Parsloes 1928 nearly

Well I don't agree with the "moved on " comment. Andy was one of the most popular riders ever in the part of the world I'm from...: back from his early days at Crayford in the very early '80s through to his swan-song at Arena Essex in 2001... One of a rare breed of riders IMHO who it was worth the admission money alone to go and see... Sadly though, at the end of the day that admission money didn't find its way sufficiently to Andy (or didn't stay there) and the awful accident he suffered which halted his top class career is clearly a major factor in that... I'm glad at least that Andy got a relatively light custodial sentence as clearly he wasn't a major player in a cruel trade which exploits many not least vulnerable and desperate people like him, prepared to risk much as a 'mule'.. It's not the Daily Mail approach I'm sure, but my sympathy and best wishes go out to Andy and his family. I know he knows he's done wrong but there's a whole life-time left to go Andy and I hope your friends throughout Speedway will rally around you after you've done your time...

And what's wrong with a pub crawl..?!

Yes of course. Wembley looked so different without the roof to the stands! So, what was this all about then..? Clearly happening on this occasion in an empty stadium, did this car racing actually take part in fronnt of a Wembley crowd ever..? Part of a Speedway meeting perhaps.?

I suppose it could be Wembley... No goal posts or football pitch markings...?

Is it just me Brian...: but when I open the High Beech footage you refer to I get a very annoying box saying "Loading" right smack bang in the middle of the screen - one which blocks out virtually all of the action. Very annoying but can't seem to lose it.. Don't get this problem on any other clips on that site..!

Thanks. I was fairly certain it was nowhere in London and as a pretty massive stadium, Hampden fits the bill!!!

Did so and found something right up speedyguy's street (er, track!): http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=50087 At first I excitedly thought this might be White City, but don't think it is... So where is this..? A big place.. Somewhere in Scotland perhaps..???

Good point!!!

I am indeed. The song 'Speedway' is a only very thinly disguised attack by Morrissey on his by-then estranged song-writing partner, Johnny Marr - because Marr was a Belle Vue fan and Mozza didn't approve, he uses Speedway as a derogatory term in that song's title. And of course that's a post-Smiths' solo record. The reference to Speedway as a funfair ride is from The Smiths' era... Many thanx to all for the very informative answers... Didn't realise there were so many fairground experts out there!!

Obscure question of the year for 2010 (yes, this early in the year!!). Can those of you who frequented the old Hyde Rd. track and, perhaps, the adjacent Zoological Gardens and fairground recall if, in the latter, there was ever a ride called the 'Speedway'...? There's reference to it in a Smiths song... If that's any kind of adequate explanation!!

Perhaps coz he's on remand (and so not yet faced trial...) that the news is considered perhaps not appropriate at this stage for the Star..? Not that unusual for the media not to cover a story like this until the trial and its outcome...

And I could have given you a lift there...!! THAT would've been the car journey of the decade!!!!

The thing was, John, that there wasn't a 0AD... The first year of the AD era from which our centuries (of which we're now in the 21st. of course...!!) started was 1AD. So unlike say a child who's zero for the first year of their life and becomes one after 12 months, and therefore HAS lived a decade when they reach the end of age nine; a decade of years on the calendar isn't up until the end of the TENTH year. So Rob's right: the first year of this century was 2001 and the decade's not up 'til the end of 2010!!! Good innit!!!

Came across this film on Youtube. Awful crash but luckily she is okay. And more than okay..! Does anyone know if she still rides..? Or if she's related to Chris..? Found this web-site about Rachelle too: http://www.speedwaybikes.com/rw/urachl_k.htm

Er, no-one thinks of Carter as a "twit" ... They either blank out the reality of the terrible thing he did and revere him. Or as I do, can't separate the shocking nature of what he did and grieve at the sheer terrible aspect of that whole business. As I said before, it wasn't just two lives lost that shocking day it was in large measure too the soul of our sport... If you think Speedway has ever recovered in the eyes of the mainstream media you are totally mistaken... And I post that sentence reluctantly because I don't want to be seen as joining the ranks of shazzy and co who minimise the human tragedy. But it has to be said, yes, Carter helped destroy Speedway as the media-popular sport Peter Collins in particular had made it just a few years earlier. You're young SCB, but Carter isn't fit to grease the chain of the incomparable PC.

Sad news indeed about Andy's current 'circumstances'. One of my real heroes....

