29th December 2006

Book Extract: Booey - Around in Circles Once again we've teamed up with our friends at publishers Retro Speedway to bring you an interesting extract from the new Eric Boocock book - BOOEY: Around in Circles. One of speedway's greatest servants as rider, team manager and promoter, Eric has recently been re-appointed as Belle Vue's team manager following the buy-out by Chris Morton and David Gordon. Eric is delighted to be going back to Belle Vue. But in this extract from the book, Booey recalls his acrimonious departure from the old Hyde Road set-up in 1982.... You can order BOOEY: Around in Circles for £15.99 post-free in the UK by clicking here.

Thanks To.... Speedway Plus is indebted to the following for their contributions and assistance throughout 2006. Without the contributions we receive there simply wouldn't be a website. Thank you one and all.  * Ian Adam  * Brian Andersen  * Richard Austin  * Chris Backhouse  * John Bailey  * Chris Baldwin  * George Barclay  * Bon Banthorpe  * Dennis Beeforth  * Ian Belcher  * Brian Belton  * Mike Bennett  * Jim Blanchard  * Doug Booth  * Graham Burrows  * Ken Burnett  * Keith Butler  * Ray Bysouth  * Mick Cast  * Stephen Champion  * Bob Cole  * Cary Cotterman  * Alison Cowe  * David Crane  * Grahame Darlington  * Andy Davidson  * Matt Davis  * Ryan Dodworth  * Brian Dench  * Howard Eve  * Michael Farrant  * Reg Fearman  * Samantha Fletcher  * Barry Forrest  * Scott Frame  * Dave Gifford  * Tim Grant  * Dave Green  * Dean Hall  * David Hensby  * Alan Hodkinson  * Chris Holmes  * Tracy Holmes  * Steve Hone  * Ian Hoskins  * Roger Hunt  * Mike Hunter  * Dudley Jones  * Russell Lanning  * Dave Lewis  * Jim Liddell  * Mark Lucas  * Tony MacDonald  * Doug MacFarlane  * Colin Mackay  * Don Maddocks  * Mal  * Tom Marriott  * Tim May  * Tony McColl  * Gary McCormick  * Gary Mitchell  * Gary Moore  * Stuart Moore  * Dean Murphy  * Philip Newton  * Ken Nicholson  * Russell Paine  * Graeme Paterson  * Gavin Pell  * Matthew Pell  * Penny  * Petteri Pohjola  * Alex Raby  * Steve Rayner  * Jamie Rees  * Andy Reid  * Wayne Roberts  * Martin Rogers  * Robert J. Rogers  * Chris Seaward  * Ryan Sedgmen  * Jeff Scott  * Alan Thompsett  * David Torley  * Bryan Tungate  * Harry Ward  * David Walsh  * Richard Watson  * Tony Webb  * Rob Wickham  * Adrian Williams  * Chrissy Wilson  * Chris Young

It seems that caring for a speedway track is a job that doesn't just last from March to October. The hard-working track staff at Swindon have a lengthy list of winter tasks that keep them out in all weathers. You can keep track of their progress on their excellent Blundson Blog. It's worth visiting just to see the pictures of their archaeological excavation of the track surface (14th December entry). Newport Wasps once again have an official website. It's been several years since the club last provided information online. The address of the new site is newportspeedway.org. Canada's Kyle Legault will link up with Mildenhall in 2007. His ever-enthusiastic supporters in his homeland have given his website a new look for the new year. Jeff Scott from Methanol Press will be attending the New Year Classic at Newport and will be happy to sell you a signed copy of his books. £30 will buy you enough reading material to keep you going until the new season starts in March. Aaron Hesmer from Ontario is heading off to Argentina to compete in their national championships in January and February. Rather brilliantly he's going to cover the whole experience in his blog.

