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| 29th April 2010 |
DagenhamJohn Phillips of the Barking and Dagenham Post looks back on a circuit that gave early opportunities to a number of well remembered racers. Thanks to Robert J. Rogers for facilitating our use of this article. |
It's All About You....Fred TaylorFred has a number of interesting suggestions that seem well worth considering. He can count both 'The Wick' and 'The Lough' amongst a number of regular stomping grounds over the years. |
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"A spectacularly well thought and erudite
article. I have to confess to little interest in SGP, to me it is almost as Rugby Union is to Rugby League, same basis but a different product. I see
the conceived need for a season long World Championship as in other motor sports but feel we were better with the old qualifying to regional finals
to World Final system. Every supporter at evry track felt involved. As for TV (Sky) involvement, has it not been considered that, whilst, in
football, everyone wants the FA Cup Final and both semis, not all earlier round matches need be shown to all the TV public; why not show the World Final
and the major rounds plus a representative selection of qualifiers. As Jeff Scott says, would be fans "can be sold bright shiny, well-packaged tat
so long as it looks like the real thing and we can claim it's a 'World Championship'". In other words, if it is a qualifier, make sure it is the
"Speedway Championship of the World" before mentioning it is a "British Qualifying Round" and from, say, Belle Vue. No lies, just a shift in emphasis.
This does not mean all racing shown should be British, a well considered and joined up system, packaged to fit into TV schedules but not for
them would include all real speedway nations. I believe Jeff has left us much food for thought, I just hope the powers that be accept the
thinking challenge. Great that this article made it from the Newcastle programme to a national forum too. " "Another belter of an article outlining exactly why the Grand Prix sytem is a total turn off for so many fans. Forget the paying punter who shells out a heckuva lot of money to watch his favourite sport each year (including going to a Grand Prix where a mortgage is required to get to the venue, get in, and eat), the people in charge of running the Grands Prix are more interested in the money from Sky TV and presenting a largely inaccurate image of what the sport is supposed to be about (eg entertaining racing, etc). When you can have a system in place which allows a rider to be crowned "World Champion" without him actually having had to beat all the other riders in even one round, then good luck to him, but for me it just ain't a World Championship. Some of the peopl e saying you can't return to a one off type of event, either in place of/in parallel to the existing monotonous rounds of "same old, same old" do so, I suspect, because they possibly have a vested interest in keeping it that way. " "Watched Once a Jolly Swagman again recently. Is there anyone out there who knows why, during the scenes filmed at New Cross circa 1948, the crowd signs in unison `On Ilka Moor Bah't At'. They couldn't all have been Odsal fans!" "Still one or two of us around. I followed the Knights in the 80's supporting them home and away all over the country and even to Germany for the World Long Track final, which prompted an article in the Speedwat Star "Trevor Banks on his army". So many happy memories of the Groveway and some of the great meetings that took place there. A Group of us sponsored Steve Mildoon, Knights Junior, and everytime Kevin Smart won his last race, including that great win at Mildenhall, it would cost me a large Bacardi and Coke. It would be good to know where the others are so come on down; Knibbsy, Tank, Timmo, Div, Bouff, Speedy, Jane, Lesley and so many others" "Thank you for printing my comments and a special thank you for printing the photo of the Old Meadowbank track." "Just a quickie on the Rick/Freddie Timmo question - presumably, his given name was Frederick, so he might opt for either Rick or Freddie as a diminutive, like an Albert might choose to be called either Al or Bert. I don't think there is any name "change" involved." |
| 26th April 2010 |
Tough Start for Tai in Polish GPLeandra Graves catches up with Tai Woffinden after Saturday night's Grand Prix in Leszno. It wasn't a debut to remember but the young Brit takes some positives from the evening. We hope to bring you more of Leandra's GP reports throughout the season. |
