TonyMac

2020-21 WINTER EDITION Welcome to issue 51 of our quarterly magazine . . . Remember, it's subscription-only (£20 per year in UK) from http://www.retro-speedway.com LEST WE FORGET TONY McDONALD calls for an annual British memorial meeting (Covid-19-permitting) to honour all ex-riders with UK track connections who made the ultimate sacrifice ‘in the line of duty’ and away from the track, including our cover men Alan Hunt, Tommy Farndon, Teo Teodorowicz, Jack Unstead, Ivor Hughes, Joe Abbott, Ernie Roccio, Bluey Wilkinson, Phil Bishop and the other Lokeren victims. SAVING GRACE – How the Provincial League rescued British speedway from the brink Now 60 years since the Provincial League’s first season ended, DOUG NICOLSON takes a season by season look at the second tier’s pivotal contribution to British speedway’s survival. Plus . . . PL by numbers and top threes from 1960-64 FIRST CZECHS VITEK FORMANEK recalls the first visit by a Czechoslovakian team to Britain in 1967 which earned the late Antonin Kasper a taste of team racing and another slice of history with Coventry and West Ham. LEICESTER: 50 Memorable Moments ROB PEASLEY looks back at the highs and lows of the Hunters and Lions in the pre-70s era at Blackbird Road. Ex-riders featured include Syd Jackson, Cyril Page, Vic Pitcher, Len Williams, Ken McKinlay, Jack Geran, Gerry Hussey, Polish trio Marian Kaiser, Stefan Kwoczala and Pawel Waloszek, plus Rick France, Norman Hunter, Ray Wilson, Anders Michanek, John Boulger and Graham Plant, etc. BIG NIGHTS: The Laurels Reviewing British speedway's major individual meetings, PHIL CHARD revisits the first 30 years of Wimbledon’s long-running Laurels classic. Between 1939 and ’69 past winners include: Wilbur Lamoreaux, Tommy Price, Vic Duggan, Jack Parker, Aub Lawson, Ronnie Moore, Jack Young, Ron How, Per Olaf Soderman, Ken McKinlay, Barry Briggs, Ove Fundin, Nigel Boocock, Ray Wilson and Dons’ home favourite Trevor Hedge. CRY HOUSE How a determined group of Rye House supporters, led by former promoter Steven Ribbons, are fighting a dubious plan to rip up this historic old race track and replace it with five-a-side football pitches for community use. SECOND CHANCE Name-checking all non-regular team members and others who never made the grade but rode in second-halves, junior matches and trials at two top flight tracks in the first five years of the British League, from 1965 until the end of '69 inclusive. This time we revisit Coventry and Sheffield. See how many of them you remember having a skid at the end of the swinging 60s. Plus . . . brief obits on Bernt Persson, Pete Seaton, Rim Malskaitis, Johnny Davies and Andrzej Pogorzelski, your letters, photo quiz, crossword and a 1967 Swindon champions team photo.

Any idea when - season?

Where?

Where?

Ole never sidestepped the conflict of interest issue and his mentoring of Erik when he was interviewed for Backtrack in 2009.

Yes, sorry about that, my mistake. Should have read 'former' World Champion.

It was posted out today. Thank you for your patience.

Without actually naming the team (defunct or active) you support(ed), tell us your favourite FACT about your speedway club . . . I'll kick off with: Our catchy slogan was 'Make It A Date, Friday At Eight'.

