KevH Posted December 28, 2006 Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 Does anyone have the details of the track record at Earle Street please? I'd like to know the record at the end of 1973, the holder, and the date achieved, and also at the end of 1975 when the track was slightly longer. Any help really appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 I always remember the Crewe track record being the one in the Guinness Book of Records in the 70s as the fastest rider in the UK and the track record being held by Barry Meeks - who I'd never heard of. Ccan't help any more than that though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 I always remember the Crewe track record being the one in the Guinness Book of Records in the 70s as the fastest rider in the UK and the track record being held by Barry Meeks - who I'd never heard of. Ccan't help any more than that though. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Shame on you Barry Meeks while not a top line speedway rider was a top man at grass track racing. A big circuit like Earle Street would have been well suited to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trackman Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 If he was faster than Crumpy. ......... What motor did he have? Regards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve19620 Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 Track record at the end of the 1973 Season was held by Lou Sansom (Workington) at 70.8 set on September 24. The Track record at the end of the 1975 Season was held by Cliff Anderson (Crewe) at 70.0 set on March 31 according to my Speedway Stars - track length was increased by 6 Yards to 436. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevH Posted December 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 Many, many thanks for that Steve. Grachan, the Barry Meeks track record (70.4) stood at the end of 1970, after which the track length was significantly reduced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 Many, many thanks for that Steve. Grachan, the Barry Meeks track record (70.4) stood at the end of 1970, after which the track length was significantly reduced. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If anyone is good at maths, can they redefine these race times into mph calculated over the size of track covered. I know there is a formula to do this, but as an old-timer, the grey cells aren't what they used to be so it's a bit beyond me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sotonian Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 If anyone is good at maths, can they redefine these race times into mph calculated over the size of track covered. I know there is a formula to do this, but as an old-timer, the grey cells aren't what they used to be so it's a bit beyond me. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Divide yards covered by 1760, multiply by 3600 then divide by time in secs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 Divide yards covered by 1760, multiply by 3600 then divide by time in secs. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Can I pass this time/speed question on please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sotonian Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 Can I pass this time/speed question on please? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> 1760 = yds in 1 mile 3600 = secs in 1 hr So, for the last Crewe record 436yds/lap x 4laps =1744yds / 1760 x 3600 / 70 = 50.96mph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAST GATER Posted December 30, 2006 Report Share Posted December 30, 2006 If he was faster than Crumpy. ......... What motor did he have? Regards. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Two valve Jawa engine and frame and a rear sprocket the size of BIG Ben's clock face.I as not there that night but was told that the track was deep and wet which suited BM down to the ground.He was a good solid team rider but was never going to make the big time in s/way as was already stated an excellent grass man though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted December 30, 2006 Report Share Posted December 30, 2006 1760 = yds in 1 mile 3600 = secs in 1 hr So, for the last Crewe record 436yds/lap x 4laps =1744yds / 1760 x 3600 / 70 = 50.96mph <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Then how does that equate to Barry Meeks' time - please? I was a maths duffer at school, once got 11 out of 100 in an exam - claimed as 'the school's worst ever exam mark' in the subject! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain Posted December 30, 2006 Report Share Posted December 30, 2006 Two valve Jawa engine and frame and a rear sprocket the size of BIG Ben's clock face.I as not there that night but was told that the track was deep and wet which suited BM down to the ground.He was a good solid team rider but was never going to make the big time in s/way as was already stated an excellent grass man though. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You are right about the engine & frame but we used 21 teeth engine sprocket. The biggest available rear sprocket in those days was 60 teeth. Wonder where meeksie is nowadays ???