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27th March 2008

Speedway on the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S.A. (PDF Version) Tom Marriott on the 1935 Eastern Championship held at the Tri-City Stadium in New Jersey. Goldie Restall, Eric Chitty and Jimmy Gibb were amongst the participants.

Rider to Remember: Tom Farndon (PDF Version) Paul Houghton writes about one of his distant relatives, a man whose career ended all too soon.

Track Pix: Perris Raceway (PDF Version) Cary Cotterman attended a recent meeting at this circuit in California.

Dream Team: Mark Swindells (PDF Version) Mark has been a Belle Vue fan for more than thirty years.

Acclaimed artist Jim Blanchard will be making prints of this Mark Loram painting available if sufficient demand exists. It would be 640mm x 500 size wise and would cost £24.99 plus £3.50 recorded p&p. Email Jim directly at jim_blanchard@hotmail.co.uk to express an interest in a copy and he'll get back in touch if he decides to go ahead. Interesting to see that Sky Sports will be providing a downloadable programme for use with their televised meetings. Our own Programme Generator will of course also still be available. The 2008 Speedway Regulations are available to download from the A.C.U website. Geoff Clarke is looking for pictures from the 1984 season - Can You Help?

Robert J Rogers on Riders to Remember: Eric Boothroyd: "Re Hanomag, this was the track in the Hanover Stadium which was laid by REME (the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) a part of the BOAR (British Army over The Rhine) in Germany." Bryan Tungate on High Beech 2008: "Lee Dunton's remark about the Harringay racejackets having initials on is correct. As he says Vic Duggan didn't have his initials on his for the obvious reason." Steve Brown on The Bond Has Gone: "I agree with Dave Green 100%. It does seem that these days, the main objective is to get a team with the averages as close to the points limit as possible. Whatever happened to loyalty? It is very difficult to identify with riders today, when they are only around for a season or two. I agree with points limits, but at least make them realistic. Riders shouldn't be forced out of a team the way they are now." Tony Mowles on The Bond Has Gone: "Couldn't agree more Dave, the 'mathematical' method of team building leaves many fans indifferent to their 'teams' at the start of the season and those who argue that it prompts interest during the off season are I think misguided on what fans really want. There have been many debates regarding a methodology that could encourage both club and rider to continue for season upon season and I personally favour some form of discount, be it a percentage or a fixed amount, being knocked off a returning riders average for the following season" Bill Elliot on Opening Nights: Hampden Park: "Loved the feature on Hampden Park and well remember the sensation Tigers caused when they moved there in 1969. Your mention of Russ Dent also brought back memories of the first night as from memory it was p... raining quite heavily and Russ usually did very well in the wet stuff, which he proved that night. Also well remember a squad of us used to wait behind after Friday nights when there was a big football match on the Saturday, as back in the days of terracings rather than seats the level of terracing at Hampden went well below the track level and thus the safety fence had to be taken down immediately after the meeting, and usually put back up on the Sunday. Sad sign of the current times to read that crowds had allegedly "dwindled" to around 3,000 when Hampden finally shut to speedway, as guess there would be promoters these days who would kill for that level of attendance." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

20th March 2008

Riders to Remember: Eric Boothroyd (PDF Version) An overview of the racing career of the popular greengrocer from Halifax.

Proof Positive of Upcoming Disaster (PDF Version) Bill Gilliham makes his debut on the site, he was moved to contribute by fears over the future for British riders. Do we really need to rely so much on 'commuting foreigners' to prop up the Elite League?

Track Pix: Lonsdale Park (PDF Version) Andy Reid supplied these photographs of the original speedway in Workington. The track was last used in 1938 and is still visible, though nothing remains of the stadium that surrounded it.

Dream Team: Sam Thomas (PDF Version) Sam selects a team of Eagles, Americans and World Champions.

