TonyMac

Issue 97 is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside . . . KELLY MORAN: Life & Times It’s 10 years since the brilliant natural talent of Kelly Moran said “C’ya” for the final time. ROB PEASLEY looks back at the high and lows of the extraordinary career of The Jelly Man, a hero at all his British tracks – Hull, Birmingham, Eastbourne, Sheffield and Belle Vue (not forgetting Swindon) – due to his spectacular all-action style and engaging personality. PAUL WOODS – exclusive interview One of the National League's biggest stars in the early 80s with Crayford and later a top flight No.1 with Eastbourne, Paul Woods looks back on his career, which also included spells with Canterbury and King's Lynn, with ANDREW SKEELS in this new four-page interview. BACKCHAT MARTIN ROGERS answers readers' questions on . . . Leicester's Golden Gauntlets and the private deal he did with three times winner Scott Autrey; the mental effects pressure can have on speedway riders (we list 12 ex-riders from the Backtrack era who took their own lives); and decisions taken by the powers that be which he now has reason to regret. BERT HARKINS – book extract In this edited excerpt from his book, My Crazy Speedway World, globetrotting former Wembley No.1 and Scottish international BERT HARKINS recalls his experience as one of only three foreign imports to compete in the USA's one and only season of league racing in 1976, when he rode for champions Bakersfield Bandits, Mike Bast dominated the US scene and Bruce Penhall was still two years away from amassing European fans. MAREK CIESLAK – book extract ROMAN CHYLA has translated into English the section from Marek Cieślak's book – Pół Wieku Na Czarno – in which the former Polish star rider and now World Cup-winning national team manager takes a critical look back at his two seasons with British League champions White City. TRACK RIVALRIES: Middlesbrough/Teesside v Newcastle ROB PEASLEY recalls classic derbies between these former National League champions between 1975 and 1986, with input from Bernie Collier who rode for both North-East powerhouses. BIG NIGHTS: Scottish Open Championship PHIL CHARD continues to review British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings. This time he heads north of the border to review SOC stagings between 1970 and 1989 at Glasgow (Hampden Park and Blantyre 1), Coatbridge and Edinburgh's Powderhall Stadium. Ivan Mauger won the first four SOCs of the 70s, followed by successes for Brian Collins, Peter Collins, Bert Harkins, Wayne Brown, Phil Collins, Mitch Shirra, Jamie Luckhurst, Les Collins, Neville Tatum, Steve Lawson and Todd Wiltshire. IT'S RAINING AGAIN Following up on his in-depth track-by-track analysis of rained-off meetings in issue 96, DOUG NICOLSON puts on his anorak again to view the 70s and 80s findings in a much broader context. Are there more rain-offs in the modern era? THAT NAME RINGS A BELL: Wimbledon Whatever became of them, all the ex-riders who had second-half races, junior matches or interval spins in the 70s and 80s at . . . WIMBLEDON? In this memory-jogger, we list all those budding one-time Plough Lane hopefuls, who can at least look back and proclaim: "I had a go!" Subscribe at www.retro-speedway.com