| 22nd April 2010 |
Jeff Scott on The Grand PrixAll eyes will be on the first Grand Prix of the season on Saturday night. Jeff Scott from Methanol Press looks at the current state of the sport's pinnacle event and back over what we've watched in recent seasons. |
A New Experience at NewportDudley Jones recently attended a meeting at Newport and was very impressed by his day at the races. |
It's All About You....Jim ChalkleyThe former Rye House and Wolverhampton rider is the latest to share his thoughts on the sport. As someone who saw his first meeting over 65 years ago, he's well qualified to comment. |
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 The evening will consist of interviews with former Long Eaton riders, a display of speedway memorabilia, an auction, a dvd show, a raffle and the opportunity for fans to talk to former riders. Also available to buy, priced at �5, will be issue 2 of Ian Gill's book Trackin' Down, which has interviews with former Long Eaton riders Chris Pidcock, Alan Molyneux, Roger Mills and Gary O'Hare. Everyone is welcome to come along and share in an evening of nostalgia. Tickets are priced at �3 in advance and �4 on the night (reduced from 2009 prices). Food will be available on the night but is not included in the ticket price. All proceeds will go to an injured rider. Tickets or more information available from: Peter Wrathall
Mob: 07970419170 Email: wrathall39@tiscali.co.uk
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"Cribby - the Black Country Maori! What a hero, he was hard as nails too. My best memories of Cradley are from the late 70s when the likes of Cribby, Dave Perks and Arfur Price were there. In later years he had an engine tuning business not far from Dudley Wood stadium, he may still be there, (I haven't been home for 15 years so I don't know) and his ice exploits with Paul Evitts, (another Black Country hardman) were the stuff of ledgend in the Cradley pubs. Nice one Tracy, thanks for bringing back some bostin memories." "Have read some of the comments about a dual World Championship/Grand Prix season not working and I completely disagree-fact is, if it's financially viable to do both, it can and will happen. Too many of the regular Grand Prix troupe don't deserve to be there each season (one of the best 16 in the world in any given year? I don't think so!) and there is no meaningful way of replacing them. If a rider is having the season of his life and makes it through the qualifying rounds all the way to the final then he has every right to be there and deserves the chance to make it happen-in a person's chosen sport, surely in any given year they must have the right to get as far as they can in the level of competition they are in and if that means competing in the "World Final" that year then so be it. You can't always talk about "average performances", you must also be able to talk about people performing outside the norm and that is what a "one off" annual World Championship allows for." "Sandor was one of my childhood heroes and I was so upset when he left Belle Vue. He was very popular with the fans and always had time to sign an autograph and a pleasant hello. I always followed his career after he left and loved it when he came back to ride against us and hoping he would still do well." "It would be great to have a more in-depth article. I would try and repeat the interview and use someone with a bit more knowledge of what Jimmy Mac achieved or someone who had actually watched him ride for many years that would improve the content greatly. His sweeping from the back passess around the 3rd and 4th bends at Hampden, his performances at Kings Lynn, Poole, Belle Vue, Halifax and Cradley to name but a few tracks when riding for Glasgow. I believe part of the reason he did not achieve higher world honours was the British final always being held at Coventry. It was no passing track and Jimmy was no gater. From a viewing perspective this was great to watch but not at Coventry against the worlds best." "Loved Matt Jackson's article "If I Were King", even if I didn't necessarily agree with all the suggestions. The comments about riders' averages is a case in point-if riders like Joe Screen might be ruled out of speedway because of a daft and patently unrealistic rule, when there are clubs wanting to include them, then the rule should be changed or dumped. The article has far too much commonsense in it to have any chance of being heeded by the people in charge of our sport-sometimes think BSPA stands for Ban Sensible People's Advice. The rules of the sport have to be