Tracy Holmes is looking for heat details from the 1972 European Final which was held at Wroclaw - Can You Help? Redcar scribe Martin Neal has started a new speedway blog on the Gazette Live website. Looks like being an excellent read if the early postings are any indication.

Cary Cotterman on Rim, A Lithuanian Legend: "Dave Gifford is the most entertaining writer in speedway. Somebody with influence (and perhaps money) please talk him into doing a book!" Bob Bath on Rim, A Lithuanian Legend: "Greetings from Canada. Greatly enjoyed the Rim Malskaitis article by Dave Gifford - Dave you have a real talent you should write a book of your reminiscences. I recall Rim at Long Eaton in 1965 and it was great to see his name brought forward after all these years." Les on Rim, A Lithuanian Legend: "Wow! Truly amazing! This is the best speedway related/adventure story I have ever read! Those must've been times! Thanks for that really interesting and funny! Hope more will follow." Martin Mewies on Rim, A Lithuanian Legend: "What a terrific way with words Giff has, he could make a shopping list sound like fun." Mike Fullerton on Rim, A Lithuanian Legend: "Giffy you're a legend! Never laughed so much since we were in Berwick. Don't stop doing this it's funny how true stories sound so funny now, but were dead serious at the time, just life eh. Good on ya mate!" Bob Ferry on Rim, A Lithuanian Legend: "Dave Gifford seems to have a problem with Sunderland? In his recent article on Rim, A Lithuanian Legend, he quotes (recalling a trip back to NZ by boat, in which they called at Port Said) "I dont think that Port Said would be one of those places that would rank very highly on anyones list of must go to places, it's a bit like Sunderland with camels". I doubt that Dave Gifford has ever visited Sunderland? He may have rode at the Sunderland speedway track at Boldon Stadium, which lies in a very pleasant country situation at Boldon, on the outskirts of Sunderland. I can think of many places that can't hold a candle to Sunderland. So what is your problem Dave??? Can he explain why so many riders just love to visit Sunderland for our speedway reunions. And why some come to visit time after time simply because they love it in the North East.........can't be such a bad place! Having just got back from the annual "World Speedway Riders Association" at Leicester, where I was told by one former rider, "I go to many reunions, much closer to home, but the Sunderland reunion is the one I like the best, it's the place that I'm made to feel most welcome"....And that makes me feel so proud of Sunderland. Of course Dave Gifford has upset the Sunderland speedway fans before, in a previous article printed on this site about two years ago he slagged off the ex-Sunderland rider, the late Jack Millen (you allowed me to reply in defence of Jack, and supported by some well respected riders who had ridden against "Crazy Jack" Millen) I said then and I repeat now, you were well out of order to criticise a man who was unable to defend himself. "Speak no evil of the dead" Click here to leave your own feedback

 

13th March 2008

The Bond Has Gone (PDF Version) Dave Green laments the passing of settled sides that saw little change from season to season.

Dennis Jenkins (PDF Version) Philip Dalling shares his memories of Dennis Jenkins, the subject of a recent request on our 'Can You Help?' page. Philip recalls that Dennis was once a rather unusual 'rider replacement' for Charlie Monk.

Track Pix: Long Beach (PDF Version) The Veterans' Stadium in California was used for the 1985 and 1988 World Team Cup finals. Cary Cotterman took these pictures a quarter of a century ago.

Dream Team: Martin Clark (PDF Version) Martin used to support the Milton Keynes Knights and was chairman of the supporters club at one point.

Thanks to Alan Magson for sending on this picture of the 1946 Bradford team. Click on the picture to see the full size image. Speedway writer Jeff Scott will be contributing occasional blogs to the official Reading website over the course of the season. You'll find his first 'lapping it up' article, concentrating on the Racers' press and practice session, here. Sheffield's Ricky Ashworth is the proud owner of a new website by Bones Productions. The rather smart site can be found at RickyAshworth.co.uk. Bones also maintain the website of photographer Chris Spires and he now has several Sheffield Tigers desktop wallpapers available for download. The official Wimbledon Dons website has been relaunched to celebrate the club's 80th anniversary. The nomadic Dons will be back in action during the summer with meetings already scheduled at Buxton and Weymouth. Find out more at wimbledon-speedway.com OtherEagles.com is a new unofficial Eastbourne website. It presently features a number of pictures taken at the press and practice day, more content is promised shortly.