Issue 96 is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside . . . JEREMY DONCASTER: Life & Times Continuing our new series of in-depth timeline profiles, ROB PEASLEY chronicles the career of the former England, Ipswich and Reading No.1 who successfully made the leap from grasstrack to top flight British League racing in the early 80s. RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY Is there another summertime spectator sport in Britain more susceptible to the weather than speedway? In this comprehensive and revealing study, DOUG NICOLSON examines the costly issue of rain-offs during the Backtrack era, from 1970 to 1989. Which clubs had the most/least postponements? What were the wettest/driest months and seasons? Which unlucky club endured 12 meetings in one summer? And which lucky venue went four consecutive years without a single wash-out? All these questions and many more are answered in this fascinating, in-depth analysis. BIG NIGHTS: Golden Gauntlets PHIL CHARD continues to review some of British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings. This time he is back in Leicester to re-visit the annual Blackbird Road classic. Past winners of the 11 Golden Gauntlets, introduced in 1972, include hat-trick hero Scott Autrey, plus Ole Olsen, Anders Michanek, John Boulger, John Louis, Peter Collins, Phil Crump, Tommy Knudsen and Kenny Carter. TRACK RIVALRIES: Hackney v Wimbledon Reviewing club rivalries, ROB PEASLEY recalls classic matches between London's last two teams. With quotes from Dons' Terry Mussett and Kestrels' Paul Whittaker, match winners and other key men included Ronnie Moore, Jim Tebby, Gary Everett, Garry Middleton, Trevor Hedge, Tommy Jansson, Bo Petersen, Zenon Plech. And from the National Leaghue era, Trevor Banks, Paul Bosley, Mike Ferreira, Jamie Luckhurst, Andy Galvin, Todd Wiltshire, Kevin Jolly, Garry Rolls. BACKCHAT MARTIN ROGERS answers readers' questions on . . . riders' averages and whether any of his team members gave their personal figures undue attention; merits of the Anglia and Central Junior League; his England and Rest of the World 'Dream Teams' of the 70s; and the three speedway people (living or deceased) he would invite to dinner. ALAN SAGE: Exclusive interview By a very fortunate twist of fate, Alan Sage turned down an invite to join West Ham's tour that left six people dead. In this new interview with ANDREW SKEELS, the former Hammer and Crayford star reveals the full story behind his lucky Lokeren escape. THAT NAME RINGS A BELL: King's Lynn Whatever became of them, all the ex-riders who had second-half races, junior matches or interval spins in the 70s and 80s at . . . KING'S LYNN? In this memory-jogger, we list all those budding one-time Saddlebow Road hopefuls, who ranged from a future World Champion to obscure novices, who can at least look back and proclaim: "I had a go!" Plus . . . brief obits on Roman Matousek, Doug Templeton, Mike Raymond, Darrell Mason and Ken Archer. Although we no longer sell single issues, if you wish to take out a new subscription now at www.retro-speedway.com, then just ask Susie to commence it with this issue 96 (97 has just been published).

It's nice to be contributing a weekly retro interview for our friends at Speedway Star. This week's Q&A is with former Denmark, Halifax and Belle Vue star Mike Lohmann. We urge you all to subscribe to the Star at www.speedwaystar.net

As someone with a lot of publishing experience, aware of what is involved when putting magazines through distributors and retailers such as WHS, I would strongly urge all readers who currently buy their weekly copy of Speedway Star from shops to switch to subscription ASAP. I appreciate that for many it is a cash-flow issue and no-one can argue against that. But if you CAN afford to pay upfront for a sub, then you would be very much helping Speedway Star and its staff by doing so. What most readers don't appreciate (and Phil would be able to confirm exact per-centage figures in Pinegen's case) is that every publisher who makes its mag(s) available through the retail trade effectively concede around HALF of the cover price to the distributor/retailer. WHS now demand an upfront, non-refundable payment just to stock your title. That's 'dead money' the Star will never see. It is for this reason that we (Retro Speedway) do not make either of our two magazines, Backtrack and Classic Speedway, available via high street retail outlets. The 'speculate to accumulate' mantra of a significantly increased print run wouldn't work and would very likely cause us to go bust due to the high volume of unsold returns the likes of WHS, Asda and Sainsbury's would chuck back at us.. While the publisher does, of course, incur postage costs in processing subscriptions, both the reader (customer) and the Star would still be better off. And in such hugely challenging times for all small, niche publishers, isn't their survival the most important factor. If - heaven forbid - the Star had to fold, there would be no worthwhile publication of equal stature to replace it.

I recall Ole Olsen blatantly stuffing fellow countryman Bo Petersen in the first bend fence in a Hackney v Coventry match (1980-81 ish). Think Bo, young and eager at the time, might have ruffled the Great Dane's feathers at some Danish meeting - or may have been Nordic Final - the week before. Bo picked himself up, ran along the home straight and, as he made a beeline for Ole in the pits - the two riders were pulled apart. Ole just smiled and shrugged his shoulders, as if to say: 'you won't do that again, will you sonny?'. Bo was left out of the Danish Test team for a while and invites to Vojens were also thin on the ground. But they had 'kissed and made up' by 1984, when OO was team manager and BP was recalled to help Denmark win the WTC final at Leszno. Finn Thomsen and Billy Sanders had a bit of a vendetta going, although I don't know where or when it originated. Billy, who would never take a backward step, took off his helmet and thrust it at FT in the pits after Finn had deliberately knocked him off on the first turn just after they had crossed the finish line in a Hackney v Hull match in 1981. Simmo got some stick from Poole fans after he had Ron Preston - his club-mate - off during an England v USA Test at Wimborne Road in 1980. Simmo disliked the Americans only marginally less than Kenny Carter and I guess he regarded Ronnie as a young upstart looking to oust him as Pirates' No.1. Some of the most skilful riders have the ability to disguise 'dirty' riding. It would have been '79 or '80 when I wrote in my BLRC report for Speedway Mail that Hans Nielsen had ruthlessly caused an opponent to fall (can't remember who). Hans wasn't impressed and phoned me at the office to register his complaint. Don't know the race in question, but I've heard tales of a savage bit or riding by Hans against Mark Loram in the GP.

