sandman Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Jim, It is hard to explain to people who werent there. I saw Briggo on his down hill side but he was still great.. Ove, never saw him in his prime and never saw Peter Craven. But if Ronnie Moore before his terrible injuries is any indication, I'm totally sold on all of them. The persona, the manner and the way Ronnie carried himself on and off the track, well, it must have been something in the water back then.. Always will remain a hero of mine, surely welcome on board, cept I'd have to let him be Skipper.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scunny Stag Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Scunny Stag you gave your job up for British Speedway!! in my book that makes you a number one fan I can sympathise with your track closure as we lost our track in 1987. Good luck for the future xx Out of interest how much money did you raise back then? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'd just been transferred to a crap job and I was still living with my mother so I had little to lose. As for money I never completed the challenge, due to the track closure, so wasn't able to collect. I was aiming for £10,000 but it was never going to reach anything like that. If I'd got close to half that it would have been a surprise. Sorry for not replying earlier. I hadn't visited this thread for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Jim, It is hard to explain to people who werent there. I saw Briggo on his down hill side but he was still great.. Ove, never saw him in his prime and never saw Peter Craven. But if Ronnie Moore before his terrible injuries is any indication, I'm totally sold on all of them. The persona, the manner and the way Ronnie carried himself on and off the track, well, it must have been something in the water back then.. Always will remain a hero of mine, surely welcome on board, cept I'd have to let him be Skipper.. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ronnie was truely an amazing talent and even after more than 20 years what was his average(something like 10 point).Says something about him that C.O at Coventry was trying desperatly to sign him in '74(?). Briggo as well,not really much needed to be said about his speedway talent but he was a media mans dream.There was always a story to be had from Briggo,he knew how important the media was and he was willing do put the work in.Someone like that is what the sport desperatly needs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exiled Bandit Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 ... two mammoth southern tours in the 70s with five of us crammed into a Transit van with two settees and various sleeping bags acting as hotels. Both set off from Darlington tour 1 Saturday- Canterbury Sunday - Eastbourne Monday - Exeter Tuesday - Weymouth Wednesday - Poole (last two may have been other way around, memory fails!) Thursday - Wimbledon Friday - Hackney Saturday - Berwick Tour 2 took place three weeks later (had to pop back to college for exams) Sunday - Scunthorpe (off day to make up for postponed meetings) Monday - Reading Tuesday - Crayford Wednesday - Poole Thursday - Wimbledon Friday - Peterborough Saturday - Cradley Happy days, long gone. Always enjoyued the southern tracks, they got me used to the super-slick raceways we enjoy today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 I think back then the tours of different tracks were more of an adventure sleeping in vans/cars, hotels what were they and going to the local swimming pool for a shower each day Those were the days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exiled Bandit Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 (edited) going to the local swimming pool for a shower each day <{POST_SNAPBACK}> .... oooo hark at you posh southerners Edited November 18, 2004 by Exiled Bandit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Yeah nerrrrrrrrr lol At Canterbury we even provided a Swimming Pool across the road from our stadium for fans like you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shalewhale Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 I remember going to the 1984 World Longtrack final in Germany (Herxheim?) an talking to Shawn Moran (Or Shawn Moron as the TV commentator called him) through the mesh fence around the pits. I remember the 1985 World Final at Bradford, thinking how steep a drop it seemed to be from the stand to the track. I remember Sheffields special anniversary meeting in which they had 5 rider races! I remember going to to Peterborough the day after we moved here. It was Peterborough vs Mildenhall and the crowd seemed to be huge. And most of all I remember the Panthers and Tigers winning their respective leagues in 1999 and being at both the matches that secured them. Trivial compared to some of the things posted here, but treasured memories none the less. Heres to 20 more years of memories! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onceadon Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Shazzy, Those days are not gone. This season, I took in Worky on Saturday & Newcastle on Sunday after travelling from my home in Halifax. I stayed at a hotel that was awful and cost me £50 for one night. I didn't want to stop going, so I bought a tent and at the back end of the season did the same trip plus Berwick & Newcastle at a later point, then Worky at the very end of October. It was very cheap (about £10 a night, but on one occasion (the best) just £5), I got to go to places I have not been to before, the weather was (luckily) terrific and the speedway as good. The best thing though was that the last time I did both camping and speedway at the same time I was 17, so at pushing 40 it was like going to summer camp. I am already planning and very much looking forward to another trip next April: Saturday Stoke Sunday Newport Monday Exeter Tuesday IOW Wednesday My beloved Dons Thursday Swindon Friday Somerset Saturday Worky (if I can cope with the drive from Somerset) Sunday Newcastle. There's one other bonus - my wife doesn't like camping or speedway, so I can do what I like ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevH Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 I think back then the tours of different tracks were more of an adventure sleeping in vans/cars, hotels what were they and going to the local swimming pool for a shower each day Those were the days. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That brings back great memories - used to do a week of meetings (one every night) up and down the country with my Dad. One year we'd head south, another north etc. As Shazzy says - an adventure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addy Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 You had a wonderful dad, Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 (edited) Onceadon In the early sixties me and a mate used to do a speedway tour for about 12 days. We did them for about 4 years and had a great time. We travelled about 2500 miles each year in my Austin A40 Farina and slept in it every night. We used to wash by the road side as well as going to the baths. Given that a lot of the tracks were in London we 'lived' on th North Circular a lot staying in the bus 'pullins'. Each morning we used to get stared at by the bus passengers who thought we had the milk delivered as it was by the side of the car. A likely tour was as follows with changes each year. Apols if I have got any track on the wrong night. Mon Newcastle Tue Long Eaton Wed Poole Thu Oxford Fri Hackney Sat Coventry Sun Rye House Mon Exeter Tue West Ham Wed Poole/Wimbledon Thu Sheffield Fri Newport Sat Belle Vue Not sure if 'she' would let me do it now but it would be great fun as well as tiring. Edited November 21, 2004 by Tsunami Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted November 20, 2004 Report Share Posted November 20, 2004 Before the War, two of my uncles used to do the following EVERY WEEK: Monday: Wimbledon Tuesday: West Ham Wednesday: New Cross Thursday: Wembley Friday: Harringay Saturday: Hackney Wick I don't know where the money came from, but at least they didn't have to travel very far. Now if only they'd kept all their programmes..