Tony Mowles on For the benefit of...: "Difficult to argue with your main premise that testimonials are too easily 'earned' but would fully agree with your thought that the points limit has much to do with rider movement making 'stalwarts' that much rarer. Would disagree that there needs to be a rigid formula for testimonials or greater transparency as it is really between a promotion and rider as to whether a testimonial is a viable proposition. Perhaps we should be more worried about a system that encourages such 'merry-go-round' team building than one of its unwelcome symptoms, which as you rightly point out fans can choose not to support if they see fit." Andy Davidson on For the benefit of...: "Please don't forget Barry Thomas, he had 2 testimonials one for 10 years service and another one for 20 years service with Hackney." Chris Holmes on The Picture of Ken McKinlay: " When I was a teenager, I used to hang around in the pits at Leicester Stadium (Blackbird Road) to 'help' Ken McKinlay unload his equipment. If I'd been shown this photo and asked to name the rider I would have said 'Hurri Ken' McKinlay without hesitation." Graeme Selkirk on The Picture of Ken McKinlay: "I think it's the missing bobble hat that's throwing people --- try printing the photo and drawing on the hat (or do it digitally if you're more computer literate than me) and I'll wager the argument will be settled!" Click here to leave your own feedback

 

21st December 2006

For the benefit of.... Dave Green takes a look at the largely discredited testimonial system, identifies some of its flaws and suggests that an overhaul is required.

Leicester Pictures Speedway bikes last roared around Blackbird Road way back in 1983. The stadium has long gone but these pictures should bring back some fond memories for those who watched the Lions back in the day. These photographs come to us courtesy of Chris Holmes and Dean Murphy.

Dream Team: Gavin Pell Former rider Gavin selects his all-time favourite seven riders. By submitting his Dream Team he also becomes the first rider that features in someone else's Dream Team to go on and submit his own. We haven't actually checked that but we can't remember it happening before!

We've had a bit of trouble with our feedback forms (bottom of each page) in recent weeks and it seems that some of your comments have not reached us. If you have submitted feedback that hasn't appeared on the site, then please consider sending it again, the problems should now be resolved. The Birmingham Brummies official website is now online. The address is birminghamspeedway.co.uk. Eastbourne junior Niall Strudwick has set up a website to cover his racing. Click here to pay it a visit. Tony Webb seeks information on a frame manufacturer called Lloyd-Diamond - Can You Help?

Geoff Langley on Southampton Pits Pictures: "That might be Fundin's mechanic but it is definitely McKinlay's bike. Look at the handlebars. Only Ken McKinlay and I think Graham Warren had handlebars that swept up in that kind of "U" shape and to that height. Fundins bars were lower and were unique in having a slight but very distinctive forward bend before they swept upwards - check the old photographs. In later years Fundin seemed to get lower handlebars that appeared to be copied by Bjorn Knutson. By the end of the sixties many riders had lower handlebars but McKinlay, the great stylist, kept the distnctive "U" shaped handlebars to the end of his career. I think, also, Fundin's bikes always had Rotrax forks, not the style of the bike in the photograph." John Langfield on Wimborne Road: "Wow, Thanks for the site. John Langfield - Former West Ham and Poole rider." Mark Wilson on When Eagles Dared: "I've read both of Jeff's books and though I slightly prefer Showered in Shale, this one is excellent as well. It's great that someone puts in so much detail about the meetings they attend, we probably all notice the same things that he does but we immediately forget they've happened!" Carol Wilkins on When Eagles Dared: "That survey seems so typical of the BSPA, a good idea in principle but executed in a ham-fisted manner. Thanks for including Jeff's articles, they're always a good read." Fans of Jeff's unique writing style should check out the blog on his website. James Baker on Jansson - Legend Who Died Young: "Very moving article indeed, don't mind admitting that I shed a tear whilst reading it. I remember watching Tommy and still can't quite believe that he's gone. Thank you for keeping his memory alive." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

15th December 2006

Book Extract: When Eagles Dared Jeff Scott's second book sees him following the Eastbourne Eagles throughout the 2005 season. Despite its focus on the Eagles it covers many topics that will be of interest to all speedway fans. In this short extract he casts a caustic eye over the marketing survey issued by the B.S.P.A.

