martinmauger

The Allotts: Guy, Nicky & Adam...

Kelly Moran Dennis Sigalos Shawn Moran....

QUOTE (chunky @ Mar 22 2008, 08:02 AM) 15 - MARK BURROWS (Belle Vue, Buxton, Cleveland (Boro II), Cleveland (Redcar II), Coventry, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Stoke, Stoke Spitfires, Wimbledon) Was Buzz officially on Hull's books, I just remember him guesting on a few occasions in 1997, I think it was....

Think I read that Olsen prepares the tracks slick so the riders don't get covered in muck and look cleaner for the trophy presentation. Trouble is we are talking about dirt track racing here and one of its beauty's is the (usual) ability of riders to race on other than the accepted racing i.e. around the inside as in Moto Gp, F1 et al. That means some dirt on the circuit to enable them to do so. The riders wipe as much dirt as possible off themselves at the end but who cares if they look little grubby provided we've watched an entertaining meet....

Following on form my Hull post, whilst in West Hull on work-related business being a confirmed Track Anorak I made a bit of a detour and checked out the Boulevard, there was no-one about so I went inside walked and round. The old main, home straight stand has been completely demolished and there is nothing left of it. It seemed strange standing on the wall that the home straight fence was attached to and looking down on the sand dog track, where we cheered and waved to the riders as they came off the parade. More has been demolished around the 1st turn area but the entry to the pits, 'Tucker's Tunnel' was still there though the pits area behind the terrracing has also gone. The old stadium looks much the same; the car park, Ian Thomas' floodlights on the bends, the terraces are overgrown with weeds and the re-built Threepenny Stand is still ok. In fact the place would still be great for speedway if they got rid of the dogs, rugby pitch or ideally both, LOL! But the entire stadium is due to come down in 2010 or so to enable the nearby school to be expanded. In 2 years time, incredibly it will be 30 years since speedway was last staged there - where does the time go?...

And Hull....

That was kids rates, I was a lot younger then (weren't we all!), think it was 70p or so for adults which would be £12 - £13 in todays money....

1974 at Hull, my first year of spectating, it was 30p entry (5p stand transfer) and 10p for a proggy....

How much are the admission, seat transfer (if any) and progs likely to be? Not been to an FIM event for ages but am hoping to make this one....

Here (was!) my own CPD Vikings Hull Speedway site from 2005: It ended up being very basic due to lack of time and the sotftware of choice being suddenly unvavailable. "A bad workman should never blame his tools" of course but I built the site for a University Degree module and had I been fully aware of the situation beforehand I would have waited until the circunstances were more ideal. I think I got 70% or so for it. Some of the picture links have broken, some of the layout is altered, sometimes it freezes (what fun!) and I'm surprised it still kinda works. But I have't been able to update or maintain it as I've lost the log-in password(!), but the text still seems to be in place. I was always going to re-build it from scratch but never got around to it and certainly don't have the time or the inclination now. Feel free to let me know what you think, good or bad I really won't mind at all. I deleted the link as it seemed to stop working ; maybe I should start again form scratch aferall.......

At Hull's Boulevard & Craven Park up to date chart stuff was played, with a leaning to rock in the later Craven Park years. I do remember at the Boulevard ABBA's Hasta Manana being played right at the very end of the meeting after the Rider Of The Night Final. Memories, eh?...

Very good to see, rare for speedway to be so recognised and a great honour for Ivan who I'm sure will be extremely proud....

Cheers for that. Thought was prob the case but you never know it could've had an additional chapter; "New Info/Whatever". Knowing that would've bugged me and I would've had to check it out...

Great book, read it at least twice will no doubt do so again. Anorak question: is the 2nd edition any different to the 1st or is it basically a re-print?...

