Wimbledon Memories

[salty]

I moved down to Kingston Poly in 1981 and was a regular at Plough Lane for the rest of the decade.

First match was the 38-38 draw against Cradley which was a pretty good start.

 

I used to love the smell of the bikes coming up through the wooden terracing on the first bend. The free pint I invariably got from Doris on the bar, the idiosyncratic announcing of Ken Tozer who would often not notice that a rider was missing from the parade.

The guy in the beret on the pit gate.

Enjoyed the Russell Lanning years when you really felt the club was being promoted.

Fav riders.. Malcolm Simmons, Kai Niemi, Toddy, Nathan Simpson and Terry Mussett.

 

Always feel a bit guilty that finances (or lack of them) dictated I rarely went for the last 2 seasons.

 

You never know a change of ownership or policy with the GRA and there might be a return in the future.

[BOBBATH]

In I think July 1967 I saw Wimbledon v Exeter-the only time I ever sat and watched from the restaurant(not as good as standing on the terraces)-Wimbledon won but Tommy Sweetman beat Olle Nygren for the Silver Sash surprisingly-I had also seen the British semi-final alluded to above in 1967 and I think the British Final in 1966. My main memory tho is a sad one. A couple of years ago visiting London I took the underground to Tooting (Broadway or Bec) and walked up Garratt Lane to the old stadium just to see it-a trip down memory lane-I remembered that there were homes on Wimbledon Road-now I think knocked down. It was a depressing trip-I saw the outside of the stadium-no longer any speedway and reflected that not only the speedway is gone -but the local hard working British folks who supported the team seem to have gone-God knows where. I didn't know where I was either-but it sure as heck wasn't the Britain of the sixties-in fact it didn't look like Britain at all.!! Just the memories in my mind lived on.R.I.P.

[superdons]

With apologies to the composer Jerry Herman, I recall my sister singing the following terrace chant in '67, to the tune of "Hello Dolly". Does anyone else remember it?

 

"Well hello Olle, Well hello Olle, it's so nice to have you back where you belong.

 

You're looking swell Olle, go like hell Olle, with the greatest team of riders you'll be going strong.

 

And with the bikes roaring and the fans calling,

 

You'll be right back where you have always belonged.

 

So - hit the track Olle, beat them by half a lap Olle;

 

Ronnie's got our Olle back again!"

[REBELS77]

My best memories of wimbledon has to be in August 77 when the Rebels did the double over Dons on the same day,yes I know the Dons didnt have Ed Jancarz as he was already on his way to Sweden for the World Final,still a great day,also remember 78 International when Gordon Kennett's bike stoped on the last bend when he was leading both Olsen and Collins I was gutted and he never rode agian that night,also great memorys of the Eagles and Dons clashes in the late 80s.

Even though I am Rebel and Eagles Fan,I loved Going to Wimbledon Speedway.

Weatherley Weatherley Rides for White City and were going to win the Leadgue

Cant belive its 30 years ago

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Weatherley Weatherley Rides for White City and were going to win the Leadgue

Cant belive its 30 years ago

 

To do Speedway's finest ever terrace chant justice (and to clarify for those puzzled by this..) it was sung to the then popular Football chant, "Wem-bley Wem-bley, we're the famous Arsenal (or whoever..!) and we're going to Wem-bely"; and went,

"Weatherley, Weatherley; and he rides for White City; and we're gonna win the League"..

 

And I'll never forget singing it with the revised final line of "and we've gone and won the League" in the Monmore Green bar in October 1977! As you say, incredible that, that was 30 years ago..!

 

And yes, lucifer sam: White City WAS another club I've supported over the years!!

[star ghost]

? was that the White City "Rider Replacement" Rebels team then

[shazzybird]

My memories of Wimbledon are the NLRC each time Uncle Ted rode, was so proud when he came round in one of the cars with the Gauloise bunny girls, shouting Uncle Ted across the dog track and him saying hiya Shazz as I was waving like mad. The girl next to me saying is that really your Uncle and me all proud saying yeah.

 

God I miss them days might not ever have been World Champion status but he was and still is to me

[BOBBATH]

Who was your Uncle Ted ,shazzybird??

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

My memories of Wimbledon are the NLRC each time Uncle Ted rode, was so proud when he came round in one of the cars with the Gauloise bunny girls, shouting Uncle Ted across the dog track and him saying hiya Shazz as I was waving like mad.  The girl next to me saying is that really your Uncle and me all proud saying yeah.

 

Fairly incredible to recall that when cigarette company, Gauloise sponsored events, the aforementioned 'bunny girls' would go around the crowd handing out individual examples of the company's product..!

Strangely, though, when Durex sponsored the NL Fours the same thing didn't happen...!!

