New Wimbledon Speedway Book

[speedyguy]

PUBLISHERS PRESS RELEASE:::::

 

 

NEW WIMBLEDON SPEEDWAY BOOK LAUNCHED

 

'The Pocket Size History of Defunct Speedway Tracks' - WIMBLEDON DONS Special.

 

 

Speed-Away Promotions has launched the second of its books in the popular

Defunct Track series, this time on the legendary Wimbledon Dons.

 

This unique works compiled in the same style of its sister magazine `The

Pocket Size History of Defunct Speedway Tracks,' traces the Dons origins

back to the late 20s and goes in search of some of the speedway legends that

have graced Plough Lane down the years.

 

And there's no bigger Dons icon than the exciting two times World Champion

Ronnie Moore, who during the 50s and 60s was almost unbeatable, at least

around the tiny SW17 circuit.

 

But Moore is just one of a number of Dons greats to be interviewed in this

action packed book.

 

Fifties hero Ron How was a darling on the Dons terraces and throw in the

likes of former World Finalist and 10-year service to the Wimbledon cause,

Trevor Hedge and the ever colourful Scot, Bert Harkins, and you have a

number of Wimbledon favourites who have all been interviewed for this

amazing new book.

 

Oh and we almost forgot, we speak too to six times World Champion Ivan

Mauger who began his track career cleaning out the toilets at Plough Lane -

yes that's right, so check out what he and the others have to say.

 

And we bring you some of the great Dons team photos through the decades and

bring you right up-to-date with the modern era too of Buzz Burrows and his

amazing track exploits.

 

We look back also at many of the Dons seasons with in-depth coverage of

each campaign and dig out some quite incredible Wimbledon stats for you to

enjoy!

 

Recent Chairman Ian Perkin rounds off the book with a candid look back at

his tenure at Plough Lane in a quite revealing interview and with more than

200 photos crammed inside, there is something for everyone in this great

works.

 

Order now in time for your Christmas stocking filler.

 

Softbacks available at £15.99 (POST FREE) from (Cheques/Pos only please -

no credit card facility available): 

Speed-Away Promotions,

19, Arundel Road,

Lytham St. Annes,

Lancashire FY8 1AF.

Tel:01253 733 288

or e-mail at:

oriolecy@btinternet.com

or at

oriolecy@hotmail.com

 

and check out the web site

at: wwwspeed-awaypromotions.co.uk

[salty]

Sounds a similar format to the Cradley one that came out last year. I found that a very interesting read and thought it was very well put together.

Having said that the price is very much on the high side for what is a little more than a booklet.

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Sounds a similar format to the Cradley one that came out last year. I found that a very interesting read and thought it was very well put together.

Having said that the price is very much on the high side for what is a little more than a booklet.

 

With all due respect you're way out here. This IS a proper book and in no way could be described as "little more than a booklet"..!!

[norbold]

With all due respect you're way out here. This IS a proper book and in no way could be described as "little more than a booklet"..!!

Is it as good/better/worse than Ian Perkins's History of Wimbleon Speedway?

 

[speedyguy]

Is it as good/better/worse than Ian Perkins's History of Wimbleon Speedway?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Is it as good/better/worse than Ian Perkins's History of Wimbleon Speedway?

 

It's a different format.

Ian's book was more like your various tomes in being very factual and based in chronological order.

This book is in the style of the 'Defunct ' series (which earlier was more in booklet/magazine form...) being a more varied account including numerous interviews....

 

Just buy it..: you know it makes sense!!!

[norbold]

Just buy it..: you know it makes sense!!!

What? Like you buy all my books!?

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

What? Like you buy all my books!?

 

Well I do try. Why, only the other day I set off to the shops to purchase that modern classic,k "The bus shelters of Frinton" only to encounter a red traffic light and so having to turn back..!

Do you any advice on how I could resolcve this traffic problem..??!!

[salty]

With all due respect you're way out here. This IS a proper book and in no way could be described as "little more than a booklet"..!!

I was talking about the Cradley booklet - not the Wimbledon one as I haven't seen that yet.

Cradley one was £14.99 for 86 pages, which I suggested (in my opinion) wasn't the greatest value.

Maybe our definitions of what constitutes a book may differ....

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

I was talking about the Cradley booklet - not the Wimbledon one as I haven't seen that yet.

Cradley one was £14.99 for 86 pages, which I suggested (in my opinion) wasn't the greatest value.

Maybe our definitions of what constitutes a book may differ....

 

I guess it might and not being involved in it, I didn't actually see the Cradley book..: but surely 86 pages could NEVER be described as a booklet, could it..??!!

[salty]

Well I don't know whether 86 A5 pages could be described as a book either.

Just for comparison some other Speedway books that coincidentally retailed at £14.99 like John Berry's 1st Confessions book ran to over 250 pages.

[speedyguy]

Well I don't know whether 86 A5 pages could be described as a book either.

Just for comparison some other Speedway books that coincidentally retailed at £14.99 like John Berry's 1st Confessions book ran to over 250 pages.

 

 

 

Different publisher, different type of book. One a factual book on a club, the other the memories of a top speedway personality.

[salty]

Different publisher, different type of book. One a factual book on a club, the other the memories of a top speedway personality.

Quite capable of understanding that, thank you.

But the fact remains that one does not compare well with the other in terms of value for money.

 

Just out of interest how many pages does the new Wimbledon book run to?

[speedyguy]

Quite capable of understanding that, thank you.

But the fact remains that one does not compare well with the other in terms of value for money.

 

Just out of interest how many pages does the new Wimbledon book run to?

 

 

 

106 pages - plus cover pages.

