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| 24th April 2008 |
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The BIG Feedback Special Thanks to all those who take time to submit feedback on the articles and photographs we feature. We've reached the stage now that the backlog of comments is simply too large to ever clear through our usual 'Your Feedback' section. As a result, here's a collection of the unpublished feedback that we've received in recent weeks. Please keep your feedback coming, it's always very much appreciated. |
Track Pix: Ashington(PDF Version) Only two meetings were ever staged at Portland Park in Ashington, both in 1972. Steve Johnson visited the ground at the tail-end of 2007 for a football match and took these photographs. He reports that the stadium is due for demolition in the near future. |
Dream Team: Gavin Jackson(PDF Version) Gavin selects his favourite Eastbourne Eagles from the eighties. |
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| 17th April 2008 |
Catching Up With...Mike Bennett (PDF Version) In the first of this new series we find out what's new with Mike Bennett. Mike is the ever-popular presenter at King's Lynn and has recently re-issued his complete collection of speedway videos on DVD format. |
Track Pix: Murray Bridge(PDF Version) Charles McKay was the photographer who took the pictures of this Australian track. |
Dream Team: Craig Milner(PDF Version) Craig has followed Middlesbrough/Teeside/Redcar since the second division was formed in 1968. No surprise then that he's picked the brilliant Steve Wilcock to lead his all-time team. |
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"Seeing the photo's brought back such happy memories, from the great Peter Craven days to the Collins & Morton era. Why oh why was it allowed to be pulled down and the land used to sell cars !!! It was such a great riders track." "I also worked with Rim at White's motorcycles in Auckland at the time I was booked with Bruce Ovenden and Joe Hicks to go to England. I was awfully short of the money to pay for my ticket so Rim came up with a plan, as he was an excellent navigator and I had been been a skipper on a fishing trawler. He decided we were going to buy one of the navies discarded Fairmiles and we would run guns to the Arabs! Fortunately I didn't have the courage to agree with his plan." "Enjoyed reading the Roger Wright article immensely and
remember his time fondly at Teesside's Cleveland Park between 1972 and 1975. At the
time he was seen as a major signing and the club enjoyed some productive years for
most of Roger's time with the club. After his loan move was sorted out with Hackney
he came to live on a farm in Picton near Yarm in Cleveland. The farm belonged to
Stewart Collin who had a few second halves at Teesside, Stoke and Workington around
1974/5. I understand Paisley Lions rider Malcolm Chambers also lodged at the farm too.
Oddly Roger seemed to ride better away from home than he did at Cleveland Park.
He left Teesside a couple of months into the 1975 season following the departure
of several well established riders. Club captain Bruce Forrester was the
first to break ranks for business reasons and ended up ridng for Boston on a weekend.
The injury of long serving Dave Durham, which finished his career, and then a
transfer request from Roger citing a lack of team spirit did not go down well with
team manager Tony Coupland. Roger got his wish and moved to Workington and
then on to Berwick. Promoter Ron Wilson signed Tom Leadbitter & Doug Underwood as
replacements but that's another story.
Had the pleasure of visiting New Zealand
in October/November 2006 and was hoping to meet Roger over there. Sadly we didn't
get his contact details to the final day of our departure from Auckland - oh well
at least we visited Christchurch but we did miss a solo meeting at Moore Park
by one day. Now that would have been something to bump into him at an actual
meeting!
It's only when you read an article like this it makes you wonder why solos
are so low key in New Zealand nowadays. Back then they seemed to have dozens of
riders who competed in Britain. It's ironic though that we now have Wellington-based
Jade Mudgway riding for the Redcar Cubs and others coming over to the UK to ride.
Having met the people and driven on their roads I know how enthusiastic and keen
speedway riders in New Zealand must be to travel the amount of distances to get
from Invercargill on South Island to Rosebank on North Island just to share a bill
with other forms of motorsport. Good luck to them. " |
| 10th April 2008 |
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On Some Things We'll Never Agree (PDF Version) Robert J. Rogers suggest we all agree to differ on the two questions that just keep on coming up - 'Who was first?' and 'Who was best?'. |
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Eddie Rigg - Thanks from Trish I would like to extend my appreciation to the people involved with speedwayplus.com and all the readers who have assisted me in my search regarding Pa. I have received many emails, and have spent hours replying to them all, hoping I haven't let any fall through, but with every little bit of information I endeavor to keep the speedway history alive. It has been a true blessing to have come across everyone here on speedwayplus.com, I honestly don't think I could ever repay the emotional fulfillment you have all given me. It is so delightful to see mum blossom as she reads the emails and retells stories of her childhood. I would like to thank everyone who has made this possible. I'll be sure to include everyone on the official collection of documents, it's the least I can do! Trish Gorman |
Track Pix: Nassjo(PDF Version) Back to Sweden this week with these pictures from Charles McKay. |
Dream Team: Bill Elliot(PDF Version) Bill turns the clock back over thirty years and picks his favourite Paisley Lions. The Lions raced for two seasons at Love Street, the home of St. Mirren football club. |
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Des Allen; Preben Andreson; Dave Bell; Anthony Boyd; Joe Bramall; Mal Chambers; Bert Clark; Scott Cook; Tim Curnock; Nobby Downham; Colin Farquharson; Bill (Jock or Willie) Gordon; Rob Grant; Johnny Green; James Hayhow; Chris Kelly; Jarno Kosonen; Robert Larsen; Bob Lindsay; Michael Lowrie; Charlie Monk; Alan Morrison; Val Morton; Ron Mouat; Billy Murphy; Brian Murray; John Oram; Alf Parker; Mark Pearce; Craig Pendlebury; Bob Quick; Tony Rizzo; Vic Sage; Shorty Schirmer; Mark Stokes; Knut Syrrest; Neil Webb.
