Dietbowers 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. Oh yes,thank the Lord they closed down,it was disgusting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 (edited) Although I was only there once, the old Belle Vue made a real impression on me. I was taken by the decaying splendour of the place - the old stands, the big pacy track and the mural over the entrance overlooking the second bend. Also the surrounding area which in the 1980s was in serious decline - the old exhibition halls out the back and derelict pubs on Hyde Road itself. It just had something. Thank god I visited it before it closed. I feel genuinely privileged having done so, and it's something no-one under twenty years of age will have experienced. If British speedway had a "mecca" then Hyde Road was surely it. I remember the first think I looked for when I got into the stand was the drains on the inside of the kerb. I'd read that one of them had seriously injured Peter Collins a few years earlier when he rode over it. Sure enough they were still there, but neat and tidy and well away from the edge of the track. What'e there now? A crappy car auction and a boring multiplex. This is progress? Graham. Edited April 1, 2008 by Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Exactly that! The two undisputed top smells in the world together!!! A precious childhood memory :-) Could not agree more. :approve: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Although I was only there once, the old Belle Vue made a real impression on me. I was taken by the decaying splendour of the place - the old stands, the big pacy track and the mural over the entrance overlooking the second bend. Also the surrounding area which in the 1980s was in serious decline - the old exhibition halls out the back and derelict pubs on Hyde Road itself. It just had something. Thank god I visited it before it closed. I feel genuinely privileged having done so, and it's something no-one under twenty years of age will have experienced. If British speedway had a "mecca" then Hyde Road was surely it. I remember the first think I looked for when I got into the stand was the drains on the inside of the kerb. I'd read that one of them had seriously injured Peter Collins a few years earlier when he rode over it. Sure enough they were still there, but neat and tidy and well away from the edge of the track. What'e there now? A crappy car auction and a boring multiplex. This is progress? Graham. i've always felt the same about west ham. watching speedway at custom house and hyde road was like being in a living museum. no other tracks have made the same impression on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulco Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 (edited) I loved Coatbridge . Ok the stadium was probably the worst ever to hold speedway , but the track with the huge bankings was brilliant . As for away tracks - as has been said previously - the Somerset track stands out a mile . Edited April 2, 2008 by Paulco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Although I was only there once, the old Belle Vue made a real impression on me. Graham. Definitely one of the best that is no longer in existence. I went there for about 2 seasons just before the team moved to Kirky Lane and it always had a special atmosphere. Mind you, I took the girlfriend (now wife of 20 years) there a few times so that might have something to do with it. Only went to Cradley once (in 1984), but it was memorable because Wimbledon ended their long unbeaten run in the league. Amazing places no longer with us that I visited include Park Road, Barrow, Crayford's tiny track (that'll start Bryn off) & Castleford. I have a few favourites currently but if I was forced to pick one it would probably be Newport. The riders apparently hate it but I have never seen a bad meeting there . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulco Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 I have a few favourites currently but if I was forced to pick one it would probably be Newport. The riders apparently hate it but I have never seen a bad meeting there . Funny you should say that because i'm the same . Newport does come in for some critisism ( unfair in my book ) , but any time i've been there the speedway has been excellent . Ok Newport v Glasgow meetings are usually highly charged events and it's easy to get carried away with it all , but i've been to a couple of Welsh Opens as well and both have been terrific . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyclone Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 (edited) Hyde Road was the best away venue for racing and atmosphere. Another venue I enjoyed going to was East Boldon during the Jack Millen era as the racing was so unpredictable. Edited April 2, 2008 by cyclone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted April 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 HalifaxTiger/Paulco are you talking about the new Newport or the old one(Somerton Park) I'm talking about the old one-P.S. to Railway end -don't recall the smell you mentioned-but the street I recall in Hackney was Carpenters Rd., the street of a thousand smells.Cradley is still top in my book-as someone said a real speedway stadium in a real speedway area and real dedicated speedway fans!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keef Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Used to enjoy Wimbledon Hackney West Ham and New Cross...currently Coventry and Worky are good stadiums for viewing . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dietbowers Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 HalifaxTiger/Paulco are you talking about the new Newport or the old one(Somerton Park) I'm talking about the old one-P.S. to Railway end -don't recall the smell you mentioned-but the street I recall in Hackney was Carpenters Rd., the street of a thousand smells.Cradley is still top in my book-as someone said a real speedway stadium in a real speedway area and real dedicated speedway fans!! BOBBATH,they are referring to the new track,and as for your second point about the smell from the park,believe me,if you had smelt it,you do`nt forget it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 Leicester was always an enjoyable track to visit as was Hyde Road. Others I liked were the Southern Area League tracks, Rustic but homely, and a great bunch of people involved at each of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhamboy66 Posted June 7, 2008 Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 As a Rye supporter I may surprise you and say Sheffield. Great track when you have riders who know how to ride the place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbin' Along Posted June 7, 2008 Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 I have wonderful memories of quite a few tracks. Mt favourites were Kings Lynn, Halifax, Sheffield, Belle Vue (Hyde Road). I liked different tracks for different reasons - Cradley was a bit of a dump compared to others, but the bar was friendly and the pork and suffing sandwiches brilliant. I didn't much like Hackney as a track, but I always loved the journey back - the coach always made the trip along the Embankment. I liked the stadium at Wimbledon, but not the track itself. I can't remember if it was Stoke or Long Eaton where you could park the car trackside and watch the meeting. Talking of smells - anyone else remember standing at Kings Lynn with the stink of the beet factory wafting over you, and the wind straight from the North Sea cutting straight through you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted June 7, 2008 Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 I can't remember if it was Stoke or Long Eaton where you could park the car trackside and watch the meeting. Both I think. Definitely at Stoke and you can still do that now and the other half says cars could be parked along the back straight at Station Road because he remembers the lights flashing if a Long Eaton rider won. I wish I could recall these things but obviously my brain only stores up really useful information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhamboy66 Posted June 21, 2008 Report Share Posted June 21, 2008 (edited) Both I think. Definitely at Stoke and you can still do that now and the other half says cars could be parked along the back straight at Station Road because he remembers the lights flashing if a Long Eaton rider won. I wish I could recall these things but obviously my brain only stores up really useful information. Yes both stoke and long eaton. I have to say that i smuggled my kids in via the boot once when times were hard! Edited June 21, 2008 by westhamboy66 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 my brain only stores up really useful information. Ideal for the next Speedway Eggheads team then, Gem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oddfossengen Posted July 7, 2008 Report Share Posted July 7, 2008 (edited) cant belive no one has mentioned southampton or exeter ,southampton was known as the wembley of the west an exceptional stadium and complex and exeter for sheer thrill value no where else comes near it in my eyes Edited July 7, 2008 by oddfossengen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinders Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 How about a mention for Trelawnys Moto Parc surely a unique setting in that clay pit ,remember that goat always tied to the post out at the enterance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mervjankefanclub Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 cant belive no one has mentioned southampton or exeter ,southampton was known as the wembley of the west an exceptional stadium and complex and exeter for sheer thrill value no where else comes near it in my eyes i remember my first and only visit to the county ground when i was a youngster now bearing in mind i was used to the blantyre tracks at the time you can imagine how shocked i was when i saw this monster with a greyhound track on the inside and a rugby pitch my dad and i watched the main meeting from the back straight up beside the pits but wandered over to the home straight and watched the second half right by the fence idiot me i nearly rubbish a brick when the riders flew past me on the first lap you could feel the drag blowing your hair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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