speedyguy

WIDE OPEN! By Allan Batt. It was for a time regarded as 'the world’s fastest speedway', and although Solway had a relatively short life, it played an integral part in the history of the sport in New Zealand. Unfortunately Solway was built too late to enjoy the post war 'boom' and struggled, despite the introduction of Midgets and Stockcars to the programme. It was a track that legendary rider Ronnie Moore said was "great for speed, but very hard on motors" while former New Zealand champion the late Harold Fairhurst one said that Solway was "tough on man, and machine." The history of the Solway Speedway has been recorded in a new book by Allan Batt called "Wide Open". Its 32 pages include 'season by season' reviews, a history of the Solway Showgrounds, its life as a Grass Track speedway, and a feature on the track’s 'hometown hero' Harry Mangham. * 32 pages * 38 photos * Competitors list * Season by Season review * Grass Track Racing Review * Harry Mangham Story Don't miss out! Limited number available please return with full payment to: Allan Batt, PO Box 19-687, Woolston, Christchurch $12 each plus $1.80 post in New Zealand. For overseas rates please email ajbatt@hotmail.com

Best woman speedway rider ever - despite claims running for Kate Mason (???) in another thread in Years Gone By.

Errr!!! Fay Taylour.....? See the thread already running in this section!

I think the time has come for speedway to drop team racing for at least two seasons, instead staging meetings similar to those in the USA. open events with tracks booking in various riders. The continued 'new ideas' that come into speedway every year are slowly destroying it.

http://www.douglasmotorcycles.net/index.php?topic=1514.0 http://www.diamondsmcc.org.uk/profilesoffroad.html http://midgetcarpanorama.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=titty&action=display&thread=16 Some interesting links regarding Fay Taylour.

Try this - http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway/message/8559

I asked because there was talk of a follow-up book about Fay Taylour at one time.

I remember a second-half race at West Ham in 1946 won by Alf Webster, he went on to ride quite well including for Hull, Exeter and Belle Vue. yes, second-half races were excellent from what I remember and I always enjoyed in them just after the war at New Cross. I won't tell you why...!

Any more Brian Belton speedway books lately?

WIDE OPEN! It was for a time considered as being the fastest ¼ mile speedway track in the world, and now its story has been told. The short but colourful life of Masterton's Solway Speedway, both as a dirt, and a grass track. * 32 pages * 38 photos * Competitors list * Season by Season review * Grass Track Racing Review * Harry Mangham Story Don't miss out! Limited number available please return with full payment to: Allan Batt, PO Box 19-687, Woolston, Christchurch $12 each plus $1.80 post in New Zealand. For overseas rates please email ajbatt@hotmail.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- Name_____________________________________________ _____________________ Postal Address___________________________________________ ________________ __________________________________________________ _________ Phone___________________ Email__________________________________________ Please send _________ copies of 'Wide Open' Enclosed is ________________ in full payment. Make cheques payable to 'Speedway Classics' PLEASE NOTE: THE ACTUAL COST TO THE UK IS £8 INCLUSIVE.

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway/msearch?query=Catford+Speedway&submit=Search&charset=ISO-8859-1

http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=doggydays&action=display&thread=241 http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=sniffy44&action=display&thread=566 http://midgetcarpanorama.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=sniffy78&action=display&thread=306

The first meeting I saw at New Cross was April 1946 - when their opponents were a side labelled as The Rest!

Here's an insight into a New Zealand track history by Allan Batt. I hope to have more details soon. http://www.times-age.co.nz/local/news/booklet-tells-the-tale-of-speedways-history/3932787

