2 July Sheffield
3 July Scunthorpe
4 July Workington
5 July Glasgow
6 July Belle Vue
11 July Stoke
12 July Birmingham
18 July Weymouth
20 July Wolverhampton
24 July Coventry
30 July Swindon (4TT)
The opening of a new track is always worth celebrating and that's particularly true in
San Bernardino, California where they've been waiting 22 years for speedway to return.
Cary Cotterman has been monitoring the development of the new track
and was on hand on opening night to capture some photographs.
Philip Dalling has been watching speedway for a great number of years, but 2009 was his first
visit to the sport's premier event at Cardiff. Here's his verdict on the big night.
Karen has been an Exeter Falcons fan for almost thirty years and will be one of many disappointed
to hear that the prospective Haldon venue has fallen through. Here are her favourite riders from
the last three decades.
Harry Ward captured these track panoramas on his recent travels. They are of Armadale (Scotland),
Berwick (England) and Parken (Denmark) respectively.
Glyn Blackburn wants to find out about his namesake that rode in the sixties - Can You Help?
"After many visits to Exeter Speedway
while on holidays in the area, with memories of warm, balmy evenings after happy sunny days, this series of pictures is just so sad!
It is indicative of the way times change and I'm just glad I visited when I had the opportunity. Here, at Oxford, we are merely one
step away from a similiar series of pictures. The lesson, I suppose, is to enjoy things while you can. "
"I remember the Elfied Park meetings well.
Also many of the riders that passed through at the time including Mike Wilson who I think was one of the only riders at the time still
using a DOHC Jawa if I remember rightly. I can still see Hans Nielsen gracing the track in an inter league challenge. Racing like
he was sitting in an armchair!"
It's Cardiff week so also that time of year when Jeff Scott's latest travelogue traditionally now hits the bookshelves.
Here's our review of his 2009 offering.
Jeff will be on hand at Cardiff on Saturday and numerous other tracks over
the next few weeks to sell you a copy in person. If your path isn't going to cross his then it can also be purchased
from his website.
In this exclusive extract from Jeff Scott's new book we join him on a visit to
Plymouth to see the Devils take on the Weymouth Wildcats. He travels in the company of Jem Dicken,
the Wildcats team manager, so even before he's reached the track there are many tales and insights
to be shared. Upon arrival he finds new facilities at the circuit, though sadly has to report that
crowds are perhaps not what they once were at the St. Boniface area.
Conclusive proof from Mark Wilson that 'Ugly Betty' is a big fan of the Birmingham Brummies. He stresses that he
doesn't watch the programme and just caught the above in a trailer. We believe you Mark!
South Africa now has its first official speedway website in the form of The Southern Speedway Riders Club.
Judging by the rider profiles it's a real family affair as fathers and son racers are well to the fore.
"Tony, what a
lovely item on Ray, one of West Ham lesser-known Riders. I was lucky enough to see him in action against one of the leg-trailing legends, Phil
Bishop. Phil was known as the 'India Rubber Man' because it was claimed he had broke every bone in his body at one time while racing. On the
13th September 1966, Phil had given a display of leg-trailing at West Ham during a match interval (where they used to say, 'Anything Could
Happen'!). It was such a success with the fans that they demanded more, so as the Hammers had a junior who was also a 'trailer', a special
match race was set up. On the 20th September after the match against Exeter (for the Falcons fans, I am afraid you lost 28-50, with the
highest scorer being Colin Goody with eight points) a special match race took place called - 'THE BATTLE OF THE GENERATIONS - LEG-TRAILING
MATCH RACE'. It was between Phil 'Roaring Twenties' Bishop and Ray 'Sizzling Sixties' Cousins. It was a very close race, but sadly Phil fell on
the last bend as he tried to blast round the outside of Ray. The time was 83.6 seconds, well outside the track record, but remembering they
were both racing on original 'Dirt-track' Bikes, and both bikes and riders had to be preserved. Phil when on to become Team manager at
West Ham, and was sadly to lose his life in 1970 when he and the team were involved in a fatal accident in Belgium. "
"Rick was my favourite speedway rider
for Oxford when I was a youngster and I can still remember when he beat Ivan Mauger and scored a maximum. Great to see he is alive and well."
