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My First Meeting


SHALEWAY69

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As a matter of interest is there anybody out there who was also at my first meeting on 13 June 1964 at Somerton Park???Probably not but no harm in asking.

Bloody Hell, Bob! I can't remember last week, let alone 44 years ago, but I was probably there near the start/finish line with me Donovan Cap and me home-made clipboard. I've changed a bit since then but so you may not recognise me!!

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As a matter of interest is there anybody out there who was also at my first meeting on 13 June 1964 at Somerton Park???Probably not but no harm in asking.

No was not there in 1964, but do remember going there with Hackney in 1971, I remember Garry Middleton and Sandor Levai having a reall old ding dong, trying to knock each other off, elbows and boots and it continued long after the race. was a lively night cannot recall who won!

 

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As a matter of interest is there anybody out there who was also at my first meeting on 13 June 1964 at Somerton Park???Probably not but no harm in asking.

 

I was there that night, but my first meeting was the very first one on 17 April v Cradley Heath. We lost 38~40, and I stood on the third bend near the Railway End with my Dad, my younger brother and 10,000 others. I had never, ever seen anything like it, and I couldn't get enough of it!

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Thanx 2nd bender-it must have been a great sight to see Ivor Brown on his first visit-he was always a guy we loved to hate, but was agreat rider. To my friend in Darwin Bigfatdave-did you go on away supportes bus trips with some of your buddies e.g. to Swindon in 65 and did you work at a factory in CwmbranDo you guys remember the old song:

 

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Thanx 2nd bender-it must have been a great sight to see Ivor Brown on his first visit-he was always a guy we loved to hate, but was agreat rider. To my friend in Darwin Bigfatdave-did you go on away supportes bus trips with some of your buddies e.g. to Swindon in 65 and did you work at a factory in CwmbranDo you guys remember the old song:

 

Ivor didn't mean anything to me in that first meeting, but he sure did in later years! All I can really remember is Peter Vandenberg breaking his arm. My Dad didn't keep the programme, but I picked one up at a Collectors Fair years later.

 

Yes, I can remember every word of the first verse of the song, sung to 'John Brown's Body' (were there other verses?). But I'm not going to embarass myself by quoting them on here! (I was only 11 in '64).

 

Main Man will probably remember it too......!

 

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2nd bender No problem -here it is:(tune of John Brown's Body)

"Newport has a speedway team,it is our pride and joy

Its led by Alby Golden and he's backed by six good boys

Their nickname is the wasps and as they ride to victory

The crowd all roar with glee

 

Glory Glory to the black and amber boys

Glory glory to the black and amber boys " etc etc

 

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Thanx 2nd bender-it must have been a great sight to see Ivor Brown on his first visit-he was always a guy we loved to hate, but was agreat rider. To my friend in Darwin Bigfatdave-did you go on away supportes bus trips with some of your buddies e.g. to Swindon in 65 and did you work at a factory in CwmbranDo you guys remember the old song:

I did a couple of away trips; Cradley stands out and Poole, and played a couple of games of Rugby for GKN, - I think they were in Cwmbran, also played for BNS up in Pontypool but its a while ago now, sport! :unsure:

Omigod the Song!! :oops: That brings it back!! :lol:

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New Cross-Hackney 1963 can't remember the score .. perhaps Norb can help ? I was a 7-year-old from Peckham S.E.15.

Was at the last match at The Pan when the Rangers went down the pan v.Poole .

Then started following Wimbledon as the only team in sarf London..couldn't bring myself to follow West Ham or Hackney norf of the river , or the two other W clubs,Wembley and White City, who rode in later years . Moved to Swindon in '67 . :blink:

Edited by keef
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I think the match against Poole was the last ever Speedway at New Cross track. I think they folded a few days later :shock:

Don't make my cry, Bryan.... :sad:

 

Anyway, you are right. The last match at New Cross was against Poole on 2 August 1963. The Rangers raced an away fixture at Poole three days later on 5 August and then that was it.

 

Incidentally the last rider ever to win a race at the Frying Pan was my old mate, Stan Stevens. Jimmy Squibb was last in the race and therefore the last rider ever to cross the finishing line at New Cross in a competitive race (there were some junior practice laps after the meeting finished, so I don't know who was actually the last rider to cross the line).

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First meeting of Newcastle's 1962 season. Never went in 1961, although I could hear the bikes from my house. Went with a friend, had no idea what it was all about, but it only took one race.

From that day my favourite rider was Brian Craven who for years had I thought won heat 1. It wasn't until years later when I was cataloguing programmes I realised that honour went to George Glen of all people, no doubt shepherded home by Gil Goldfinch in second.

 

April 23 1962

 

NEWCASTLE 47

 

Goldfinch 9

Glen 9

Craven 12

Penniket 1

Wilkinson 10

Dent 3

Andrew(s) 3

 

BRADFORD 31

 

Roper 4

Jenkins 3

Hickman 8

Bruce 1

Pymar 7

Day 2

Gerrard 6

Edited by jackofdiamonds
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anybody know what gil :rolleyes: goldfinch or g. penniket are doing these days :rolleyes:

Sadly Gil Goldfinch passed away a few years back. Cannot help with Geoff but believe he is still living in the south of England.

Tony

 

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june 1971 dragged down to poole speedway by my parent(i was a football mad 12 y.o.) to see some one called barry briggs

stood on the corner got covered in shale briggo fell off whilst a mile in front mike cake won the race reidar eide 2nd poole won 40-38 the teams

poole swindon

reidar eide barry briggs

mike cake pete munday

pete smith mike broadbank

bo wirebrand mike keen

odd fossengen martin ashby

john langfeild clive hitch

derek cook jimmy gallagher

i was hooked straight away and the rest is history as they say

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  • 7 years later...

Never mind Norman, you have since been educated to the fact that Ove Fundin became & still is the greatest speedway rider this earth has or will ever know about

My first meeting was at Norwich in 1946 when my dad took me, 6 and a half years old, to see the opening match against Sheffield. Just imagine seeing Bert Spencer & Tommy Allott on a first visit. These two remained in my memory as they were two of my heroes of the 40s Second Division. Tommy was one of the very few who could match white line leg trailer, Bert Spencer at the Firs Stadium. Then there were Wilf Jay, Paddy Mills & Ted Bravery together with Roy Duke & Donnie Houghton in the Stars team against Tommy Bateman, Stan Williams & Jack D White for the Tigers. It is no wonder I was hooked on Speedway for ever.

You have mentioned my Grandfather in the Riders line-up Don Houghton. I have lots of background information which I have researched if you or anyone one would like to know more. I am happy to share. Please contact me for more info :) - Allison HOUGHTON - Adelaide, AUSTRALIA

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