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvey Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Track record at the end of the 1973 Season was held by Lou Sansom (Workington) at 70.8 set on September 24. The Track record at the end of the 1975 Season was held by Cliff Anderson (Crewe) at 70.0 set on March 31 according to my Speedway Stars - track length was increased by 6 Yards to 436. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I realise that adding a reply to this, so long after the event (Dec 06) may be a waste of time, but having just found this thread...I can't help putting the record straight. The Crewe Track record held by Cliff Anderson!!!!!!???? No way. He wasn't even riding in 1975 and if he was he might have once won a race in 70 secs. But the record was well under 70 secs by the the time Crewe shut (RIP) at the end of '75. Yes the track lenght was 436yds, but the record was set by Dave Morton on 12th August 1974 at 68secs!!!! At the time that was also in the Guinness Book of records, as the fastest on an existing track. God knows what the Crewe record would have been today if it was still running...it was very, very fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevH Posted November 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Thanks for setting the record straight Harvey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAST GATER Posted November 6, 2007 Report Share Posted November 6, 2007 I realise that adding a reply to this, so long after the event (Dec 06) may be a waste of time, but having just found this thread...I can't help putting the record straight. The Crewe Track record held by Cliff Anderson!!!!!!???? No way. He wasn't even riding in 1975 and if he was he might have once won a race in 70 secs. But the record was well under 70 secs by the the time Crewe shut (RIP) at the end of '75. Yes the track lenght was 436yds, but the record was set by Dave Morton on 12th August 1974 at 68secs!!!! At the time that was also in the Guinness Book of records, as the fastest on an existing track. God knows what the Crewe record would have been today if it was still running...it was very, very fast. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> One reason Anderson was so quick was that he had the use of OLE Olsens gear as he also spannered for him when not riding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted November 6, 2007 Report Share Posted November 6, 2007 The Crewe Track record held by Cliff Anderson!!!!!!???? No way. He wasn't even riding in 1975 and if he was he might have once won a race in 70 secs. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sorry, but time to put the record straight - again. Cliff Anderson WAS ridng in 1975, appearing in 24 matches for Crewe. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyM Posted November 6, 2007 Report Share Posted November 6, 2007 Many, many thanks for that Steve. Grachan, the Barry Meeks track record (70.4) stood at the end of 1970, after which the track length was significantly reduced. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes, I know that the track record changed with the track, and I'm pretty sure Dave Morton held it at some point thereafter. Makes me wonder what the record might be if the track was open now for riders on modern machinery - probably about 60.4 seconds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAST GATER Posted November 6, 2007 Report Share Posted November 6, 2007 Yes, I know that the track record changed with the track, and I'm pretty sure Dave Morton held it at some point thereafter. Makes me wonder what the record might be if the track was open now for riders on modern machinery - probably about 60.4 seconds! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I think your right there it was an incredible track but I wonder whether it would have been deemed too dangerous.They would have been doing 70 plus mph and only have those sleepers to save them ,frightens me to think about it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvey Posted November 26, 2007 Report Share Posted November 26, 2007 Sorry, but time to put the record straight - again. Cliff Anderson WAS ridng in 1975, appearing in 24 matches for Crewe. One last chance to put the record straight about this...this 'fast', 'track record' and 'Cliff Anderson' all used in the same sentence is really getting to me!!! I've checked my Crewe Scrapbooks and yes, Cliff was riding in 1975, he did make as mentioned 24 appearances...but for many of them he just 'turned up'. He won heat 1 of the first meeting of the year in a time of 70.0 secs...that was definately the fastest he went all year!!! John Jackson bettered that time in the Littlechild Trophy at 69.6secs. Cliff did spanner for Ole but that is as close a comparison that can be made: and he was in charge of track prep at Crewe in '75 (maybe that explains why it was 2seconds a race slower that 1974). He was dropped during May '75 and eventually asked for a transfer in July. He finished the year on an 'spectacular' average of 4.88!!! The Crewe Track record WAS Dave Morton's at 68 seconds. Much as I love talking about Crewe, can we draw I line under this now? Just for my own information, does anyone know the track records for 1975 of other tracks still in existence today, say swindon, sheffield, 'cos I'd like to do a prediction of the what the Crewe record would be today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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