Hull, White City 1930's - under block of flats, fire station and Teritorial Army barracks. Hull, Hedon (Hull Angels 1948/49) - just a field. Hull, Boulevard - looks much the same stadium very much showing it's age, 'cept for a dog track, amateur rugby still played, overgrown terrraces and one half of stadium, home stright side, is derelict. Hull, Craven Park - looks much the same with stadium tidied up, 'cept all semblence of track has disappeared, 3rd & 4th bend has "squared off" temparary terracing, rugby pitch much-widened and lengthened, no real sign that speedway was staged there for 11 years. Believe the pits were recently demolished. My pics of the above venues (not White City) circa mid-2006 appeared accompanying my own Backtrack article, issue 17 November-December 2006 (Billy Sanders cover) and illustrate Nigel Pearson's Speedway Star article, November 11 2006 (Joonas Kylmakorpi "Hammer Horror" cover). Some also appear on Retro Speedway/Gallery/Defunct Tracks and also Speedway Plus!/Stadia Pix websites....

Liked to have watched at Hedon Aerodrome (Hull Angels), but it was a ittle before my time; 1948/9, fixtures & league placing in Div 3 taken over by Swindon....

Saw one of those Sport From Around The World progs on a dig TV channel showing "speedway from Costa Mesa, Cailf - with a difference; the riders are all women". And there were 8 per race. Seems Saturday is Ladies' Night at Costa Mesa Speedway....

Don't know the other lady but Monty Jowett defo kicks (male) butt, don't take my word for it ask any of the guys in the Scunny Amateur Champs. I remember seeing Madeline Fundin race USA's Bobbi Hunter at Wembley Arena....

The "technical" term for those was banana seats. Memories, eh?...

This topic could run and run, and why not. Forgot about Eddie's Book Sales for years many of my Chrimbo pressies were courtesy of Eddie's. Rider interviews where they would say " I tried the inside for 3 laps then the outside but couldn't quite catch him" or versa vice as opposed to saying "I haven't got my set up right so couldn't get near him" ....

Me and mates having the Britains riders and making our own tracks out of hardboard, read somewhere a kid going OTT and having Subbuteo floodlights and stands on his bedroom speedway track I still have a few Britains riders (somewhere) and yes, one is painted to be like Mauger Fitting cowhorns, motorbike handgrips and moped back wheels on pushbikes Taking the front brake lever off pushbikes, the throttle side you see kids being into cycle speedway --- kids just don't do the above stuff anymore --- Kids jumping on the track (just!) after the race for tear offs Frank Auffret beating Penhall & Schwartz in an Engalnd v USA test at Hull England v USA tests Frank Auffret beating Olsen at Coventry Kelly Moran at Hull in 1978 Bobby Beaton almost beating Mauger at Hull (beofre Ivan became a Viking) and falling. Still think Ivan came under him too hard More memorable races, if Mauger, Olsen, Collins et al got beat, fans would talk about it for weeks The odd time a No.8, reserve, 2nd string would beat a star rider Fridays - for Speedway Mail Not knowing any speedway goss 'til the weeklies came out.

The Citroen car of choice which gradually replaced the Cortinas, Zephyrs et al was the CX 2400 Bigger crowds An equal number of speedway sports bags as football at school Warcrys (Give us a V, etc) Speedway pictures on the art room walls Kids on the street talking speedway Less gardening at the gate Overtaking Riders able to make more than one passing attempt per race Meetings not postponed at the first drop of rain Fewer engine failures Guessing which leathers the likes of Mauger, Collins, etc would wear Only team No.1 riders gating and disappearing over thr horizon, the rest would race Riders neckscarves A decent England team A Scottish team Speedway results on BBC Radio 2 The building excitement having to wait until Mondays Daily Mirror for contintental results Speedway news on the back page of the Daily Mirror A track in Hull....

Win 6 individual World Championships? Well it's been done before and Mauger didn't start winning his 'til he was about 28. Nicki certainly got his stuff together this year, or maybe felt loads better after his arm ops, and looked to be able to raise his game at least another notch if he had to....

Transport, location, cost, lack of equipment, etc are major obstacles, pun not particularly intended, but the most important thing is ride when and where you can and to enjoy it....

Be cool if a couple of Hull Vikings riders were there as we opened the place for you way back when. Real shame Smallmead has to close, progress, eh?...