29th May 2006

Soundbites: 29th May 2006 "I asked them what they were going to do about the incident. I can either continue it and try to get an answer from them or leave it with them to reply. The ball at the moment is still in their court." Neil Collins awaits a response from the SCB on the James Grieves affair

The New Sydney Showground These pictures of the new Sydney Showground were take by Andy Davidson. We're told that only two meetings have taken place at this venue.

25th May 2006

Liverpool Speedway Richard Austin grew up in post-war Liverpool and spent many happy Monday nights watching the Liverpool Chads in speedway action. His memories of those days remain vivid and in this article he paints us a picture of those times. The sport was never particularly successful in the port city but Richard remembers it fondly.

Craven and the Chads Don Maddocks is another former Liverpool fan who frequented the Stanley Stadium several decades ago. He also knew Peter Craven before his shale career kicked off and used to watch him in cycle speedway action. We'd be delighted to publish similar articles on other clubs if our vintage visitors fancy contributing a piece.

Dream Team: Chrissy Wilson Edinburgh fan Chrissy selects Peter Carr as the spearhead of this Dream Team. A few other Monarchs also appear and there's room for one of the enemy, in the shape of Shane Parker.

John Earnshaw designed the original Barrow Blackhawks racejacket and would love to get his hands on one - Can You Help?. Australian Under 16 Champion Ryan Sedgman has a new website . No doubt we'll see Ryan in the UK in the years ahead.

Ian Sansom on Cowdenbeath: "Glorious memories of a sadly ill-fated attempt to introduce speedway to Fife. Nowadays, with the nearby rail station and its proximity to the A92 dual carriageway with links to the motorway network it could have proved more feasible if it wasn't for the tarmac stock car track. Has anyone considered introducing speedway at the nearby Thornton dog track, midway between Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes and with the same transport links as above?" Dean Hall on Hyde Road: "Just thought I would just drop a line with regards to the greatest speedway track ever!! Yep Hyde Road of course, my dad first took me there in 1983 and although the stadium was sadly on its last legs, the racing was quite honestly the best I have ever seen anywhere since!! For sure the stadium would have never passed the Bradford/Taylor reports of the late eighties, but to just see those pictures brings back so many great memories of my childhood, standing there with my dad watching the likes of Mort and PC. The track may have gone but the memories will never fade." Harry Ward on Alan Thompsett's Dream Team: "I always take an interest in dream teams and this weeks by Alan Thompsett is no exception. I find his team especially refreshing as the make up of the side are those riders who take time out for the supporters. From the distant terraces it always interests me when riders are seen to interact with the fans. Those riders who can't be bothered could learn a lot from the likes of Craig Boyce, Craig Watson etc. As a member of the paying public I expect and usually get entertainment but those riders who go the extra mile for the fans are worth their weight in gold. Brighton has become so special because of the relationship with such entertainers like Shawn McConnell and Bobby Schwartz. Long may it continue." Andy Pollard on Hyde Road: " I have just been looking at the pictures of the old Belle Vue, they have brought back alot of memories. The atmosphere at this place was something special it used to make me quite emotional , it just was the best speedway track in the world. The racing at Hyde Road was fast and exciting and you never left there dissapointed, if only speedway was still running here, the closure of the stadium was a massive loss to the speedway world. Miss you loads Hyde Road - never forgotten." Lynne Watson on West Ham - More Colour Memories: "I used to go speedway at West Ham when I was 14. I remember the terrible tragedy. I used to go to Hackney and Wimbledon, but West Ham was always my favourite, being born and bred in Stratford. I took my youngest granddaughter to the city airport open day last year and they had a West Ham speedway exhibition." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

22nd May 2006

Soundbites: 22nd May 2006 "The boos make me want to win that much more. It is sad to witness and I don't see the knockers coming up to tell me face-to-face what they think. However, they pay their money and are entitled to have their say. If it has any effect on me it is to score more points." Scott Nicholls who was jeered at Foxhall Heath on Thursday

Sometimes You Can't Take the Boy out of the Man! Tom Marriott pays tribute to his fellow racer Graham Wale. Graham is now in his sixties but still competes regularly in Canadian speedway meetings.