A confusing speedway regulation - who'd have thought it!

Mad to think that in 1976 it was possible, in certain circumstances, for a rider to appear in EIGHT of the 13 match heats.

Why couldn't Gordon take R/R rides - did a rule prevent it?

Issue 95 is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside . . . ANDERS MICHANEK: Life & Times In the first of a regular new series of in-depth, seven-page timeline profiles, ROB PEASLEY chronicles the illustrious career of the 1974 World Champion and former Sweden, Leicester, Newcastle and Reading No.1. BIG NIGHTS: Midland Riders' Championship PHIL CHARD continues to review some of British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings. This time he heads back to the Midlands at a time when speedway was flourishing at Coventry, Cradley Heath, Leicester, Oxford, Swindon and Wolverhampton, with Birmingham joining the fray from 1976. Past winners of the MRC in the Backtrack era include: Barry Briggs, Ole Olsen, John Boulger, Dave Jessup, Hans Nielsen, Scott Autrey, Erik Gundersen, Lance King and Tommy Knudsen. MARATHON MEN DOUG NICOLSON looks at the gruelling test of both man and machine that was the British League’s Rider Replacement scheme in 1976, when Halifax's flying Dutchman became the first rider to score a seven-ride, 21-point maximum. Other notable endurance experts during that sweltering summer were Finn Thomsen, Reg Wilson, Joe Owen and Bruce Cribb. In-depth analysis has unearthed fascinating facts from a time when one or two teams even used 'Double R/R'. RIVALS: Coventry v Cradley Heath Reviewing club rivalries, ROB PEASLEY recalls classic matches between two Midlands giants. With quotes from Bees' Mick Bell and Heathens' Alan Grahamne, match winners included Dave Shields, Sam Nikolajsen, John Jorgensen, plus 1988 cup hero 'Big Al' himself, while there was trouble afoot for Bruce Penhall and Kelvin Tatum. BACKCHAT MARTIN ROGERS answers readers' questions on . . . track standards and curators; riders who didn't live up to their early potential; whether the speedway authorities did enough to preserve Wembley as a World Final venue; and the drugs culture that entered British speedway in the 80s. TED HUBBARD: his final interview Former Canterbury and Rye House star Ted Hubbard, who passed away recently, gave this last, candid in-depth interview to TONY McDONALD. 'Hurricane' also talks about his two spells with Hackney at opposite ends of his successful career, plus the tragic loss of his good friend Graham Banks. COATBRIDGE: 50 Memorable Moments DOUG NICOLSON recalls much-missed Coatbridge, where the excellent steeply-banked track became home to Scotland's two premier teams from different eras. Featured riders include Doug Templeton, Reidar Eide, Bernt Persson, Bert Harkins, Jim McMillan, Bobby Beaton, Egon Muller, Ettienne Olivier, Mitch Shirra, Brian Collins and Mick McKeon. Whatever happened to . . . MARK BALDWIN? The former Mildenhall, Milton Keynes and Wimbledon trier explains to MARTIN NEAL why he quit at the age of just 24, in 1986. THE WRITE STUFF In a rare interview, Speedway Star editor ANDREW SKEELS, universally known as 'Scun', re-traces his path from Scunthorpe to the top job on the sport's leading magazine. Remember, we no longer sell single or back issues, so if you wish you to receive this edition you need to take out a subscription (£25 per year UK) at www.retro-speedway.com

Didn't then World Champion Hans Nielsen continue to defy the new ruling? Quite rightly, the rule was dumped before the authorities could further drain every ounce of entertainment from proceedings.