[salty]

106 pages - plus cover pages.

Thanks for the info. Hope the content is as well put together as the Cradley one.

[norbold]

"Out of the Frying Pan" is 160 pages for just £12.99.

 

Go on Parsloes, you know it makes sense.

[speedyguy]

From the South London Press, Friday September 19, 2008:

 

RECAPTURING PAST GLORIES

By JOHN HYAM

 

WIMBLEDON DONS

The story of Wimbledon Speedway

Edited by Howard Jones

106 pages, more than 200 photos

£15.99 (post free) from (cheques/postal orders only) Speed-Away Promotions, 19, Arundel Road, Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire FY8 1AF.

 

The first match I saw at Wimbledon on Thursday April 29 1948 actually featured Wembley beating Belle Vue 52-31 in a National League match.

 

This was because Wembley were based at Plough Lane for six weeks while the Empire Stadium was in use for that year’s Olympic Games.

 

But I had seen the Dons in action many times before that when they were visitors to my first speedway love, the now gone but not forgotten New Cross team.

 

In the late 1940s, New Cross were often compared with the Dons - and for most of the time until their closure in early 1953, New Cross held sway over their south London rivals, as they had also done in the pre-war seasons between 1929-39.

 

The book concentrates on a period from the 1950s through until the demise of top-class racing at Plough Lane on June 5 1991. Then, the sport went out on a damp note at the closedown meeting with the match abandoned at heat eight because of rain.

 

But the closedown was no real surprise. Wimbledon had been in decline for years before that. As far back as 1986 there was speculation that it would fold.

 

The book has a bright modern feel. There are many excellent team photos - going back as far as 1931 which feature great riders such as Vic Huxley and Ray Tauser.

 

There are also photos of two riders who I regard as being the most spectacular in post-war years to have worn the club’s race-jacket. They are that great legtrail-style rider Oliver Hart and the hustle-bustle thrillmaker Lloyd ‘Cowboy’ Goffe. In the days when tracks were deep cinder surfaces rather than the shale of modern times, their spectacle has never been repeated.

 

The ‘Wimbledon Dons’ book gives an insight from the days when speedway was a mainstream sport to the lesser dimensions of the ill-fated venture into Conference League racing between 2002-05. It is well worth a library place.

Edited September 19, 2008 by speedyguy

[iris123]

From the South London Press, Friday September 19, 2008:

 

RECAPTURING PAST GLORIES

By JOHN HYAM

 

WIMBLEDON DONS

The story of Wimbledon Speedway

Edited by Howard Jones

106 pages, more than 200 photos

£15.99 (post free) from (cheques/postal orders only) Speed-Away Promotions, 19, Arundel Road, Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire FY8 1AF.

 

The first match I saw at Wimbledon on Thursday April 29 1948 actually featured Wembley beating Belle Vue 52-31 in a National League match.

 

This was because Wembley were based at Plough Lane for six weeks while the Empire Stadium was in use for that year’s Olympic Games.

 

But I had seen the Dons in action many times before that when they were visitors to my first speedway love, the now gone but not forgotten New Cross team.

 

In the late 1940s, New Cross were often compared with the Dons - and for most of the time until their closure in early 1953, New Cross held sway over their south London rivals, as they had also done in the pre-war seasons between 1929-39.

 

The book concentrates on a period from the 1950s through until the demise of top-class racing at Plough Lane on June 5 1991. Then, the sport went out on a damp note at the closedown meeting with the match abandoned at heat eight because of rain.

 

But the closedown was no real surprise. Wimbledon had been in decline for years before that. As far back as 1986 there was speculation that it would fold.

 

The book has a bright modern feel. There are many excellent team photos - going back as far as 1931 which feature great riders such as Vic Huxley and Ray Tauser.

 

There are also photos of two riders who I regard as being the most spectacular in post-war years to have worn the club’s race-jacket. They are that great legtrail-style rider Oliver Hart and the hustle-bustle thrillmaker Lloyd ‘Cowboy’ Goffe. In the days when tracks were deep cinder surfaces rather than the shale of modern times, their spectacle has never been repeated.

 

The ‘Wimbledon Dons’ book gives an insight from the days when speedway was a mainstream sport to the lesser dimensions of the ill-fated venture into Conference League racing between 2002-05. It is well worth a library place.

Doesn't really say much there apart from a potted history of of where you watched speedway and who was the better team out of New X & Wimbledon.....

 

"A bright modern feel" And telling us about a few photos that were in it.Oh well,i guess "It is well worth a library place" will have to do

[speedyguy]

Doesn't really say much there apart from a potted history of of where you watched speedway and who was the better team out of New X & Wimbledon.....

 

"A bright modern feel" And telling us about a few photos that were in it.Oh well,i guess "It is well worth a library place" will have to do

 

It also debates that taxed theme of the Dons 'most spectacular rider' - at least? And raises the vexed question - did the sport REALLY die at Plough Lane in 1986? Remember space is at a premium in a local newspaper - when there are football teams like Crystal Palace, Charlton, Millwall and AFC Wimbledon plus several more senior clubs, boxers and rugby union also jostling for space.

[iris123]

It also debates that taxed theme of the Dons 'most spectacular rider' - at least? And raises the vexed question - did the sport REALLY die at Plough Lane in 1986? Remember space is at a premium in a local newspaper - when there are football teams like Crystal Palace, Charlton, Millwall and AFC Wimbledon plus several more senior clubs, boxers and rugby union also jostling for space.

I can understand and fully sympathise with Millwall and local boxers getting space.We all want to hear how the guys at Lynn,Fisher and Fitzroy Lodge are doing.Fail to see why those other teams and rugby get any though