Tad Janik on Riders to Remember: Jerzy Szczakiel: " Thank you for the kind words about Jerzy Szczakiel. As a very young speedway fanatic from Wroclaw, I remember very well the way he was dissed even by the Polish media and fans. For some reason he just was never as appreciated as Plech and Jancarz were at the time. In my view, though it is totally irrelevant whether he deserved to win that title or not. He just did and you can`t argue with that. He deserves the credit for it. " Ric on Riders to Remember: Roger Abel: "Roger was a great speedway rider, today he leads a team building high speed aluminium HamiltonJet powered marine craft. I still own a Roger Abel built boat after 15 years." Ian Thompson on Hyde Road: "Looking at these photos of old Belle Vue brought back a lot of happy memories. I have supported Belle Vue since 1963 through the good times and the not so good. The highlight of my memories was witnessing probably the greatest match race, if not speedway race, ever ridden between Peter Collins and Anders Michanek in the run off for the 1973 Speedway Star KO cup. They passed each other on every corner from start to finish, with Collins outwitting Mich with an awesome cut back off the last bend. I also recall the sheer power of the team in the early 70s with Ivan Mauger leading the way. Love the site, keep up the good work." Alan Walsh: "Very nostalgic just the way it should be for this sport. I was born too late for speedway in Ireland so it is great to reminisce here, many thanks." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

6th March 2008

Rim, A Lithuanian Legend (PDF Version) A special 'start of the season' treat this week as Dave Gifford returns with another of his fabulously entertaining tales. This one is loosely centred around his friendship with fellow rider Rim Malskaitis, though along the way we hear of high-jinks on the high seas and 'incentives' being offered at a challenge match. It's unlikely that we'll feature a better article between now and October, so don't miss out!

Bill Kitchen (PDF Version) Wembley skipper Bill Kitchen has been the subject of a couple of recent enquiries to the site. The ever-helpful Robert J. Rogers has dug out some pictures of the man who was born 100 years ago.

Track Pix: West Maitland (PDF Version) Globetrotting Charles McKay visited the place where it all began and took his camera along with him.

Dream Team: Michael (PDF Version) Michael is a fan from Tampere in Finland and is therefore able to offer a slightly different view on the sport than most contributors to this feature.

classicspeedway.co.uk is a new website "dedicated to the bikes and riders of a bygone age". There's special focus on Poole and Southampton and the organisers take vintage bikes to fayres and events throughout the year. Doug McFarlane, one of our semi-regular contributors, has a website that showcases many of his fine action pictures. The photographs were taken primarily at meetings in Denmark and Germany, with pictures of the upcoming World Ice final due to appear in the near future. You'll find Doug's site at community.webshots.com/user/maccattack

Norman Chadwick on High Beech 2008: "Excellent article for the 80th anniversary bash but who will keep to going for the next 80 years? When Stan and Bert depart to that pits in the sky will riders from the 70's, 80's and 90's attend. I fear not." Lee Dunton on High Beech 2008: "Saw the photo of my dad's old Harringay Race Jacket, it brought back a lovely story he told me about the Harringay Race Jackets, everyone had their name initial except Vic Duggan, he had Vic!" Richard Goodwin on High Beech 2008: "Looked very good, I did not know it was on pity. Where did California Poppies ride? One of my friends grew up with Bob Andrews, I found his website for her to look at photos of him riding for the Poppies." California Poppies raced in Berkshire from 1954-56. Click here to leave your own feedback