Many thanks, Dave, for helping to make the interview with GG possible. As you know, we have been hoping to talk with him for some years and in the end, thanks largely to your 35-plus years relationship with him and the trust he showed in you and us, we finally got there. A big thanks to GG, too, for his professionalism and co-operation throughout the prices - answering many awkward questions with as much honesty as could reasonably be expected, responding quickly to emails and texts (working around the Oz-UK time difference) and helping with personal photos from the family archives. I first met Gary when he was riding for Boston at Crayford in 1979 and, as usual, I was there for Speedway Mail. We chatted and he came across like a typically engaging, very friendly young Aussie. I liked him from that night and I respect and like him even more now that I've heard his story, first-hand, and know the full extent of what he and his family have been through. He still feels bad about what happened to Steve Payne, because - as GG says in the interview - the drug smuggling fiasco was entirely of his making.

Issue 94 of our retro magazine crammed with nostalgia from the 70s and 80s includes . . . GARY GUGLIELMI – exclusive interview Almost 35 years after his racing career was abruptly ended by a harsh ban and he was sentenced to prison in his native Sydney, former Australia, Coventry and Boston star Gary Guglielmi bears his heart and soul in a riveting new eight-page interview with TONY McDONALD. For the first time, we're bringing you the Full Gaz . . . 'Googy' on . . . * His ill-fated plan to smuggle drugs concealed in his speedway bike * Serving nine months in prison * Billy Sanders, his World Pairs partner * 21 years' of marriage to Judy Sanders * The massive impact and guilt of a double family suicide * Finding solace in faith and religion * Ole Olsen * Fighting Kelvin Mullarkey * His 'Gary Williams' nom de plume at Coatbridge * Finding new love * Exclusive never before seen family pictures * Plus much more . . . BIG NIGHTS: Golden Hammer Continuing his six-page review of some of the most popular domestic individual meetings, PHIL CHARD heads for Cradley Heath to reminisce about the Golden Hammer, the annual classic that was the 1977 brainchild of go-ahead Heathens boss Dan McCormick. Previous winners include Ole Olsen, Scott Autrey, Chris Morton, Kenny Carter, Hans Nielsen, Sam Ermolenko, plus home favourites Bobby Schwartz, Lance King, Erik Gundersen, Alan Grahame, Simon Cross. RIVALS: Ipswich v King's Lynn Continuing our new series revisiting club rivalries, ROB PEASLEY reviews classic matches between fierce East Anglian top flight opponents Ipswich and King's Lynn, featuring legendary skippers John Louis and Terry Betts, plus Billy Sanders, Tony Davey, Kevin Jolly, Dennis Sigalos, Michael Lee, Dave Jessup, Richard Hellsen, Mel Taylor and many others. SON OF MY FATHER: NEIL & KEN MIDDLEDITCH The Middleditches are part of the rich fabric of Poole Speedway. RICHARD BOTT catches up with 50s legend Ken Middleditch – but first a new interview with his son Neil, who has done and seen it all in a riding and management career spanning almost six decades at Wimborne Road. BACKCHAT with MARTIN ROGERS The column where readers fire questions at our lead columnist. As one of the most respected promoters and administrators of the Backtrack era, no-one is better qualified to respond to the burning issues of the 70s and 80s, This time Martin responds to John Berry's suitability as the BSPA's Director of Operations, discusses the merits of various referees, and considers whether promoters have been negligent in their contractual dealings with riders. SCOTT LAMB – exclusive interview A wholehearted trier, modest Scott Lamb admits to ANDREW SKEELS that he probably partied too much in his racing days with Edinburgh, Newcastle and Berwick and never set out to become World Champion. GLASGOW: 50 Memorable Moments DOUG NICOLSON navigates through his local club's turbulent history and multiple homes. There are honourable mentions for Tigers legends Tommy Miller, Charlie Monk, Jim McMillan, the Beatons, Steve Lawson, Kenny McKinna, Robert Nagy, etc. STOKE CHOKER Stoke's Loomer Road is the latest in a long line of speedway venues to fall victim to developers. We list all 89 British league tracks lost to the sport over the past 70 years. Plus: Obits on Clive Featherby and Ian MacDonald. Remember, we no longer sell single editions, so please subscribe at www.retro-speedway.com

Yes, that was the case with Shawn too - as he admitted in Backtrack yonks ago.

Dag admitted in his very candid interview with Backtrack many years ago that he had reached the point where he lost his verve for racing and was scared of being seriously injured. When that happens to a rider, he is right to pack in.