Issue 101 of Backtrack is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside . . . Subscription only at www.retro-speedway.com DAVE JESSUP – Life & Times A World Champion with Team and Pairs gold medals for England, DJ is unquestionably one of the greatest never to win that elusive main individual prize. But, as ROB PEASLEY chronicles, this diminutive racer with the big heart enjoyed a brilliant career that spanned almost 20 years with West Ham, Eastbourne, Wembley, Leicester, Reading, King’s Lynn, Wimbledon and Mildenhall before a spell as GB team manager. ON THE BOSSES – Maurice Littlechild Love them or hate them, the speedway promoters of the Backtrack era included some of the sport's all-time heavyweights as well as a new brigade of youthful innovators. As a member of the BSPA in the 70s and 80s, a longtime management committee member and vice-chairman, MARTIN ROGERS rubbed shoulders – and crossed swords – with all of them. It’s the centenary of Maurice Littlechild's birth and, but for his premature death in 1972, the speedway involvement of MR may well have been very different. In the latest in our new series on the big names with whom he rubbed shoulders, our resident scribe turns the spotlight on one of speedway's all-time great enthusiasts who promoted at King’s Lynn and Crewe. BRITISH MEMORIAL MEETING NEEDED Isn’t it time for an annual British memorial meeting to honour all ex-riders with UK track connections who made the ultimate sacrifice? TONY MAC thinks so. See if you agree. JERZY SZCZAKIEL Jerzy Szczakiel’s World Final victory in 1973 sent shock waves through the sport. How could a rider, who wasn’t even originally meant to be in the Katowice meeting, possibly beat the defending World Champion Ivan Mauger in the most dramatic circumstances? As a tribute to the Pole who died on September 1, ROMAN CHYLA provides insight and context to his incredible story. DOUG ADAMS – remembering a top mic-man Once the voice of speedway in Yorkshire and host to the stars, Doug Adams remains fondly remembered 17 years after moving on to that great speedway track in the sky. KEITH McGHIE talks to Dougie’s wife Joyce, son Martyn and others who remember a popular, jovial character. TRACK RIVALRIES: Berwick v Edinburgh With new observations from Brian Collins, who skippered both of the featured teams, ROB PEASLEY reflects on 11 meetings between second tier neighbours on opposite sides of the border. BIG NIGHTS: Southern Riders’ Championship Reviewing British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings, PHIL CHARD returns south for an event that marked tragic Tommy Jansson’s first major UK victory. Other SRC winners include Colin Pratt, Terry Betts, John Louis, Jamie Luckhurst, Martin Dugard, Andy Buck, Andy Galvin, Steve Schofield and Brian Karger. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO . . . John Goodall If things had turned out differently, John Goodall could have been sitting at home in New Zealand polishing a World Team Cup winner’s medal. He was on verge of a call up by the Kiwis in 1979 but by the time they roared to glory at White City in September of that year, he’d already returned home. MARTIN NEAL catches up with the former Sunderland, Newport, Bristol and Wolverhampton rider. THAT NAME RINGS A BELL: Newport Whatever became of them, all the ex-riders who had second-half races, junior matches or interval spins in the 70s at . . . NEWPORT? In this memory-jogger, we list all those budding one-time Somerton Park hopefuls, including Kevin Holden, Mike Sampson, Brian Woodward, Danny Kennedy and the tragic Mike Powell, among the many who ‘had a go’. ----------------------------------- Subscription only at www.retro-speedway.com

Has your copy arrived yet?

The 100th collector’s edition of Backtrack is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside. To subscribe (remember, it's subscription only, no single copy sales), please visit www.retro-speedway.com SIMON WIGG – Life & Times As the 20th anniversary of Wiggy’s sad passing approaches, ROB PEASLEY recalls the illustrious career of the colourful former England captain and World No.2 who had personality plus. ON THE BOSSES – Charles Ochiltree Love them or hate them, the speedway promoters of the Backtrack era included some of the sport's all-time heavyweights as well as a new brigade of youthful innovators. As a member of the BSPA in the 70s and 80s, a longtime management committee member and vice-chairman, MARTIN ROGERS rubbed shoulders – and crossed swords – with all of them. In this, the first of a regular new series, he recalls the impact and influence of the former Coventry supremo. ROY TRIGG – exclusive interview In a new four-page interview, MARTIN NEAL catches up with New Zealand-based former England international and Cradley Heath star Roy Trigg, who ended his UK racing career with Newport in 1974. IVAN'S YEAR - 1979 (part 2) In the second and final part of his review of Ivan Mauger’s incredible 1979 season, JOHN DAVIDSON on why a shock double triumph marked the end of an era. ALAN WILKINSON – tribute Once awestruck by Wilkie’s powerful presence in the Belle Vue engine room, IAN CORCORAN remembers an Aces giant in every sense and explains what drove him to publish courageous Alan’s moving autobiography. RON HENDERSON – exclusive interview In a revealing new four-page interview with a key member of Newcastle’s all-conquering class of ’76, Ron Henderson tells KEITH McGHIE why he only sparkled briefly for Diamonds, talks about the fatal incident that led him to quit racing and the extraordinary diverse career path that followed. TRACK RIVALRIES: Canterbury v Eastbourne With new observations from Gordon and Barney Kennett, ROB PEASLEY recalls classic second-tier derbies between fierce south-east rivals. Featuring 11 Kingsmead or Arlington matches between 1970 and 1987. BIG NIGHTS: Northern Riders’ Championship Continuing to review British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings, this time PHIL CHARD heads back north for some Mauger controversy and allegations of machine tampering in an event previously won by Ivan, Eric Boocock, Jim Airey, Bob Valentine, Peter Collins, Alan Wilkinson, Doug Wyer, Reg Wilson, Kenny Carter, Shawn Moran, Chris Morton and Peter Carr. THAT NAME RINGS A BELL: Swindon Whatever became of them, all the ex-riders who had second-half races, junior matches or interval spins in the 70s at . . . SWINDON? In this memory-jogger, ROB PEASLEY lists all those budding one-time Blunsdon hopefuls, including David Ashby, Geoff Bouchard, Malcolm Holloway and Martin Hewlett, whom we can at least look back and say "they had a go!" www.retro-speedway.com

