arnieg

Its that time of the year when speedway authors release their 'labours of love' in advance of Cardiff. I'd never considered writing a book until just over a year ago when I commented to Andy Povey (we were organising the Reading Museum exhibit at the time) that Reading needed a comprehensive club history. He said "well you should write it then.". And now I have! MEDIA RELEASE: "Celebrating Forty Years of Reading Speedway" Next Tuesday (June 17th) sees the 40th anniversary of the opening of Reading speedway. The story of those forty years is chronicled in a new book: “Tears and Glory – The Winged Wheel Story” by Arnie Gibbons. The book tells the story, year by year, of the Reading Racers adventures in the speedway world. Racers fans can relive the heady euphoria of the Tilehurst years, the agony of title near misses in 1977 and 2006, and the joy of five league title winning seasons. On the individual front the highs of World Championship wins for Anders Michanek and Per Jonsson are contrasted by the terrible tragedy of Denny Pyeatt's crash at Hackney. Author Arnie Gibbons, a follower of the Racers since 1970 enthused: “ Although the heart of the book is the chronicle of Reading Racers 40 years on track I have attempted to show how Reading and the wider speedway world have changed over that period, and how those changes have affected the Racers. I have also included the results of my research into speedway in Berkshire before the historic meeting against Nelson on 17 June 1968. As well as wartime speedway at California (near Wokingham) I found evidence of a previously unknown venue east of Bracknell! “I am tremendously grateful to everyone who has helped, particularly the Reading Evening Post for coming up with some excellent photographs to illustrate the book. Above all I would like to thank Malcolm Holloway and Mark Legg because without them the story of Reading speedway would have come to a premature end and we wouldn't be celebrating 40 years of speedway in Reading this week.” The book contains 256 pages, including over 80 photos and 18 pages of statistics. Longtime promoter 'Aunty' Pat Bliss has contributed a foreword to the book. It will be available from Monday - cost £15. It can be purchased from the track shop or online at: http://www.readingspeedway.com/tearsandglory.html

At last. I now know how it feels to be 'pregnant with book'. The gestation period for this one has certainly been a long one. I'm sure the wait will be worthwhile.

A couple of posters asked - why have heats 21 & 22? So we can wait around for 20 minutes while riders fart about chosing gate positions. (Although the Under 21 @ Arena was worse than last night) Now the odd feature: Points scored off each gate before the final race: Gate 2 29 points Gate 4 30 points Gate 1 32 points Gate 3 34 points First choice went to Harris - who chose gate 2 then Nicholls chose gate 4 and next Kennett chose gate 1 leaving Woffinden in (the top scoring) gate 3 Conclusion - credit to Swindon for producing a track with so little gate bias

But Norbs, he rode for the Tories!! !! A rare opportunity for Reading citizens to see a top speedway star came at the Reading Conservative Fete at Denton's Field, Bath Road in 1949. As well as a demonstration of skills by Bill Kitchen (winner of 11 National League championships with Belle Vue and Wembley) and George Wilks, a grasstrack event entertained the crowds. Participants included California regulars Bill Newell and Maurice Leonard. Tears and Glory - The Winged Wheel Story, page 10

Good, but when are we likely to know dates? (My flight to Aussie at the start of Jan is already booked )

Ian was the very first ever Racer, by dint of his appearance in heat 1 (along with Dene Davies) of Reading's first ever match (7.6.68 @ Plymouth). Champion started the season in top form but after injury his returns were a tad disappointing. Lost his team place to Bernie Leigh midway thru 1969 (moving on to Rayleigh)

Aldershot Poppies 1957 California Poppies 1954-56 Reading Ravens 1996 Reading Racers 2007

Rode in second halves at Long Eaton 1991-93. Appeared in one league match (1991 @Milton Keynes when Kai Niemi was injured). Regular in 1992 junior league team. I think he was English but can't find any confirmation.

