cityrebel Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 any memories of my favourite track as a child, west ham's custom house stadium. here we are some 36 years since it's closure, and i'm still mourning the loss of one of the greatest tracks in the sports history. in my opinion on a par with the demise of hyde road in 1987. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC! Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 any memories of my favourite track as a child, west ham's custom house stadium. here we are some 36 years since it's closure, and i'm still mourning the loss of one of the greatest tracks in the sports history. in my opinion on a par with the demise of hyde road in 1987. There is a news report of the closure on ITN Source presented by a very young John Stapleton (now on GMTV). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Have you seen CHK's site: Here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Custom House Kid Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 (edited) A great loss to the sport imagine the east of England showground track with wider bends and straights and better prepared. Surrounded by a main two tiered stand with bars and corporate accommodation on the home straight, covered stand on the back straight and a ground capacity in excess of 90,000. Good transport links and in the heart of the capital city. I have many wonderful memories some sad, some funny and some ecstatic a period in my life I will remember with great fondness. Watching Sverre, hugging the fence. The night my mum sprayed a Dons Fan with coke by mistake, much to the amusement of a little lad. Stan the man beating Briggo. The night poor Dave Wills lost his Life The triple crown in 65 The loss of the team in Belgium and the fantastic hot dogs on the back straight that seemed to sag either end of a large roll. Those were the days! Edited March 16, 2008 by Custom House Kid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 My greatest memory was being there for Christer Lofqvist's debut, scoring 7 points against tmy beloved Dons... Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhamboy66 Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 My greatest memory was being there for Christer Lofqvist's debut, scoring 7 points against tmy beloved Dons... Steve Yep I remember Gordon Parkins lifting Christer's hand aloft boxing referee fashion prior to the meeting My favourite Hammer a bit rough and ready at the time but how he had matured bu the time he got to Poole ...a great entertainer Another of my memories was the bloke who came into the car park inside the stadium astride a massive Harley Davidson. Always attracted a lot of interest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted March 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2009 seeing as there is a lot of talk about london speedway at the moment, i thought i would refresh my topic on my top track as a child west ham. any more memories anyone?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted March 11, 2009 Report Share Posted March 11, 2009 I have many great memories of Custom House=the lights over the track-much better atmosphere than floodlights- the British Final(rerun) 1965, a GB vs. Poland test in 1966-as I recall Colin Pratt was top scorer for England.British Final 1967 where Rick France amazingly got thru to the World Final but Terry Betts didn't.Also my last ever WH meeting on Aug 6th in 1968-before I emigrated from UK following Saturday(Aug 10th).It was the Nordic -British Final and Barry Briggs was eliminated big upset.Rainy night as I recall. In 2006- on a visit to UK-I caught the underground to Plaistow and walked down my usual route to where the old stadium was(Greengate Lane etc) for old times sake.Believe me this was not the East End I remembered, I got on the LRT just past the stadium site and was glad to get back to Central London.It was in the evening and to be frank I felt like an alien.The UK I recall has disappeared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andout Posted March 13, 2009 Report Share Posted March 13, 2009 That is one thing I have never been able to do in my visits to England Bob...and this is go to Plaistow and do the walk to the Stadium as I did every week until the closure in '72. Many many good memories from those days, "Customhousekid" hit many of them. My worst memory was of course the Lokeren Disaster....I was in Holland at the time and watched those two meeting, talked to some of the riders....imagine my horror listening to Dutch radio the next morning. This year is going to be wonderful....I have made contact after 40 years with some of the people I used to go to West Ham with and all their away meetings, we have not seen each other for all those years......we are meeting in July at probably Lakeside.....can't wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted March 13, 2009 Report Share Posted March 13, 2009 Thanx Roger-have a good trip to UK but hope to see you at Paris sometime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Custom House Kid Posted March 14, 2009 Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 That is one thing I have never been able to do in my visits to England Bob...and this is go to Plaistow and do the walk to the Stadium as I did every week until the closure in '72. Many many good memories from those days, "Customhousekid" hit many of them. My worst memory was of course the Lokeren Disaster....I was in Holland at the time and watched those two meeting, talked to some of the riders....imagine my horror listening to Dutch radio the next morning. This year is going to be wonderful....I have made contact after 40 years with some of the people I used to go to West Ham with and all their away meetings, we have not seen each other for all those years......we are meeting in July at probably Lakeside.....can't wait. Get in touch it would be nice to meet you I always stand on the backstraight at Lakeside as I did at Custom House until they pulled it down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobC Posted March 14, 2009 Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 Yep I remember Gordon Parkins lifting Christer's hand aloft boxing referee fashion prior to the meeting My favourite Hammer a bit rough and ready at the time but how he had matured bu the time he got to Poole ...a great entertainer Another of my memories was the bloke who came into the car park inside the stadium astride a massive Harley Davidson. Always attracted a lot of interest Little Christer is still my ALL TIME favourite.Used to keep in touch with his son Dennis until a few years ago. Only made it to Custom House twice.Huge place,and some great action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Dyer Posted March 15, 2009 Report Share Posted March 15, 2009 What a great venue. Remember going their one wet and windy Bank Holiday Monday afternoon when the Hammers beat Leicester Lions 40-38 in a last heat decider. Must have been 1969/70. Sat right at the back of the stand on the fourth bend - riders were the size of ants! Seem to remember Dave Lanning as promotor, Dave Jessup riding as a young novice and then going on to Wimledon for an evening meeting. Happy Days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
25yearfan Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 Great big massive iconic stadium that like others should of been preserved and turned into a multi purpose venue featuring speedway of course! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I recall the lighting-not floodlights but they were like strings of lightbulbs over the track-is that right or is my memory failing me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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