olddon

Gosh!!! And all I was passing on was a comment in a Press Release that made these claims re press cuttings being a source for the book. As they are in Australia and at the moment I am in Erith, Kent, I think you will agree it's a little difficult for me to take a look at them? JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

The link was sent over to indicate that as with other researchers who are constantly mentioned on here that press cuttings were used in regard to the research for the Col Stewart book. JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

The book "Col Stewart - Australia's Speedway King 1926-31" written by his daughter Barbara Batistich in 2011was based on many items from Col's collection and included press cuttings for the research on the book. Seemingly they may have formed the basis for the comment about the start of speedway and I think the write-up that I quoted does in fact mention the press of that time? Also, visit this site to crosscheck the mention of press cuttings http://www.speedwayplus.com/ColStewart.shtml JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

From "Col Stewart, Australia's Speedway King, 1926-31" page 10: book written by Col Stewart's daughter Barbara Batistich in 2011. "The story of the origins of organised dirt track racing became famous among riders. It was reported that the 1923 West Maitland Show had been a disaster. Rain had been pouring down for days and hardly anyone turned up. Johnnie Hoskins was the Show Ground's Secretary, and desperate for ideas to bring in the crowds and stave off bankruptcy. He was driving home one evening when he came across and amazing sight. Through a haze of exhaust fumes and dust he saw a group of riders apparently trying to commit suicide by hurtling their bikes round a huge dirt track they'd created through the bush. Hoskins asked them if they'd like to race at the Show Grounds, and soon an article appeared in the local newspaper announcing the very first organised dirt track meeting. "Hoskins promoted his racing bikes under the name "speedway" and introduced racing under lights, cash prizes, racing rules and bike modifications. Country boys, used to rough riding, knew the only practical way to negotiate the the rutted dirt bends was to put your feet on the ground and the famous broadside began to develop. The advantage of a confined oval where crowds could see every "thrill and spill" (a favourite expression from those days), had been known as far back as chariot racing in Roman times, and Hoskins, like the Romans, knew a successful sport had to be part showmanship. His modern-day gladiators were an instant success and crowds began streaming in to watch the new sport." JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

This link provides a background to cycle speedway on British TV channels. http://www.spokesman-online.co.uk/jock_strop_152.html JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

This is a guide into the international cycle speedway world in Europe. http://www.cyclespeedway.eu/ JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

Oh dear! The anticipation of a criticism in advance by me. Rather than have that happen I'll just not buy a copy of the book now and thus avoid making favourable (!) or critical remarks about it. But I hope that others do buy the Crystal Palace speedway book and enjoy it. JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

Speedway started at Crystal Palace on May 19 1928...but speedway did not start on that date. That was years before at a venue far away from South London. JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

Yes. The book is mentioned on the Crystal Palace Motorsport group. I will be getting my copy through Amazon anyway. Thank you for the update. The front cover looks really impressive. JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

These are a few early Crystal Palace photos - both teams and riders. http://palace-motorsport.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=toad13 JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

I know the "unanswered" question you refer to. It's not been overlooked. Cycle speedway? I assume you mean the Newcastle item on that thread. It's not really a sport I know much about but after reading a Post on an Edinburgh-Newcastle match a quick google and all that interesting stuff came up. But, of course, it's all a long way from Maitland in 1923. JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

From 'The Big Thrill' by Allan Batt, published 2012. More comment from the book's prologue: "The times they were 'a changing' and although the origins of speedway racing are very much open for debate the perceived theory is that an intinerant New Zealander Johnnie Hoskins had a huge hand in it. Incidentally Hoskins was born in Waitara, just 120 miles or so from Palmerston North. "In his capacity as Secretary to the Local Hunter River Agricultural Horticultural Society near Newcastle in Australia, Hoskins organised a Sports Charity Carnival at the Maitland Showground in December 1923. 'The Electric Light Carnival was staged to benefit the local orphanages and the agricultural society. The programme of events staged that night consisted of cycling events, horse events, trotting, athletics and motorcycle racing. "It is widely recognised as the day on which motorcycle 'speedway' in its current form was born and given the success of the motor cycle races Hoskins went on to promote 'speedway' at Maitland for two years." JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

This link mainly deals with the Australian rider Ray Taylor but there is a reference to a claim that speedway started in Australia in 1923. http://about.nsw.gov...torcycle-daisy/ The actual quote reads: "Australia is credited with inventing dirt track speedway racing with the first recorded race being was held at Maitland Showground, NSW, in 1923, although earlier races were held in the United States from 1909. An Australian Speedway team took the sport to Britain in 1928 and a series of tests held which were the fore runners of the world championships." JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