Steve Elstins:
"Really enjoy your site. I live in northern California. I have been following your site for
years. I am involved with our home track in Vallejo Ca. that is promoted by Charlie Venegas. It is called Golden Gate Motor Speedway. We run
every Saturday night with a full program of 3 divisions. We are fortunate to have riders such as Billy Janniro, Kenny Ingalls, Tommy Heddeen,
Bryan Yarrow, Kelly Karrigan, John Houston, JT Mabry, Etc. Our ph# is 909.883.4364. Gates open at 6 pm racng starts at 7:30 pm.
Sponsored by REDLINE OIL. Thanks again for a great site. Good job. "
These pictures of the Holstebro track in Denmark are courtesy of Kelvin Lapworth.
There's an interesting video filmed at the Newport v King's Lynn meeting earlier this season
available to view on vimeo.com. Looks like
it's a film school project and it shows an overview of a day at Newport.
Young Canadian rider Tommy Hensby has a new website. Tommy is the son of David Hensby who regularly gets
in touch with the site. Tommy has benefitted from some expert coaching from Kyle Legault. Find out more
at tommyhensbyracing.com
"I was only 21 when I raced in England and got to
see a lot of my heroes from the speedway star I received each week. I had grown up reading about these gods and was certainly overawed by
one when seen in person. I first saw Simon Wigg when he came to watch at Milton Keynes { 1989 } where I was the junior captain. I couldn't
believe how approachable he was and that he made time to talk to me, remember I thought they were all film stars, but Simon not only became
an aquanitance but for the remaining 3 years I was there a very close freind. He was a legend in the true sense and I shed a tear as did
many when he passed away so young. Many people suffer egoitis when successful but Simon was not one...A TRUE CHAMPION, HUSBAND,
FATHER AND MATE................as often said 'gone but most definately not forgotten'"
" My Father James (Jim) Huxley and my Godfather Lol
Lees used to manage a cycle Speedway team in Liverpool in the 1950s. The team "Fairfield Aces" won a trophy, I have a photo of the team with
the trophy if anyone team members oR friends, woulf like a copy. Myb rother and I used to watch the team and were also regulars at the Chads.
My Mum made the ACES breastplates and the lads all looked young good looking and smart, a great bunch, who used to visit our house regularly.
Happy Days. I still watch Speedway at Workington."
Robert Green:
"Great site, but as well as talking about the good old days can someone please organise an
old masters meeting with some of the past riders having a go again? I'm sure there would be plenty of people who would like to see their old
favourites on a bike again. I wonder if there is a promoter brave enough to do this? As they do not seem brave enough to put practice sessions
on to allow youngster to have a go or anybody else for that matter. I have four bikes ranging from the late sixties to the mid eighties and I
would be willing to let these be riden in such an event, thanks again for a great site. "
Construction has finally started on the site of Exeter's famous County Ground. John Nethercott took along
his camera to capture the sad spectacle. Hopefully the Falcons will fly again in the not too distant future.
Mildenhall photographer Jeff Higgott's pictures can be seen on his website at
speedway.sequella.co.uk
Colin Parker has now published a book entitled Coventry's Two Speedways, which is the story of speedway at
Lythalls Lane and Brandon between 1928 and 1939. It retails at £14.99 plus p&p.
Contact Colin via email (colineparker@tiscali.co.uk) for details and ordering information.
Giffy:
"Just a few lines for Chris Hall who seems a bit put out by the Polish Team selections. What he is
feeling is probably just what the Russians, Poles and Swedes felt back in the sixties and seventies when Great(?) Britain fielded teams that
included Aussie and Kiwi riders!!"
"Wow, the memories this article stirs.
I was the captain of the junior team when Elfield opened and also rode in some first team matches. The fans were second to none and Tuesdays
back in 89 were some of the highlights of my life. Having come from NZ I thought Elfield was a paradise as all we got to race on here were
mega grippy tracks designed for the cars. Paul Atkins who was a very popular team member emigrated over here after I asked him to come
race for the summer and we often {as you do} reminise about those days. Terry Cheney sweated blood for that place and was the best
promoter a young kid from NZ could have hoped for. I went back for a holiday in 96 and visited the old place and even then it was a
derelict site and I felt very sad for everyone but especially the diehard fans who were always ready to buy a skint rider a pint.
