norbold

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!

And that they didn't have a report of the meeting.

Empire Stadium, Odsal?

Len Read died at the age of 102.

29th August 1936 edition of Speedway News which has a full report of the meeting. And, as BL65 says, it was Liverpool's Tommy Price.

1. George Greenwood - 59 pts 2. Tommy Price - 57 3. Billy Dallison - 50 3. Frank Goulden - 47 4. Ted Bravery - 43 5. Harry Shepherd - 36 6. Tiger Hart - 35 7. Dick Wise - 30 8. Roy Dook - 29 9. Eric Blain - 26 10. B. Jones - 25 11. J. Hobson - 23 12. Stan Hart - 20 13. Les Gregory - 12 14. Eric Collins - 10

Now you come to mention it, I seem to remember that in 1965, Wimbledon only held "Big" meetings on Mondays - Internationale, Laurels and GB v. Soviet Union Test match. Their regular night was Saturday. I don't remember much about 1966 as I was away at college in Norwich, so didn't get to see much speedway in London.

Wimbledon's might was always Monday back in the day. Monday: Wimbledon Tuesday: West Ham Wednesday: New Cross Thursday: Wembley Friday: Harringay

Which set are you talking about? The 1937 Speedway Riders set (John Player) is worth about £75; the Ogden's 1929 set of Famous Dirt Track Riders between about £80 and £100, while the J A Pattreioux 1930 set of Dirt Track Riders can be worth up to £500 - £600.