatable and a legend. I saw him at one World Final and again when I was travelling and working in West Germany in 1978, where he won a major grass track competition and even hammered the local legend Egon Muller. So for a generation he was a legend throughout the world and I have no doubt that he would have competed well in today's speedway world." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

8th April 2018

Riders to Remember: Alf Kaines John Hyam on a rider whose career was interrupted by World War II.

Kiwis in the Overseas Final - 1996 Tracy Holmes reflects on an infamous Overseas Final that was blighted by concerns over tyres.

Details of an upcoming event down under. Click on the picture to see it in a larger size.

David Pickles on Laydowns Killed the Spectacle: "Ivor Craine had it spot on (Laydowns are killing speedway). I don't entirely agree on the "spectacle" front though, to me after 54 years of attending, it still sends shivers up my spine, but the lack of passing and some track conditions, as well as the shoddy stadia, aren't helping matters. I've said before here many times that publicity and promotion are key, and the biggest obstacle is getting the young generation hooked. Despite all our problems, I still say we have the best sport on the planet along with the best and most knowledgable fans. If we all pull together and the weather is kind to us, 2018 could be an excellent year." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

1st April 2018

Laydowns Killed the Spectacle Ivor Craine is concerned that speedway has lost some of its spectacle and about its general downward trajectory.

Kiwis in the Overseas Final - 1995 Could Mark Thorpe make it through the Overseas Final and get closer to a coveted place in the new Grand Prix series?

Some positive news on the situation at Cowley Stadium appeared in the Oxford Mail this week. Thanks to John Fray for alerting us to the latest developments.

Dot Laird on Book Review: Bert Harkins Autobiography: "I've read Bert's book and found it to be one of the best speedway autobiographies ever. He's right though. There are a few times when I needed the tissues but thankfully far out-weighed by the laughs and the "WOWs". In my humble opinion he has the mix quite right. The overseas adventures have never really been described in such detail, from nail biting, harum scarum journeys, to the different track sizes/surfaces, and the local population and their customs. But what I loved most, was his determination to write it all himself. It's from the heart. THIS IS BERT...and don't we know it. He's a one off, and for those who have never been lucky enough to meet him - he has a heart of gold under all that bravado. Fantastic stuff." Click here to leave your own feedback