Graham Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Hi there I saw a film on TV last week called "The Games" starring Ryan O'Neal and Michael Crawford. One of the scenes was filmed inside the old White City stadium in West London. It got me thinking about the place when it was used for speedway. While I never managed to get there I can remember reading about it a lot as a youngster. No one ever seemed to have a good word to say about it and I wondered if it really was as bad as everyone made out. I'd love to read your recollections of the old stadium and the meetings held there. Regards, G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Shoe Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Hi there I saw a film on TV last week called "The Games" starring Ryan O'Neal and Michael Crawford. One of the scenes was filmed inside the old White City stadium in West London. It got me thinking about the place when it was used for speedway. While I never managed to get there I can remember reading about it a lot as a youngster. No one ever seemed to have a good word to say about it and I wondered if it really was as bad as everyone made out. I'd love to read your recollections of the old stadium and the meetings held there. Regards, G. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Anyone remember when some members of the crowd at White City had a one lap running race around the track? I don't know how many times this happened but seem to remember the winner got a cash prize! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whowasthatberntpersson Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 I actually witnessed some decent racing at White City. Although I never saw league racing there some of the Overseas and Intercontinental Finals were quite good. I know the track received bad press and I do remember it being dry and slick at times but the real racers had the room to have a go in particular the likes of Chris Morton and Bruce Penhall spring to mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 White City was the place where I first got caught smoking! As the camera turned round to captivate the crowd there was I puffing away with a mate totally forgetting that my Mum was at home watching not just a glimpse of us but a nice lingering shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 I went to White City a number of times and (nearly) always enjoyed the racing. As wwtbp says it was a bit slick, but mostly good for racing. I think the real problem with the stadium was the atmosphere. It was a very big stadium with very small crowds and you couldn't really get into the spirit of it. It was better, of course, for the big meetings, but league meetings were very flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tape2tapevideo Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 I loved the place, finish work get the 4pm train to victoria. trapes across london changing tubes and then wizz up the road, loved the place and the noise as it echoed around, tube back, 10.47 train back to Sussex, walk home and knackered, but still did it nearly every week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted March 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Should have mentioned that one of my memories of WC was a feature on an episode of Blue Peter showing the demolition of the stadium. I was amazed at how much work was involved in knocking down a place like that. Fascinating and sad all at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cheetahhawk Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 When White City was open ,hubby and me lived in North London so it was around a 50 minute tube trip.As Norbold says it was rather flat in atmosphere for league matches as the smallish crowds were very spread out. I always enjoyed watching speedway at White City, despite having little atmosphere. I remember one night it was a double header,think it was Hackney first then I think it may have been Wimbledon(not totally sure) but the meeting went on and on and on. I think the last race was at about 11.30pm and we had to make a mad dash to the station to get the last train home,along with a lot of others,not so many people had their own transport then.. When we got to Holborn ,where we had to change trains, we were really lucky as the train was just about to leave ,the guard opened the doors especially for us and one of our friends. We knew we wouldn't be able to get back to Wood Green in time for the last bus so we stayed on the train to Southgate and then had a couple of miles to walk home. I didn't mind at the time but wouldn't want to do it nowadays,too many funny folk about now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian L Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Made many visits to White City in '76, '77, & '78, I think most of the speedway fans there were probably Wimbledon or Hackney supporters as the team never ran long enough to build it's own fan base. Huge stadium with all the spectators gathered around the start line/first bend so the rest of the stadium looked and felt empty, it therefor lacked any real atmosphere. Bikes roar used to echo around the bends and back straight! Seemed really dark as well, which didn't help. Daytime meetings were much better:~ Hackney on Good Friday '78 and '77 Intercontinental Final were excellent memorable speedway meetings. Shame it's gone as the big meets there were good. Names that spring to mind are:~ Gordon & Dave Kennett, Dag Lovaas, Kai Neimi, Marek Ceislak, Trevor Geer, Steve Weatherly, Richard Geer, Richard Hellsen & Paul Gatchet, most of which moved onto Eastbourne in '79. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Shoe Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 I went to many meetings at White City and it was one of my favourite tracks. I remember John Jackson riding there for Wolverhampton one evening and was so impressed that i went to Rye House on the Sunday to see him ride for Ellesmere Port. Unfortunately small track = not so good but he really was spectacular at the White City. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 (edited) i used to love going to White City ... always one of my favourite tracks to visit for Overseas and Inter Continental meetings as well as some Rebels matches. got quite a bit of video still of some of the big meetings held there. i have a picture showing a bit of the stadium in the background ... the picture is of my dad and Ivan Mauger on the day Ivan got his MBE at Buck House ... i have a feeling Ivan was riding there that night because i have another picture somewhere of him in his top hat and tail with his bikes there. picture can be seen here Ivan wrote that note at the bottom of the print too Edited March 17, 2005 by stevehone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shortcrust Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 i have a picture showing a bit of the stadium in the background ... the picture is of my dad and Ivan Mauger on the day Ivan got his MBE at Buck House <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Looking good Jimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 earlier on you said he looks like a porn star ... it was nearly 30 years ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shortcrust Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 (edited) earlier on you said he looks like a porn star ... it was nearly 30 years ago <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Shhhh...he might be looking in. If you are Jim, would you wear that suit for me next time we all do dinner Edited March 17, 2005 by shooting star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 would you wear that suit for me next time we all do dinner <{POST_SNAPBACK}> only if he finds a bloody good tailor and plenty more material Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevH Posted March 19, 2005 Report Share Posted March 19, 2005 1976-77 ish....... Intercontinental Final or similar......... John Davis and Dave Jessup trying to team-ride and keep Peter Collins in third place, but PC split the pair of them in the fairest and best manouvre I can remember - that's the clearest memory I've got of White City. Others include watching the riders appear from the tunnel under the centre green, the gap of about 6" between the stadium wall and the M40 fly-over, Bruce Penhall's British debut, the original Grand Prix Final, the echos and the street parking (happy days). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Man Posted March 19, 2005 Report Share Posted March 19, 2005 Funny thing that stays in my mind was the lamp standards laid down for daytime meetings to improve the sightlines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireblade Posted March 19, 2005 Report Share Posted March 19, 2005 QPR football club had two spells at White City and you may be interested to know that there are proposals to build a new stadium at White City adjacent to the old place to house Fulham F.C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritPete Posted March 19, 2005 Report Share Posted March 19, 2005 I went to this stadium just once, it was a world final qualifying meeting, can't remember which one, don't remember much about the stadium either, but, as a Swindon supporter, what I do remember is Bob Kilby beating Ivan mauger! probably Bob's only heat win of the night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Dixon Posted March 19, 2005 Report Share Posted March 19, 2005 Only went there once and what a dissapointment. 1982 Overseas final expecting the Mighty Mort to have a stunner(as he usually did there)Instead managed a score of around 4 points.......gutted. That by the way was the Bruce Penhall meeting, if you know what i mean! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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