Barcroftlad

I'm pretty sure I still have a photo of the Hanley team of the early 50's in my box of ancient souvenirs (junk if my wife describes it) if it is of any interest to anyone. Cheers.

You are quite right there star ghost. I just didn't express it right and realised it later. What I meant to say was that Jackie Biggs brought Frank Dolan BACK from Aussie with him to ride for Odsal.At least we were led to understand that Frank came to Bradford because of Jack.Thanks for correcting that.

Have to agree about Barry Briggs. He was only 16 I think, when he arrived and completely fearless.He copped quite a bit of criticism from the older riders because of his tearaway style. Cheers.

I well remember Jack Biggs riding for Odsal Boomerangs in 1949-50. A slight tidy build,he rode with a straight back and was always immaculate in his appearance. He apparently had a favourite saying which was quoted a lot in the Odsal programmes of "going like a blue pencil bomb". He brought another Aussie with him in 1949, Frank Dolan, but he never did as well as Jack.I think he was 50 or just over when he was killed in a race in Victoria. I'm pretty sure I still have his autograph and a photo or two in my souvenir box(or as my wife describes it "Junk box".) Jack Biggs was a very popular rider at Bradford in those days.Paired with skipper Ron Clarke they produced lots of 5-1 scores to start the night.Cheers.

Can't speak for Leicester but "Blaze Away" and "On the Quarterdeck" were used at Odsal in the early 50's and I believe were used at other tracks.Maybe it was one of these? Cheers. Kiwibill.

Hi everyone-just found this site and so am a first time poster. I'm an oldie who was an Odsal regular in the late 40's ,early 50's. I just might be able to help with queries from that era. Re Gary Peterson- in late 2001 I had a request from Ray Allen of Bradford,who was involved somehow with speedway in Bradford and was responsible for the programme. On an anniversary(I'm not sure which) Ray wrote a special tribute to Gary who was his favourite rider.He desperatley wanted to get a copy to Gary's family in NZ but every lead he followed went cold. I took it on and my trail started with our local speedway in Auckland,down to Palmerston North track, and a heap of names. Amongst them former riders such as Robin Adlington. It became a labour of love and I thoroughly enjoyed my self imposed task. I did locate Gary's mother and once she realised that I was genuine she had a few tears that someone in England who she had never heard of, cared enough about her late son to go to all this trouble. I sent Ray her address and he made contact and she rang me back in due course after she received the tribute. So Gary Stanworth-you have probably finished your project by now.I just thought you would enjoy the story and you may be aware of Ray Allen-he ran the bradford site www.tibspeedway.co.uk (I think) which appears to have closed but there is a link to Ray.Maybe you can compare notes. I never knew GaryP. but what a guy he must have been to leave such a lasting impression. while I'm writing-I have a lot of speedway memories- I earned pocket money in the late 40's cleaning the leathers and sometimes his bike,of Norman Hargreaves, then Fleetwood flyers capt, who was a neighbour and family friend. I see a photo of George Newton on this site. George was a mate of Norman's and visited often.I still have badges from a few clubs and lots of photos. Stop talking Bill !! Cheers.