SHALEWAY69

Australia v the Poms at the 2018 Nigel Boocock and Jack White day ! Today we met with Daryl and Donna owners of the Australian Motorcycle Museum, they have kindly approved Sunday August 26 for the 2018 event. We discussed how we could improve our act. Co organiser Darren then came up with the gem of an idea! Why not get two teams together and introduce them to the fans as they did in the glory days?. Line them up, supply Race jackets and flags and then introduce them one by one as in a Test match. Even toss the coin for the start. Booey and Jack would love it. The invite is out if you rode for Australia or England be there. Contact binbooks@iinet.au for updates. We will also have a display of Test match history. We are open for ideas on this theme. We will have an address system this year and a few rules to abide by! If any ex riders from England are visiting Australia next year tie it in with this date . We may also be looking for a bit of sponsorship with 16 race jackets!!

Canterbury Museum has purchased a significant collection of motorbikes and memorabilia belonging to internationally renowned speedway champion and local Christchurch hero, Ivan Mauger, Mauger is widely considered the best speedway rider of all time. He won more than 1,000 international events in 60 countries. The $1.7 million purchase is the Museum’s largest-ever acquisition. The collection has been on loan to the Museum since 2007. Mauger is still the only rider to win the World Speedway Championship in three consecutive years (1968, 1969 and 1970). In 1970, two American speedway fans (George Wenn and Ray Bokelman) said that if Mauger won his third world title in a row at Wroclaw, Poland, they would have the winning bike gold-plated. They delivered on their promise; it took 18 months and cost US$500,000. As well as Mauger’s gold-plated bike (pictured), the collection includes the bike he rode when he broke the world long track speed record in 1986 and the first Jawa 4-valve bike ever produced, on which he won the 1976 World Long Track Championship. It also includes trophies, vests, leathers and a variety of other objects. To mark the acquisition the Museum has refreshed its Speedway King: The Ivan Mauger Story exhibit with all three bikes and his leathers again on display; you can view this remarkable bit of motor racing history at the museum now. www.canterburymuseum.com

Bruce Croxon RIP memories. There are many stories to tell on the life and times of our beloved Bruce. A few years ago i had a call from an old girlfriend of Bruce from England. She had fond memories of the young Aussie boy at Southampton in 1953 or 1954 and wanted to make contact with her old flame. i was reluctant to disclose Bruce's details but I forwarded her information to Bruce and they exchanged letters. My more recent memory was the trip to Auckland for the second Grand prix with the Peter White party. Bruce caused havoc at the Airport as all the bits of metal in his body set off the alarm bells at the security check in! his passing reminds me of the the several members of that happy NZ trip that are no longer with us. the last time I saw Bruce was at the funeral for Anne Scott. We had a laugh about the Southampton girl. Bruce was not a well man but he bravely summed up the energy to fly up to Queensland to be alongside Bluey in his time of need and that sums up the man and indeed the feowship of speedway folk. Bruce's Service will be this coming Friday 14th July, at 12.30pm. Pinegrove Crematorium - West Chapel. Great Western Highway Minchinbury, NSW. tagTag photopinAdd locationpencilEdit Like CommentShare 2Barry Pierce and Phil Obrien Comments Tony Webb Shaleway This was in the speedway star in UK Like · Reply · 3 hrs Write a comment...

thanks for that Wessex Wanderer I do appreciate alternative view points and I value your input. We have to remember that speedway started with 4 valves Rudges and other makes in 1928, It was only a matter of time before it came around again.if it had not been Neil who instigated the change some one else would have To be historically correct Christer Loftquist used an ERM the previous year so neil was not the first to come up with the idea.

RICK WASON On behalf of the Broadford Bike Bonanza Committee I can now let eveyrone know that one of the main themes for the 2018 Easter Bike Bonanza is going to be a Celebration of Neil Street. As most people already know Neil was a rider, an engine designer and manufacturer, a team manager and also the team manager for the Australian Speedway Team in many World Cups. Neil helped Australian speedway riders here and abroad at club and international levels. Neil Street was one of life`s true gentleman. Due to having so much fun last year at the Broadford Bonanza, Neil`s Grandson and 3 times World Speedway Champion Jason Crump has already committed to the event as has Jasons father ex International Speedway Star Phil Crump. It is going to be a huge event for 2018 with many ex International riders being invited. John Heavyside has also already committed the Vincent Sidecars to the event and with the Carters and the Woods there will be no shortage of three wheel action. If you didn`t get enough of Clarrie Jones last year, fear not because he has started work on a new sidecar for next years event and hopefully Peter Marraige will be on the back again. I would like to thank all the people that supported last years event and would like to also thank Rod Hunter of RH8 Classic M/C as he will once again supply the race bikes that Jason will be riding in the 2018 event. I have heard a rumour that a lot of the Bendigo Dragons Speedway team will be showing up and I have yet to contact the Avalon Lions and the Myrtleford Monarchs to get their thoughts. Also another strong rumor is the Phontom may have 2 or more bikes at his disposal for next year, hmmmm interesting. So, dust off those SR4 motors and start getting ready.