Re-reading it, I think he probably meant to say Middleton "stood in the middle of the pits" (not the track), so that would be our mistake.

2020 AUTUMN EDITION Welcome to issue 50 of our quarterly magazine. Here is a taster of what it's inside . . . To read this issue, please subscribe at www.retro-speedway.com for just £20 per year (UK). ROY TRIGG – exclusive new interview Roy Trigg's dreams came true when he joined Wimbledon and the riders he'd idolised as a wide-eyed kid on the Plough Lane terraces. But as MARTIN NEAL reports, the South Londoner also went on to do well for Poole, Hackney, Oxford and Cradley Heath. ‘Triggy’ also talks about that bizarre night, in 1969, when volatile Aussie Garry Middleton pulled a gun on him in the Dudley Wood pits. WORLD FINAL STARTS LOTTERY Some 70 years after Wembley legends Tommy Price and Freddie Williams were crowned World Champion, DOUG NICOLSON discovers that starting positions for the first two post-war finals were arguably down to luck of the draw. ANDRZEJ POGORZELSKI – Profile ROMAN CHYLA reflects on the successful career of former Polish star Andrzej Pogorzelski. If his parents had their way, ‘Pogo’ would have been a priest instead of an international speedway star who went on to become a World Team Cup winner three times, appeared in four individual World Finals and throughout the mid-60s was a regular visitor to the UK with the official Polish touring party, often scoring very well. EXETER: 50 Memorable Moments ROB PEASLEY looks back at Falcons' highs and lows, including league and cup success at the ultra-fast County Ground. Ex-riders featured include ‘Broncho’ Slade, Cyril, Bert and Bob Roger, Don Hardy, Norman Clay, Arthur Pilgrim, Hugh Geddes, Jack Geran, Neil Street, Goog Hoskin, Eric Hockaday, Pete Lansdale, Len Silver, Jack Unstead, Jimmy Squibb, Colin Gooddy, Tommy Sweetman, Martin Ashby and Jan Holub. BIG NIGHTS: Brandonapolis British speedway's premier individual events, this time PHIL CHARD recalls the pre-70s era of Coventry’s Brandonapolis classic. Jack Parker, the former Bees co-promoter/rider, won the first staging at Brandon in 1949. Other past winners were: Les Hewitt, Eddie Rigg, Ronnie Moore, Jack Young, Geoff Mardon, Ken McKinlay, Nigel Boocock, Anders Michanek and Ray Wilson. SHORT and SWEET As well as costing hundreds of thousands of lives and infecting millions of others, the global coronavirus pandemic killed any hopes of league racing in Britain in 2020. DOUG NICOLSON recalls the last time 'factors beyond our control' curtailed UK track action, in the shortened 1945 season. SECOND CHANCE Name-checking all non-regular team members and others who never made the grade but rode in second-halves, junior matches and trials at four top flight tracks in the first five years of the British League, from 1965 until the end of '69 inclusive. This time Tony Mac revisits Edinburgh/Coatbridge, Oxford, Swindon and Wimbledon. See how many of them you remember having a skid at the end of the swinging 60s. Plus . . . Maurice Morley and Tom Blackwood obits, your letters, photo quiz, crossword and a 1963 Southampton team photo.