Redcar Track Pictures Bob Cole and Dennis Beeforth were the photographers for these additional pictures of the new track at South Tess Motor Park. It appears that further stadium improvements are planned over the winter so the track may not look like this for long!

Dream Team: Rob Wickham Rob has been a Poole Pirates fan for five years and his team features his favourites over that period.

Ben Powell, very much in demand this winter, has a new personal website. Methanol Internet are the designers and the address is benpowellracing.com Maureen Cooper is writing a book about former rider Gary Frankum and is looking for some details on his racing career - Can You Help?

Tracey Whitmore on Can You Help?: "I would just like to leave a big thank you to Robert Rogers for the photos he emailed me of my Great Uncle Jimmy Gooch. I am currently putting together a scrap book for my father with as much info as I can of Jimmy. I would like to express my greatest thanks to both Robert and Speedway plus." John Scrutton on Southampton Pits Pictures: "The picture taken at Southampton is in fact Ove Fundin as the person helping is Les Mullins his mechanic." Steve Brown on Southampton Pits Pictures: "That is definitely Ken McKinlay, and not Ove." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

8th December 2006

Book Extract: More Confessions JOHN BERRY earned a deserved reputation as one of the shrewdest, most successful speedway administrators as boss of the all-conquering Ipswich Witches and England team manager in the 70s. He is also one of the most outspoken voices in the sport whose forthright, authoritative views are now to be found in every issue of the acclaimed bi-monthly retro magazine, Backtrack. Berry established his new skill as an author with his first book, Confessions of a Speedway Promoter, in 2004. He has just returned for a brief visit to England to promote the eagerly-awaited follow-up, More Confessions. We've joined forces with our friends at publishers Retro Speedway to present here an extract from Berry's new book, which is available (post-free in the UK) for £15.99. To find out more, click here. Speedway author Jeff Scott has reviewed this book on his always excellent speedway blog. Follow this link to Jeff's site to see what he thought of it.

Book Extract: Tommy Jansson - Legend Who Died Young TOMMY JANSSON was one of the most talented and popular riders to grace world speedway in the early 70s and few disagree that the sport lost a likely World Champion when the 23-year-old Swede died following a track crash in his homeland in May 1976. Thanks to our friends at publishers Retro Speedway, we reproduce here an edited extract from the emotive new book, TOMMY JANSSON: LEGEND WHO DIED YOUNG. In this chapter you're about to read, Swedish author Magnus Nystrom recalls in detail the sad and horrifying chain of events that led to the Jansson tragedy in Stockholm. If you would like to read the full story about the rise and fall of the former Wimbledon crowd favourite, you can order the book for £15.99 (post-free in the UK) from Retro Speedway now in time for Christmas...

Book Extract: Simmo - The Whole Truth FORMER World No.2 and British Champion Malcolm Simmons sent shock waves through the sport with his unprecedented revelations of race-fixing and all kinds of other shenanigans in his recent and much-acclaimed book. We've teamed up with publishers Retro Speedway to bring you this extract from SIMMO: THE WHOLE TRUTH which covers some of Simmo's international experiences during the 70s. If you want the full, explosive story, you can order this highly recommended and groundbreaking book for £15.99 (post-free in the UK) by clicking here.

 

5th December 2006

DVD Box Set Competition Result "Our competition to win the 6 DVD Box Set of the Speedway Grand Prix Series 2006 (including 2 bonus DVD's of the 2006 World Cup) has drawn to a close - and we're delighted to announce the winner is Mr Eric Buckton from Redcar. The correct answer to our question, "Who finished in 3rd place in the 2006 British Speedway Grand Prix?" was Jaroslaw Hampel. We're delighted to report that the response to this DVD Box Set has been tremendous, and many of our international supporters have expressed an interest too. The production company, BHP Sport, have therefore slashed the postage costs by more than 50% for international shoppers, so anyone can order the package for just £3 postage - regardless of where in the world they are!"

 

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