speedyguy Posted August 7, 2007 Report Share Posted August 7, 2007 If I'm wrong. .... how come no one else disagrees? Regards. PS. Come on tell us, who and where. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Perhaps we cannot answer because we don't know! http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderweb Posted August 8, 2007 Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 Yes ok Smithfield was a one mile dirt track although it was named the Smithfield Speedway! Ross maybe Thebarton 1923 quailfies Run by MCC of SA ? Just out of Interest and relating to the topic. What is the definition of "Speedway"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Garrigan Posted August 8, 2007 Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 (edited) Yes ok Smithfield was a one mile dirt track although it was named the Smithfield Speedway! Ross maybe Thebarton 1923 quailfies Run by MCC of SA ? Just out of Interest and relating to the topic. What is the definition of "Speedway"? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Anyone who still thinks Johnnie Hoskins was the first to stage motorcycle racing on an oval need only look at the history of Thebarton Oval in South Australia. What Hoskins took credit for starting had been going on at Thebarton for some time. Motorcycles even raced on cinders at Thebarton Oval before Hoskins programmed them for the first time at Maitland (which was on grass). Hence, motorcycles had raced on cinders in Australia BEFORE Hoskins's well-documented Maitland meeting. The motorcycle racing at Thebarton in 1923 was organised by the group you mention Rod. However, unlike what took place at Smithfield, the track at Thebarton was not "club-owned." Should anyone be interested in this pre-Maitland motorcycle racing at Thebarton, there is some detail here http://www.ausm.info/aus_history/1920-30/thebarton.htm As for your question, "What is the definition of Speedway?", well that would have changed over the years between the 1920s and today. What was regarded as speedway in the 1920s would not qualify to be termed as that today in many peoples' view. I don't think there is a definitive answer to the question Rod. Everyone who has a knowledge of the sport has his/her own take on that matter. Edited August 8, 2007 by Ross Garrigan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderweb Posted August 8, 2007 Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 I find the chain of events with the MCC of SA Fascinating, from North field a one mile track shortened to 600 yards then Thebarton which I class as the start of "speedway" (in SA at least). But because of the injury to the poor lad that impaled himself on the picket fence, at Thebarton the club decided short track speedway was to dangerous so they built Smithfield. If not for that maybe The MCCofSA would have been recognized as the start of "Speedway" But that would leave us nothing to talk about! Also Thebarton ran under lights a long time before JH did! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted August 8, 2007 Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 If not for that maybe The MCCofSA would have been recognized as the start of "Speedway" But that would leave us nothing to talk about! We could still talk about what was the first speedway meeting in Great Britain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trackman Posted August 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 Of course you are correct Ross. Smithfield Speedway in South Australia Ist meeting Oct 16th 1926. Run by the Motorcycle Club of South Australia. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Smithfield Speedway, 1 mile! ...... That's "Longtrack" LOL! G/day All "After the farmer had to shift his cows out of the paddock"..... Hang on! Hang on! Hang on!. Cows + Paddock= Grass. In the begining it was grass, then after the meeting the track had a dirt race line, by the next month the dirt line was so wide it became a dirt track, but in inclement weather this was not condusive to racing. (;0) .... this lesson learnt, the only thing to do was put some cinders on the track so that day/night meetings with no dust could be run, with a wooden picket fence around the outside to add a professional presentation for the now professional riders, the old rope was still used on the Grass & dirt tracks... as it still is today...... What is the definition of "Speedway"? ..... Well it's not Grass & its not Dirt & its not a 1 mile a lap & it don't have a rope around it...... (;0))) Regards. PS. Does it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trackman Posted August 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 We could still talk about what was the first speedway meeting in Great Britain. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hang on! Hang on! Hang on!.... More to come on the "First" yet. Regards. PS. When was the first in the UK? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted August 8, 2007 Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 When was the first in the UK? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I don't know - let's talk about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trackman Posted August 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 I don't know - let's talk about it. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> G/Day Mr N Have you got an aspro at the ready? ....... Regards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trackman Posted August 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2007 What Speedway track opend in 1911? Regards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Garrigan Posted August 10, 2007 Report Share Posted August 10, 2007 What Speedway track opend in 1911? Regards. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Phil, that is an interesting question. Once again the answer will depend on the interpretation of the word "speedway". Do we get a clue here? How about a "yes" or "no" to "was the track in the USA?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trackman Posted August 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2007 Smarty Pants. ...... I was just highlighting the term "Speedway"... Regards. PS. Who invented the "UK Speedway show" we see today? Was it one man's dream to see teams racing?.. The man then needed other like minded men, to build a network of night time bike racing entertainment.... True or False? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trackman Posted August 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2007 I don't know - let's talk about it. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Is this your towel norbold? Regards. PS. You could have waited for the Aspro to kick in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trackman Posted August 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2007 G/Day spiderweb "Just out of Interest and relating to the topic. What is the definition of "Speedway"? Motorcycle speedway, normally referred to as Speedway, is a motorcycle sport that involves usually 4 and sometimes up to 6 riders, with no use of brakes of any form, competing over 4 laps of an oval circuit..... Regards. PS. Perhaps we cannot answer because we don't know! http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway <{POST_SNAPBACK}> G/Day speedyguy I also read. Speedway racing takes place on a flat oval track usually consisting of dirt or loosely packed shale, the official definition being "a track with a top surface in granite, shale, brick granules or similar unbound material rolled in on the base ground".[1] Competitors use this surface to slide their machines sideways (powersliding or broadsiding) into the bends using the rear wheel to scrub-off speed while still providing the drive to power the bike forward and around the bend. Originating in New South Wales, Australia in the 1920s, there are now both domestic and international competitions in a number of countries...... Thanks to wikipedia...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trackman Posted August 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2007 Will we ever be able, to Celebrate the day speedway started in the UK? Regards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderweb Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 Quote;Motorcycle speedway, normally referred to as Speedway, is a motorcycle sport that involves usually 4 and sometimes up to 6 riders, with no use of brakes of any form, competing over 4 laps of an oval circuit..... Hi Trackman Sure sounds like Smithfield to me ! Purpose built oval dirt surface. (The cows grazed on the infield.) 4-6 bikes no brakes Sidecars and Light cars as well. Most races conducted over 5 laps. More info here http://www.saspeedway.info/smithfield/smithfield.htm Any way would have been a ball basting around on a J model Harley ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 two more myths that need dispelling are those of High Beech and the 'starting gate' Can you dispel the myth of the starting gate for me please as I don't want to perpetuate any myths in my forthcoming Crystal Palace book do I...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trackman Posted August 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 (edited) Quote;Motorcycle speedway, normally referred to as Speedway, is a motorcycle sport that involves usually 4 and sometimes up to 6 riders, with no use of brakes of any form, competing over 4 laps of an oval circuit..... Hi Trackman Sure sounds like Smithfield to me ! Purpose built oval dirt surface. (The cows grazed on the infield.) 4-6 bikes no brakes Sidecars and Light cars as well. Most races conducted over 5 laps. More info here http://www.saspeedway.info/smithfield/smithfield.htm Any way would have been a ball basting around on a J model Harley ! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Let me see..??? .................... GOT IT! Today at the Gold Coast Speedway, we have Solos Sidecars and Light cars!!! Aussie Speedway Still Lives... Thank God for the Gold Coast Speedway! 1926 to 2007.... it must be a good program... Regards. PS. Ok I'am going with the one mile bit for the mo, Aussieland was always known for Big tracks, but in the UK thay didn't have the Showgrounds, thay only had Footy pitchest to toddle around. ... We should have called this "mini speedway"... even the FIM has bigger tracks than the UK. Then came the Basketball court size tracks in the USA.... ... Bring back Bradford, Halifax, Hyde Rd, ..etc. Thats good UK Speedway.... @ 8,000 rpm. (;0) Edited August 11, 2007 by Trackman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trackman Posted August 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 Who had the first lay down motor? Regards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trackman Posted August 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2007 Wal Phillips. http://au.msnusers.com/speedwaypeople/shoe...Photo&PhotoID=4 Regards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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