LONG LIVE THE MILTON KEYNES KNIGHTS......RISE AGAIN FROM THE ASHES."
"Re Split Waterman, it would be nice if somebody
could contact Split and let him know he is still remembered with respect by a lot of the fans, some of which were never that lucky to see him
ride. Some of the wonderful stories which he told while writing his column in the Speedway Express, and the stories we heard about some of the
things he and his mate Bruce Aberbethy, who looked like brothers (and also wrote in the Express) got up to, would make some fantastic reading.
I was lucky that just before he went of to Spain he signed some photos of himself both in Action and on his bike in both Wembley and
Harringay Colours (with the Golden Helmet). A couple of these photos can be seen on the WSRA site. Split was mainly a London Rider,
riding for Wembley, West Ham, Harringay and New Cross (where he was captain) as well as Southampton and Ipswich in the eraly 1960's.
My comments were taken directly from the `World Championship Story` where he was intervied by the late Ernie Hancock, (which many Rye House
fans will remember when he was the team manager there in the 1960's) about the history of the Wheel."
Track Pix makes a return with these photographs of the Debrecen circuit in Hungary courtesy of Bob Cole.
It's been 45 years since W.S.R.A president Terry Stone rode for Glasgow but he's clearly still fond of the Tigers. Thanks
to Jim Henry and Maggie Radcliffe for the photograph.
Kelli Bradshaw is trying to find out about her uncle Peter Bradshaw's career - Can You Help?
Ian Harwood:
"I've been watching/following/observing speedway for nearly forty years now, and for
about thirty-five of them been aware of the "it's not as good as it used to be" and "the tracks are too slick these days" arguments. Watch
all the speedway you can find on YouTube and you'll find that speedway isn't just as good as it used to be, it's a lot better. My
first World Final was 1972. I was twelve and it was a thriller. Find the footage and watch them relatively pootling round compared
with today's racers. And get hold of some pre-war copies of Speedway News and find out when the slick tracks debate really started. "
"I watched Bjorn Knutsson
throughout 1964 at West Ham and agree with everything Geoff Langley said. He was the most exciting rider I have ever seen. The way he
went into the bends after those long West Ham straights was almost frightening!"
"Scott Nicholls and Hans Andersen obviously
feel they need the extra racing, both are now back in the Elite league with Coventry And Poole. Some Riders it would seem do not thrive on
inactivity, I wonder how many more we will see back, (Message to Nicki Pedersen, "Eastbourne have got a few injured riders what do you think mate?"). "
"An interesting
article, but I thought Tony George who rode for Rochester/Romford was also a leg trailer? He was advetised in the Long Eaton
programme as leg trailing sensation Tony George."
Gary has been watching Glasgow Tigers since they moved to Blantyre way back in 1977. Here's his
favourite seven Tigers from that period - including his all-time idol - Swervin' Mervyn Janke.
A recent 'can you help?' query was seeking a copy of Circuits of Gold, a 1987 video about
Ivan Mauger. Malcom Roe has pointed out that this is available to view online
at nzonscreen.com
JustSpeedway.co.uk are running a season long
quiz to test your knowledge of the sport. It will run for four rounds and the first one is now underway.
Scott Campos of the King's Lynn Barracudas has a new website. Click here
to check it out.
Roger Beaman is looking for some Cradley Heath second half details from April 1965 - Can You Help?
Robert Griffin is still looking for big meeting programmes - Can You Help?
Long Eaton Speedway Reunion 2009
The Long Eaton Speedway Reunion Group are holding their annual reunion on 20th June 2009 at the Bridge Inn, Longmoor Lane, Sandiacre,
Nottingham NG10 5LW, at 7.30pm.
The evening will consist of interviews with former Long Eaton riders, a display of speedway memorabilia, a dvd show, raffle and the
opportunity for fans to talk to former riders.
Everyone is welcome to come along and share in an evening of nostalgia.
Entrance fee is £5 in advance (held at 2008 price) or £6 on the night which includes a chip meal.
All proceeds will go to an injured rider.