Here's an excellent look back to an early times Newcastle-Edinburgh cycle speedway clash. And loads more about defunct speedway proper tracks to be found on the actual website, so do please browse there as well. Here's the cycle speedway link http://www.newcastlecyclespeedway.co.uk/ JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

Here's an interesting snippet - of course via the web! - about Path Racing at Crystal Palace which ran before, then alongside speedway at Crystal Palace and had the same promoters. Path racing took place from 1927 until 1934, while speedway was there on a major basis from 1928 until the end of 1933. http://palace-motorsport.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=toad2&action=display&thread=14 There's some well-known speedway riders who were also Path Racing riders in those pioneer days of track racing. JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

i've only just seen this cycle speedway thread but it certainly is getting a lot of attention. I last saw a meeting in the 1950s, my local team was the famous Kent side Welling Wings. Sadly gone and probably forgotten? The link posted was good and if you scroll down there's quite a few more meetings to view apart from the one given. JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

I think you will find that Maitland Speedway Anniversary thread is where we are now posting. There was another thread on the same subject that was closed, but all of those messages - bar one or two - have been brought over to this thread. JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

You were saying...Read this off a history discussion site: --- In oldtimespeedway@yahoogroups.com, "John Dixon" <john.dixon983@...> wrote: Couple of quotes from John S. Hoskins and Sprouts Elder, from books published in 1930: Sprouts Elder: "It was that very 'live wire' John S Hoskins who first hit upon the notion, in 1923, at West Maitland, Australia, where he laid the first Dirt-Track and started experiments. THe rapid rise to the popularity of Speedway Racing was directly due to this early 'spade work'." John S. Hoskins: "I nursed this sport when it first started in 1923 at West Maitland, on the Hunter River Valley, in Australia." Both these quotes state that the track was actually in West Maitland. JohnD7244 JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

"THE MAIL", Adelaide, South Australia, Saturday, October 3, 1934: "Dirt track racing as it is today originated in 1923 at West Maitland (New South Wales) Agricultural Showground." JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

Thanks for stirring my memory about this and I do recall what you say. The actual quote I posted is not from my own research but is that of another historian and a site where I am also a member. I just brought it up here as I thought it contributed to the debate in progress. JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

Here's an interesting message I have just seen posted elsewhere: JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT --- In oldtimespeedway@yahoogroups.com, "WebbT" <binbooks@...> wrote: This debate on the word "Speedway" has come up many times before. The fact is that the word "speedway' relating to Maitland appeared on an adverisement for the first time late in 1924. Even then it is not clear if "speedway" refers to the speedway track or the racing that took place there. Speedway also was used to refer to trotting tracks as in Albert Park, Melbourne in 1916, also in the USA for freeways.

Maitland Speedway Anniversary - see YEARS GONE BY. The quote will give you more exciting data on the claims regarding Johnnie Hoskins at Maitland in December 1923. Enjoy! JACK KEEN,ERITH, KENT

That is a good idea. Does anyone have a copy of Johnnie's 1930s book they could quote - if it mentions Maitland in 1923. JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

Here is another chance to glimpse memories of cycle speedway in its golden days. http://www.cyclespeedwayvets.org.uk/arch_html/vcsra_arc_cont.html JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT

http://www.vintagesp.../Maitland3.html This is part of what Johnnie Hoskins writes in the article. Click on the link to read it in full. “I arrived at West Maitland in the afternoon, called a sleepy cabit at the exit and with an assumed cofidence asked to be taken to a moderately good hotel. “And here the fans took a hand.Jogging along clippety clop in the cab behind an aged nag I spotted on the pavement two old friends, Percy Weedon and his partner from Darwin. “They paid the cabby, introduced me to the hotel proprietor and welcomed me like a long lost brother. They owned the local picture show. Soon I was running a big charity sports programme, boxingm street stalls, the lot, and made a huge success of it. “Next came a vacant secrtearyship for the local Show grounds and Annual Agricultural Show. “I bough a motor cycle and proposed motor cycle sports on the Show ground. “The idea was turned down flat by the Committee, but I persevered. As a last chance I risked my job by getting some twenty or more of the lads on their motor bikes to meet me for a spin one Sunday morning on the Show Ground trotting track which was used at the Annual Show. “The noise brought Committee men out of their beds and soon a crowd assembled. I raced with the lads once and once only. They went past me on my pre First War Triumph so fast, so dangerously close, I vowed never again. That is one vow I’ve kept. CARNIVAL In mid-summer of 1923 the first “Electric Light Carnival” featuring “dancing on the green and motor cycle racing was staged before a huge crowd. Soon we changed the name to “Speedway” and ran weekly. JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT