norbold

He was just as good as always.

Yes, I had a chat with him at the West Ham reunion this year. Always good to talk to.

The Funeral Service for Gavin will take place at Breckland Crematorium (Norwich Rd, Norwich, NR9 4NR) on Wednesday 16th November 2022 at 12pm. Attendance welcome. Family flowers only however donations in memory of Gavin to benefit The Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund are most welcome. If you wish to donate, please do so through the Ivan Fisher Funeral Home website – Make a Donation.

Incidentally, I once wrote a short story about a group of superheroes called The Pengers. It was published in a magazine called Comics Unlimited. I can't remember now if Gustix or Speedyguy or even Jack Keen featured. There was a follow-up which sadly remains unpublished to this day.

Oh no, what will we do without him?

Not sure, but I think there was one rider from the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Any HISTORICAL information on speedway in the United Kingdom please.

I believe there was speedway in Poland back in the 1950s. I think some New Zealanders went out there to race.

Wow! Thanks for that really helpful answer, John. I don't think that would ever have entered my mind.

Thank you, John, very interesting. Have you any idea why they went to the Turks and Caicos Islands?

Any HISTORICAL information on speedway in TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS please?

Very sad news from Tony Hurren (Hawkeye): GAVIN HEDGE It is with the deepest regret and sadness that I have been asked by Pam and Trevor Hedge to inform the speedway fraternity that their son Gavin passed away early this morning (Thursday) after a nine-monh battle against illness. He was 51. Gavin followed in his father's footsteps as a speedway rider and had spells with Oxford, Skegness, Isle of Wight, Peterborough, Arena-Essex, Glasgow, Reading, Mildenhall and Wimbledon. After finishing his speedway career he began his involvement in the Trevor Hedge Racing business, where he launched his own motor cycle business concentrating on tuning and repairing road bikes. Pam and Trevor request that people respect their privacy at this early time of grieving. Gavin is survived by his parents, fiancee Emma, sister Tracy, nephew Kenzie and other family members.

He has "liked" it.

I can't vouch for the veracity of the following, but one of our posters once put this on the Speedway Forum. I hope it helps. "Speedways (sic) been tried many times in Spain and failed. A group of Spanish riders even toured the UK in the early 1930s. Post-war there was speedway in Madrid in the late 1940s, and other attempts with teams led by former England international Ted Gibson in 1949 and 1953. There was also another attempt by Wally Mawdsley to promote a track in Madrid in the 1980s. Mainly from what I understand the Spaniards don't like speedway because there are not enough riders in a race and the races are not long enough. I was told this by Spanish family in-laws who went to the1980s meetings in Madrid. As a contrast, Flat Track offers longer races (more laps) and more riders - and that formula is developing quite well. In fact, an indoor track in Barcelona has staged a major Flat Track event several times in recent years and plans are already going ahead for the next event towards the end of this year. I understand there is a 400m track in San Sebastian, Northern Spain, which has hosted international Flat track racing. It could be a venue to consider for a possible one-off speedway meeting to AGAIN test Spanish interest? An interesting starter in the 2016 Flat Track event at San Sebastian was German rider Karl Maier who once rode on speedway for Birmingham. To try and stage a Speeday GP in Spain would generate no interest. The Spanish do not like the sport as very early Posts in this thread indicated before Flat Track commentary took over. From what I understand the Spaniards don't like speedway because there are not enough riders in a race and the races are not long enough. I was told this by Spanish family in-laws who went to the1980s meetings in Madrid. As a contrast, Flat Track offers longer races (more laps) and more riders - and that formula is developing quite well. In fact, an indoor track in Barcelona has staged a major Flat Track event several times in recent years and plans are already going ahead for the next event towards the end of this year. The last active Spanish rider I can trace is Alberto Sirvan, who rode for several seasons in France in the mid-1950s."

Did you get permission from Keith Forun to use this?

Why not go straight to: http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/ And why is it stressful?

Well I'm glad we've sorted all that out.

This is the cutting, BL65 referred to:

They've not been the same since Tony Hancock retired.... Or was it Greg?

And in that dusty old book I mentioned above......

According to a dusty old book on my bookshelf called, "Speedway in the South East" there was an injunction granted to local residents over the noise levels forcing Luton to close down. The last meeting was held on 13 July 1936.

I have found a Clem Thomas riding at Luton in 1935. Luton was used by Wembley as a nursery track.

I've not come across the name. He was certainly never a contracted Wembley rider. He may have ridden as a junior or novice in second halves, but that would be as far as he got.

Lucky you!

Yes, but we all know Lambert can't overtake him because he's not Grand Prix standard!