speedyguy

Try the Speedway Researcher website, which is currently being updated. Find what tracks were operating in 1937, then go through the various clubs listed for that season and all the results should be revealed.

So far as I can see, there will only be three tracks regularly featuring solo speedway in 2011-12, at Rosebank, Oreti Park and Moore Park. Hopefully, I will be proved wrong by a member in NZ.

I only know what has been claimed and counter-claimed in regard to Johnnie Hoskins and the "start of speedway" at West Maitland in 1923. However, this comment from the late Colin Stewart gives food for thought. It is debatable if Stewart was in fact referring to the December meeting, but there can be little doubt that his reference does refer to the period under discussion on here and which seems to have caused so much furore, not only on the BSF, but other discussion groups as well. I would add that it must also be considered that the comments were made by Colin Stewart in 1979 which was 56 years after the Maitland venture. And we all know how time can play tricks with the memory. To avoid adverse comments, I would add that speedstox12 is the name under which I moderate on the site which is quoted. --- In oldtimespeedway@yahoogroups.com, "speedstox12" <speedstox12@...> wrote: > From the book "Col Stewart, Australia's Speedway King, 1926-31'.Page 10, chapter, 'Dirt Track Beginnings':this part of a speech originally made by Colin Stewart in 1979. > "The story of the origins of organised dirt track racing became famous among riders. It was reported that the 1923 West Maitland Show had been a disaster. Rain had been pouring down for days and hardly anyone turned up. Johnnie Hoskins was the Show Ground's Secretary, and desperate for ideas to bring in the crowds and stave off bankruptcy. He was driving home one evening when he came across an amazing sight. Through a haze of exhaust fumes and dust he saw a group of riders apparently trying to commit suicide by hurtling their motorbikes round a rough dirt track they;d carved out through the bush. Hoskins asked them if they'd like to race on the Show Grounds, and soon an article appeared in the local newspaper announcing the very first organised dirt track meeting. "Hoskins promoted his racing bikes under the name 'speedway' and introduced racing under lights, cash prizes, racing rules and bike modifications. Country boys, used to rough riding, knew the only practical way to negotiate the rutted was to put your feet on the ground and the famous broadsiding began to develop. The advantages of a confined oval track where crowds could see every 'thrill and spill' (a favourite expression from those days), had been known as far back as chariot racing in Roman times, and Hoskins, like the Romans, knew a successful sport had to be part showmanship. His modern-day gladiators were an instant success and crowds began streaming in to watch the new sport." >

Hi old mate! Thought this might interest you: http://www.speedwaybikes.com/re/utuffmcbride.htm

But as has been mentioned earlier, that's impossible in New Zealand because Western Springs midget car/sprint car season runs until the early weeks of March.

Besides the link given in my quote, here's another item about pre-Maitland days. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway/message/8313

Where does this fall into the debate? It would seem there is evidence that track motorcycling of a sort took place in England at Canning Town, east london, 20 odd years before Johnnie Hoskins started his efforts at Maitland. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway/message/8300

Western Springs is a clay base circuit. Obviuously going to need a lot of surface modification for speedway?

Argentina has had speedway almost as long as the UK. In its own element it is still thriving, as are otehr disciplines of non-bike speedway.

What about the London Riders Championship?

Considerable? Ten old supporters if your lucky. Why would anyone want to go frm the Kent area to watch this match! It's not really Hackney - just a nomadic side using the area name. Good to see some of the "Hackney" team will be in the new-look(!!) Rye House NL squad next season. And te buzz is, and I/m sure it's been heard, that Lakeside plan a NL team for 2012. The Hackney/Lakeside press release for the match Friday night says "Tomorrow is also an important night to for Lakeside Hammers fans as the Club’s Management will be monitoring interest in this National League match with a view to entering a full Young Hammers side into next year’s National League. " That's yet another gem on the LONDON SPEEDWAYS discussion group, the link to which is in my signature below.

Fingers crossed but I am certain this is the link to the site run by Dlprezes http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/brytania/index.php It is among many links to be found on the oldtimespeedway discussion group.