This new book "75 years of Eastbourne Speedway" penned by Norman Jacobs, Ken Burnett and Kevin Ling is now out. The book consists of 160 pages, 60,000 words and all the league and cup results from 1938-2004 both home and away. There's also a special feature on Hastings 1948/49. As a special offer to Speedway Plus visitors, it is available from Ken Burnett for £12.99 instead of the full cost of £14.99 Cheques to: K.Burnett 23 Eastbourne Road WESTHAM Pevensey East Sussex BN24 5NE Tel: 01323 469105

19th May 2006

An Interview with Brian Andersen Brian Andersen was one of the sport's biggest star throughout the nineties until injury brought his career to a premature end. He now concentrates on his tuning business, working with riders like Antonio Lindback and Bjarne Pedersen. We caught up with him at his workshops to find out about his new life and to look back on his racing career.

San Bernardino These pictures of the San Bernardino circuit in California were taken by Harry Ward on one of his globetrotting expeditions.

Dream Team: Alan Thompsett Alan picks his side based on his personal experiences of meeting the riders on the Isle of Wight. Alan's sons are autograph hunters and the riders listed have treated them well and are a credit to the sport.

Robert Rogers is looking for information on a baseball match played at West Ham speedway track. Barry Dalton is looking for World Final programmes. Zbigniew Romanowski is looking for an English friend to exchange videos with. Full details of these requests are on our Can You Help? page. Trackcraft are a company that make ignition systems and other components. You can now order online at www.trackcraft.com. Any company that uses a picture of 'Super Steve' as a logo is okay with us! thefandirectory.org is a new website where supporters can enter their details, make new contacts and find old friends. It's not speedway specific but there are already a few speedway supporters on there. Dennis Beeforth reckons that Jason Crump and 'Ian Botham' are dead-ringers. More welcome.

Paul F on Hyde Road Memories: "Such a special place for me every Saturday night watching my hero P.C. blasting it around the boards. Always thought that it would be there forever. Without doubt the greatest speedway track. A special place in my heart, I even met my wife there. Seeing these pictures bring a mixture of such joy and equal amount of sadness." Keith Burrows on Hyde Road Memories: "What a place. Sometimes we would head up to Hyde Road after Cradley was called off, we always wanted a decision quickly at 'The Wood' so we could get to the best track in the world! A few random memories, a classic Peter Collins / John Davis race where they swapped positions nearly every bend and PC hugged the white line on the last bend of the final lap, and then shot to the fence coming off the fourth bend trapping JD against the fence and securing the win that made it 40-38 to the Aces. (I think!). The Belle Vue / Ipswich KO Cup Final when the track was so grippy after rain all morning and the track record was broken 2 or 3 times, even by Richard Knight(????). Then the Cradley memories there, the BLRC when Bruce Penhall just lost out to John Louis in the (very) wet, before BP had won anything (1979 or 80???). Being called the 'Cabbage Patch Kids' by Mr Barrie. Winning 49-29 on a Bank Holiday Monday, and winning the KO Cup there when Phil Collins secured victory by taking Larry Ross so wide on bend 3 he nearly went to Wilmslow! I'm sure we also won the equivilent of the Charity shield there as well!. My biggest memory however was getting lost on the fairground in 1972 and holding up a Cradley coach for what must have been ages, cried all the way home! A sad sad loss, but how would it have been bought up to standard following the Bradford disaster? " Steve B on Smallmead Construction: "Very interesting to see the pictures of Smallmead under construction. As a Swindon fan I would really like to see pix of the Abbey Stadium through the years. Any 'under construction' pix would be great. Anybody help?? Please!" Someone who didn't leave their name! on Lookalikes: "Funny about someone pointing out that Ricky Ashworth is a lookalike of Steve McDonald. When I was helping promote speedway in Manchester back in February, Ricky was down everyday helping out, and we all called him steve, but who was looking around at the show, none other than the man himself - just a shame we didnt get a pitcure of them together though. We also saw a guy in our hotel who plays Rodney's son in Emmerdale - dont know his name but it was definitely him!!!" Bill Reynolds on West Ham - More Colour Memories: "Lovely photos and good memories. I remember going there in 1966 - West Ham 48 Newport 30 (Gote Nordin 15). Keep up the good work." James Hawkeswood on Smallmead Construction: "How memory evoking these pictures are. I remember as a nine year old climbing up over the rubble and up the bank to view the new stadium under construction and seeing almost the same view as the top pic. Had to wait till Easter to see the track in use as we lived near Cradley and only got to go to reading on Bank Holidays." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

15th May 2006

Soundbites: 15th May 2006 "I'm still very happy with my form. I have to keep pinching myself as I think I must be dreaming because I've never ridden this well in my life." Peterborough's Jesper B. Jensen

Hyde Road Memories The pictures of "The Belle Vue" we featured on the site drew many comments and memories from our visitors. It seemed a shame not to collate these into a single article, so here it is. It's not too late for you to send us your own recollections of this marvellous venue - simply use the feedback form at the bottom of the page.

