TonyMac

In conjunction with the site administrators, we have agreed to nominate a HOT TOPIC at regular intervals, covering more general subjects and issues for fans from all over the country to debate. The difference, though, is that your views - or at least the best ones posted on here - will be reproduced in a future issue of Backtrack Magazine. It's a two-way thing - the forum site gets wider recognition through the pages of the magazine, hopefully creating awareness among those of our readers who are not yet visitors to this brilliant internet forum; while the mag will hopefully gain more subscribers/readers who want to see their names and views in print and then love Backtrack so much, they just have to buy every issue! Simple, eh? Right, enough of all that waffle... The first subject we want to hear from you about is the British League Riders' Championship (we'll cover the NLRC another day). Please share your great memories of this once annual classic meeting with us all - but not just the racing and any track incidents you particularly recall, but the occasion itself - the day out at Belle Vue; visit to the zoo; the cameraderie of the fans who filled Hyde Road, etc, etc. What was your favourite memory from past BLRC finals (and we're talking the 'Backtrack years' of 1965 to 1989 here, folks). Perhaps it was that epic duel between the veteran John Louis and Bruce Penhall in 1979? Or the night Kenny Carter threw it away when he stopped while leading after just three laps, thinking the race had ended? Maybe it was one of Briggo's six wins in a row in the 60s, or a glory night for Mauger, Olsen or PC? The great thing about printing your comments posted here in Backtrack, is that the feature on our pages will be enhanced by pictures from these great, old meetings. Sadly, we can't get the old Belle Vue back, or perhaps not even recapture the prestige of the BLRC for future stagings, but no-one can stop us wallowing in pure nostalgia and great times past... So c'mon....and thanks for your contributions.

Bobby Schwartz is our 'main man' in issue 6, to be published at the end of this month. One of the most successful and popular of the Americans who raced in Britain in the late 70s and through most of the 80s, 'Boogaloo' has given Brian Burford a great, new major interview exclusively for Backtrack. Bobby, now 48, talks candidly about: The memory of his dad and why he wore his name on his leathers. Early days at Cradley Heath and a dodgy B&B he shared with buddy, Bruce Penhall. His friendship and rivalry with double world champion Penhall and the vow 'Boog' made to him at Irwindale one night. His World Pairs successes with Penhall and Dennis Sigalos – the pits shenanigans among the Danes and Poles in Poland in '81, and then why the Americans had such a big advantrage over their rivals at Sydney in '82. The reason why he thinks Penhall really decided to quit England. His best-ever season at Reading when 'Racers' were champs in 1980. Why the fans and management turned against him and why he "couldn't care less’’ by the time he left the Smallmead club. Happy days at Eastbourne. Personal tragedy and the horror of seeing his mate, Denny Pyeatt, killed at Hackney. Bobby relives his shocking ordeal, including the note he found in Denny's trouser pocket... The truth about being arrested (with Kelly Moran) for possessing drugs at Heathrow in 1983. What Bobby really thinks of himself as a rider. What he's doing now...and more. Let us hear your memories of Bobby Schwartz via this messageboard... _________________ More news on what's in store in issue 6 to follow soon...

Brian, there's a good chance your 'Chalky' piece will be used in issue 6, though I have to guard against accusations of Hackney bias, when there are so many other ex-riders and tracks equally (well, almost!) deserving of attention...

Did anyone see that 'Confessions' got a good, positive mention in Saturday's issue of The Guardian newspaper - in the column reviewing best sports books of the year? When was the last time a speedway book got such credability? Have you ordered yet? It really is the best speedway book ever written - even The Guardian say so! - and the way sales are going a re-print may soon be on the cards...