He is a Polish researcher and has an excellent and informative international website.

This may help in regard to London-based 'STAR RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP' in 1929. http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=poobah39&action=display&thread=419

Now it's D Dearden. Are we working through the alphabet in regard to former riders, interesting as the thread may be?

There's was another speedway brother - Teddy! Great guys in the Hackney area. When Ray Terry crashed and wrecked my bike at Eastbourne in 1955, they and their dad 'Pop' responded by giving me various bits and pieces to rebuild it and refused any form of payment. Photographer Alf Weedon was a close friend of the family.

From what I recall, Bob Warner started at the Aussie Powell training school at Aldershot in 1952 or 1953, when his close trainee colleagues were Dave Freeborn and John Lalley.

There's a photo in a recent 'Classic Speedway' showing Vic Ridgeon, BOB Warner and Jim Chalkley - all in Wolverhampton colours. It was the start of the Provincial League era in the early 1960s.

That would be a personal friend of mine - dear old the late Bob Warner. There was recently a photo of him in 'Classic Speedway' along with then Wolverhampton team-mates Vic Ridgeon and Jim Chalkley.

Lionel was a modest man but he did ride in the early meetings at Crystal Palace in 1928 and 1929.

Any updating re your comment would be appreciated. Thank you. http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/index.cgi

Great info Norbold. LONDON SPEEDWAYS has amended its Rye House referenec to read: RYE HOUSE. Opened May 27 1934. Address: Rye House Stadium, Rye Road, Hoddesdon, Herts. Rye House closed on October 10 1993 then reopened on May 29 2000 after they entered a team in the 1999 Conference League - most home matches took place at Mildenhall. Although the track was open as a training track in 1967/68, no public meetings were held. They were also one of the few tracks to run during the War, with meetings being held every War year except 1944, with racing resuming on August 5 1945. And that is indeed an informative book about Rye House, I recall a very learned review of it in a south London newspaper when it came out.

