Gresham

One of the most under estimated values to a Speedway track...being able to look at what was going on in the pits. Used to love hanging out in the Bristol Pits and watching from behind the fence at Swindon. Perhaps that could be another thread...'how many tracks allowed views into the pits?'

Wasn't one of the reasons for making ticketing electronic on the gate at football, because it was too easy to 'lose' actual money when it was passing hands? Not saying that's the case in Speedway...but when so much cash is being paid over the turnstile, you could understand people thinking otherwise. As for attendances...I'm sure the attendances were often revealed in local paper reports back in the 70's and 80's.

Bristol v Rayleigh 1960 and Bristol v Bradford 1960.

Hi Knowle...the one that stands out is Bristol v Bradford Provincial League meeting on 13/5/1960.

Omg...sorry lads...I'm such an idiot. All the second halves are on that site...my fault, I should have looked closer. My apologies. I've found what I wanted to know. Thank you all for taking time to help...sorry I didn't look closer to start with.

Hey fellas...thanks for taking an interest. The Research site just gives his name, year, 2 meetings and second half. It doesn't give the dates of the meetings. I didn't want to put his name on an open forum, as I want to keep it a surprise for my friends son. I can just imagine someone we both know, stumbling on this thread and telling him. I'd be willing to pm the name though if anyone is interested.

Regardless of the result...was the racing any good? Entertaining? Decent crowd?

Strange...it opens for me, but all I get are four blank pages.

I have it mate. Don't think he'll be in any Speedway stars...he was only second halves. Tried it...but the pdf just comes up blank....thanks for trying though.

Sadly I wont be getting there :-( Got to A38 near Thornbury...and turned round...it's rammed. Radio saying M5 from junction 16 to Clevedon is stood still, and expect to put hour and half on trip. That's what happens when you run a Speedway meeting on a Friday night leading up to a Bank holiday on that stretch of the motorway. Shame...was really looking forward to this as sun is shining and wind has dropped. Wish Somerset ran on another week night...Friday's coming from Bristol are bad enough on the M5 at the best of times. Enjoy...Give BWD a shout for me...C'mon the Rebels :-)

That's the website I found the details from...I've sent an email hoping for a reply. Thank you though for taking the time to reply.

As much as I want Somerset to win, I'd prefer it to be a lot closer than that, but I can see why you think so. Just hope for some close entertaining racing...

Looking forward to this...anyone else going? And if you live close by to the track...what's the weather like? I live an hour away and it's been heavy showers and blowing a gale...don't fancy travelling to find it a rain off.

Looking for a bit of information. Would anyone have, or know of anyone that would have, the full season of home programmes for the Bulldogs 1960 season? The reason I ask, is a friend of mine used to ride second half meetings, and according to a Speedway research site, he rode two meetings at Bristol during the 1960 season. Sadly he passed away last year. We used to attend speedway together for many years, and he would often recall his days racing and tinkering with bikes, and helping out as a mechanic in the pits. If I could find the dates of the meetings he rode, then I would try to find the programmes, and purchase them for his son as a memento in memory of his dad. Any pointers in the right direction to look would be appreciated... Thank you in advance.

Thanks for that fella...brought some other memories back. The talk of wheel barrows fetching from a mile away...would kids do that nowadays? I remember learning to play golf around about 12 years of age, and cycling with my golf clubs and bag on my back, at least 10 miles each way to a municipal course so we could learn. Can't imagine kids doing that nowaday's either.

It's definitely freezing in this country at the moment...they are still skiing in Scotland...nuts! However...having read recent threads about how Speedway could be improved, two things stick out for me. 1 How far fans travel to watch their speedway, and... 2 The amount of meeting being called off for rain. The latter is the one thing that stands out for me. We live in a country notorious for rain and bad weather. How, in nearly 100 odd years of the sport have the powers that be, not found a solution to protecting the track? I know I wont risk travelling the near hour journey to get to my nearest track, if their is the slightest chance of it being called of because of a waterlogged track. I should imagine there are many like me.

Glad to hear BWD did well again. First time I saw him ride was a couple weeks back...took my eye straight away, looks a very good rider and very stylish to watch as well. Looking forward to tomorrow night, hope the witches come out fighting and we get some good racing.

Indeed... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC9SeKCSyiM 50,000 in the Wembley supporter club...see 15mins through to 18...the whole footage is amazing.

More... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31013387 I'm on a roll haha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJA6WQu1lbY I've stumbled on a whole new world I never knew about. Surfing the net, you can find some cracking photos from the past. Didn't realise cycle speedway was so popular back in the day. Some cracking little tracks about and surprisingly good facilities...this is fun.

unbelievable what's online http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/image_galleries/historic_highworth_photos_gallery1.shtml?20

It was Yate near Chipping sodbury. It was a new Housing Estate when my father moved there from Bristol for work. The cul de sac is still their I think...but the railway cutting was built on with new housing. Used to work not far from the Oasis back in the day. Was a QS on site when Lydiard Tregoze was being built.

I know Highworth being a regular at Swindon. But ours was the name of a road. Remember the track at Oasis too. What memories...we had a 'roundabout' at the end of our cul de sac which was the exact shape of a cycle speedway track...it was perfect and hardly any cars about back then. We also used an old ash track that was next to a disused railway like. It was also perfect for cycle speedway. Compacted coal dust and dirt.

Brilliant...glad to know it wasn't just the kids around my area....we had Hawks, Tigers and Wildcats all named after the road each team lived in...for example Highworth Hawks. Loved it when it rained, you could actually drift slide into the corners...I seemed permanently caked in mud back then lol Just watched cycle speedway, the crash files on youtube...crazier than actual speedway it seems...

.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJRd4ZTxD4k I don't know whether this has been posted before, but it did make me laugh. Took me back to my own childhood. We had cycle speedway teams as kids and would hold weekly meetings after school...each 'road' having their own track. We all wanted the Raleigh Grifter...as when it came out, it was the nearest looking to an actual speedway bike. Anyone else do this, pretending to be their hero's?

Nah fella...you know best...just carry on being pedantic and not getting the gist of posts. I couldn't give a flying feck what you think tbh, all is see is a Pedantic keyboard warrior who likes to troll people and get a rise. As you were ol bean...