SENT BY STEVE MAGRO:::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: LIVERPOOL CITY RACEWAY BOOK AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER Full Throttle PR. The colour, the excitement and the magnificent contribution Sydney's Liverpool City Raceway made to Australian speedway history has been captured in a new book soon to be released by publisher Tony Loxley. Titled “Liverpool City Raceway – the Place of Pace 1967-1989” and scheduled for release in December, 2010, this book covers the incredible era of the venue in 352 gloss pages of words and superb photos. Printed in Hong Kong and two years in production, never before has such an ambitious speedway publishing project in Australia been attempted in such detail to document the history of an Australian venue. Published by Loxley's Full Throttle Publications, there are over 900 images in the book – scanned and produced in high resolution – from the collection of resident Liverpool City Raceway photographer David Cumming. Many of the leading local, national and international competitors who rode or drove at Liverpool City Raceway have contributed to the book. Reflections by four time Indianapolis 500 winner AJ Foyt, triple Indy 500 titleholder Johnny Rutherford, seven time United States Auto Club National Midget Champion Mel Kenyon, 20-time World of Outlaws titleholder Steve Kinser, American Grand National sedan test team drivers Ed Wilbur and Gene Welch, in addition to three of the sport's greatest ever speedway bike names, New Zealand's six times World Champion Ivan Mauger (OBE, MBE), iconic Swede Ove Fundin (five time world titleholder) and Denmark's legendary Ole Olsen (three times World Champion), make this coffee table edition truly a collector's item. Other contributors from the world of two, three or four wheels who starred at Liverpool City Raceway during its 22 year operation include Australian Solo Champions Jim Airey and Phil Crump, national sidecar titleholders Phil McCurtayne, Graham Young, Bob Levy, Garry Treloar, Australian super modified/sprintcar champs Dick Briton, Bob Tunks, Steve Brazier, Jim Winterbottom and current international sprintcar export, triple National Champion Brooke Tatnell. The man who carved out legendary status “on the mountain” Allan Moffat and former speedcar ace later turned road racer Johnny Harvey have also penned their thoughts on Liverpool City Raceway. In total, over 80 competitors have written their impressions – and the role Liverpool City Raceway played in their speedway career. The late Frank Oliveri – and the Oliveri family – created Liverpool City Raceway and transformed vacant bushland into a world speedway landmark. Fittingly, the Oliveri family provides a beautifully written introduction. Mike Raymond (OAM), the man who as General Manager from 1970 to its closure in 1989 was the driving force behind the circuit's success and rise to prominence on the world stage, has penned the Foreword for the book. His brother Steve, who was there for the same period as chief announcer, also provides a wonderful insight into the era of Liverpool City Raceway. "Originally I only wanted to do 220 pages, but soon found that the quality of images and fantastic interest from former competitors ensured that more pages needed to be added ... and more, and more,” Loxley explained. "There was something unique about Liverpool that no other track was able to duplicate ... and I've been to most of them. "No racetrack matched Liverpool in relation to the publicity it gained throughout its lifetime. It may have run for only 22 years, but it had an impact around the world like no other... and it was a quarter-mile track in the outskirts of Sydney. “Who would have thought this track in a place called Green Valley could have pulled such enormous crowds week in, week out right up until it closed its gates in 1989? "The Sydney Showground Royale was the most cherished of Australia's speedway venues, but in all honesty, Liverpool was right behind it. The fact that it went from a flat dirt track, to a high-banked pavement surface, and then back to a high-banked clay surface - and stayed successful, will never be repeated again." "Mike Raymond's words are just brilliant ... he has told the Liverpool story just like it was. "The Place of Pace - in my opinion - is the finest work ever put together on Australian speedway racing, and is certainly my favourite book thus far. The track had an enormous impact on my life, and was the source of some of my most cherished childhood and teenage memories,” Loxley concluded. There is also a special 17-page section on the 1980/81 Sydney Showground season run by the Oliveri/Raymond promotion. Speedway writer and race publication contributor Steve Magro provided assistance to Tony Loxley in the production of “Liverpool City Raceway – The Place of Pace 1967 – 1989.” TITLE: Liverpool City Raceway - The Place of Pace 1967-1989 PAGES: 352 on200 gram hi-gloss stock COPIES: 1000 signed limited editions (further copies will be produced if all issues sold out) COVER: Case bound - hard bound with dust jacket Marker ribbon inserted AUTHOR & EDITORIAL CO-ORDINATOR: Tony Loxley ARTWORK: Gavin Skene - Stillshots SCANNING: Matthew Burton - artworx IMAGE PREPARATION: Tony Loxley PREFACE: Tony Loxley FOREWORD: Mike Raymond (OAM) INTRODUCTION: The Oliveri family PUBLISHER: Tony Loxley - Full Throttle Publications * Total images within publication: over 900 - all scanned from the original David Cumming negatives in High Resolution * Written contributions from: USA – AJ Foyt, Johnny Rutherford, Mel Kenyon, Johnny and Billy Anderson, John Cooper (former CEO International Speedway Corp.), Dee Tattersall, Ron "Sleepy" Tripp, Ed Wilbur, Gene Welch, Pam Bennett, Bobby Schwartz, Dennis Sigalos, Chuck Jones, Steve and Randy Kinser and George Snider. * UK – Peter Collins (MBE), Bill Landels, Bert Harkins, Howard Cole and Nigel Boocock. * AUST – Jim Airey, Greg Kentwell, Trevor Harding, John Langfield, Ricky Day, Dave Mills, Phil Herne, Bert Kingston, Phil Crump, Craig Boyce, Paul Ash, Barry Pinchbeck, Barry Graham, Howard Revell, the late Kevin Park, Michael Meyer, Brooke Tatnell, Steve Brazier, Gordon Smee, Peter Crick, Jack Porritt, Bob Blacklaw, Geoff Grocott, Doug Robson, Tony Bennetts, Bruce Maxwell, officials Tom and Betty Stewart, Ray Millerd, Clive Pollett, Wally Kermond, Dick Briton, Bob Tunks, Doug McQuinn, Gordon Rundle, Garry Pollock, Ron Hutchinson, Allen Skene, Owen Bateman, John Harvey, Allan Moffatt, Bobby Baker, Graham Young, David House, Dave Wignall, Peter Taunton, Frank Van Sebille, Brian Callaghan, Doug Tyerman, Phil McCurtayne, Bob Levy, Bill Wigzell, Garry Treloar, Gary McLenahan, Carl Askew, Peter McKay, Steve Raymond (OAM), Phil Christensen, Dennis Newlyn, Peter White, Bob Christie, Sid Hopping, Walter Giles and Jim Winterbottom. * NZ – Ivan Mauger (OBE, MBE) and Mitch Shirra. * Sweden – Ove Fundin. * Denmark – Ole Olsen. Cost: $64.95 +$11.95 postage and handling *$64.95 applies to book shop purchase only; additional costs are applicable to mail order buyers. Please make cheque or money orders out to Tony Loxley: PO Box 425, Glenbrook, NSW, Australia. Or you can order through: lcrtheplaceofpace@hotmail.com Book will be available from the following bookshops: Wheels Bookshop, Parramatta (NSW), Automoto Bookshop, Sydney (NSW), Pitstop bookshop, Perth (WA). (More information on further bookshops carrying “Liverpool City Raceway – the Place of Pace 1967 – 1989,” soon)

