Exeter Speedway (County Ground)

Exeter has had 7 different venues but it is best remembered at home at, The County Ground Stadium, Cowick Street, St Thomas, Exeter, where speedway ran (off an on) between 1929 - 2005. The track was big at 396metres. 

County Ground May 2009

 John Nethercott says: Here are a couple of pictures I took on 29th May 2009 of work starting on the housing estate on our beloved Falcons County Ground before I was promptly kicked out!

Courtesy of John Nethercott (Nevsy)

Pits Area and back straight terraces

Courtesy of John Nethercott (Nevsy)

Another delivery of shale--oops concrete arrives

A scary view of one of the biggest tracks in the land. The "safety" fence looks pretty unforgiving.

This is a club that should be revived at maybe one of the other 6 venues (if possible) or at a new one close enough to the city to be able to use the name EXETER. We live in hope.

Memories

Wish I had some pictures to send you but I haven't!

We lived in St Leonards and on rare occasions we would walk to/back from the track. I remember them playing over the tannoy 'fire you're going to burn" by the 'crazy world of Arthur Brown'. It seems incredible now - the bikes minus rider roaring away in circles as there was no cut out switch in those days. Remember John Boulger winning the Westernapolis.
Jack Geran was my favourite and in later years we used to enjoy a few beers at the the County Ground club and the Honiton Inn. Happy days - will we ever have another track now?!
Best wishes,
Michael Redfern

Jackie "The Mighty Atom" Hart

Early 1950's Jackie Hart

1952 Exeter: Jack Hart, Don Hardy (Capt) Bill Dutton (Manager)

Jackie Hart and Dave McKay

Jackie Hart Exeter 1953

Jackie hosing down his front wheel whilst keeping his shoes dry

Jack Hart, Bill (Neill) Street, Eric Minal, Jack Durand, Bob Myer, Vic Tent, ? Bernard Slade, Don Hardy (captain) Goog Hoskins

Exeter 1957

Courtesy of Glyn Chandler

L-R  ?  Geoff Pymar, ?  Cliff Cox,  ?  Cyril Roger,   ?  Jack Geran  Neil Street
Front: Trevor Redmond, Francis Cann and Glyn Chandler

In 1957 when Exeter was not running as a league club: to keep the track open Geoff Pymar and Cyril Roger promoted a season of challenge matches at the County Ground.  There were only a few full time riders, Glyn on loan from Swindon, Cliff Cox and possibly Francis Cann, the rest of Exeter teams were made up of any top class riders available on the night.  Neil Street, Trevor Redmond and Jack Geran usually made up the Exeter teams

Courtesy of Max Rutherford Webmaster/Secretary, Taranaki Historic Speedway Ass. http://www.historicspeedway.co.nz/
Jackie in modern times with his original Rudge

1964 Ray Wickett Pat Flanagan Pete Lansdale (Manager) Jimmy Squibb Cliff Cox and in front Des Lukehurst Len Silver and Alan Cowland

Exeter 1965

In the days when speedway riders wore black leathers there were a few individuals who refused the norm. Here we have Alan Cowland the "White Ghost". Alan wasn't just a fancy-dan he was a gritty racer too.

Jimmy Squibb

Courtesy of Ted Hearn

Chris Julian

Exeter's White Boots

Pete Lansdale

Dennis Day

Alan Cowland

Howdy Byford

The 4 pictures displayed above above show each rider wearing white boots.  We can vaguely remember the whole Exeter team wearing them.  Can anyone enlighten us on this matter John

County Ground

The 4 pictures shown above are courtesy of Ian Hitchcock. He has an Exeter site with some excellent photographs  Follow this link to see Ian's site Exeter

Ivan Mauger

Exeter's greatest ever rider. 

Mauger? definitely no1

Pictures courtesy of Ian Hitchcock

Does anyone have any older shots to share with us, send me an email John

Scot Autrey

Have you any photographs of Scot in action, email me John

Courtesy of Ted Hearn

Scott Autrey in action

Where the County Ground once stood, only this remains

Seemond Stephens

Pavel Ondrasik

Mark Lemon

The County Ground before the bulldozers were called in. Let's remember things this way

If you can scan any pictures, programmes or badges send me an email John