IPSWICH v KING'S LYNN 70s & 80s - YOUR MEMORIES In the next issue (94) of Backtrack we will be reviewing some of the classic East Anglian derby clashes between the Witches and Stars . . . and we'd like to add personal memories of these local battles from our readers and other supporters . . . There was nothing peaceful about these clashes, which were frequently controversial, often closely-contested, and invariably watched by massive crowds. Both teams had highly-attractive line-ups, with some of the best riders in the world thrown into opposition. This article largely features on the years between 1975 and 1982, when the likes of John ‘Tiger’ Louis, Billy Sanders and Tony Davey were doing battle against Michael Lee, Terry Betts and Ian Turner, with cameos from stars such as Dave Jessup, Dennis Sigalos and Anders Michanek. If you would prefer to email your comments, send to: editorial@retro-speedway.com

You are correct, the Mail did run an annual poll for international journos to vote for their Top 10 riders each year. It was started by John Hyam, the de facto editor immediately after Ian MacDonald left in 1978, although I think John introduced it some years before then. I guess he simply contacted each of the scribes by snail mail (no pun intended) and asked them to cast their vote.

2019 SUMMER EDITION Welcome to issue 45 of our quarterly retro magazine. Here's a taster of what to expect . . . BROTHERS IN ARMS From the Langtons to the Boococks, PHIL CHARD considers the eight sets of siblings who rode together for the same England or Great Britain team in the pre-70s era. BIG NIGHTS: Capital Gold In the first of a regular new series recalling major domestic meetings, PHIL CHARD reviews one of the oldest classics on the calendar, the once much coveted LONDON RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP first staged in 1930. Double LRC winners include Tom Farndon, Ron Johnston, Jack Milne, Jack Young, Ronnie Moore, Norman Hunter, Colin Pratt, Trevor Hedge and Barry Thomas. ERIC WILLIAMS: From Wales to Wembley Freddie Williams wasn't the only Welsh star of the Wembley Lions. Here, in an edited extract from a new biography on the double World Champion, we look back at the considerable impact made by his younger brother ERIC WILLIAMS. PLYMOUTH: 50 Memorable Moments ROB PEASLEY reflects on the chequered past of Plymouth, with emphasis on the 22 seasons spent at Pennycross Stadium, where many all-time greats appeared. LES WHALEY: One of a kind DOUG NICOLSON looks at the life and times of the former Glasgow and Bradford promoter whose word was his bond. YESTERDAY'S NEWS TONY McDONALD scours Retro Speedway's library archives to see what various publications were writing about. This time we delve into a 1949 Speedway Gazette, 1953 Monthly Speedway World, 1961 Speedway World and the first edition of Speedway Echo in 1968. Plus . . . Obits on Charlie Barsby and John Chaplin, Romford team photo, Bob Andrews' football star cousin and crossword. To subscribe (we no longer sell single issues), please visit www.retro-speeday.com

In Issue 94, our new 'Rivalry' feature will reflect on some of those classic East Anglian derby clashes from the 70s and 80s, so what are YOUR memories of battles between Ipswich and King's Lynn from that particular era? The infamous Kevin Jolly 'incident', when he 'fell' to force a rerun that went Witches' way, is one that no doubt springs to mind . . .

ISSUE 93 (JULY-AUGUST, 2019) SON OF MY FATHER: TROY & COLIN PRATT Next year, on July 14, 2020, it will be the 50th anniversary of speedway’s darkest hour. A minibus, carrying the members of the West Ham team home from a representative meeting in Amsterdam, crashed at Lokeren, Belgium, resulting in the deaths of four young riders, the team’s manager and the driver. Among the survivors was a seriously-injured Colin Pratt, who had top-scored in the Amsterdam meeting with a 15-point maximum. But he never raced again. RICHARD BOTT interviews the former England team manager and, firstly, his son, Troy, who spent most of his career with Arena-Essex and featured in the BBC soap Eastenders . . . ARENA-ESSEX: 50 Memorable Moments British speedway lost yet another long-established venue last year following the closure of Arena-Essex/Lakeside after 35 years in operation. ROB PEASLEY looks back at Hammers' highs and lows, featuring the likes of Bob Humphreys, Alan Sage, Martin Goodwin, Neil Middleditch, Andrew Silver, Bo Petersen, Brian Karger, Alan Miogridge, Troy Pratt, Paul Hurry, Mark Loram, Lee Richardson, etc. ANDY CAMPBELL – Exclusive interview Born and raised near Surrey, Andy Campbell made his league debut for Glasgow but his nomadic career took him to Reading, Poole, Exeter, Belle Vue, King's Lynn and Wimbledon before he bowed out back in the far north at Berwick. ANDREW SKEELS caught up with a genuine nice guy. BIG NIGHTS: Daily Express Spring Classic In the first of a new series, PHIL CHARD reviews some of British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings. We start with the early season Wimbledon biggie that ran for nine seasons before ending in controversy, attracted the backing of a national newspaper and ITV coverage viewed by millions. RIVALS: Mildenhall v Rye House In the first of a regular new series revisiting club rivalries, ROB PEASLEY reflects on classic matches between two of the National League's fiercest opponents, including that epic 1979 title decider. BUSMAN'S HOLIDAYS DOUG NICOLSON recalls the times when riders and supporters booked a week’s summer holiday and set off to the other end of the country on a speedway tour. A time when clubs routinely embraced gruelling fixture schedules. BACKCHAT MARTIN RIOGERS answers more of your questions and picks his Dream Team from the riders who served under him at King's Lynn, Leicester and Peterborough. ON TWO MINUTES . . . with MARK CARLSON The Australian reflects on his UK career with Oxford and Milton Keynes and MARTIN NEAL finds out what he's been up to since he returned Down Under. THE WRITE STUFF – Andrew Edwards TONY McDONALD catches up with the man whose weekly speedway column for Motor Cycle News reached many thousands more readers than any other throughout speedway's last golden era. To subscribe (we no longer sell single issues), please visit www.retro-speedway.com