Hello Steve, Out of interest, how did it differ? What alternative version have you read?

Issue 99 of Backtrack is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside. To subscribe (remember, it's subscription only, no single copy sales), please go to www.retro-speedway.com LOKEREN 50 years on On the 50th anniversary of speedway's darkest day, we remember members of the West Ham group that lost their lives in the minibus crash near Lokeren, Belgium on July 14, 1970 – Manager PHIL BISHOP, Hammers' PETER BRADSHAW and MARTYN PIDDOCK, Wimbledon's GARY EVERETT and Aussie youngster MALCOLM CARMICHAEL all perished in tragic circumstances, along with the Dutch driver. Also interviews with three of the survivors – COLIN PRATT, who suffered severe career-ending injuries, plus STAN STEVENS and GARRY HAY. Read how Garry escaped Lokeren with minor cuts and grazes . . . only to be paralysed for life in a track crash in Australia less than six months later. Cradley Heath star ROY TRIGG recalls sharing his bedroom with his protege Carmichael, while TONY BISHOP relives the day he lost his pioneering father. IVAN'S YEAR - 1979 (part 1) JOHN DAVIDSON looks back at the year Ivan Mauger defied age and his critics to achieve two of his greatest feats on the world stage. Part one covers the Hull No.1's path to the finals of the individual and team World Championships. ERIC MONAGHAN – exclusive interview In a new four-page interview, ANDREW SKEELS up with a former National League favourite who was set on a grasstrack career before a chance call changed his life. 'Bootsy' is perhaps best known for his spells in the colours of Ellesmere Port, Mildenhall and Stoke. He also turned out for Sheffield, Leicester, King's Lynn, Halifax, Peterborough and Long Eaton. WORLD FINALS by NUMBERS DOUG NICOLSON takes another studious look at the figures. This time he examines the comparative values of the four gate positions at all the different World Final venues. Also, birthdays and star signs . . . which days, months and horoscopes have produced the most and least world champions, including the GP era? TRACK RIVALRIES: Belle Vue v Sheffield With new observations from Aces' Chris Morton and Tigers' Doug Wyer, ROB PEASLEY recalls classic 'War of the Roses' derbies between two long-time northern rivals. Featuring 14 Hyde Road or Owlerton matches from 1970 to 1985. BIG NIGHTS: Brandonapolis PHIL CHARD continues to review British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings. This time he returns to the midlands for the Coventry classic and the stagings from 1970 until 1985. Winners included: Ole Olsen, Nigel Boocock, Anders Michanek, Ivan Mauger, Phil Crump, Dave Jessup, Mitch Shirra, Bruce Penhall, Tommy Knudsen, Kenny Carter and Hans Nielsen. THAT NAME RINGS A BELL: Oxford Whatever became of them, all the ex-riders who had second-half races, junior matches or interval spins in the 70s and 80s at . . . OXFORD? In this memory-jogger, ROB PEASLEY lists all those budding one-time Sandy Lane hopefuls, including young Simon and Julian Wigg, who can at least look back and proclaim: "I had a go!" SPONSORSHIP From motorhomes, vans and brand new bikes, to potatoes, carrots, fresh fish and lawnmowers, sponsorship came in a great many guises back in the day. We asked ex-riders to recall their best deals, as well as the quirkiest sponsorship they ever received. Charismatic, media-savvy former England star John Davis certainly became a shining example to fellow Brits when it came to attracting and projecting commercial backers, large and small . . . As well as JD, other respondents include: Colin Richardson, Rudy Muts, Gary Guglielmi, Andrew Silver, Jan Staechmann, Karl Fiala, Bert Harkins, Martin McKinna, Roger Lambert, Mick Sheldrick, Ray Griffiths, Lee Coleman, Max Schofield, Paul Evitts and Vic Cross. Plus . . . full-page West Ham stadium pic, plus obits on Maurice Morley, Wayne Jackson and Steve Millard.

You read it in Backtrack issue 98.