Edited December 26, 2007 by Parsloes 1928 nearly

[star ghost]

If you recall that Parslow then you will remember the arguments over the use of team colours for England v Aussies Test Matches bearing the sponsors name. A lot was said about printing "Durex" on the colours or whether "L R C" would suffice.

Edited December 26, 2007 by star ghost

[stevehone]

so many fantastic memories of Wimbledon ...

 

going to away matches on the coach (when we had Chalfont, who was the driver we always wanted, there was one that was a good laugh, was it Rick?) or on the 'breakaway' minibus with Larry Rose.

the initiation on the coach and the ritual debagging of someone.

trying to get the back seat record on the coach.

mooning at people from the back window.

going to watch Tatum at Canterbury in a Junior Championship meeting and when Frank Ebdon excluded Tatum in one of his races, Larry Rose went round to batter him with his program board with Bembom Brothers in Margate before the meeting.

the world finals with the supporters club ... Norden & Gothenburg.

walking round and round the stadium meeting up with all the people we knew.

away matches when we knew we'd get stuffed but still spent the journey to the meetings ripping up paper.

like Steve has said, the small sweet kiosks in the depths under the stadium.

the arguments with the Ippo supporters on the 2nd bend terracing .. they always supported Siggy and we always called him a fag.

the big meetings we had there ... Laurels, Spring Classic, Commonwealth Final, some games thing they had there etc

getting cheers from the first bend crowd when i won a race, punched the air and ended up on the stock car track.

going to have a chat with Maido in my lunch break at the speedway office window.

 

the list could go on and on ... so many memories, so many great people, riders and supporters.

[Ron Butler]

Jack Parker [belle Vue captain] vs brother Norman [Wimbledon captain]

 

Those two great riders knew each others styles as no other did. It was often said that they were telepathic. Such battles they had at both tracks - neither would give half an inch [we didn't have the invidious centimetres then!] leeway to the other.

 

Each time they were pitted against each other the supporting riders were regarded as also-rans. Generally they finished first and second in their heats, but we never could forecast the winner at either Hyde Road or Plough Lane.

 

Has there been two such competitive siblings in speedway since the Parkers? I greatly doubt it!

Edited December 27, 2007 by Ron Butler

[shazzybird]

Who was your Uncle Ted ,shazzybird??

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Might of been a long time ago Bobbath but he still is my Uncle

 

Ted Hubbard (Rye House/Hackney/Canterbury) like I say never a World Champion but he'll always be my hero

[star ghost]

As you say Ted was not a world champion but he was a 100% trier who put heart and soul into the sport. He will be remembered by many for that reason.

[BOBBATH]

Thanx Shazzybird-Ted Hubbard was after my time but I read about him-did he ride for other teams also???. I recall the Wimbledon of the mid sixties with Nygren,Luckhurst and Hedge as heat leaders-I also recall -I think -Bob Dugard, Mike Coomber,Jim Tebby and John Edwards.As a sidebar I lived in the same lodgings(briefly) as John Edwards had once lived in-he was there a year or so before I arrived-I recall the address-20 New Century Road, Laindon, Essex. But for the life of me can't recall the landlady's name.I think John lived for a spell after that in the US.Recall him being with Stoke and CH in PL days

[chunky]

I recall the Wimbledon of the mid sixties with Nygren,Luckhurst and Hedge as heat leaders-I also recall -I think -Bob Dugard, Mike Coomber,Jim Tebby and John Edwards.

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Then there were Alan Cowland, Tony Childs, Geoff Hughes, Steve Chilman, Murray Burt, Leif Soderberg, Garry Middleton etc. Of course, before them were Messrs Harrfeldt, Nordin, McAuliffe, plus Ronnie Rolfe, Keith Whipp, and Roy Trigg.

 

Steve

[iris123]

It is strange no-one has mentioned Eddie Toogood's photo and badge stand.About the best in the country it was

[Blazeaway]

One of my favourite memories has to be the guy outside selling all things speedway. Eddie I think his name was....

[chunky]

It is strange no-one has mentioned Eddie Toogood's photo and badge stand.About the best in the country it was

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Absolutely... Don't forget, Dave Fairbrother used to help him also. Before Eddie, it was Alf Jarrett, who used to stand at the top of the steps going up to the Pit Bend terracing. Then, there was Alan, who used to wander round selling the magazines...

 

Who remembers the prize bingo in the grandstand???

 

Steve

[norbold]

It is strange no-one has mentioned Eddie Toogood's photo and badge stand.About the best in the country it was

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One of my favourite memories has to be the guy outside selling all things speedway. Eddie I think his name was....

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That's just too good to be true...