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27th February 2022

The Golden Hammer - 1977 Tracy Holmes and Steve Baker kick off a new series covering Cradley Heath's famous open meeting. We start with the inaugural staging in 1977.

The Golden Hammer - 1978 Tracy Holmes and Steve Baker on the 1978 meeting, where an American ended up on top of the rostrum.

The Golden Hammer - 1979 Tracy Holmes and Steve Baker tell us about the 1979 Hammer, including a rare dead heat between a couple of future World Champions.

John Barter wonders if anyone can provide the name of this Ipswich rider?

Garry Breed on Special Events at West Ham: " Such a wonderful thing, to still see, my dear departed Dad's article here still, he passed away in 2012. He loved West Ham, I'm 59 now and used to go in the early seventies, actually just before the ground at Custom House was redeveloped. He was passionate about letting people know about the old days and ways, I remember him telling me how Prince Regents Lane was crowded like a football match on race days in those times. Paints some many wonderful pictures. He was involved in the disaster fund for the West Ham team, when their van crashed in Belgian. I remember talking to Garry Hay on the phone, such a thrill for a young lad! We also met Len Silver at Hackney, when Dad did some advertising for him, I remember, the GO-Hackney pointers! Happy Days, keep up the good work." Mike Coombes on Jason Doyle does the CZ Golden Helmet 'Triple Crown': "Nice piece about a great meeting, the greatest individual meeting in the world. First time I was there was 1986. I had been racing the famous Dr. Joe Bailey 1926 TT Douglas - Briggo rode it a couple of times - in an International Vintage Road Race at the Autodrom in Most, followed the next weekend by an 11 kilometre tarmac hillclimb at Sternberk. I got on the box in both events - it was a really fast bike - second at most, winner at Sternberk. I was travelling with my wife, our 3 year old and a twelve week old baby. We got to Pardubice in time for the last heats and the two finals. A very young Tomas Topinka won that year. Many Czechs were interested in the old Douglas and after meeting some enthusiasts and getting contact details for the Zlata Prilba club I blagged a ride for 5 Brit veteran riders on Vintage bikes the following year. The riders were myself, Douglas, Roy Nowell, Douglas, Dave Kirby, Rudge, Dave Sparks, JAP and Dickie Brown, Martin JAP. Rudolph Havelka, technical guy in charge of the Zlata Prilba clubs workshops and a fine rider joined us on an early ESO. We must have put on a good show as we were invited back many times as well as getting a skid at the Lubos Tomicek Memorial meeting at the Marketa Stadion in Prague on the Monday night. In 1986 I fell off in front of a full Stadium during our race at the Golden Helmet. 60,000 fans - they make for a great atmosphere. I have a picture of my wife wearing Jeremy Doncasters Golden Helmet during the after race party. Wonderful memories. Your 1938 query, Gunzenhauser started IIRC, but failed to finish. The race for the Golden Helmet was run, in those days, around the racecourse used for the Czech Grand National horse race. IIRC one lap was 4 kms, and ten laps were run. It was very fast and dangerous. There is a memorial garden for the six riders who lost their lives racing there. Franta Juhan, Gunzenhausers teamate under the British designer and team manager George Patchett, won on another Jawa. Gunzenhauser took the OHC model leaving the slower, but as it turned out, more reliable OHV bike to Juhan. In 1996 Franta Juhan's brother and Frankie Juhan, Franta's son, sponsored a Memorial Meeting at Pardubice, won by Todd Wiltshire. The Vintage bikes were there too, and it became the start of the Oldtimer Euro Series of Speedway and Longtrack events of which I and a dozen other Brits became a large part of. Great times.." Rob Casson on Bob Leverenz: "I had the pleasure of working with Bob Leverenz at Radio Rentals in Adelaide. I was very impressed in his demeanour and he had a great influence on my decision to become a freemason. (I went on to become Grand Master 2003 - 2006) His philosophies on life were absorbed and never forgotten. A former member of Glenelg Lodge and the Lodge of Sportsmen. " Philip Dalling on NELSON - Seedhill Stadium: "Best wishes to Barry Grindrod. Barry - do you remember Stock Car - The Magazinbe for the Sport, which Geoffrey Kingscott and myself edited for The British Stock Car promoters Asssociation (Charles Ochiltree in effect)? You were the magazine's man at Nelson, as I remember. I also visited Nelson for speedway. If memory serves me right Long Eaton got a rare Division Two away point at Seedhill. Saturday May 3rd 1969. A 38-38 draw. Pete Gay and Tony Lomas both got 11 points for the Rangers. Alan Knapkin with 12 was the top scorer for the Admirals." Click here to leave your own feedback