This could help the debate: ARENA ESSEX (See Lakeside Hammers). Opened April 5 1984 as Arena Essex. Address: Arena-Essex Raceway, A1306 Arterial Road, Thurrock, Essex. Became Lakeside Hammers in 2008. BARNET. Opened July 27 1929. Closed late 1936. Address: Barnet By-pass, near Mill Hill, Herts. CATFORD. Greyhound Stadium - Opened September 1 1934. Closed 1935.Meetings also took place at nearby Catford CC, in Penerley Road, in 1932. Address: Catford Stadium, Adenmore Road, Catford, London, SE6. CHISWICK NOMADS Training track, 160 yards, in Mortlake Road, Chiswick. Opened 1957, closed late 1958. Only wide enough to allow two riders on track. Previously a cycle speedway late 1940s to circa 1954. As a team for away matches, first known as Champions and later Nomads. Competed at Southern Area League tracks. Address: Mortlake Road, Chiswick, London, SW. CRAYFORD. Opened April 21 1930. Closed 1931. Reopened 1935. Closed 1937. Reopened June 12 1968. Closed October 28 1970. Reopened April 8 1975. Closed October 26 1983. Address: Crayford Stadium, Stadium Road, Crayford, Kent. CLAPTON. [Please refer to Lea Bridge). Clapton was an alternate name used by the team for some seasons in the early 1930s. There was also a Clapton Stadium but this only staged greyhound racing. CRYSTAL PALACE. Opened May 19 1928. End of 1933 the team moved to New Cross. Open meetings staged until 1938. Entered Division Two April 1939. Closed June 1939. Open meetings 1940. Track closed late 1940. Address: Crystal Palace Exhibition Grounds, Sydenham, London, SE26. DAGENHAM. Opened 1932. Closed November 5 1939. A few open licence meetings took place in 1946 but were grass-speedway. Address: Ripple Road, Dagenham, Essex. ELSTREE. Opened August 10 1947. Closed October 1947. Address: Elstree, Herts. GREENFORD. Opened April 7 1928. Closed late 1929. Reopened August 22 1931. Closed October 10 1931. Address: Birkbeck Avenue, Perivale, Greenford, Middlesex. HACKNEY. Opened April 26 1935. Closed (war) September 1939. Reopened April 10 1963. Closed July 5 1991. Reopened March 28 1996. Closed October 3 1996. In 1996 the team raced as London Lions. Address: Hackney Wick Stadium, Waterden Road, Hackney, London, E15. In 2011, Hackney were revived as a National League team in a joint Lakeside Hammers-Rye House promotion with home matches at both venues. HARRINGAY. Opened May 29 1928. Closed June 2 1931. Reopened March 31 1934. Closed following outbreak of World War Two in September 1939, returning to National League Division One in 1947. Closed Augst 18 1954. Address: Harringay Stadium, Green Lane, Harringay, London, N8. HIGH BEECH. Opened February 19 1928. Closed August 6 1932. Reopened May 2 1937. Closed August 27 1939. Reopened 1948. Closed 1950. Address: King's Oak Hotel, High Beech, Loughton, Essex. LAKESIDE HAMMERS Opened April 5 1984 as Arena Essex. Address: Arena-Essex Raceway, A1306 Arterial Road, Thurrock, Essex. Became Lakeside Hammers in 2008. LEA BRIDGE. Opened July 14 1928. Closed July 27 1934. Reopened August 1 1938. Closed September 26 1938. At some times in the early 1930s, the team was also known as Clapton. Address: Lea Bridge Stadium, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, London. LONDON LIONS/HACKNEY. Hackney reopened March 28 1996 as the London Lions. Closed October 3 1996. See the Hackney thread. LONDON WHITE CITY. Opened May 19 1928. Closed October 4 1929. Reopened March 24 1976. Closed September 13 1978. Address: White City Stadium, Wood Lane, London, W12. NEW CROSS. Opened April 18 1934. Closed June 10 1953. Reopened August 9 1959. Closed September 21 1961. Reopened April 12 1963. Closed August 2 1963. Address: New Cross Stadium, Hornshay Street, Old Kent Road, Peckham, London, SE15. ROMFORD. Opened May 29 1969. Closed September 30 1971. Address: Brooklands Stadium, Romford, Essex. RYE HOUSE. Opened May 27 1934. Address: Rye House Stadium, Rye Road, Hoddesdon, Herts. In 1999 Rye House entered a team in the Conference League - most home matches took place at Mildenhall. STAINES. Mid-1938. Closed 1939. Address: Staines Stadium, Wraysbury Road, Staines, Middlesex. STAMFORD BRIDGE. Opened May 5 1928. Closed October 1 1932. Address: Chelsea FC, Stamford Bridge, Fulham, London, SW6. WALTHAMSTOW. Opened August 16 1934. Closed end season 1934. Reopened April 4 1949. Closed October 8 1951. Address: Walthamstow Stadium, Chingford Road, London, E4. WEMBLEY. Opened May 16 1929. Closed September 13 1956 (domestic racing). Reopened May 30 1970. Closed October 2 1971. Address: Empire Stadium, Wembley, Middlesex. WEST HAM. Opened July 28 1928. Closed 1955. Reopened 1964. Closed 1971. Address: Custom House Stadium, Prince Regent's Lane, Beckton, London. NOTE: After West Ham's closure in 1971, Romford staged a few meetings at Custom House in early 1972. WIMBLEDON Opened May 28 1928. Closed 1991. Reopened 2002. Closed 2005. Address: Wimbledon Stadium, Plough Lane, London, SW17. http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/index.cgi

http://www.newschannel34.com/content/developingnews/story/Champion-Speedway-to-host-US-Open-National/k1eX9JVhfkmMQBZuMbFMdA.cspx These are details of the US Open Championship to be staged in New York State, USA, in September.

Mike Tams, the Canadian who rode for Newcastle in 1950 and 1951, is still alive aged 91 years. He's currently living in a war veterans home in Toronto. He first started riding in the UK at Eastbourne in 1947. More on Mike at http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway/message/9976 Mike's brother Les was also at Eastbourne in 1947, later riding in Ireland as Les Gordon because, according to Mike, speedway could only cope with one Tams!