Bee Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 I cannot agree with your assessment of Alan Sage!! Sagey was, on the contrary, not just a supreme stylist but also a very exciting rider, often fighting from the back to win races at London Rd., where in the early years he was supreme!!!! As for it being on a Saturday night..: well, that indeed would've been highly unusual..! I certainly never went to a Saturday night meeting at Crayford..: but then fair play I didn't see Weymouth there that year in 1978 so that would explain that.. I wonder if it was late season..: in which case that would explain why I missed it (away at Uni..!) and maybe also why it was on a Saturday..?? Quite why/how the ever-present Dogs on a Saturday would've stepped aside to allow Speedway in their slot would be a question I'd ask though..??!!! Come on Bryn or the rather reticent 1st. Bend Kestrel...: do you remember this Saturday night!! And no, 1BK...: Saturday Night is NOT for fighting!!!! I would travel down to Crayford from Coventry by train in the 70's and then train out to Crayford. Wasn't a regulr there by any means, but went along a few times when riders connected with Coventry in National League were in action. The stadium as you say was excellent. Don't think anyone can have any problems re that. I recall Alan Sage well at Crayford the guy was very good around there.... But! I thought the track was awful with what appearred to be 'dips' in the bend. Standing at one bend I recall when they went into the first corner the dip meant you lost view of the riders all but their helmets and top half. Often felt that the drainage may have been a problem on wet nights as a result of the dips in the corners. Just my thoughts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchy Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 Stamford Bridge. I vaguely remember being on a tour of the place in the early 70's (before it's current format existed) and you could still make out the layout of the old track. It must have been brilliant being their for the first floodlit meeting ! Talking of tracks in London, I know it would never happen but watching football from the Emirates stadium with the wide spaces behind each goal and around the pitch makes me wish that you could put a track there - now that would be something (even if the shape wouldn't be ideal) !? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midland Red Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 As a Coventry Kid, I would love to have been around to see Lythalls Lane Like Norbold, Tom Farndon in action anywhere Those I missed : New Cross Harringay Walthamstow Norwich Those I miss : Blackbird Road Custom House Plough Lane as it was Wembley Halifax Hyde Road Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaiser Posted June 24, 2009 Report Share Posted June 24, 2009 Luckly ive been going since 1982 and managed to get too hyde road. One track i never got to was Leicester, most people who ive spoken to always say it was a great track. Feel fortunate that i got too cradley and halifax as both these tracks were great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted June 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2009 Kaiser I can confirm Leicester was a wonderful track to visit-along with the John O'Gaunt pub!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheffieldscot Posted June 27, 2009 Report Share Posted June 27, 2009 For me it would have to be Hyde Road closely followed by Wembley for a world final and The Shay at Halifax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Panda Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 Mine would have to be Hull (The Boulevard) Leicester Canterbury Hackney Milton Keynes Oxford In no particular order RP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asturmer Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 (edited) Yarmouth Speedway! Before Wally Higgs passed away last year, aged ninety one or two, he used to tell me stories about his one season there in 1950, the atmosphere at the track and how families used to invite him over for Sunday lunches which he enjoyed and always remembered! 1950 was still a hard time for many post 1945, and those families would still offer such hospitality! I think the Yarmouth fans would have been very loyal! I,m not sure if Yarmouth speedway was run in Norwich or Gt Yarmouth, can someone let me know? Edited June 30, 2009 by asturmer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 Yarmouth speedway was in Great Yarmouth at Yarmouth Stadium on Caister Road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 (edited) The Norwich connection was Richard (D) Wise who was the Manager of both tracks. He had the honour of unleashing Billy Bales onto an unsuspecting world of Speedway before leaving East Anglia to take over the Cradley Heath promotion. He also staffed his Mariners (Bloaters) team from his spare Norwich riders at the time as no-one would give riders away in them days. Finding & Training riders was the order of the day, not waiting for a "rider control system" to give you a team. Edited June 30, 2009 by star ghost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimmo Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 I would have liked to have seen meetings at Norwich, Stamford Bridge & Yarmouth. Of the current tracks, I've never been to Redcar, so I need to do that sometime. My favourite all-time racetrack was Hackney (Ouch, and I was a Wimbledon supporter in those days!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireblade Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 West Ham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff... Posted July 1, 2009 Report Share Posted July 1, 2009 I would have liked to have seen meetings at Norwich, Stamford Bridge & Yarmouth. Of the current tracks, I've never been to Redcar, so I need to do that sometime. My favourite all-time racetrack was Hackney (Ouch, and I was a Wimbledon supporter in those days!!) Never understood the notion of Hackney being a good racetrack. It always struck me as having only one decent line about a foot from the fence. Any rider with a thought of self preservation simply didn't go there leaving the brave (or foolish) riders to ride round them. That was the only way of passing at Hackney as I recall. The area on the outside of the fence was littered with deadly obstructions and a rider literally took his life in his hands attempting to pass at Hackney. Sadly a few paid the ultimate price round there and it would be nice if some sort of commerative plaque be housed in whatever is eventually built there honouring these men. There is such an arrangement at Meadowbank honouring Peter Craven and I believe the old Sydney Royale site has such a plaque Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted July 1, 2009 Report Share Posted July 1, 2009 i thought hackney pre 1984 was a decent racetrack, although not in the same class as west ham!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyd Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 For me I always wanted to see the racing at West Ham but never managed to get there before it closed. The same goes for the other stadium I wanted to visit and that was the old Belle Vue track. I always wanted to get there and see the B.L.R.C. the line up used to be like a end of season world final with the calabre of the riders present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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