Bristol Knowle Street

The pits were at the first bend. Warming up the bikes is seen here out in the open.

Here's the second bend . (note the massive `totaliser` board for greyhound race betting) .This is the `marching out` procession - before the racing - also note how housing has crept up to the track over the years......This is 1960, weeks before closure and demolition.

1960- Demolition of Knowle Stadium. The track is still visible despite bulldozer activity

Laurel and Hardy who were special mystery guests at a Bristol v. Wigan cup match on 18th July 1947 in front of a 12,000 crowd. The duo became keen supporters of the Bristol side.

The former Knowle Stadium in the `50s

Neil Wise says: Hi John, I have now found the picture of the four riders riding into the first bend at Bristol`s Knowle Stadium. This picture was in the Western Daily Press on May 5th 2010. In the picture from left to right is Roger Wise (red) (my father), J Hogson in White, Eric Salmon in Blue and M Davis in Y/B. This picture was given to me by Freddie Williams World Champion.
John Says: A Salmon sandwich springs to mind!

Can anyone help with the following: -

Sir,
just been looking at your website with great interest.

I have been told, that my father raced for BB in 1936, any chance of you telling me if that is true and that there is a photo in the book The Birth of the Bulldogs. My fathers name was Syd (maybe spelt it Sid) Farndon. My uncle was Tom Farndon.

Can you help? email me John

Update Here's a picture of Syd from the 1930's but wearing New Cross Colours. Still awaiting help on Syd John

Update on Syd: Dear John
In case nobody has replied to your query, I can confirm that Syd Farndon rode for Bristol in 1936 but only the once. He appeared in the very first match Bristol rode in 1936 at Nottingham on 28 April. His contribution was only 1 point but this was enough to give Bristol a victory by 34 - 33. The picture I used in the publication Birth of the
Bulldogs was the one which now appears on the website i.e. in a New Cross race jacket. Syd never appeared again for Bristol but at least he does hold the distinction of appearing in the Bristol Bulldogs first ever match.
Best wishes.
John Jarvis

Knowle Street Now

Photos from Chris Wallett:

Been out and about again looking for those lost speedways. Went to visit the site of the original Bristol speedway in Knowle. Your old photos on the site are amazing in that the area was countryside originally but is now just a suburb of Bristol with nothing but houses for miles around.
There is absolutely no evidence of there ever being a stadium here but one ironic twist is as you can see from my pictures the road which runs through where the centre green of the track was is called Long Eaton Drive. I would love there to be some sort of weird connection or that one of the town planners was a speedway fan but I guess we will never know. The last picture is taken from Petherton Road looking back to where the track would have been but the area is so different you cant even picture the stadium.
Hope you can put the pics on the site.
Chris Wallett
Thanks Chris and yes I have put your pics on the site