11th May 2006

Smallmead Stadium Construction It seems that the days are numbered for Reading's Smallmead Stadium. The Bulldogs hope to move into a new stadium in the town within the next few years. The current stadium was purpose built for speedway and greyhounds back in the mid-seventies and these pictures, courtesy of Reg Fearman, show that construction taking place.

Grabbing the Headlines Dave Green suggests a five point plan to put speedway back into the media spotlight. Marrying Britney Spears is just one of the suggestions, so we don't think he's entirely serious.

Dream Team: Jamie Rees Jamie is a Poole fan and he selects a number of current and former Pirates in his all-time 1-7. There's also room for an American rider who won the World Championship in 1996.

"Gloucester t day" is a dress down day that raises funds for disabled teenagers. As part of the event they stage an annual "Celebrity T-Shirt Auction" and this year a number of speedway items are included. Full details of this worthwhile event are available at www.tday.co.uk. More on the look-a-likes, this time from Graeme Selkirk who points out that Ricky Ashworth and Steve McDonald from Coronation Street are dead ringers.   worldspeedway.com is a new website that carries the latest results from home and abroad. Looks like it may develop into a useful resource if the maintenance burden doesn't become too great.

Bill Reynolds on The Pain of the Rain: "I feel not only should the riders be more commited, promoters should be covering tracks for big meetings and the old excuse 'it makes the track sweat' can be prevented by suspending covers from the top of the safety fence. I have been supporting speedway since 1964 when Newport opened at Somerton Park and hate to see what's going on now. It was good to see riders who were good in the wet, let's hope common sense prevails." Robert Rogers on West Ham - More Colour Memories: "Thanks for giving my old dad a mention. Bet he never though one day his photos could been seen all over the world!" Click here to leave your own feedback

 

8th May 2006

Soundbites: 8th May 2006 "I've got bruising on the left side of my chest the size of a rugby ball and the chest is swollen; I'm black, blue and yellow. I've also got broken ribs - probably three - but the hospital was more concerned about the collarbone. Even when the doctor saw me again and said I had improved, I still felt like a zombie. I have no idea when I'll be back riding again. Initially, the talk was six weeks, but then it became three to six weeks." Neil Collins

West Ham: More Colour Memories Robert J. Rogers has sent in some more colour pictures his father took at Custom House, former home of the West Ham Hammers. The snaps and his accompanying text are sure to bring back memories for those of you of a certain vintage.

Matt Read Farewell Somerset's Matt Read has announced plans to stage a farewell meeting on 22nd September. The 24 year old's career ended after a longtrack crash in France a couple of years ago. Ian Belcher has all the details of this very worthwhile evening.

4th May 2006

Seinajoki Track Pictures Petteri Pohjola shares some pictures of this Finnish track and tells us a little about the clubs and riders that race there. We're always looking for photographs of tracks anywhere in the world, get in touch if you can help out in this regard.

The Pain of the Rain The days of riders racing in wet conditions seem to be gone forever. Chris Seaward looks back on the recent ELRC and and asks if the paying public are being shortchanged.

Dream Team: Tony Webb Wolverhampton fan Tony Webb has come up with a most interesting selection of riders. He includes one on the basis that he used to receive a lift home from him - quite possibly the best justification yet!

We've had several comments pointing out how difficult it is to find our Can You Help? page. We've now reinstated a link to it from our top menu bar. Please take a minute to review the requests and see if you can assist a fellow speedway fan. Johnny Brannigan and Lynn are the latest to add requests.

Bill Linton: "Great site. Nostalgia rules and the articles are excellent reading. I especially enjoy any material on the Provincial League as I "caught the bug" at Meadowbank in 1960. Never been right since. Keep up the good work." Darryl Gray on Hackney Tour: "I enjoyed the article. Big shame that Hackney is no longer with us but happy that Len is still going strong." Martin Clark on The Groveway: "Great to see photos of Groveway Stadium on the website! I used to drive up from London to MK for home meetings most weeks, and follow the Knights on their travels too .... any of the "MK Barmy Army" out there???" Click here to leave your own feedback