My book will record the history based on the historial and technical facts. View points are not for me as a researcher and historian to make comment on. Tony

Mike, who I met in london 2016, rode for Ireland in a series in Sweden organised by Ivan Mauger. he told me he replied to an advert in the speedway star.

I am compiling stories on Neil Street for a new publication. information on SRN engines, stories and memories are welcome. Tony

My understanding was the accident was up here in Queensland can that be confirmed. I remember John at Rayleigh would have been 1963

Thanks Matt, wondered what had happened as i had been using it a lot.Tony

Cyrl May Cyril was born in Devizes Wiltshire. He was associated with Brooklands in his early years for which he holds a Brooklands Certificate. Cyril rode grass track from 1934 on an Excelsior JAP, he was a member of the Wembley Speedway Club grass track team. Cyril was a founder member of the West Wiltshire Motor club, the Southern Grass Track Riders Club and the Devizes and District Motor Club.he was also the President of the Swindon Speedway Supporters Club from 1966-1977.. Cyril May was the most prolific of all speedway and grass track writers, many of his biographies are researched from personal interviews, this together with his understanding of the mechanical aspects of the sport gave an authenticity to his wealth of speedway writings. Cyril started as a reporter of speedway and grass track meetings then moved into publishing with his Motor Cycle Sport Magazine and booklets on Lew Coffin, Farleigh Castle, Forty years of speedway, Grasstrack history and the story of the JAP. His 1976 publication of Ride it the History of Speedway is regarded by many as an iconic speedway history book. In 1964 his first article was published in the Speedway Star and News, from then until 1976 the winter issues of this popular magazine carried at least one of his articles each week. The Historys of Kings Oak, World championships Test matches and Grass Tracking ran for up to 20 issues. For the technically minded The JAP, Rudge, Douglas BSA and Evolution of the Speedway Machine became text book articles to refer to. Add to this his biographies of almost every top rider and many that were lesser known put Cyril in the fore front as speedways number one writer. It is understandable that with this high out put mistakes would arise, we have to appreciate that these articles were written before the days of the internet, mobile phones, faxes and Microsoft Word. Unlike today it was a lot harder to check the facts, therefore I suggest that considering the volume of words, the mistakes were few and far between. Some have said his writing was dull and boring, I for one, as an historian, would prefer to read Cyril’s articles in preference to the tales by a few of the well known writers of the day. Ride it the Complete book of Speedway 1976 Haynes The Story of the Racing JAP. 1966 Lew Coffin Story 1966 The Farleigh Castle story Motor Cycle Sport Special Grass Track Souvenir 1966 Grass track racing through the years 1966 Forty years of Speedway 1964 Articles in Speedway Star and News Note This is intended as a rough guide to where the articles by Cyril May may be found., full details of dates will be inserted as they come to hand. 1964 Billy Lamont 6-11-1964 1965 Joe Gooding 19-11-1965 Ron Johnson 3 parts Series from 1-1 1965 Sprouts Elder 16-4-1965 3 parts Charlie May 3-12-1965 1966 Jap Story March 1966- onwards 7 part World Championship series 1966 12 parts Cliff Parkinson 7-10-1966 Bull Fighting on a speedway Bike Alf Cole - 30-12-1966 Dick Case 21-10-1966 Mike Erskine 11-3-1966 On the Grass series weekly reports 1966 1967 Roger Frogley, 1967 Alec Jackson 22-3-1967 Bert Spencer 27-3-1971 Billy Galloway5-3-1971, 12-3-1971 19-3-1971 3 parts BSA 25-1-1973-3-3-73 8 parts Claude Rye Story 3 parts Charlie Pashley 4-12-1976 onwards Days of the Duggie 3-10-1969 to 20-3-1970 13 issues Evolution of Speedway Machines 28-10-1966 to 3-2-19678 parts Frank Arthur 10-1-1969 Frank Varey 13-3-1970- 3 parts Harring Touch 26-1-1968 9-2-1968 2 part Jack Chapman 12-1-1968 Jack Parker Story 17-1-1976 8 parts Jack Young December 1971-february 1972 7 parts Jeff Clew Story 25-1-1975 Kings Oak Series 23-10-1971 to 25-3-1972 23 parts Len Parker story 1-3-1968- 3 part Lew Coffin Story 1972 Nov-Dec 8 part Lionel Van Praag 18-10-1968 Max Grosskreutz 1-11-1968-27-12-1968 6 parts Roger Frogley 20-10-1967 Rudge Story 6-10-1970 to 20-3-1971 19 parts Speedway Riders on Grass Test matches 20 part series october 1964-february 1965 Vic Huxley 19-12-6930-1-1970 7parts Wal Morton 4-12-1970 Wal Phillips/ Nobby Keys 18-12-1970 3 parts Wembley Story 1967 12 parts

Cyril May, a unique writer who a technical understanding and visited many riders for his stories.

By far the best book ever on speedway bikes. had two sent to Australia, had ten orders but too late all sold, How about a re print Ian?

Contact me on binbooks@iinet.net.au and i will send you a team photo with George in it Tony

Well said Speedwayguy. Having had some contact with Barbara and purchased a few copies of the book for friends, I am sure that the book is written as a tribute to her father.there are in fact some rare photos in the book. Barbara did not write as a speedway reference book. Tony .