Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 I think Romford Greyhound stadium would be an ideal place to reopen the Romford Bombers speedway team. Though I'm sure obtaining P/P would be difficult I wonder if any promotor has looked into it? Sadly the dog track in Romford could NEVER get Planning Permission for motor sports . Even if a track could be fitted in (it would have to be tiny..) the extremely residential location of the stadium (it's, uniquely, invisible from the neighbouring roads being literally at the back of people's gardens..!!) means they'd never have been even a glimmer of a chance of staging Speedway there... A few sites up on the A12 near Marks Gate/Harold Wood might, though, be suitable for a return of the Bombers..: but when push comes to shove might as well remember that Arena Essex is in a Romford post-code area so another track not really viable.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reviresco Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 (edited) Brooklands was the first place I saw team speedway. Was taken by the dad of my school mate John Butcher and just fell in love with it all. I used to go and see the football team (think they won the old Southern League in 1968?) but speedway then took over. Stood on the 1st & 2nd bends. Charlie Benham was the immediate favourite. Didn't Bruce Edgar ride in white boots at some time? And of course the classy Kevin Holden, such a shame when he had that accident at Poole. Certainly remember John Louis (and Dave Jessup?) winning heats by half a lap there. Also remember going to see the Bombers ride in a 4 team tournament at Eastbourne and them having a unicycle competition for the riders during the interval and, I think, Doug Sanders fell off and broke his collar bone. I started a campaign in the Romford Recorder to bring the speedway back to the borough and was told to 'Get on my Bike' by a local councillor of the time. In a way, I like to believe that that campaign led to Arena Essex starting up. Unfortunately, I really can't see speedway returning in that area again. Too many houses, too many people ready to complain. Now please put me right on this, but I think Romford took over the licence from Rochford who couldn't get permission for their track but had already ridden 2 away meetings. Managed to instal a track at Brooklands in under 2 weeks (think I read that was a world record somewhere once). Were evicted despite massive crowds, especially when the Czechs were there. Moved to Custom House for a season, then the licence went to Workington? If that book ever gets written, I definitely want a copy. Edited August 22, 2006 by macca56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Third Man Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 it was rochester who did ride some away matches under that name and then transfered "just like that" to romford, no planning problems back in 1968 obviously Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 And they transferred to Barrow in 1972, not Workington. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reviresco Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Cheers guys. Of course it was Rochester and Barrow. Thanks for that. Romford to Barrow via Custom House? Good they kept it local, eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Cheers guys. Of course it was Rochester and Barrow. Thanks for that. Romford to Barrow via Custom House? Good they kept it local, eh? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Barrow was running as an open licence track so was a convenient emergency alternative base, if not geographically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Custom House Kid Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Brooklands was the first place I saw team speedway. Was taken by the dad of my school mate John Butcher and just fell in love with it all. I used to go and see the football team (think they won the old Southern League in 1968?) but speedway then took over. Stood on the 1st & 2nd bends. Charlie Benham was the immediate favourite. Didn't Bruce Edgar ride in white boots at some time? And of course the classy Kevin Holden, such a shame when he had that accident at Poole. Certainly remember John Louis (and Dave Jessup?) winning heats by half a lap there. Also remember going to see the Bombers ride in a 4 team tournament at Eastbourne and them having a unicycle competition for the riders during the interval and, I think, Doug Sanders fell off and broke his collar bone. I started a campaign in the Romford Recorder to bring the speedway back to the borough and was told to 'Get on my Bike' by a local councillor of the time. In a way, I like to believe that that campaign led to Arena Essex starting up. Unfortunately, I really can't see speedway returning in that area again. Too many houses, too many people ready to complain. Now please put me right on this, but I think Romford took over the licence from Rochford who couldn't get permission for their track but had already ridden 2 away meetings. Managed to instal a track at Brooklands in under 2 weeks (think I read that was a world record somewhere once). Were evicted despite massive crowds, especially when the Czechs were there. Moved to Custom House for a season, then the licence went to Workington? If that book ever gets written, I definitely want a copy. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You may have already been looked but try Here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reviresco Posted August 23, 2006 Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 (edited) Thank you very much for that. Absolutely brilliant. EDIT to earlier post - of course it was Colin, not Doug Sanders (he was the golfer who lost an Open in a play-off I think.) Edited August 23, 2006 by macca56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingy Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 Halifax had a steel fence, imagine hitting that on a freezing cold night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 Halifax had a steel fence, imagine hitting that on a freezing cold night. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I am reminded of Bruce Cribb's advice on coping withe Exeter's metal fence... "Don't hit it". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 Halifax had a steel fence, imagine hitting that on a freezing cold night. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I am reminded of Bruce Cribb's advice on coping with Exeter's metal fence... "Don't hit it". Was Halifax's better to hit on a warm afternoon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingy Posted August 29, 2006 Report Share Posted August 29, 2006 no but it always seemed to hurt more when it was cold !! believe me!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackofdiamonds Posted September 9, 2006 Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 I was at Ashington's first meeting, and still wonder how the place was passed as fit. The track was dangerous and the fence was solid, I believe the track was round the football track. If anyone was brave enough you could hang over the fence, not me though. It was an open meeting and many riders pulled out after a couple of races. I will have to find the programe, but I believe the meeting was won by Phil Crump with a max. Ashington only lasted one more meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Donsking Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 Funniest thing I've seen recently was on my trip down to Sittingbourne a few weeks ago. For those who don't know, the track is bordered by plywood sheets about 4 feet tall; one of the riders lost it going too wide in turn 1 and fell, leaving his bike on the track and causing two of the following guys to end up in a heap. As the dust cleared it was apparent that there were three bikes on the track, but only two riders and a hole in the boards; as I was trying to figure out what was going on, the missing rider stood up rather sheepishly in the field beyond the track! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
south coast robin Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 Pity there weren't air fences years ago..would have prevented a lot of the unnecessary deaths and paralysing injuries in our sport . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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