simple so as to attract new supporters and retain (rather than *&$@ off) an ever decreasing base of loyal fans. Can only suggest that in the interests of self preservation Matt doesn't hold his breath waiting for the phone to ring, otherwise the band of loyal speedway supporters will have been reduced yet again. Speedway continues to survive (just) in spite of the rules, rather than because of them. " "What a well written article. You should be Prime Minister. But will they listen? I don't think so it sounds too simple." "FANTASTIC'BRILLIANT IDEAS. But they will be totally IGNORED by the POWERS THAT BE. Because of the MONEY THAT SKY puts into the Sport, they will DICTATE to the B.S.P.A and the B.S.P.A haven't the BACKBONE to say NO!! and FINALLY when this wonderful sport of OURS is DEAD AND BURIED, the likes of SKY will move on, and all we'll be left with is MEMORIES. Dear old Roaring Johnnie Hoskin's must be looking down, and wondering "Why, have they allowed this to happen?" SPEEDWAY,R.I.P?" |
| 15th April 2010 |
Good Ole Days Once MoreWe received a terrific response to Burt Tyrell's memories from his racing career. We're delighted to say that he's taken time out from sitting in the Thailand sun to put together another article. This time he tells us about prying eyes at Rye House and a late night adventure on Dartmoor. |
It's All About You....Bob RoweBob has been fortunate enough to work in the greyhound industry over the years, allowing him to see plenty of speedway at the same stadia along the way. |
Dream Team: Richard GoodwinRichard has followed the sport since the sixties, including many years following the Mildenhall Fen Tigers both home and away. |
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"Good to read the article from Mike Sheldrick. Mick ( as known then on the terraces ) and brother Sid were very popular at Barrow and even now thirty odd years later I have often wondered what happened to them. Other members of the Barrow team have been in the speedway press over the years but not Sid & Mick to my knowledge. And yes a belated congratulations on the Champion of Strathclyde win all these years later. Shame Barrow closed - square track and remote - but it started a love affair with speedway that carries on.... " "I lived in Church Road and could see parts of the track from my bedroom window, although the hill obscured most of it. The noise was deafening and the red dust would, on a windy evening ensure all washing was taken in long before the racing began, as it covered everything. We had to lock our sidedoor as punters would try to use our garden as a shortcut and free access. The stadium also had a magnificent football pitch, one of the biggest in England and Liverpool Schoolboys played on it. I remember the fatal stock car night. I used to play with the son of the driver who ran a milk bar in Prescot Road." "Great to get feedback from Bert Harkins on my Wembley Dream team, seems he is still very active in the "World Speedway Riders Association", and he must have a treasure trove of memories and anecdotes to share, would love to read a few on here. The Lions were only around for 2 years in the 70s, but as a 14/15 year old I loved going. Went to a number of World Finals, World Team Cups etc at the Stadium too, they were fantastic nights, what a fantastic venue it was for speedway. In later years Wimbledon was always enjoyable, good racing, a couple of pints at "Nosher" Powels pub after the meting, then Fish & Chips at Molly's Fish Shop, great." "I think the GP's are the best way to
decide whos the world's best rider, although I did enjoy the one finals, but they definitely need tweaking! The number of GP rounds is excessive and
can lead to it getting repetitive if like most season one rider builds up a huge lead. Also Ole Olsen's tracks are too slick and therefore not conducive
to good racing a lot of the time. The qualification system is ludicrous. Riders go through qualifying rounds for the next season, how crazy is that?
I've also never been a fan of seeding riders through. Surely the best way to decide who rides in the GP's is on the track then theres no argument.
I believe that every rider competing in League speedway should have the opportunity to try and be world champion.
My blueprint for the
qualifying rounds and the GP's are as follows: Only 6 GP's. Featuring the top 6 from last years GP, 2 World semi final winners, 1 permanant seed
from the riders who don't qualify, one wildcard per round and 6 from a resurrected GP challenge which was a great do or die meeting that
was scrapped for some crazy reason.