Tickets or more information available from: Pete Wrathall (Tel: 01332872187,
Mob: 07970419170,
Email: wrathall39@tiscali.co.uk)
"I agree with Robert J Rogers posting
about the "Winged Wheel". The only difference I would want is that it was given to Ove Fundin to mark his years he filled a top 3 position
in Finals but it was a Sunday Newspaper Trophy so they should have the final say. "
"Speaking of Speedway's most famous trophy,
is this truly the One? Surely another which would have a great claim on that name would be the Daily Mail (?) National Trophy competed
for over many years as the speedway equivalent of the F.A.Cup. Many of the struggles, which covered ALL divisions were legend and the
pride in the team which won was immense. Later knockout competitions with riveting and imaginative names like "K.O.Cup" have paled. Would it
not be a tremendous shot in the arm for our sport for the NT to be taken out of mothballs, if it still exists, and competed for again?"
Chris Hall:
"Can anyone EXPLAIN how Poland can track possibly 2 other nationalities in their WORLD CUP TEAM.
It seems Emil Sajfutdinov is the latest with a Polish passport, if they can do it why not GB? It's making a mockery of international raceing."
"I am very concerned about the way
the SGP is heading, always the top eight every year the same and I myself his very concerned about it. I am getting fed up with the same
riders. I am getting sick of the same riders such as Nicki Pedersen, Greg Hancock, Hans Andersen, Andreas Jonsson, Jason Crump, Leigh Adams
and Tomasz Gollob, same riders every year, change the system please and give the youngsters a chance and not just from the UK but every other
country as well, give the boys the chance to make a go of it. Wouldn’t it be fair on other riders trying to make it to the SGP? Let's start
with only six rider who automatically go in to the SGP, so that leaves eight places to go for to qualify and then have two wild cards which
makes sixteen places complete. The wild cards, one for the host country and the other wild card for a rider who wouldn’t have the opportunity to
make it. Riders from countries such as Australia, New Zealand, USSR, Norway, Finland, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Hungary and USA and many
others. Bring back the qualifying rounds then have two semi finals plus the British Final, If you can remember the 60s when they did
this it always worked and was very good for the riders.
At the moment they have five qualifying rounds with only the top six going through
to the two semi finals and then the final with only three going to the SGP the following year. It would be more interesting if the top eight
went through joining the top six from previous year SGP then that would be fourteen riders and with two wild cards to help some riders out.
Think about it for next year please and make it more interesting to watch, but just watching the same old faces really let’s move and make
it worth while to watch speedway. It works for the elite league because all the top riders have move to Poland or Sweden and I think it
really good not seeing these rider at all. I know there will be some fans out there would not agree with me but at the moment it working
very well for the Elite League and good on them. The racing is more interesting to watch and so some riders are doing really well now."
Steve Quarterman looks at this year's GP series and considers the impact of riders giving our
league a body-swerve. How many of this year's competitors are 'Missing Britain'?
Colin Taylor has uncovered a photograph of Lythalls Lane stadium in Coventry that staged speedway in 1928-30.
The picture was taken at a dog meeting but offers an insight into what the stadium must have been like.
The annual Classic Speedway Bash will take place at Sammy Miller's Motorcycle Museum on Sunday 19th July.
Full details can be found on the all new classicspeedwaybash.co.uk
"Very interesting article. It's
a significant point that the inside lines have come in, making the official track sizes shorter. However, due to the speeds of the bikes and
the need to keep the wheels as in line as possible, modern riders often tend to race much closer to the fence, covering a far greater
distance than the track measurement, and hence travelling at a much faster actual average speed."
"Wow, the memories certainly came
flooding back as I read that! I'm sure I still have a few programmes from the Pirates races somewhere, probably in a box up in the loft
with my old Everton and Liverpool programmes. The second bend was our usual vantage point. I can remember standing there on the night
I left secondary school. I'm almost sure the Pirates meetings were on Friday nights. I must look the programmes out just to confirm that."
"Great memories. When, oh when, will
the powers that be realise that the speedway gp should return the sport to its spiritual home? Cardiff has had its day now we have Wembleyback !!"
