|
Defunct Speedway Tracks |
|
|
Miscellaneous Items part two Dog Tracks in London
Reg Fearman says: At one
time there were 33 Greyhound tracks in London, only three remain,
Wimbledon Crayford and Romford.
Many of those
Greyhound Stadiums also encompassed Speedway Racing over a long period
from 1928 - two years after the Greyhound stadiums were built -
Wimbledon closed its doors for Speedway Racing in 2003. On that final
night the turnstile takings were stolen!!!!. The last of the London
speedway tracks. The A to Z says they closed in 2005 but I checked on
google and the web site.
Enough from me, it is 35c
here at 6pm - must go and jump into the pool.
Reg
Enjoy the weather Reg it's raining here! A-Z uses Robert Bamford's "Homes of British Speedway" as a reference and he says Wimbledon closed 2005. Whom am I to disagree, I am just this sites webmaster and you are Mr Speedway. oo-er I am disagreeing with one of speedways big noises
Ex Belle Vue rider Ron Johnston says: I operated two hydraulic chain diggers for 18 years doing all telecom work in the area on this Photo I was doing a chain trench round Tahuna Speedway track which had been closed down and dog racing took over. The trench was for the Hair for the dogs to chase. Local Newcastle Rider 1948 style : John Hunter
1948: Making the short trip from home (Wallsend) to Brough Park for an evening's racing. Local rider John Hunter on the combination with his mate on the back. The guy on the left was another rider Stuart Robson. The combination was a1923 Harley Davidson. I don't know what the other road bike was. The speedway machine in the sidecar was I am told a Rudge with a JAP engine. The other speedway bike has it's chain removed so the back wheel could revolve freely on the road. It was common to see speedway bikes transported in this fashion before car ownership did away with the motorcycle combination.
Another trip in 1948 this time back from the speedway to John's home in Wallsend. This time John Hunter is on the back with his brother riding. If you have any 1948 programmes have a look for John's name
In 1948 there was no petrol for pleasure purposes. John Hunter would get up early for a day at the seaside, with a difference. He would put his speedway bike on the local coast train at his home station, Wallsend and get it off again at Tynemouth. He would then push the bike down to the Long Sands (Tynemouth Beach). He got in some practise, but only if the tide was out! These photos were taken at 7.00am. He would wake everyone up and attract the attention of the local police. The plod would stop John, warn him about the frivolous waste of petrol and tell him motorbikes were banned from the sands. John would patiently explain that speedway bikes ran on wood alcohol, not petrol and produce a copy of the beach by-laws showing that there was no ban on bikes using the beach at that time of year. He would then continue his session on the beach.
1948: John, his sister and two friends pose for this photo during one of the early morning sessions on the beach at Tynemouth. The modern day Tynemouth inhabitants would have a fit if they were woken by speedway bikes at dawn. Transporting A Bike 1968
Few riders had 2 or more bikes, a van and a mechanic. This is Oxford rider Ronnie Genz in 1968 showing how it was done 40 years ago. Car fans will note Ronnie's Mark 1 Cortina, now a classic. Items From Norway Norwegian
Geir Øverby has been in touch with some of his photos.
Geir says: Hi John, I "told" you for about a year
ago that i would collect the race-jackets. Send you photos and
explanation of the four I have obtained on. From left; NMK Oslo`s (Norsk
Motor Klubb) race-jacet from ca. 1955-1980. Has been yused by legends such
as Aage Hansen, Leif "Basse" Hveem, Henry "Stompa" Andersen o.a. I got the
jacket from Aage, in gift to my collection on Oslo Open at Bjerkebanen,
may 2009. # Belle Vue race-jacket, used of Dent Oliver (please what year?
1960-62??) # Ipswich Witches race-jacket, used of John Louis`(reserve-jacket)
in 1977. # Sponsor race-jacket used of Roger Johns about 1970.
