Hebbs

I remember the first coloured leathers I saw in the 2nd Division. Easter Sunday 1969 Eastbourne Eagles v Kings Lynn Starlets, Graham Edmunds riding for KL wore white leathers. I was very impressed, I was only 9 at the time though

Thanks Ken

Thanks for the replies. I shall be taking advantage of your special offer.

Ken / Norman / Kevin Are any of you coming down to Arlington to do a book signing?

One that sticks in my mind was at Eastbourne many moons ago a Canterbury rider, (Graham Banks, or Graham Miles?) went wide and hit the fence a glancing blow. A bit of wire must have hooked around the chin strap of his helmet and he was pulled off his bike leaving his hat hanging on the fence. It looked at first like his head had come off, but he got up stretched his neck from side to side, collected his hat and walked back to the pits! He must have been the only Canterbury rider to get a standing ovation from the Eagles fans.

I saw the Starlets against Eastbourne, Easter Sunday 1969. It was the first match I went to. I remember Graham Edmonds (sp?), he wore white leathers that made him really stand out from the others. The match was a narrow win for the Eagles, I've still got the program somewhere.

Excellent clip Grachan! Made this "Old Fart" remember why I still go to speedway each week.

Another problem with a race night during the week is the catchment area that the club has for it's fans. Eastbourne for example has fans from Kent (myself included), there is no longer a Kent team, some from Surrey, West Sussex, and south London. This means it is very dificult to get to the match in good time, and the Kids are late to bed with school the next day. If we moved to a weekday a lot of our fans could not make it. As for the stadium, we are lucky as the Dugards own it. Arlington Stadium is used for stock cars on Wednesday, which brings in a bigger crowd than Speedway.

Red Ott

EASTBOURNE 1. D Jessup 2. K Moran 3. M Dugard 4. G Kennet 5. I Mauger 6. N Pedersen 7. M Loram

Does look like Eastbourne prior to the stock car track which was put in early seventies. By the trees and the high stands in the background it would be the back straight, about where the end of the current 2 tier stands / bar is. The old stands were lashed up out of scaffolding, can't see enough detail in the picture to be sure.

As an "old fart" I would say that the current problems are the outcome of a transition in our sport from team to individual racing. When I started to watch speedway the 1st & 2nd Division Champions were decided by a league system, whilst the World Champion was decided by a "one off" event. Sky, Benfield, and the internation powers to be have raised the profile of our sport by promoting the individual element of speedway. They have done a good job by getting speedway on TV, but they have missed the one thing that makes speedway different from other motor sports, and that is of course the team element. I know that we have weekly Elite League meetings on Sky, but I get the feeling that they are there to promote the GP's. As Martin said in his post we are going to have to live with it, and I would agree that a squad system is a way round the chaos that the GP's enflict on a team that runs at the weekend. With a squad sytem and no guests allowed for missing GP stars it would let teams make their own choice between stability and star men. We also need more teams in the EL! Right, anyone else want the soapbox?

Thanks Frigbo for the info. Shows how the memory goes over the years. Still I was only 9!

My first ever away match was to Rayliegh. I went with my Dad on the Eastbourne supporters club coach. I can remember the track being black instead of the redish shale of Eastbourne. It was the 1969 season, a close match either a 39 all draw or 40-38 top the Rockets. Still got my program I'll have to check.

This thread makes great reading after the event! Some like Steve S, Salty & Rabbit had it worked out whilst some just showed their prejudice against Floppy and/or Eastbourne. Well done Floppy, and the rest of the GB boys. To the rider who "can't ride anywhere more than 15 minutes from Eastbourne" it's a good job you took your Tardis.

Nice site Shazzy. Chris Raines from the 1968 team works for an office equipment company near Ashford. He tries to sell me a photocopier every now and again!

For Eastbourne: As a points scoring machine - Gordon Kennett For the wow factor - Kelly Moran For all round team rider - Reg Trott. As a non rider but for entertainment purpose - Dave Lanning.

Gordon Kennett. What else would you expect from an Eagles fan!

Bomber Looking through some of my old programs I came accross Eastbourne Eagles V Romford Bombers 5th October 1969. I can still remember this match pretty well as the Eagles lost 36 - 42, and I was a ten year old who didn't take losing very well. Des Luckhurst scored a 12 point maximum with Ross Gilbertson scoring 11, he dropped his only point in heat 4 to Reg Trott. I also came accross a couple of 4 team tournement programs with Romford included (1970 & 1971). If you're interested in a copy I can scan them for you.

The fun and frolics wasn't always reserved for the end of seasson only. I can remember a donkey race round Arlington, must have been 1969 or 1970, between Dave Lanning & Johnie Hoskins. Can't remember who won!