If you can help please email Jim Henry (jjh1950 |
blueyonder.co.uk)
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"Thanks for the look at your pictures. Up the Rayleigh Rockets! Good old days." "Nice to see pictures of the old Powderhall track, I had some good & bad junior meetings at the track, but the track was always great to ride and well prepared (even when it was socked with rain). One of my favorite tracks to ride along with the old Cleveland Park circuit & Berwick's Berrington Lough track (all now gone)." "Fond memories of Liverpool Speedway in the article. I too grew up with the Chads, The Eagles and finaly The Pirates, the latter I was involved in as a programme seller, pusher offer and whatever else was available to earn a few bob on race nights. I also have many other memories of Stanley Stadium: Liverpool Stanley Rugby League; Military Tatoos; Stock Car Racing (especially the fatal accident on the tote bend following which Stock Cars never returned); pop concerts and many other activities that took place there. The bonus for me was I lived in Church and our house backed on to the stadium and I just had to go through the back fence and could get in for free. I cannot remember paying to go in for anything!" "I totally agree with you about not knowing who will be riding for who, year after year, it really is disappointing, especially for the younger fans. I also think that the powers that be are degrading the league, and British speedway overall, by lowering the points limit for team building. I would have thought that teams would be allowed to build to a higher points limit. There is no way the league can use the name Elite, because elite its not. The league has lost the World Champion, and some other top riders, all due to the lowering of the points limit for team building. I for one, wont be going to speedway like I used to. My partner and I were regulars at Cardiff year after year, and followers of Team GB, all over the place. I haven't booked tickets for Cardiff yet, and probably wont bother at all. I hate to say, but when our sport needed a boost, the BSPA gave it a kick up the bum instead." |
| 3rd April 2008 |
Riders to Remember: Roger Wright(PDF Version) Tracy Holmes pays tribute to another Kiwi hero, this time Roger Wright is the man under the spotlight. Roger is best remembered in the UK for his spells with Teeside and Berwick. |
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Eddie Rigg - A Can You Help Special (PDF Version) Eddie Rigg's granddaughter appeals for information on the former England international. She also shares a sad personal memory of Eddie in his later years. |
Track Pix: Kwinana Beach(PDF Version) Chris Seaward took these snaps on his tour of Aussie this winter. The circuit is part of the Perth Motoplex. |
Dream Team: Jonathon Reddin(PDF Version) Jonathon first saw speedway when riders performed a demonstration at Motherwell Football Club - proof that these things do work. He selects some of his favourite Glasgow Tigers and some of the world's best. |
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"Talk of a smallish crowd in the Hampden Park Stadium for Speedway has to be balanced against the regular crowds drawn by Queens Park F C for Scottish League matches at that time. What were their crowds of the day? Maybe one of the Scottish Historians could enlarge on this." "Delighted to see that Mike Fullerton has responded to Dave Gifford's marvellously funny article relating back to speedway life 30 years+ ago. Remember Mike from his days at Paisley when he did so well in 1975 that the fans helped pay for him to return during 1976 to Love St.
I did the stats for the Lions then and Mike was always on to me to get his up to date average, as I believe his deal involved his having a certain performance level at the end of the season.He saved us the embarassment of a whitewash at Workington during his spell with us when a hard fought 2nd place meant we "only" lost 64-14 instead of what would back then have been the first ever maximum defeat of 65-13 on the old 13 heat formula.
I also did my trainee timekeeper at Paisley, which meant I was normally let loose in the 2nd halfs then, and believe that he recorded the offical track record time (when we actually closed down) during one of my spells with the stop watch - still waiting for the drink you owe me for that one, Mike!" "
I would just like to say that I agree with Bill 100%. If we want to develop a Top Class British Team / World Champion then we need to do something about this situation. I personally have nothing against foreigners - however - I would limit the Elite League to TWO foreign riders per club. Nicki Pedersen is a very fine Rider - but - where did he learn his trade/
To a large extent here in England is the answer. Should we really be developing foreign talent instead of our own to come here and beat us out of sight (World Cup). It is exactly the same in Cricket and Football. We really DO need to start looking after our own Speedway for if we don't - then the prophesies of Bill Gilliham will come to pass.
I would also like to add: 'BRING BACK THE ONE OFF WORLD FINAL' The Grand Prix System is also ruining Speedway. AT ONE TIME ANYONE COULD WIN IT - only the SELECT few can these days. Jack Young as a then Second Division Rider could NOT win it today. HE WOULD NOT GET THE CHANCE................
BSPA - GET OUR HOUSE IN ORDER !!" |