Issue 98 of Backtrack is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside. To subscribe (remember, it's subscription only, no single copy sales), please go to www.retro-speedway.com TERRY BETTS: Life & Times In our opening seven-page special, ROB PEASLEY recalls the many highs and occasional lows in the illustrious career of the universally popular 'Mr King's Lynn Speedway', who outshone every Star that ever graced Saddlebow Road and won World Team Cup and World Pairs gold medals. STEVE McDERMOTT – exclusive interview In a new four-page interview, ANDREW SKEELS catches up with the long-serving former Berwick star and NLRC winner who pays tribute to Jack Millen, the man who laid the foundations for his racing career. BACKCHAT MARTIN ROGERS answers readers' questions on . . . his best and worst moments as a promoter, the defunct track he most wishes he could visit, and could National League promoters have done more to block the 'foreign invasion' that began in 1988? WORLD FINALS by NUMBERS DOUG NICOLSON gets his calculator out again to look back at what factors, if any, contributed to victory beyond pure rider skill and the odd slice of good fortune. His in-depth analysis of all 46 individual World Finals from 1949 to 1994 reveals, among other things, the most and least successful riding numbers on the big night (one number failed to provide any winners) TRACK RIVALRIES: Oxford v Swindon ROB PEASLEY recalls classic derbies between southern rivals. SWINDON and Oxford had been local rivals right from the very first meeting at Blunsdon in 1949, when Cheetahs had won 45-39. Most of the 13 matches featured here were contested in the late 80s, when the rivalry between the clubs arguably reached new heights. A time when Robins savoured every victory over their all-conquering neighbours. BIG NIGHTS: Superama PHIL CHARD continues to review British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings. This time he's in east London for the Hackney classic that no home star ever had the chance to contest. Past winners (1967-81): Barry Briggs, Anders Michanek, Ronnie Moore, Ray Wilson, Ivan Mauger, John Louis, Martin Ashby, Dave Jessup, Malcolm Simmons, Peter Collins, Ole Olsen and Phil Crump. SHUTDOWN! DOUG NICOLSON gets all misty-eyed looking at how supporters had to try and cope with the loss of their local track during the 1970-89 Backtrack era. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO . . . Warren Hawkins? The Australian newcomer finished his debut British season for Crewe with an impressive 6.1 average from 23 official second division and KO Cup appearances. But, as MARTIN NEAL explains in this new interview with the Sydneysider, Hawkins never raced in Britain again. THAT NAME RINGS A BELL: Wolverhampton Whatever became of them, all the ex-riders who had second-half races, junior matches or interval spins in the 70s and 80s at . . . WOLVERHAMPTON? In this memory-jogger, MARK SAWBRIDGE lists all those budding one-time Monmore Green hopefuls, who can at least look back and proclaim: "I had a go!" LOST IN TIME How our social media followers on Facebook and Twitter voted when asked to name the one defunct track, above all others, they most wished they had visited but never did. IN THE ZONE A recent Facebook post by former American No.1 Scott Autrey raised the rarely aired subject of pre-race preparations and, specifically, what goes through a rider's head in those private moments from the time he leaves the pit gate to reaching the starting gate. We invited other ex-racers to share their thoughts on their mindset, habits and possible superstitions, and how they treated track staff on the way to tapes. Respondents include: John Davis, Phil Collins, Graham Tattersall, Karl Fiala, Mike Fullerton, Dave Johnson, Vic Cross, Roger Lambert, Colin Mckee, Mike Caroline, Dag Lovaas, Doug Wyer, Bobby Duncan, Peter Prinsloo. Plus . . . full-page Belle Vue Hyde Road stadium pic, Notebook, readers' letters, plus obits on George Graham, Eric Linden, Steve Brennan and Gordon Day.