Just to say 'thanks' to everyone who bought a signed copy from JB, either at Brighton yesterday or at one of the three signings at Ipswich on Saturday. It was great to meet so many Backtrack readers and forum members at Brighton. There is still time to order 'Confessions' in time for Xmas. We will guarantee delivery in time for Xmas on all orders received before this Thursday evening (Dec 16). Just give us a call on our credit card hotline - 01708 379 079. If you phone outside normal office hours, just leave your phone number and we'll get back to you asap. Many thanks. Tony Mac

Utopia beckons... As soon as the important details are confirmed - date, venue, etc - let me know and we'll ensure a good plug for the event in the next available issue of Backtrack Magazine (issue 6 in January?) I've already mentioned the idea to Dag Lovaas, who says he is keen to be there. He's more than willing to board a cheap Ryanair flight from Norway to be at the reunion. Once details are confirmed, I'll be only too pleased to help in contacting as many other ex-Hawks as poss to ensure a great turn-out for what will be a momentous occasion. Incidentally, no fans of the old Hawks should miss our exclusive with Dag in the brand new issue 5) of Backtrack, which will be mailed out to subscribers today. He has some nice words to say about his 1974 season at Waterden Road. Tony Mac

In case you haven't heard, John Berry is paying a flying return visit from his Australian home this week and will be signing copies of his brilliant new book, CONFESSIONS OF A SPEEDWAY PROMOTER, at the Brighton Bonanza meeting next Sunday (12th). So why not pop along to the Backtrack stand at Brighton to meet JB for a quick chat and to get your book signed? Even if you have already purchased your copy of 'Confessions' elsewhere, John will still be very happy to sign it for you, dog-earned or not! For Ipswich fans, or those living in the Suffolk area who perhaps can't make it to Brighton, John will also be signing his book at the following outlets on Saturday (11th): Orwell Motorcycles, Ranelagh Road (including special guest appearances by John Louis, Jeremy Doncaster and possibly Tony Davey) - 10am-12noon. Ipswich Tourist Information Centre, St Stephen's Church, St. Stephen's Lane (12.30pm) WH Smith & Son, Ipswich town centre (from 2.15pm). See you there!

Really sorry for the delay, but we hope it will be well worth the wait. Issue 5 is about to go to print and should hopefully be mailed out to all subscribers by this Thursday (9th). Issue 5 highlights: Main man - Phil Crump Really candid stuff from Crumpie, covering every aspect of his career and life. Read about the reasons why he feels he never became World Champion, the story behind THAT amazing revolutionary 4-valve in the mid-70s, the ups and downs of his relationship with son, Jason, and the only rider he fell out with in a big way. Plus the chance to win framed pictures signed by the Aussie legend. Jason Crump - yes, the new World Champion called up Backtrack REQUESTING an interview! Jason looks back to his childhood and the riders of the 80s he most liked to watch. His regrets about never having raced at Hyde Road, The Shay and infrequent visits to Owlerton. Plus, some very honest words on his sometimes stormy relationship with his famous father! Dag Lovaas - Amazing, soul-searching words from the former Norwegian No.1 who reveals his own personal anguish, haunting fears and why too many death-defying crashes forced him to he retire early. Why Anders Michanek was the reason behind his request to leave Reading, happy days at Hackney and Oxford and some strong words about former Norway rival Reidar Eide. Ron Preston - we catch up with the former USA, Poole and Eastbourne favourite, who looks back on those great England v USA Tests and read what he has to say about the rumoured feud with his former Poole team-mate Malcolm Simmons. Martin Dixon - a National League legend on his wildest days. Why he didn't get along with Kenny Carter at Halifax, the time a visiting promoter suggested he should be drug-tested and the two team managers he has most time for. Also, find out what Dicko does now till three o'clock in the morning! Ian Thomas - the new Belle Vue team boss reflects on his colourful career as a top promoter, including entertaining, anecdotes from his time at Workington, Hull, Newcastle and Belle Vue. John Berry - why he has decided to 'confess'. Bob Radford visits JB Down Under to interview the new author whose book, Confessions of a Speedway Promoter, is selling like hot cakes. Crayford v Workington - the 1980 65-12 whitewash. Quotes from both camps, including a new interview with Comets' Kevin Clapham. Bitter North-East rivals - Jack Millen and Frank Auffret. Plus the usual 'Berry Bites Back' responses to readers' questions. Tributes to the late David Smart and Colin Hill. Subscribe now! Also on sale at the Brighton Bonanza, so why not visit our stand for a chat with Tony Mac and John Berry, who will be signing copies of his new book...