The Qualifying rounds would go as follows: 4 World Quarter finals all on the same weekend, featuring 16 riders in each round. Top 8 qualify for
the semi final. 2 World semi finals on the same weekend featuring the top 8 qualifiers from the Q finals. The 2 winners of the
world semi finals go straight into the GP. The next 7 go into the GP challenge. The GP challenge would feature the riders who came 2nd to
8th in both semi finals + the 7th placed rider from last years GP and the current World under 21 champion. The 6 round GP would start after the
qualifying rounds have been completed in July and run to the end of October or November if a round was to be staged in America or the far
East/Australia.
Having 6 rounds would ensure the GP's didn't get to drawn out and riders would be closer in terms of points. In the UK, qualifying rounds could
start at NL level leading up to British Quarter final, semi and then the British final which would be the qualifier for the World Quarter finals.
I used to enjoy the old premliminary rounds before they were finally phased out by the start of the 21st century. You could certainly
say that there's been a distinct lack of variety in recent years particularly in the EL. Restoring Qualifying rounds as well as test matches
would go a long way to aleviate this!" "Some interesting comments, firstly on Scott Nicholls. Sure he has {or had} the ability to get a rostrum placing but also would he have qualified each year as his form has always been up and down on the international stage. Remember there wasn't seeding as there is now so he possibly wouldn't have had as many years in the finals. I also doubt Tony Rickardsson would have won 6 one off finals but he made the most of the system available and was, like Ivan the best and it is really impossible to compare the 2 formats. I do however feel because of the professionalism of the modern rider there is much more chance for different winners in the GP rounds. If you look at the world finals it is a select few who won and while the same can be said for the SGP winner the beauty of the series is that it throws up varied round winners { ie in the same vain as those shock merchants who grabbed a World Final rostrum }. Even when the series has been decided before the last round has it diminished the appeal of the final round. NO we still all look forward to it to see who grabs which final placing and also of course the round winner. I loved the one off Final but as I have said before the SGP has saved World Championship Speedway and we should embrace it and it's champion.......Go Greg Hancock....2010 World Champion............" |
| 8th April 2010 |
If I Were KingMatt Jackson lays out his manifesto for the sport, should the call for him to take charge of British Speedway ever come through. |
It's All About You....Andy OldfieldAndy started watching speedway at Canterbury in the first season of Division Two. He still has many fond memories of the nights he spent at Kingsmead. |
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"It is fifty years since the first matches in the Provincial League got under way. Perhaps we can hear from Speedway Plus' correspondents of their memories of this exciting initiative - how the formation of the league came about, its aims and the riders who rode in it. The years of the league 1960-1964, in my opinion were a momentous time for speedway. What do others think?" We'd be delighted to receive contributions on this theme. |
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"I was sat looking at the pics of Hyde Rd with a million images and memories running through my brain remembering all the greats riding the track in BLRC, Pairs Finals, test matches and of course Aces matches and magical place gone forever but entrenched in our memories. If only I could go back in time for one meeting watching Ivan, Soren, PC, Pusey, Wilkie, Eric, Ken Eyre and Tyrer etc battling against Briggo, Ole, the Booey bros, Anders, Ray Wilson, Simmo etc under the lights. Me and my mates sat at the pits bend with shale in our hair and dusty faces." "Pure nostalgia in black and white. Speedway has moved on since this film was made but the racing and style is much the same. For those who witnessed the early days of the sport and for ex 'New Cross Rangers' supporters this is a must." "Hello I Saw your web site and it brought back a lot of good memories. I was born in 1947 and my parents would take me to see the poppies regularly. I always remember Jimmy Gleed as being the best rider even better than Gil Goldfinch. As I remember there was a race against Rye House and I think it was at Rye House. A rider called Vic Ridgeon (I think) rode for Rye House, it was an important race and Jimmy Gleed had to win, his bike never seemed so reliable. He came out to the start grid on Gil Goldfinch's bike and I think he won. They were good days for me as a boy. Thank you for your web site." "Nice story. One thing about the photo that prompts a question. I