2020 SUMMER EDITION Welcome to issue 49 of our quarterly magazine . . . PAWEL WALOSZEK: Unlucky Nearly Man ROMAN CHYLA examines the illustrious career of former Polish star Pawel Waloszek and the 1970 World Final runner-up's elusive quest for gold. And especially for Leicester fans, GRAHAM BRODIE reviews Waloszek's one and only British league season with the Hunters in 1961, with the Pole's full meeting scores. MIND THE GAP With Coronavirus decimating the 2020 season, DOUG NICOLSON looks at other times when racing was curtailed. From petrol rationing and bus strikes to smallpox scares, Covid-19 is by no means the first to stop the bikes in their tracks. CHANGING WORLD – launch of the World Team Cup Almost 60 years on from the launch of the World Team Cup, PHIL CHARD reflects on Sweden's home track victory at Gothenburg and the men who shaped history. Top names featured include Ove Fundin, Olle Nygren, Rune Sormander and Gote Nordin plus, from runners-up Great Britain, Peter Craven, Ron How, Ken McKinlaty, George White and Nigel Boocock. NEWCASTLE: 50 Memorable Moments ROB PEASLEY looks back at Diamonds' highs and lows at the Tyneside club where legends Ivan Mauger and Ole Olsen first shone. Others to feature include George Pepper, Jeff Lloyd, Norman Evans, Wilf Jay, Derek Close, Mike Parker (promoter), Brian Craven, Brian Brett, Peter Kelly and Anders Michanek. BIG NIGHTS: Pride of the East British speedway's premier individual events, this time PHIL CHARD recalls pre-70s stagings of the Pride of the East. Launched in Norwich (1957-63) and continued at King's Lynn (1966-69), past winners of this annual Norfolk classic include World Champions Ove Fundin, Peter Craven and Bjorn Knutson, plus Colin Pratt, Bengt Larsson, Terry Betts and Howard Cole. SECOND CHANCE Name-checking all non-regular team members and others who never made the grade but rode in second-halves, junior matches and trials at four top flight tracks in the first five years of the British League, from 1965 until the end of '69 inclusive. This time Tony Mac revisits Belle Vue, Cradley Heath, Glasgow and Hackney. See how many of them you remember having a skid at the end of the swinging 60s. YOUNG COLONIAL BOYS DOUG NICOLSON remembers a couple of Kiwis, Bruce Ovenden and Joe Hicks, who travelled to Scotland in the winter of 1963-64 in search of fame and fortune with Glasgow Tigers. YESTERDAY'S NEWS & VIEWS Delving into Retro Speedway's library to find what various publications were writing about. This time we reveal the time editor Basil Storey was at loggerheads with London promoters, how burglars cracked open the Old Meadowbank safe, Bradford's battle to stay afloat, the return of racing to New Cross in 1959, why National League chiefs were branded "selfish" for excluding Ipswich from the Test match schedule, and the emergence of Bengt Jansson as the biggest threat to the Fundin-Briggs dominance of the World Championship. Plus . . . Len Read and Eric Linden obits, your letters, crossword and a 1963 Wimbledon team photo. Remember, we no longer sell individual copies, so please subscribe at www.retro-speedway.com

Our timeless retro interview in this week's (w/e May 16 issue) Speedway Star is with former Polish No.1 Zenon Plech. He twice challenged very strongly for the world title but, regardless of those efforts, he won thousands of friends and admirers for his fearless throttle-bashing antics. And also for being a really nice, humble bloke - as anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Zenon will testify. To subscribe to Speedway Star, go to www.speedwaystar.net

Our timeless interview with Ipswich legend Tony Davey, a key member of those first great Ipswich teams of the 70s, features in this week's (w/e May 1) Speedway Star. You couldn't wish to meet a more humble former star rider than the ever-popular 'Shrimp', who happily lived in the shadow of Louis and Sanders at Foxhall. Who knows what he could have achieved but for three serious injuries that cut short his promising career.

Thank you - and welcome aboard.

Don't miss this week's Speedway Star for our latest 2-page Backtracking interview. This time we look back with 'Mr King's Lynn' - the one and only Terry Betts, who reveals that he used to receive a cut of turnstile receipts at Lynn as part of his deal with promoters Maurice Littlechild and Cyril Crane. To subscribe, go to www.speedwaystar.net Or phone Dave on 020 8 335 1113

Although Wilkie undoubtedly had a lot of wisdom to offer Kelly, the evidence suggests he wouldn't have listened much to anyone. Ivan (at Hukk) and Briggo both tried but Kelly was very much his own man and a free spirit.

Yes, you can start from the current issue 97, or the previous one (96). Thank you for your interest.

Different versions and extracts from the timeless originals published years ago . . . but thousands of Star readers obviously won't have read them previously,