"Well it seems I managed to to get a
few grey cells working with my questions about the Winged Wheel World Championship Trophy. Thank you everybody who was good enough to write
into the Speedway Plus Website. It is very much appreciated by myself."
"I wonder if the four people who wrote
comments about the winged wheel should have contacted Split Waterman first and got his side of the story? Ronnie Moore phoned Split, but it's not for me to divulge
what was said! I have great respect for the pair of them, both icons of speedway's past history and may they live for many more years to come
and in good health."
Often one article on the site leads to us receiving another on a related topic. That's the case here as Mark Dell
expands on John Hyam's recent article on the Origins of Rye House. Mark has been researching
the 1934 season at Hoddesdon and as John suspected in his article, there had indeed been some earlier racing action at Rye House.
Richard selects his favourite ever King's Lynn Stars and Knights. There's a modern feel to the side, but every one has strutted
his stuff around Saddlebow Road.
A brand new Inland Motorcycle Speedway is to open in California in the near future. Jason Bonsignore and Shawn McConnell are the prospective
promoters of the new venue and Jason has provided a new picture of the original IMS track.
"Loved it Tracy mate, I truly loved it. I
did exactly the same thing only I missed the gate every time and made five amazing charges from the back!! I guess that makes it more of a
fantasy than just a dream."
"What a fascinating
article. Basically I don't understand a word of it but at the same time it all seems to make perfect sense! I believe that there have been
debates/controversies like this throughout dirt track history, was there not a famous attempted forced change of tyre formation in the late
40's or early 50's? I believe the great leg trailer Oliver Hart, for one, threatened to retire unless the old tyre returned, which I think
it did. Someone out there must remember?"
"The other factor to be
thrown into the equation is that frame design has improved over recent years so that more of the power produced gets transmitted to the track.
This makes it even harder to understand why speeds have apparently not increased as much in practice as one would expect in theory. I think in
part this is due to slicker tracks, as has already been mentioned and also in part due to the fact that the faster you go the more effort
it takes to gain a smaller improvement. Some of the big tracks in Europe have track records that have stood for 8 or 10 years, and this is
clearly due to less dirt on the track but the discrepancy between the theory and practice is curious. When the new noise limits come in, which
I think is next year, the new silencers will cause a drop in engine power and it will be interesting to see what, if any, effect that has
on race times."
"Crewe was originally
470 yeards round and went around a cricket pitch belonging to British Rail. The main stand was actually the cricket pavillion/clubhouse.
What made it more awesome was a "safety" fence made from old railway sleepers. Now it's a housing estate!"
"Thanks for the
wonderful item on one of West Ham’s top riders, Norman Hunter, who, when the sport finally closed down at West Ham in 1972 was voted 14th
in the Top Twenty Hammers by the fans. Needless to say our Australian World Champions, Bluey Wilkinson and Jack Young were joint 1st. One
minor point, the item said that the `Powers that Be` decided that Norman’s point average was too high, so he was transferred to Wolverhampton
in 1969. It was a bit more of a `saga` than that, and I feel Norman leaving West Ham was the start of the downfall of a once great team.
From the programme notes on the 7th April, which was Easter Monday and the first home match on the 1969 season, (40 years ago this year),
Dave Lanning in his `Behind the Hammers` page stated the following, "The Norman Hunter affair has predictably made the Headlines and no doubt
will be the Buzz around the Stadium this Afternoon, so please let us put our side of the Story". It would seem Norman failed to agree terms
with West Ham, and went to the Riders Control Committee to request a Transfer, but did not inform the West Ham Management of this.
The first they knew was when it appeared in the Speedway Press. The RCC could not agree anything and it went to the Speedway Control Board,
who said Norman must ride for West Ham. It would seem there were irresolvable differences between Norman and the West Ham Board, so Norman
said he would rather quit the sport than be forced to ride at West Ham.