Maybe Dave Coventry's "self interest" is because he is the stadium owner?

Why?

I have been told by a work colleague that a 'pirate' speedway meeting took place at Lea Bridge at Whitsun 1940 when starters included Vic Collins, Ernie Pawson, Les Trim, Charlie Appleby, Eddie Barker and Keith Harvey. Any more known of this?

Perhaps he was going to Sunday night's stock car racing?

Arthur Pilgrim's pre-war career is documented on the oldtimespeedway site. Link via my signature. Just key his name into message search. Hope this helps you. You can also add Vic Gooden to the list of pre-war UK riders. He raced on a track at Laindon, Essex, in 1939.

He did, but that's hardly pre-war! These are pre-war riders who - to my knowledge - are still alive: AUSTRALIA - Cyril Romaine UK - Jack 'Riskit' Riley, Arthur Pilgrim USA - Putty Mills, Walt Docker

Mike Tams. now 91, is in a Toronto nursing home - for the past two years - having suffered a stroke. He phones me about every six weeks. He wasn't a pre-war rider though.

I should beware before going along. The date may be wrong. This is what I have found on a website: no time is given. LEWISHAM LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY Friday 26th November 2010 The New Cross Speedway Norman Jacobs The New Cross Speedway was next to Millwall's football ground. The speaker has recently had a book published on the subject, Out of the Frying Pan.

Saturday 27 November 2010 7.30pm Methodist Church Hall Albion Way Lewisham SE13 New Cross Speedway Night

Fifth California-in-England Speedway Reunion Report of 17th October 2010 As organisers of this event, Friends of Speedway were more than pleased that their prayers had been answered for good weather and what a great day it turned out to be. Initially followers were slow to attend but all of a sudden the venue was buzzing with people arriving and meeting old friends and making new ones too. With not quite so many of the old riders being able to attend over previous years the organisers was immensely grateful when ‘Mr. Fearless’ Reg Fearman arrived now he is back in this country. Many photos were taken and folk wanted a souvenir snap with Reg who is still an icon of promoting speedway over the years in England. It was suggested to him that if he was still at the helm of British speedway things would certainly be a lot better – to which he responded with that wry grin and a twinkle in his eye! Stories were being swapped, tales were told and many ‘old lies’ were being re-lived. The local press was in attendance with reporters from two newspapers plus the scribe from Friends of Speedway taking useful contact addresses from folk who remembered the venue from those halcyon days of speedway at the park to be used in a forthcoming book. With the event getting going a bit late it was well after 4pm when the last people left and the organisers could clear up and pack away their displays. Thanks go to everybody who came to make it an enjoyable day, but especially to Tim Templeton who gave his time coming up from Poole with his display of bikes and body colours, to John and Pauline Kerrison from deepest Kent with their display and to Neil Roberts who combined his trip from Ireland to attend as his Father, Neil used to practice there all those years ago. Words by Stuart Towner