Tracy Holmes looks at the third and final test at Boston.
Our final update of the year, so time to give thanks to everyone who has contributed or assisted with the site in 2018. Apologies to anyone inadvertently overlooked.
Ivor Craine -
Paul Davey -
Ray Davidson
Mark Dell -
John Fray -
Richard Goodwin
Steve Haire -
Bill Hamilton -
Bert Harkins
Jim Henry -
Colin Hodgson -
Tracy Holmes
John Hyam -
James Jessop -
Dudley Jones
Sandor Kovacs -
Keith Lawson -
Tony McDonald
Charles McKay -
Martin Nation -
Ken Nicholson
David Pickles -
Robert Rogers -
Jan Staechmann
Harry Susemihl -
Stuart Towner -
Tony Webb
Very special thanks to Tracy Holmes who contributes more words to this website than anyone else, we'd be lost without his regular supply of articles.
It would be great to see even more names on this list in 2019. Please remember that we're always delighted to publish any speedway related articles or pictures, don't hesitate to get in touch if you've got something to share with speedway fans worldwide.
"I dunno, I guess I am a bit old fashioned in a way because I also prefer the old way where while the title was likely to be fought out by only a few. There could at least be a surprise winner on the night like a Jerzy Szczakiel, Egon Muller or even a Gary Havelock. And if you go back even further there were other surprise winners including the likes of Australia's Jack Young who won the 1951 World Final while still a Division 2 rider (though as we know, unlike the 3 mentioned, Young would win again in 1952 and spent the rest of the 50s riding in just about every World Final. He wasn't just a one hit wonder and is still revered to this day 31 years after his death as one of the best ever riders). Should they go back to the old format? Maybe, but the SGP is a money spinner and I can't see them turning their back on that."
"Fond memories of Ken at Boulder Oval Speedway in 1962 with a coin insert in left side of handle bar. R.I.P. Ken. "
David Pickles:
"Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe I am having scoured as much of the relevant websites as possible. Yet another blank year of honours for speedway riders, Tai in particular. A British 3-time world champion, and no recognition whatsoever. An utter disgrace. When will the speedway world wake up and organise a movement to put pressure on the authorities to rectify it? Probably never, given their previous track record (pardon the pun). When one has to listen to the midnight news that someone in the world of Netball is lauded, then I believe all is lost Speedway is finished."
Tracy Holmes continues his series on this second division test series in the early seventies.
Friends of Speedway took their road show to the Kempton Park Off-road Show on Saturday 1st December. The star of the display was the actual bike that Ivan Mauger won the 1972 World Championship on plus the major awards that he won during that year.
Other machines there were a Norton rotary engine speedway bike (the only known one in the world), three JAPs, one in a Staride frame and two in Rotrax frames. Along with various race jackets from different years and picture displays.
"I went to school with his sister Anne, I looked up to Chris because he was a biker and used to see him in the pits at Belle Vue and he would say hi. Hope he is ok and his sister too."
"As an 8yr old at the time, I remember the second test in this series at Rayleigh, featuring then Rockets Allen Emmett, Trevor Barnwell, Brian Foote and Bob Young, plus ex-Rocket Graeme Smith. Jack Millen was also in the Australasia team - he was the most feared visitor there !! "
"Racing solos at Ruapuna in the 1980s to early 1990s was a lot of young very good riders like Craig Monk and Mark Thorpe, Mike Hollow and there was also grasstrack and longtrack happing in the south island with Kim Mauger and Mike Hollow and Warren Madden and all these guys have gone now but not forgotten."
"Disenfranchised fan here again. John Fray's article is re-iterating what the seasoned speedway fans have been saying all along, the promoters ignore the paying public desires, they only have their own interest at heart. They are going with the old saying "If it ain't broke don't fix it" unfortunately, they can't see it's broke.
Over the years we have seen vast numbers of tracks closing culminating with no tracks near London and few tracks accessible by public transport and also the lack of top class riders competing in the British League. Even going back to the 70's & 80's when British Speedway was attracting good crowds I doubt if there were that many riders that were professional motorcyclists.
Today, perhaps speedway needs to be treated as an amateur sport, the promoters do.
I will finishing up by repeating something I point out, 'Sport is about competition', speedway is about penalising teams that are good. For us olden's, we only have nostalgia."