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robyn1972 Posted November 21, 2004 Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 Seems amazing now, but when I was about 17 (before I passed my driving test) my weekly trips by public transport were Monday - Reading Wednesday - wimbledon Thursday - Ipswich Friday - Hackney Saturday - Sometimes Arena Essex Sunday - Rye House. Looking back now I'm amazed I could ever afford it, but at the time the main advantage I had money-wise was that, being short, I appeared much younger than my real age, so I used to get into tracks all over the place at Child rates. The year I passed my driving test I arrived at the pay-booths at Arena Essex proudly at the wheel of my Red & Silver Fiat 127, and came face to face with the same woman who'd been letting me in at child prices on a regular basis all season! Oops! Another good money-saving trick that I recall for going to Ipswich on the train was to buy an open return which was slightly more expensive than the cheap-day option, but had the advantage of the return portion being valid for the next three months, so long as you didn't get it punched on the train. It was very rare that there was a ticket inspector on the last train back from Ipswich, but on the occasions that there were, my favoured method of avoidance was simply to feign sleep. They never used to fret about waking you up to do the ticket! This then enabled me to buy the considerably cheaper single ticket for the next few weeks! I should add that this is NOT something I would consider doing these days - but this was before the days of prosecution for fare evasion! Another good one was when they were doing rebuilding work at Liverpool Street in 1991. I arrived at the station at a run as usual straight from work - headed to my usual platform, and jumped on board the train. about 30 seconds before departure there was an announcement which omitted Ipswich from the list of stopping places. In a panic I leapt off the train, leaving my brand new Witches jacket on the overhead rack! By the time I realised what I'd done the train was leaving. Upon finding a member of staff, I was told that the announcement was wrong, and that was the train I should have got anyway! As a result I was allowed to get the Intercity (Norwich) train which would get me to Ippo only 10 minutes later, AND a call was put in to the driver of the other train to put my jacket off at Ipswich! I left the Intercity at Ipswich to be met by a smiling station Manager holding my jacket! (AND I made it to the track on time!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevH Posted November 21, 2004 Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 What public transport did you use to get to Hackney Robyn? My only attempt at this saw me walking through some streets of London that Ralph McTell didn't sing about. Not an experience I'd like to repeat or reccommend to anyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Custom House Kid Posted November 21, 2004 Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 OnceadonIn the early sixties me and a mate used to do a speedway tour for about 12 days. We did them for about 4 years and had a great time. We travelled about 2500 miles each year in my Austin A40 Farina and slept in it every night. We used to wash by the road side as well as going to the baths. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I think i smelt you at West ham mate! sorry i did not introduce myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted November 21, 2004 Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 What public transport did you use to get to Hackney Robyn? My only attempt at this saw me walking through some streets of London that Ralph McTell didn't sing about. Not an experience I'd like to repeat or reccommend to anyone! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Can't speak for Robyn but I used a 30 bus from Kings Cross preceeded by train to Paddington and the circle line. And now strangely I live close to the number 30 route - but sadly don't use it for speedway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted November 21, 2004 Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 What public transport did you use to get to Hackney Robyn? My only attempt at this saw me walking through some streets of London that Ralph McTell didn't sing about. Not an experience I'd like to repeat or reccommend to anyone! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I walked to Hackney speedway through the streets of London every week for three years before moving to Loughton. Can't say I ever had any trouble. After moving to Loughton I got the Central Line to Leyton and then the free bus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BilaHora Posted November 21, 2004 Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 All I remember when Powderhall hosted Ivan Mauger's farewell to Scotland meeting in, if memory serves, 1985. The weather was inclement and the crowd was huge - estimated at around six thousand. For some reason Shawn Moran was not able to take part in the meeting proper and therefore made a couple of unlikely (given the weather) attempts at the track record. Peter Collins won the meeting but that great showman John Cook stole the show. Regards BilaHora Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robyn1972 Posted November 21, 2004 Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 What public transport did you use to get to Hackney Robyn? My only attempt at this saw me walking through some streets of London that Ralph McTell didn't sing about. Not an experience I'd like to repeat or reccommend to anyone! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> LOL - yes - it could get a bit like that sometimes! I used to get the bus from Walthamstow to Leyton high road - then walk from there to the stadium......a lovely walk on a sunny saturday for training school, not so nice on a dark Friday evening though! It would be lethal now as you would have to cross all the slip roads onto and off of the new A12 - not a route I would fancy using! The worst Places I ever tried to get to by "walking from the station" were Mildenhall anhd Ipswich - both a Bloomin' long way from their nearest stations I can tell you! Like a fool I believed the person who told me it was "only" 3 or 4 miles to Foxhall.....hmmm! More like 6 as I now know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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