From recent postings, I guess I should just clear up any possible misunderstandings among you, although I'm sure most of you have already worked it out anyway. The parent company that produces Backtrack Mag and Confessions of a Speedway Promoter book (both published under the Retro Speedway banner) is called Football World. This is the name our bank knows us by, hence the name appears on all our credit/debit card transactions. As well as the speedway publications, our (very) small publishing company also provides editorial content for and publishes other magazines and books relating to...you've guessed it...football! Ah, but I like speedway best! Much nicer people! Seriously, if anyone has a query of this nature, or in connection with delivery of Backtrack or speedway books, please contact us direct on 01708 379 079 or email subs@retro-speedway.com. Thanks. Tony Mac

Thanks for subscribing. If you email me your full name and address, I'll check it out. We don't confirm receipt of subs by email - perhaps we should in future? Cheers, Tony Mac

Many thanks for all your valued contributions and pointers. Have to say Phil was absolutrely great - a really nice bloke who, considering he is not known as a big public talker, welcomed me into his home to give some great insights into his brilliant career and the people who helped influence it. Obviously you'll have to read the full, in-depth interview in issue 5 when it's out in mid-Nov, but to summarise, he spoke openly and honestly about a great variety of issues, including: *His early days on the family farm in Mildura. *His BL days with Crewe, King's Lynn, Newport, Bristol & Swindon. *The Neil Street Jawa conversion and 4-valve revolution. *Those ultra-tough Aussie Finals. *His relationship with Billy Sanders, and the reason why he believes they fell out. *The Exeter track. *The trick to winning at Somerton Park, Newport. *His worst track in Britain. *Winning the 1976 World Team Cup at White City after KO-ing England at Ipswich. *The effect breaking his thigh at Sheffield in 1977 had on him. *World Championship regrets and what he thought he lacked to win the big one. *How he exploited the use of Nitro fuel additive to go faster for Crewe and in Oz. *Names the best rider of his era - and it ain't Mauger, Olsen, PC or Mitch! *Why it was a mistake to return to Swindon. *His early doubts about Jason. *The difference between him and Jason. *How helping Jason came at a price. *What he expects from his GP-winning son next year. .. and then there's more... Like Anders Michanek did for the previous use, Crumpie kindly signed some pics of himself, which we'll be framing up and offering as a prize for one lucky Backtrack reader. Anyone not yet subscribed.....? Tony Mac

With son, Jason, having recently collected the GP crown, it seemed a good time to make his dad - Phil - our next 'main man' and our front cover subject for issue 5 - on sale around mid-November. Before he returns to Oz to escape our winter, Phil has agreed to be exclusively interviewed at length for Backtrack, so please let's have your questions to put to him. What are your memories of Crumpie from his days in the BL with Crewe, King's Lynn (briefly), Newport, Bristol and Swindon? Any special moments, great races or possibly even something a little more obscure to recall about the tough, formidable Aussie star? We usually prefer to avoid too much technical talk but as Phil was obviously at the forefront of the mid-70s four-valve revolution, we'll obviously be talking to him about his key role in the sudden emergence of the Street convertion - and how that led more or less immediately to Weslake's period of dominance. But what would YOU really like to know about Crumpie and his time in the sport? I'd be delighted to hear from you via this site... Tony Mac

The cost of airmail postage to Oz is £6.50. Tony Mac

Just to say a big, big thanks to the hundreds of you who have already pre-ordered your copy of the book within the first few days of publicity breaking. The phone lines have been red-hot and thanks for your patience when calling. By the way, you can call outside normal office hours, too. If I'm not around to take your call personally, then please just leave a clear message - name and phone number - and we'll return your call as soon as poss. Cheers, Tony Mac

When I met up with Dag Lovaas last week for the interview to appear in issue 5 of Backtrack, he mentioned that Sverre was his boyhood hero and that he had a picture of Harrfeldt on his bedroom wall. He wasn't nearly as complimentary about Reidar Eide, though...

Andy, The first pic shows Per Jonsson; the second is Tony Olsson.

