The Old Chap Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 First posting, of three, so go easy on me please! ESSINGTON Just north east of Wolverhampton in early 1950s. Rural in those days. This was a practise track on a farm. Very rough red shale surface with really only room for one rider at a time. Used by Wolverhampton riders, maybe others. Certainly vegetation (trees/shrubs) in the centre of the track; possibly a building, too. Open to the public only if they knew about it - never advertised. No safety fence, refreshments or other niceties. Any one remember this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Chap Posted January 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Near BREMEN, Germany. This would be either summer 1954 or 1955. I was stationed for my National Service in this part of Germany (Delmenhorst, actually) during this period. We heard of a speedway meeting nearby and on the appropriate date a crowd of us went off in the back of a lorry. Lots of German riders but one English - if I ever knew his name I have forgotten it, alas but he was a friendly bloke and seemed pleased to have someone from England to speak to. Individual rider competition, no programme issued but a decent sized crowd. Does this bring back reminiscences for anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Chap Posted January 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Near WOKINGHAM This would be either March 1954 or September 1955. National Service again and I was at a transit camp near Wokingham. A crowd of us heard of a speedway meeting nearby and we went off on foot. I can't remember an entrance to the track, we just walked and suddenly there it was! Can't remember much about the meeting; it was certainly daytime as opposed to evening. This, I feel, must be the easiest of my enquiries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Near WOKINGHAM This would be either March 1954 or September 1955. National Service again and I was at a transit camp near Wokingham. A crowd of us heard of a speedway meeting nearby and we went off on foot. I can't remember an entrance to the track, we just walked and suddenly there it was! Can't remember much about the meeting; it was certainly daytime as opposed to evening. This, I feel, must be the easiest of my enquiries! I guess this one would be California. It was operating in the Southern Area League in 1954 and 1955. The team included Gil Goldfinch, Bob Andrews, Tom Sweetman, Eric Hockaday, Pete Mould, Jim Gleed and Ross Gilbertson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sotonian Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Near BREMEN, Germany. This would be either summer 1954 or 1955. I was stationed for my National Service in this part of Germany (Delmenhorst, actually) during this period. We heard of a speedway meeting nearby and on the appropriate date a crowd of us went off in the back of a lorry. Lots of German riders but one English - if I ever knew his name I have forgotten it, alas but he was a friendly bloke and seemed pleased to have someone from England to speak to. Individual rider competition, no programme issued but a decent sized crowd. Does this bring back reminiscences for anyone? It may have been Ron Walton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Ridgeon Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 First posting, of three, so go easy on me please! ESSINGTON Just north east of Wolverhampton in early 1950s. Rural in those days. This was a practise track on a farm. Very rough red shale surface with really only room for one rider at a time. Used by Wolverhampton riders, maybe others. Certainly vegetation (trees/shrubs) in the centre of the track; possibly a building, too. Open to the public only if they knew about it - never advertised. No safety fence, refreshments or other niceties. Any one remember this? Welcome to the forum Old Chap (that's got a good ring to it don't you think?!) I'm too young to have heard about this track but as my dad is Wolvo born and bred I'll see if he has any memories! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesterdaysman Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 The Essington "track" was at Manor Farm run by the Simkin family. The two sons used to ride an old Excelsior round there in the 50's and a few hopefulls in the area would turn up at week ends for a thrash round. One or two later made the grade and If you go to the "brummiespeedway site" look up Tribute to Derek Timms you will find story and pictures. Well worth a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Chap Posted January 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 The Essington "track" was at Manor Farm run by the Simkin family. The two sons used to ride an old Excelsior round there in the 50's and a few hopefulls in the area would turn up at week ends for a thrash round. One or two later made the grade and If you go to the "brummiespeedway site" look up Tribute to Derek Timms you will find story and pictures. Well worth a look. Yes, spot on! It was certainly a Sunday morning when we used to go pedalling our bikes from Wolverhampton probably around 1950-52. Thanks a lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parklife Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 Bardney near Lincoln, I think a training track used by Peter Boast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesterdaysman Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Ferndown! (Not Matchams Park) In the New Forest. You turned in, just like a hole in the hedge, up a forestry track 'til you came to a clearing, and there it was! Don't know how we ever found it really, end of the '50's it was. I have some pics of it I'll try to get on, (when the kids come home,: and have time for "Fathers pontsing about in the past") :lol: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Near BREMEN, Germany. This would be either summer 1954 or 1955. I was stationed for my National Service in this part of Germany (Delmenhorst, actually) during this period. We heard of a speedway meeting nearby and on the appropriate date a crowd of us went off in the back of a lorry. Lots of German riders but one English - if I ever knew his name I have forgotten it, alas but he was a friendly bloke and seemed pleased to have someone from England to speak to. Individual rider competition, no programme issued but a decent sized crowd. Does this bring back reminiscences for anyone? My guess is it was Ron Walton, who rode in many German meetings at this time while serving in the army. Ron was later at Southampton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Near WOKINGHAM This would be either March 1954 or September 1955. National Service again and I was at a transit camp near Wokingham. A crowd of us heard of a speedway meeting nearby and we went off on foot. I can't remember an entrance to the track, we just walked and suddenly there it was! Can't remember much about the meeting; it was certainly daytime as opposed to evening. This, I feel, must be the easiest of my enquiries! This could only have been the well-known California Poppies. They had some good riders like Bob Andrews, Eric Hockaday, Jimmy Gleed, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 This could only have been the well-known California Poppies. They had some good riders like Bob Andrews, Eric Hockaday, Jimmy Gleed, I think I'm suffering from deja vu! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sotonian Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 My guess is it was Ron Walton, who rode in many German meetings at this time while serving in the army. Ron was later at Southampton. You obviously missed my post but I'm glad you agree with me Speedyguy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 You obviously missed my post but I'm glad you agree with me Speedyguy. Not just your post! But I'm glad he agrees with me as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Not just your post! But I'm glad he agrees with me as well. What happens I just read a first reference then answer. That's how I managed to duplicate things. ie Ron Walton and the California Poppies. At least I can say I was there (most meetings). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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