The Old Chap

The weekly boy's paper 'The Champion' had a number of speedway stories during the period 1947 to 1955 or so. Often illustrated on the cover. eBay sometimes has copies for sale with the cover of the issue being illustrated. About the same time there was a weekly speedway paper called the 'Speedway Gazette' which I recall being printed on rather poor paper and with a yellow cover. It was edited by Basil (forget his surname) but after awhile he launched a boy's paper called 'Boy's World' which had a non-series speedway story every week of its short life. Also on rather poor paper. There was even a letter to the editor complaining about the number of speedway stories in the paper! All of the above from my memory which may be playing tricks after all these years!

Yes, spot on! It was certainly a Sunday morning when we used to go pedalling our bikes from Wolverhampton probably around 1950-52. Thanks a lot!

Near WOKINGHAM This would be either March 1954 or September 1955. National Service again and I was at a transit camp near Wokingham. A crowd of us heard of a speedway meeting nearby and we went off on foot. I can't remember an entrance to the track, we just walked and suddenly there it was! Can't remember much about the meeting; it was certainly daytime as opposed to evening. This, I feel, must be the easiest of my enquiries!

Near BREMEN, Germany. This would be either summer 1954 or 1955. I was stationed for my National Service in this part of Germany (Delmenhorst, actually) during this period. We heard of a speedway meeting nearby and on the appropriate date a crowd of us went off in the back of a lorry. Lots of German riders but one English - if I ever knew his name I have forgotten it, alas but he was a friendly bloke and seemed pleased to have someone from England to speak to. Individual rider competition, no programme issued but a decent sized crowd. Does this bring back reminiscences for anyone?

First posting, of three, so go easy on me please! ESSINGTON Just north east of Wolverhampton in early 1950s. Rural in those days. This was a practise track on a farm. Very rough red shale surface with really only room for one rider at a time. Used by Wolverhampton riders, maybe others. Certainly vegetation (trees/shrubs) in the centre of the track; possibly a building, too. Open to the public only if they knew about it - never advertised. No safety fence, refreshments or other niceties. Any one remember this?