Issue 92 is out now and here's a taste of what to expect . . . SON OF MY FATHER: CHRIS & JOHN LOUIS RICHARD BOTT talks to two of England's finest, both Ipswich legends, World Final medallists and the first father-and-son duo to be crowned British Champion. Chris Louis told Backtrack: "From a rider-adrenaline point of view, there is nothing like waking up on the morning of a one-off World Final knowing that if it all goes right that day, you will be World Champion at the end of it." “The British Final was as big as anything. There was nothing like travelling from Ipswich to Coventry passing loads of cars with Witches colours. Maybe it’s because I have retired from racing that it doesn’t seem to be the same these days." BACKCHAT Q&A with Martin Rogers The second in our new series where readers fire questions at our lead columnist. As one of the most respected promoters and administrators of the Backtrack era, no-one is better qualified to discuss the burning issues of the 70s and 80s. This time, MR responds to the controversy surrounding the 1984 Sunday People race-fixing 'scandal'; he has some colourful comments on King's Lynn's shift from their traditional gold and green; and debates the merits of women riders and their possible future role. BROTHERS IN ARMS – Exclusive interviews PHIL CHARD talks family pride to Peter Collins and Alan and Andy Grahame about making brotherly history on the international stage. BRETT SAUNDERS – Exclusive interview The former Berwick and Edinburgh star candidly reveals to MARTIN NEAL how his battle to recover from a stroke pushed him to the brink. THAT WAS THE YEAR: 1986 In the last of our season-by-season reviews, ANDREW SKEELS rewinds 33 years to a period when Denmark and Oxford dominated and the sport was stunned by a terrible tragedy. WEYMOUTH: 50 Memorable Moments Despite Weymouth's turbulent history and five different nicknames, ROB PEASLEY recalls highs as well as lows on the south coast, where Tony Lomas, Martin Yeates, Brian Woodward, Danny Kennedy, Simon Wigg and Simon Cross were all stars . THE WRITE STUFF – RICHARD CLARK (part 2) In this concluding part of his in-depth interview with the longest-serving Speedway Star editor, TONY McDONALD finds out (amid the obligatory beers and curry) more about this popular character with many friends in high places. NO PLACE LIKE HOME DOUG NICOLSON looks at venues that might have been worthy additions to the sport in the Backtrack era but, for whatever reason, never became speedway homes. WORLD LONGTRACK FINALS of the 80s In part two of our review of speedway's 'bigger brother', ROB PEASLEY looks back to the 80s, when two English speedway stars added their names to the illustrious roll of honour. We are no longer selling single issues, because we need new subscribers to commit to the magazine. You can subscribe at www.retro-speedway.com

We'd be keen but first we need to track him down... can anyone offer any pointers, please?

Yes, it's Jan O.

Check out this review of our HEATHENS HEROES DVD just posted to the highly respected Speedway Plus site... http://www.speedwayplus.com/HeathensDVD.shtml

I know, sorry. But never say never...

We've been asked this question more than a few times on various media platforms. We certainly have the footage but I have serious doubts that demand will be there in sufficient numbers to make production worthwhile.