As the sport could not afford to lose such a top rider who had been
capped for his Country, he was transferred to Wolverhampton. Dave Lanning went on the say "Although we announced that Norman would ride for
West Ham , it was the decided we would not hold on to a unhappy rider, and therefore there would be no team place for him, and have placed him
at the disposal of the Rider Control Committee for Reallocation". Norman was replaced at West Ham by Olle Nygren (another rider famous for
his white racing boots) who for many years had ridden for our South London Rivals, Wimbledon. I was a great fan of Norman who as well as
being known as the `Storm`, was also known as `Sailor`. The reason for this we were told was because he was a great fan of the singer
Petula Clark who had a No.1 hit 'Sailor, Stop your Roaming' (the things we get told as Fans, who knows if they were ever true, the more
frightening thing is the fact you can still remember them after forty years)!
As I said at the start, Norman leaving the Hammers, added
to the lost of Sverre Harrfeldt following a serious accident in 1968 (Sveree did partly recover, and returned, only to leave us again to go
to Wembley in 1970, again under strange circumstances), led to the Hammer down full. The two H’s had been the Hammers `Double Barrel`
attack in many a match, and added to the great leadership by Ken McKinlay made the Hammers a team to fear, and between 1965
(Our Championship winning year) and 1968 were never out of the top six in the League, we also won the London Cup three times in a row.
A succession of other problems, not always under the Control of West Ham, was finally capped by the Lokern Disaster in 1970, which finally
led to the downfall of my Glorious Hammers in 1971. Hopefully if Norman reads this site, he may have a different version of the events! "
Film producer Louis Paltnoi is hoping to put speedway back onto the silver screen with his ‘Eating Dust’ film.
We caught up with Louis to find out about the film and how we can help it become a reality.
The recent question about the origins of the 'Winged Wheel' trophy and the subsequent claim that it was made by Split Waterman prompted
a number of people to respond. Here are the thoughts, tales and recollections of Dave Gifford, Tracy Holmes,
Robert J. Rogers and John Hyam.
A new website has been launched to celebrate
John Louis' 40 years in speedway.
Sue Stevens is looking for footage of the 1979 BLRC and the 1976 World Pairs final - Can You Help?
Sue Davey wants a bet settled - did Ove Fundin ride for Coventry in 1960/61 - Can You Help?
"
It is good to read Colin’s points on the technical aspects of speedway. Tyres seem to be a mystery to those of us who do our racing from the
terraces. I recall there was a huge controversy in 1996 when solid block tyres were introduced by the FIM and the following year when there
were teams accused of softening them with solvents. But other than that, not much seems to have been written about them in the press.
The same is probably true for most other technical aspects of speedway, which makes Colin’s points all the more interesting and important.
The idea of needing to attack the track more nowadays is very interesting also. I wonder if this has led to more complaints from riders about
a track being inconsistent (which every rider seems to say when interviewed!) or rain-offs becoming more commonplace."
"I agree with
Colin's reply especially about the track. I rode as a junior in the mid 80's to 1990 when at first the engine oil was put on the track during
the racing. The track surface was better to ride and break up, when they changed it to having a tank/bottle to catch the oil the tracks
started to rut up and the shale flew about more. That in turn brought the dirt deflectors which to me cause a lot of the first bend crashes
now. I was talking about this last night at Redcar if they somehow used the old oil (or something else) to bind the shale together more the
dirt deflectors could be a thing of the past."
"As Ken says, we don't
really know the distances covered by a rider, but the following should give some idea of the effect of "riding the boards". Let's say you have a
track which measures 400yds around the inside with a 4-lap race time of 60 seconds. This works out at an average speed of roughly 55mph, but
this assumes the rider rides round the white line. If our rider rides 10yds out from the white line on the bends, the lap distance he actually
covers is 476yds and for the same 60 second race time his average speed becomes nearly 65mph. That's quite a difference!"
"While I was only fortunate
enough to see Stormin Norman race a few times it was nevertheless a pleasure to watch him in action. He came across to me as the archetypical
Brit who would reach the heights in British speedway as a high scoring heat leader who could be relied upon, without being the kind of guy
who would go on and win a World Championship. Back in the days where you could be a first among equals Norman was certainly that and these
days, when there is so much TV coverage on Sky Sports, he would be a permanent fixture on the box. Thanks Norman, for providing me with so
much pleasure in the late 60's and early 70's! "
"As part of the Sim family I must say your report
was spot on, it's a superb game with lots of stats and competitions for speedway fans to see how exciting it feels to run your own speedway team."