Can't let that pass. The team was known as the "M4 Raven Sprockets", they ran in 1997

'Command' is more accurately translated as 'team' but, otherwise it's got the basic sense

Try: http://irgiz.narod.ru/2007okt36.html

Long time since I've seen anything on this, looks like it is moving closer though: Interesting report of FIM conference at http://irgiz.narod.ru/2008/03/2008mar05.html On February, 21-24st in Geneva there passed(there took place) conference of the International motorcycle federation (ФИМ). One of the main questions who on it(her) have been considered(examined), steel development and the statement of preliminary calendars of the championships and Cups of the world for 2009-2010. As to speedway disciplines and motorcycle races on an ice here for Russia there are pleasant news. In a preliminary calendar for 2009 the first and second endings of the personal world championship on motorcycle races on an ice is planned to lead accordingly in a Krasnogorsk (on February, 7-8th) and Ufa (on February, 14-15th). The third and fourth endings will pass(take place) as usually on artificial to an ice - in Germany and Holland. The commission of speedway ФИМ has taken into account, that the sports club MEGA-Lada (Togliatti) has begun negotiations with the organizer of a series of GRAND PRIX of the personal world championship company BSI (Great Britain). From Russia the forward ordering on carrying out in 2010 of one of stages of GRAND PRIX in city Tolyatti is submitted. Owing to remoteness of city from the central Europe, and also because of absence of experience of carrying out in city of competitions of a similar level, the commission of speedway ФИМ had been rejected the application of city Balakovo for carrying out of a stage of team championship of the world among juniors.

Programme for 14th (not filled in I'm afraid) shows three match races with Phil Bishop (who would have been 50-something?). Two pieces in the programme seem to imply that Johnno wanted a team place but wasn't expected to claim one - hence the nature of his appearance.

Just the one season - 1962 - and that was not a sucess, they staged less than 20 meetings and ended up riding a couple of home matches at St Austell. Charlie Monk was their most noteable rider

just a few!!!!!!!!!!!! And I have come up with: Final record: 61.7 Stekkers 7.4.93, and equalled by Chris Manchester 12.6.96 Previous TR: 61.8 also Stekkers 61.8 14.8.91 and before that: 61.9 by... Stekkers (8.5.91) Kevin Smart was the last TR holder before Stekkers (62.3 on 27.6.90)

Happy New Year Thanks for the quick response

I've found a photo in S Star (5.5.90), and the line-up is; Gregori Characheko (who I think is still riding), Nikolai Kornev, grigori Chlynovky (former world finalist and TM on this tour), Vladimir Trofimov (on bike), Igor Marko, sergei Tershak, Igor Zverev; and front: Viktor Gadiym and Mikhail Starostin

Browsing through some old results I noticed that in the first European (now World) under 21 final a Soviet rider by the name of Zajtun Gafurov appeared. Would he be the father of Renat? (the age is about right and both are/were connected with Oktobriasky.) Kasprzak and Gustafsson seem to be the only father/son pairs to make the World (euro) under 21 final as Renat never qualified. Are there any others?

Too many to list in full, but how about: the night Scunny were beaten and Invaders won the league Gerald Short, Martin Dixon and Paul Fry's many passes. The Armstrong v Eldridge CLRC run-off Thierry Hillaire - what a lunatic Ronnie Correy's return from injury in 1995 Watching speedway from the centre green (I sponsored a heat in some meeting - possibly the CLRC) Standing on the terraces every week just behind a Division One rider and being amazed that he always had a pint in his hand (maybe it was the same pint all the time!) Standing in the car park after the Oxford Suite meeting at which Tony Mole announced it was all over, touching the stadium gates and realising 'never again will I pass this way'

And for an indication of their relative strengths go to: http://speedwayranking.125mb.com/home.htm and click on Euro League

I suspect that Ukranians and Russians would not be regarded as foreigners irrespective of who they rode for. Other relevant bit of info on Russian League is that their matches are on Thursdays.

'Command' is actually the Russian word for team

And at California

Or: http://irgiz.narod.ru/2007okt36.html the two do differ slightly though For the DSL try: http://www.speedway-league.com/snitliste.htm and for other Danish Leagues: http://www.dmusport.dk/index.php?option=co...tpage&Itemid=79 go to stillinger on the left and then rangeliste on the drop down menus

Maddest year had to be 1959 when the race format changed mid-way thru the season fronm 18 heats to 15!