always recall Mr Timmo as 'Rick' and do not recall his name being Freddie. By coincidence, I had a visit from some long lost relatives from Napier, NZ a few months ago. The talk got around to speedway. Wayne was not a big fan but had been a few times during his life. He rhymed off a few names which he remembered including Freddie Timmo who he knows slightly. He reckoned that he had raced in Britain with a fair amount of success. I mentioned the name Rick but he had never heard him called that. Is there a story behind the name change?" "Super recollections here of Stanley Racetrack. I'm from Liverpool and currently have a website on Old Swan, taking in "Stanley". I'm about to do a piece on the Racetrack and would be grateful for any personal stories / pics to show, I would of course credit the source. Its a completely non commercial site, purely out of interest in the local history." "Have read the comments about my late uncle Jack and obviously this guy Dave Gifford didnt know my uncle at all!...true he was a hard man and hard rider but he also had a heart of gold and this has been backed up by people that knew him! Shame on you Dave for slagging a dead man who is not here to defend himself..if he were here today he would probably show you what a good right hook is...go back to raking the track....thank you Bob for sticking up for my uncle!" "I don't believe I even said "Dark age" but if you think logically the '50's were down......yes there were great riders, some of the best ever but tracks? Way down on '30's & '40's level and in most cases attendances. So yes, when I say decline to '50's levels I do not think it is a "Myth". My guess is, if tracks fell off once again to the '50's level you would still have the same hard core fans going to those tracks that survive to maybe even equalling the '50's level of attendance. BUT is that what we want for Speedway in future.....I don't think so." |
| 1st April 2010 |
Riders to Remember: Bruce CribbTracy Holmes pays tribute to the one and only 'Cribby' - The World's Fastest Maori! |
It's All About You....Peter PreecePeter is delighted to once again have a team to support with the (relatively) recent return of the Birmingham Brummies. Despite not following a particular side for over 20 years he never lost touch with the sport. |
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23 Eastbourne Road WESTHAM Pevensey East Sussex BN24 5NE |
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"Dudley's suggestion would be brilliant
if it was workable - the main problem being how to fit in all of the meetings (qualifiers and British Final are already held but higher level qualifiers
(Overseas / European Finals etc) which would involve the top guys who will already have the GPs, World Cup and league championships
(in various countries) on their minds. Also, from a financial perspective, one system would attract the already scarce sponsorship at the cost
of the other. Most fans would only go to only one due to the cost of travel, hotels and admission so you could end up with two poorly attended
meetings Like Dudley, I saw quite a number of world finals - some fabulous, some a complete waste of money. Unlike Dudley, although initially
sceptical, I was prepared to give the GPs a chance and, oddly enough, have found that some have been fabulous and some a complete waste of money.
His point regarding riders not getting a chance is valid and, possibly, the qualification process should be re-examined in that regard.
Too often riders who have not 'cut the mustard' at the GPs have been given chance after chance without any qualifying requirement being met.
Overall, the main attraction of the GP at Cardiff is that British fans are guaranteed a major meeting every year. If we were to revert to the
'one off' system we may only have the meeting once every 8 or 10 years. On the fairness point, many talented riders missed their chance
of glory due to having an unfortunately timed injury and being unable to compete in qualifying rounds. At least in the GP series missing
one meeting through injury need not end a rider's chances for the whole year."
"I agree with the authors comments,
I believe the old system of a world final on a one off basis provided much more excitement the the SGP series. "
"The Aces pub used to have a free standing painted sign of
Chris Morton in action. The pub featured in Shameless 'The Jockey' was filmed in the Wellington pub a couple of minutes walk across the estate.
The aces pub was near the Gallaghers house and behind the Shopping parade in the show until they rebuilt an exact replica set in Wythenshaw
several miles away. For a number of years the Aces pub was frequented by a lot of speedway fans but dwindled away when Hyde road closed
and fans relocated to the 'Longsight' pub on Kirkmanshulme Lane near the new track. The Moran brothers were often in the pub socialising with
supporters after meetings. "
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