Aage Hansen was proff. in
Witches 1957, but had to give up his proffcareer because knee injury. #
Aage was 7 times Norweian Champion 1955-61. Nordic Champion 1957. Uofic.
world champion in Oberhausen, Tyskland 1960. Picture from Dælenga Oslo
1954. Aage, and (the dormant English-man) is Ronnie Moore and Jack
Young. Next
from Denmark 1956, Aage lead before Joel Jansson Sweden, Simo Yllinen
Finland and Erik Vincent Denmark. Aage (right) at start, contrymatch
Norway/Poland 1956.
I hope this can be of some
interest to you and your amazing story page.
Sorry for my poor English ,
but hope you anderstand som of it.
I have reproduced Geir's email above, without correction. His English is better than most Englishmen's Norwegian
Geir's racejackets
Jack Winstanley's Steel Shoe and Helmet
Photographs of Jack Winstanley's steel
show and helmet were supplied by Jack's son George Winstanley. New Zealand Postage Stamps
2009: The above picture of Ivan Mauger appears on the
$1.50 New Zealand postage stamp
Holland v England 1954
The Dutch programme with 3 of our riders names misspelled. If anyone has a completed programme please send it to me Mike Parker's International Speedway
The tour truck which appears to be a 1960's removal van.
No idea who these 3 are? Either speedway guys or midget car men.
The Italian programme cover from Mike Parkers trip to Rimini 1966
3 Languages in the programme: Italian, English and German
The inside of the programme showing Mike Parker's English
riders: Jack Winstanley (Newcastle), Graham Beattie, Maury Robinson
(Newcastle), P Harris, Alan Paynter, B Oliver, P Sharples, Milton Caisley
(Newcastle). Hi ! This is Brenda Robinson (Maury's wife) trying to help with the riders in the Rimini pictures on your site: The people mentioned in the programme were not the only ones on that venture - Goog Allan and his Wife Ursula were also there - and so was I ! I was given a free trip in order to help . Maury & I had to take 2 riders with us in our own car - so I was given the "free seat ! Some of us stayed in a B & B & I helped to do some of the publicity & did the lads washing (in a "dolly tub" outside our B & B !!) Alan Paynter took ill & had to have his appendix removed and I had to help the nuns in the hospital to look after him !. It was extremely hard work for all the lads as they had to prepare, grade, water the track - in the heat during the day and distribute publicity leaflets in the evenings. During the meetings they had to be pushers, track marshals, starters etc as well as grading the track and they all had to ride as well as drive the midget cars !
3 English Lads larking about in the Italian sunshine, Maybe all 3 were
midget car men and not speedway riders. If you know who they are
please email
John
Jack Winstanley right wearing hat. The rest may be
Newcastle riders in Rimini
Use a tractor! seems like hard work in the Italian heat.
Jack Winstanley on the left.
Rimini 1966
Olle Nygren
Ken Le Breton at home in Sydney, Australia. Miny Waln
Minard H. Waln, known the length and breadth of the short
track racing world as the "Mighty Mite,” was 1934 American Scratch Riders
Tyburn Gallows Assistant hangman turned speedway rider who changed his name to Tyburn Gallows for reasons best known to himself. Well it did the trick of getting him noticed as here I am writing this piece about him forty years on.
Stoke's Tyburn Gallows hanging an effigy of the rival Cradley team assisted by Reg "hang 'em high" Fearman in 1961
Brisbane Exhibition Ground
Always of interest. Stadiums in other countries. Send me your pics please John Amsterdam
Waikaraka Park International Speedway
Waikaraka Park New Zealand Sydney SYDNEY AUSTRALIA The following three photos are of the Grand Prix Stadium I do believe it was -called Stadium Australia then, ( they changed the name later ). I was there and took the photos !! Sitting in the Grandstand looking left at the pit bend, the centre and then the first bend. So far it is the only Grand Prix Round staged in Australia - of the current promotion. It took place on the 26th October 2002.
Sydney October 2002
|
|
|
Copyright
© 2005 John Skinner. All rights reserved. Do you want a website? I
can do it for you,
email for the price. Advertises welcome on this site.
email for the price.
|