You don't get it do you..? It's not a matter of shades of opinion, this. It's not about being a "fan" - as you put it - of this man or not being his "fan". It's not a case of "homelife" (sic) versus racing career. It's not about intruding into the personal "circumstances" between husband and wife. It's about the fact that Kenny Carter murdered his wife. Virtually every person in the UK hearing of this event would NOT be saying "ah, well that's a personal matter between him and his wife", anymore than they would if - as happens in all too many households - say that of domestic violence or of any other murder. Except this is what you are saying. And, as I say, this is not a matter of my opinion over some daft issue differing from yours. I have no opinion on any matter other than one which, as I say, 99.5% of the population would have: that it's not acceptable to shoot dead your partner. I can't believe that you don't share that view, so why to goodness you keep posting to the opposite effect I really couldn't say. My advice is stop thinking everything's an argument and have a look again at what you've posted on three separate occasions now and ask yourself do you REALLY want to be seen as someone who holds these sorts of views...

Explain to us, then, your comment about it being all too easy to slate someone who can't reply... This implies the person could have a defence if around to give it... Presumably you don't believe in this case he could, so why make such a grossly insensitive - indeed nonsensical - comment... I accept you liked Carter as a rider and that this case still arouses strong emotions, but in this case you should admit that your earlier posting was way, way out of order...

Well, okay, Rob you're right... And I'm sure Tony has done a good job. The trouble I have with it is that there are still those like the following who can post as follows: You see, to me it is simply unacceptable to write things like, "regardless of what happened that awful day he still remains high up there [as one of my heroes]..." and "it's all too easy to slate someone that cannot reply". The only 'slating' Carter is getting is for, as Rob says, "taking the life of another, in this case the mother of two young children". shazzy appears to show no feeling for Kenny's wife - just mentioning the two orphaned children; and - as others have done - reduces a shocking act to some kind of mild misdemeanor, returning to a theme which suggests we should only ever judge this character on his track exploits and not what she euphemestically calls his "homelife". Shooting someone in the back as they flee in fear for their life is NOT that. It is simply unforgiveable and to me we should not be debating Carter in the way this book (however well researched and written...) and this thread (and other similar ones...) does..

Interesting David. Not dissimilar with myself. I recall vividly buying the Daily Mirror in Stepney that May '86 morning and walking into the office where I worked with my then new girlfriend - now wife of over 20 years - and us reading the story. She was, like anyone would be, horrified at the story and that I knew so much of this person and his sport. It is, of course, churlish and inappropriate considering the awful loss of Pamela and the tragedy this was for her children to talk about the effect this awful thing had upon the way people view the sport. But like David I didn't go to another meeting for years and many I'm sure - not least in the media - never viewed the sport again in the same light... A large amount of the sport died also that day at Grey Horse Farm. And I for one agree with those who intimate that this book should not have been written..

Well you weren't that hot on the facts coz as Lucifer pointed out you omitted to mention that Szczakiel had already won (with a maximum) a world title two years earlier: in the Pairs. I assume you left out that from your original posting as it didn't fit in with your thesis that Poland's only world indiv. champion was in fact hopeless... The 1973 Final was indeed the one when Poland were determined to get themselves a World Champ but the man earmarked for this was most certainly NOT Szczakiel but Zenon Plech. It's been documented the way Szczakiel was treated by the Polish authorities - not at the time the most open-minded...! - for upsetting the apple-cart and winning the title for himself instead. Have you not ever wondered why he looks less than delighted on top of the rostrum..?!! Not a smile passes his lips coz, I'd assume, he fears that trouble's coming his way. Hardly suprising then under such pressure he bombs out a couple of weeks later at Wembley... The pressure on the hapless new world champ that evening was immense... And I think one can see that having reached the absolute pinnacle of the sport only for it be soured by lack of recognition at home (abroad too of course, but he would have been removed from seeing any of that...) took such a toll he never featured internationally again... I agree with Lucifer that Szczakiel's place in history has been much overlooked. What a shame that the 'abuse' in his homeland which destroyed a great rider (I'd not heard that about his face-to-face record against Mauger but that does tell a story...) is still being repeated today by some failing to recognise his very significant achievements..

And good to see West Ham getting a mention again! Considering the thread's title!! What was that about Jack Ladd and Dagenham before, speedy..??

As you say Ian...: a little 'gem' here in the middle of the BSF and in the dead of winter! Maximum respect to all those contributing... I'm just listening and learning!!

Quite a lot of Speedway activity these days in the Netherlands, Steve. And spreading into the rest of Benelux too..

So Speedway in France was still relatively thriving into the 1960s.. When did it decline to the position I'm more familar with: ie of there being scarcely any!!?