Norbold, you are quite right, it's a subjective thing, and all due respect to you as a prolific author yourself. OK, so how about...the most controversial, honest, hard-hitting and eagerly awaited speedway book ever published! Who can argue with that? Tony Mac

Steve (and any others with an Amazon query). To clarify, Amazon will NOT be stocking 'Confessions'. This is most definitely NOT because they have any doubts about the book's quality or appeal. It is simply that we, as publishers, do not wish to supply them because their terms are unacceptable to us. They have now withdrawn their offer at our specific request. As you will hopefully appreciate, speedway is very much a niche area of the book market, where copies are sold in their low thousands and even hundreds. The margins of viability on any title are so tight that it is just not viable, as publishers, for any of our books to be sold at 30% discount. While no doubt J K Rowling and the publishers of her Harry Potter books (for example) can absorb those kind of large cover price discounts when they are selling so many millions of copies, we, as small publishers, cannot. I hope this explains the situation and that everyone understands our situation more clearly now. Finally, congratulations to 'Shazzybird' for being the first to order 'Confessions'! I'll ask JB if he can fly over from Perth to make a special presentation! Cheers, Tony Mac

We at Backtrack and Retro Speedway are delighted to announce that John Berry's brilliant new book, CONFESSIONS OF A SPEEDWAY PROMOTER, can now be ordered direct from us! Order from us before November 1st (publication date) and you will receive your copy FIRST, POST-FREE, BEFORE it goes on sale in the shops. That's right, we'll deliver it direct to your door anywhere in the UK at the cover price of £14.99, with no extra P&P charges. Despite their premature advertising, Amazon has now confirmed by email to us that they will NOT be stocking this book and the title will be deleted from their catalogue in the next five days. Visit our website to order 'CONFESSIONS' by email, telephone or post. All details about the book and how to order can be found at our website: http://www.retro-speedway.com In our opinion, this is the BEST SPEEDWAY BOOK EVER WRITTEN. Backtrack readers, and fans of speedway in the 70s & 80s, will lap it up. Tony Mac

Yeah, you're right, because Dag was/is hoping to meet up with Mike when he flies over next week, so they must still be good friends, which is nice. Tony Mac

The snow story is an interesting one, given the way many riders of today are so reluctant to ride on tracks that are less than 100 per cent. I'll definitely put that one to Dag and see what he remembers of it. Anybody else out there with any memories of Dag...come on, don't be shy! Tony Mac

I'm taking the opportunity to meet up with Dag Lovaas when he pays a brief return visit to England next week, so I'd be very interested to read on here your own personal memories of him - maybe some questions you would like me to put to Dag? Just to jog your memory, Dag was a star heat leader in the 70s for Newcastle (1970) before registering a 10-point average in three consecutive seasons for Reading (1973, when they won the BL title), Hackney (74) and Oxford (75). An injury while riding for White City in 1976 ruled Dag out of the '77 season, when the Rebels made excellent use of rider replacement to win the championship. He was a very stylish rider, one of the best-ever from Norway, and I'm looking forward to hearing his story...and to receiving your views. Cheers, Tony Mac

No, not at all. Given that most of the pictures from the era we cover (certainly the first part anyway) were taken in black & white format, there's little to be gained by going colour. It would also likely double our production costs and make the mag unviable, which is no good to anyone. Tony Mac

I am delighted to confirm that we, at Backtrack Magazine, will in fact be publishing John Berry's book, entitled 'CONFESSIONS OF A SPEEDWAY PROMOTER - The Truth About Speedway in the 70s & 80s'. It is due out on sale from November 1st this year, so will make an ideal Xmas pressie. The cover price will be £14.99 and it will be 256 pages, packed with hundreds of great pics as well as, of course, typically candid JB opinions and stories. I am confident 'Confessions' will rapidly be regarded as the best book so far written on speedway. Hard-hitting, honest, revealing, captivating and very, very entertaining, if you went to speedway in the 70s or 80s, then you will really enjoy this. We will obviously be advertising the book extensively through Backtrack, so check in the next issue (No.5) of the mag, or on our website (soon!), for fuller details of how to order your copy of what will become the most talked about book in speedway.... Thanks, Tony Mac

Wackie, glad you enjoyed it. Yes, your new subscription can take in any or all of the three previous issues. But don't hang around, because there are very few copies of issues 1 & 2 left to be had! Cheers, Tony Mac