keef

Will be driving now as they've hiked up the fare for the last train.

Will probably be catching last train to Swindon, which leaves at 21.30, change at Bristol Temple Meads. Have been in the stadium before when it has overun the 3 hours, and started at 5.30. As has been said the southern end is a lot closer to the station. Me and the missus considered driving as we have done the previous few times, but last year we got stuck on the M4, and just made the start. Normally it's o.k, avoid driving through city centre traffic on way out. We head for Cardiff West/M4. You can park in side street if you're lucky. Or you can pay to park, designated car park, and shuttle bus is laid on. We have considered getting the supporters coach from Swindon as well. Have a great time Gary, the atmosphere is something special. Go Scotty the Swindon/England flyer.

to go with the gallon sunk before the meeting, strewth bloody ay they ain't gonna get a decent report mate.

Have known it last more than 3 hours, and 2 years ago engines didn't start until 5.30, so I'm getting open rail ticket, probably go for the last train at 9.30.

cheers Neil

Go Islanders.

Hancock Harris Holder Hampel

If anybody is travelling to and from Cardiff by train, when is last train to Paddy stopping at Swindon?

Liverpool were known as the Merseysiders in 1936-37.

Good luck to the Islanders

First visit to Smallbrook, on holiday on the island. Friendly little set-up and a lot less serious than Swindon Elite League matches. Track probably too big and little passing. Crowd of around 250, which someone says doubles in school summer holidays. Good luck Islanders.

Just browsing Wikipaedia, stating West Ham could hold 120,000, the record speedway crowd was 83,000 for England-Australia test. Wimbledon has 8,000 seater grandstand. White City became part of the BBC complex, can remember QPR playing a few games there in the 60s, and the World Cup staged 1 match in 1966. Was rumoured QPR sharing with Fulham in a brand-new 42,000 stadium, but stadium demolished in 85. Sad no speedway in London when it dominated speedway for 30 years.

Wouldn't be bothered either way as I live in Swindon about half-way between Cardiff and London. Have seen Grand Prix and World Finals at both. Like the roof at Cardiff which I don't think Wembley or the Olympic stadium have? And close proximity of bars and shops. Drove through White City last night, remembered there was an underused decent-size venue that used to have speedway in the 70s. Wimbledon and West Ham were large stadiums as well as far as I can remember from the 60s. Can't remember their capacities? Odsal was a good venue and central for everyone in UK.

Would like to see the Sedgmeister in the Swindon side this year, with Cory and /or Sweety. Good luck to Sir Leigh and Johno, great careers and entertainment over the years guys.

While Brandon is a fine Elite stadium it doesn't compare to Cardiff in facilties and capacity. Not possible but Wembley would be ideal for crowd size as it was in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s. Population of about 19 million in London and south-east, within hour's drive of Wembley. Don't think Hampden would attract many peeps though.

Thanks norbold, I have your "Speedway in London" book, and "Homes of British Speedway" has some useful info on the Dirt Track League in 1929, and 1930/31 Southern/Northern leagues.

I like the look of Wild Card.

Have details of National league 1932 onwards, but would anyone have league details pre-1932?

One of the best matches I saw was the GB v. Sweden Test at Swindon in 1968. Britain included series top-scorer Martin Ashby, the local Marlborough-born flyer, who was riding for Exeter at the time. A crowd of 12,000 saw Britain win 62-46, but they lost the series 2-1 that year. Britain tracked New Zealander Mauger, The Boocock Brothers, local Robin Mike Broadbanks, Betts, Hunter, and Luckhurst. The Swedes included Michanek, Sjosten, 2 Janssons, Harrysson, Persson, Nygren, and Larsson. Briggs and Fundin didn't ride in that match. The queue for climbing in(which I was in) was as long as the turnstile one.

Great times looking through my rose-tinted specs. Remember that first meeting against Hackney, last meeting against Poole in 63, and the almost unbeatable late great Squibbo. My favourite rider was Geoff Penniket. My mother-in-law's cousin was named Vic after Vic Duggan. I think Briggo rode for Southampton there against the Provincial League Select? We still went dog racing there and occasional trips to Millwall's Den, although we preferred to watch the classier club of south-east london Charlton Athletic. Went to Wimbledon Hackney and West Am after the Frying pan closed. Plan to visit over Christmas with a drive around south London for nostalgia's sake.

2-4-6-8 chant. Big crowds, away fans, chanting, local riders, Saturday nights, Golden Helmets, Test matches, World Finals, more teams in league, crap souvenirs(such as Swindon Robins car sun visors),year bars, rosettes, climbing in, dodgy aircuts, being in the pits, the speedway special bus, second-halves, unobstructed track view, getting hit by shale, rubbish hot-dogs and soup. Briggo, Mauger, Olsen, Ashby, Kilby, Michanek, Collins,the Boococks, Betts, Wilson,Lee,Louis,Simmo,Jessup, Kennett, Crump and lots of others. Tracks in London...Wembley, Wimbledon, White City, West Ham, Ackney. When the British League was the best in the world.When the Brits were a world force in speedway. Live speedway on bbc/itv. Results/tables and news in the dailies.

FUNDIN BRIGGS MAUGER OLSEN KNUTSSON CRAVEN RICKARDSSON or CRUMP could be the best 7 i've seen in the 60s,70s,and 00s, but then I had a 30-year gap of watching speedway missing Nielsen, Gundersen, Collins,etc.,

Remember Swindon winning there in the 70s...about half the crowd were Robins fans. They had an interval running race around the track that was won by a mate of mine.

Bruv in Adelaide text me with results, said it was a brilliant meeting, one of the best he's seen for some time. Better without Adams and Crump who always dominated. Swindon's Gathercole rode well. He was sat next to Mrs.Holder and spoke to Leigh Adams and John Boulger.

Remember the Crown and Anchor as it was a haunt for Millwall's notorious football hoolies. The old man used to take me to New X dogs in the 60s after the Rangers demise. We always walked to the speedway, dogs and football from Nunhead about 30 minutes away. Mainly watched Arsenal, Charlton, Dulwich Hamlet, and Corinthian Casuals...never a fan of the Lions. Surrey at the Oval in the summer, with visits to Wimbledon, Ackney, and West Am for the speedway fix before emigrating to Swindon in the west country in 68. Drove down Ilderton Road last year to do a delivery to DHL right by the New Den. Big changes in the area. Too busy and noisy for me now.