Romford Bombers (1969-71) New Book

[TonyMac]

We, at Retro Speedway, are now working on a brand new book on Romford Bombers, the second division period of 1969-71.

 

The book will be on sale later this year.

 

As well as providing an entertaining history on that era, it will also feature new and exclusive interviews with many of the ex-Romford riders and management, lots of pictures (many previously unseen), plus reviews of the three seasons in questions, right up to the sad closure. And for the anoraks, there will be a stats section, too.

 

We also want YOUR memories of past meetings at Brooklands, which will form the fans' memories section of the book.

 

So, either via this forum thread, or by email to me at editorial@retro-speedway.com . . . please let's have your memories - good and bad - about speedway at Romford. It could be a memorable race/meeting, your favourite rider and why, or something quirky about the place and what Thursday nights at this old track meant to you personally. Where you stood, the people you met, the characters of Romford Speedway.

 

The best, most interesting and entertaining submissions we receive will appear in the book itself, so there's a chance for you to see your name in lights in a book to further preserve the great name and history of ROMFORD BOMBERS!

 

So come on, let's hear from you...

 

Remember those names (inc Rochester Bombers)...Kevin Holden, Phil Woodcock, Brian Foote, Ross Gilbertson, Des Lukehurst, Charlie Benham, Mike Vernam, Bob Coles, Mike Sampson, Bruce Edgar, Ted Spittles, Ian Gills, Chris Yeatman, Terry Shearer, Tony George, Colin Sanders, Stan Stevens, Barry Duke, Geoff Penniket, Frank Wendon, John Hibben, Brian Davies, Roland Schofield, Adrian Baker, Mick Steel, Roger Knight, Brian Read, Mike Holt, Dave O'Connor, Dave Percy, Clark Facey, Dene Davies, Ron Edwards, Colin Clark...etc, etc.

 

And if you are a former Romford rider yourself, then we'd be delighted to hear from you, too...

Edited February 18, 2008 by tmc

[Letchy]

We, at Retro Speedway, are now working on a brand new book on Romford Bombers, the second division period of 1969-71.

 

The book will be on sale later this year.

 

As well as providing an entertaining history on that era, it will also feature new and exclusive interviews with many of the ex-Romford riders and management, lots of pictures (many previously unseen), plus reviews of the three seasons in questions, right up to the sad closure. And for the anoraks, there will be a stats section, too.

 

We also want YOUR memories of past meetings at Brooklands, which will form the fans' memories section of the book.

 

So, either via this forum thread, or by email to me at editorial@retro-speedway.com . . . please let's have your memories - good and bad - about speedway at Romford. It could be a memorable race/meeting, your favourite rider and why, or something quirky about the place and what Thursday nights at this old track meant to you personally. Where you stood, the people you met, the characters of Romford Speedway.

 

The best, most interesting and entertaining submissions we receive will appear in the book itself, so there's a chance for you to see your name in lights in a book to further preserve the great name and history of ROMFORD BOMBERS!

 

So come on, let's hear from you...

 

Remember those names (inc Rochester Bombers)...Kevin Holden, Phil Woodcock, Brian Foote, Ross Gilbertson, Des Lukehurst, Charlie Benham, Mike Vernam, Bob Coles, Mike Sampson, Bruce Edgar, Ted Spittles, Ian Gills, Chris Yeatman, Terry Shearer, Tony George, Colin Sanders, Stan Stevens, Barry Duke, Geoff Penniket, Frank Wendon, John Hibben, Brian Davies, Roland Schofield, Adrian Baker, Mick Steel, Roger Knight, Brian Read, Mike Holt, Dave O'Connor, Dave Percy, Clark Facey, Dene Davies, Ron Edwards, Colin Clark...etc, etc.

 

And if you are a former Romford rider yourself, then we'd be delighted to hear from you, too...

 

 

I used to do second halves at Romford in 1970- Thursday night was always Romford night as I was just living in North London. Used to get lost every time looking for Brooklands Stadium. The pit area was horrible, covered in a sort of sooty gravel! If you dropped anything it was lost forever! I used to have to beg Pete Lansdale for a ride every week! It was a funny shape around the footbal pitch and that concrete wall always got my full attention as it was about thigh height! The surface was always great though, a little slick which suited my JAP just fine. The bloke I used to love watching around there was Ian Gills- Jeeeez he used to ride it well! The fans were always great down there and I couldn't believe that I signed so many autographs being just a second halfer! I remember I always used to hook up with Snowey Beatie who used to ride his Cezeta Scoota down there every week. One of my regular socond half mates was Ronnie Edwards who used to go there with his wife(Chris?) I remember one night at Romford after the meeting when I caught up with the Japanese rider Jimmy Ogisu whom I had known from Australia. He was over for the Wimbledon Internationale. A great guy. Charlie Benham was a great guy and used to come up and see me regularly at Stoke Mandeville Hospital after I had a bit of an off at Rye House that year. So many good memories of that place and the terrific people who made it. I think I even won a race there one night! A real shame it didn't last any longer than it did.

[Sotonian]

Charlie Benham was a great guy and used to come up and see me regularly at Stoke Mandeville Hospital after I had a bit of an off at Rye House that year.

To describe such a life-changing event for you as 'a bit of an off' sums up the humility which I have found to be typical of all riders I've met.

 

[cityrebel]

We, at Retro Speedway, are now working on a brand new book on Romford Bombers, the second division period of 1969-71.

 

The book will be on sale later this year.

 

As well as providing an entertaining history on that era, it will also feature new and exclusive interviews with many of the ex-Romford riders and management, lots of pictures (many previously unseen), plus reviews of the three seasons in questions, right up to the sad closure. And for the anoraks, there will be a stats section, too.

 

We also want YOUR memories of past meetings at Brooklands, which will form the fans' memories section of the book.

 

So, either via this forum thread, or by email to me at editorial@retro-speedway.com . . . please let's have your memories - good and bad - about speedway at Romford. It could be a memorable race/meeting, your favourite rider and why, or something quirky about the place and what Thursday nights at this old track meant to you personally. Where you stood, the people you met, the characters of Romford Speedway.

 

The best, most interesting and entertaining submissions we receive will appear in the book itself, so there's a chance for you to see your name in lights in a book to further preserve the great name and history of ROMFORD BOMBERS!

 

So come on, let's hear from you...

 

Remember those names (inc Rochester Bombers)...Kevin Holden, Phil Woodcock, Brian Foote, Ross Gilbertson, Des Lukehurst, Charlie Benham, Mike Vernam, Bob Coles, Mike Sampson, Bruce Edgar, Ted Spittles, Ian Gills, Chris Yeatman, Terry Shearer, Tony George, Colin Sanders, Stan Stevens, Barry Duke, Geoff Penniket, Frank Wendon, John Hibben, Brian Davies, Roland Schofield, Adrian Baker, Mick Steel, Roger Knight, Brian Read, Mike Holt, Dave O'Connor, Dave Percy, Clark Facey, Dene Davies, Ron Edwards, Colin Clark...etc, etc.

 

And if you are a former Romford rider yourself, then we'd be delighted to hear from you, too...

i went there once in 1970, my dad took me to see the czechs ride. my two most vivid memorys are the bridge going over the pits and getting smothered in shale standing on the first bend. i was too young to realise that low wall meant no protection!.