Wonderful site!
I always knew there used to be an old speedway track in Audenshaw, but never knew exactly where it was.
After reading the article I was thrilled to discover that it was at the former trotting track behind the Snipe Inn pub and especially so because my Grandfather was a harness racer (horses) at that same track.
You learn summat new every day.
Thanks for bringing your site to my attention.
The story of Slider Shuttleworth is pure gold.
And for those that have no idea of what I'm on about I've taken the liberty of posting this from the Audenshaw section;
Slider Shuttleworth
Old Slider Shuttleworth would be knocking on 90 now.
In his heyday-the late twenties and early thirties-Slider could always be relied on to bring the crowd to it's toes.
One of his favourite tricks when he rode in a big match was to keep a small balloon filled with red ink concealed inside his crash helmet.
If Slider was winning the ink stayed where it was, but if he lost the wily old warhorse would stage a hair-raising looking crash and clap his hand to his helmet thus bursting the balloon with the red ink.
The ink would then gush down Slider's face looking for all the world like blood.
Game to the last, the ancient ham would stagger blindly towards his machine giving vent to the most heart-rending groans of anguish.
And how the fans would cheer as Slider remounted and went chasing dramatically after his opponents. Somehow it always worked out that Slider stole the thunder...even if he lost!
