Speedway Scrapbook: The Rivals

From Daily Mirror (1974)

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THESE TOP speedway riders are cutting a different kind of track to the one they are used to, in a Decca recording studio. They include Dons riders Bert Harkins, extreme right, and Graeme Stapleton, trying to get into the picture third from left at the back.

The thirteen stars were brought together to record "Speedway" which will later go on sale at all speedway tracks around the country and a percentage of the proceeds from the sales will go to the Riders Benevolent Fund. All riders, not just the actual singers, will play a part in the promotion of the record.

Appropriately, the singers are known as The Rivals. The "B" side is "Hoskins Still Rides", a tribute to Johnny Hoskins, the man who pioneered speedway - first in Australia and then in Britain in 1928. Hoskins, now 84-years old, is still in the sport as a promoter at second division Canterbury.

See if you can pick out which rider is which with the following list:

Jimmy McMillan (Scotland and Hull), John Louis (England and Ipswich), Scott Autrey (USA and Exeter), Peter Collins (England and Belle Vue), Dag Lovaas (Norway and Hackney), Nigel Boocock (England and Coventry), Terry Betts (England and Kings Lynn), Pete Smith (England and Poole), Martin Ashby (England and Swindon), Malcolm Brown (England and Leicester), George Hunter.

You can listen to the song on Youtube.

Thanks to Steve T and Jim Neil for help with this article.

This article was first published on 12th February 2019