BOBBATH Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 OK I was a Newport person-but my favorite away track was definitely Cradley Heath. Why? Because of the great people.I recall going there in Oct 1964 on a supporters coach for the 2nd leg of the PL Knockout Cup-Newport lost the meeting but won by 2 pts. on aggregate.After the meeting we all went to a pub near by-would anyone recall the likely name?? -it was full of Speedway people and they were great. CH was always special to Newport-the opening meeting in 64 was against CH(we lost 38-40)-everyone hated Ivor Brown and CH in general-but the CH people were wonderful. There was nice food at the stadium(pork sandwiches??)-it was a misty October night in 64 and everything was perfect-I went back several times to CH-the last for old times sake in the 90's from Canada. Not the same tho'-too many ghosts present.In the sixties weren't there stone seats in front of the bar near the pits??.I regret greatly the loss of Cradley speedway and its wonderful history. Having said that I think the classiest track I visited was Sheffield(are u there TigerTom)-perfectly prepared-again super people.Anyone else have memories of favorite tracks visited-I realise its too much to hope for that any away fans would recall Somerton Park with affection-but you must admit that there was wonderful camaraderie among speedway supporters of that era-home and away. I would be particularly interested in Railwayend's thoughts on this-plus of course all the usuals(even you Brian Hamilton!!!!!!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 I miss Halifax, and the Shay, with its steep banking's, the place was a bit of a dump, but the racing was very very exciting, and the riders got close to the fence I swear that you could see the white's of there eyes as they went passed. Nowadays I don't think that you could have a Halifax anybody more the health and safety would not allow it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Evans Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Somerset every time, can't get to that place enough.......would love to see the Elite boys going round there.. Â Of the teams that are no longer around i would say Halifax & Cradley were my favourites.. Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kryten Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Cradley & Bradford but what I really miss is weekend tracks and the manic days out we used to all have before arriving at the away track:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 I miss Wimbledon, Hackney and Harringay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 My "home tracks" would be Belle Vue's Hyde Road and Exeter's County Gound..both very special places for very different reasons. But of the rest, I loved the Shay - great atmosphere, Owlerton was another great place to visit (is the bakery still there on the road down to the track by the way?), King's Lynn is a top track, I've never seen a bad meeting at Wolverhampton either, Somerset is also a smashing venue. There is also something special about Brandon too. Not sure what it is, but I always feel as if I'm going to a true speedway venue there and not a greyhound stadium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Hamilton Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 OK I was a Newport person-but my favorite away track was definitely Cradley Heath. Why? Because of the great people.I recall going there in Oct 1964 on a supporters coach for the 2nd leg of the PL Knockout Cup-Newport lost the meeting but won by 2 pts. on aggregate.After the meeting we all went to a pub near by-would anyone recall the likely name?? -it was full of Speedway people and they were great. CH was always special to Newport-the opening meeting in 64 was against CH(we lost 38-40)-everyone hated Ivor Brown and CH in general-but the CH people were wonderful. There was nice food at the stadium(pork sandwiches??)-it was a misty October night in 64 and everything was perfect-I went back several times to CH-the last for old times sake in the 90's from Canada. Not the same tho'-too many ghosts present.In the sixties weren't there stone seats in front of the bar near the pits??.I regret greatly the loss of Cradley speedway and its wonderful history. Having said that I think the classiest track I visited was Sheffield(are u there TigerTom)-perfectly prepared-again super people.Anyone else have memories of favorite tracks visited-I realise its too much to hope for that any away fans would recall Somerton Park with affection-but you must admit that there was wonderful camaraderie among speedway supporters of that era-home and away. I would be particularly interested in Railwayend's thoughts on this-plus of course all the usuals(even you Brian Hamilton!!!!!!!!) Have to admit that I never got to CH in the PL days(just collected their programmes) but went on dozens occasions since. Somerton was always popular with me, but I did like Bannister Court when my father took me in around 1963. Â I agree with your sentiments in respect of camaraderie those days, unfortunately whilst there is still no violence in the sport these days, some supporters get very overheated and can be very personal! Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyM Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 I miss Halifax, and the Shay, with its steep banking's, the place was a bit of a dump, but the racing was very very exciting, and the riders got close to the fence I swear that you could see the white's of there eyes as they went passed. Nowadays I don't think that you could have a Halifax anybody more the health and safety would not allow it. Likewise - I used to love going over to the Shay - Bradford was never quite the same somehow. Used to enjoy Coventry and Sheffield at one time too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 (is the bakery still there on the road down to the track by the way?), Â Sorry no the bakery is not there anymore, use to love the smell of bread baking just before you got to smell the bikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 being a lifelong wimbledon fan every venue is an away track. my favorite track as a child has to be west ham. great views, fantastic racing and easy to get autographs. my favorite current track is probably the isle of wight. fast racing and an afternoon at the seaside what could be better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Sorry no the bakery is not there anymore, use to love the smell of bread baking just before you got to smell the bikes. Exactly that! The two undisputed top smells in the world together!!! A precious childhood memory :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodneyparade Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Blackbird Road, Leicester was an excellent track    Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Hamilton Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Blackbird Road, Leicester was an excellent track Must agree there, Blackbird Road was great. Forgot about that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Always liked Hackney and also sunday afternoons at Eastbourne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyM Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 One track I wish I had visited was Halifax they say the banking of the track there was something else.And so it was - amazing to watch any rider going wide on the banking. Nothing remotely like it nowadays, which is a great shame (sigh!) Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 I only got to Cradley once, Leicester once, and Halifax once, but I did enjoy them all, particularly - as has been said - the banking at the Shay. Of the regular away tracks, I used to love going to Hackney (apart from the poxy drive), West Ham, and of course, the old Belle Vue. Hyde Road really was something special. Â Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mervjankefanclub Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 (edited) i also got to cradley once when as a youngster a real speedway stadium in a real speedway area i was down on an fa coaching course in the midlands and one of our treats was a visit to dudley wood which i thoroughly enjoyed although i spent most of my time at the track shop including being there when when the rest of the boys were out on the centre green when one of them won the half time draw i was gutted this was also the same year my dad took me to plough lane on the tigers supporters bus for the nlrc which had a special mystique about it especially being a youngster who had watched his speedway at the the two blantyre tracks  and being a glasgow fan maybe i should whisper this but when i was a boy i used to love going to powderhall wether it was a glorious summers night driving along princess street and smelling the hops from the brewery and the stadium was immaculate and spotless with the manicured centre green or it was a cold dark october night with the fairy lights twinkling in the darkness to be fair the racing wasnt always great and the track lighting was shocking but when youre a young keen collector of old programmes then norries stall under the stand more than made up for this it always puzzzled me why the place never got any of the big bspa events i thought it was a perfect little speedway stadium maybe it was the location up here or the fact that it was a bit of a trick track two meetings that stick in my mind were ivan maugers farewell to scotland and i had never seen the place so packed and the 94 ko cup final against the tigers where again the place was heaving and the atmosphere was electric great days  i was actually working through that way last week and had a wee drive down to see what they put in its place soulless modern flats which look the same all over britain and a few industrial units very sad to see Edited April 1, 2008 by mervjankefanclub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerblade Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Sorry no the bakery is not there anymore, use to love the smell of bread baking just before you got to smell the bikes. Exactly that! The two undisputed top smells in the world together!!! A precious childhood memory :-)  Holds head up in "Aaahhh Bisto" mode  Yes I too have fond memories of that - my mum always liked the smell from the Bassett's factory as well, as she loves liquorice.  I too adored Halifax - the stadium was a dump but I loved the track for all the reasons Spin King has already mentioned. I went to see SUFC reserves there in the mid 90's, purely to visit it, as Leeds were playing reserves games there at that time, and to get to the coffee counter I had to walk along part of the old track on the 3rd and 4th bend area, it was brilliant  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted April 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 I should have mentioned Leicester also-I still think Speedway at night was the most evocative-Sheffield stadium when lit up was beautiful, the lights on the shale etc etc.There was a pub right near Leicester stadium, going from Blacbird Rd I think you went up a little hill, all residential streets and there was a pub a block or so before the main front entrance-anyone remember that? Glad to see CH got a few mentions from others.By the way speaking of smells-there was a street of nasty smells on the way to Hackney-slaughterhouses or something-anyone recall the name of that street?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railway End Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Talking about smells Bob. Do you remember the smell that came from the Old Kem factory on Corper Road? not to far from Somerton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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