California-in-england 2009

[speedyguy]

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

Friends of Speedway are pleased to announce the fourth California-in-England Speedway Reunion on 11th October 2009.

 

The full address is: California Country Park , Nine Mile Ride, Finchampstead, Wokingham , RG40 4HT . This is situated on the B3430 coming from the A322 junction 3 off the M3. There is a large sign at the entrance to the park and car park; then there is a short walk to the display area which will include a selection of machines covering 80 years of speedway.

 

If you have any memorabilia/memories please make your self known to any of the three researchers bearing their name badges. We are still searching for any cine film not only of the racing, but of the park in general that could be loaned to be copied.

 

Also on display will be speedway photographs and team body colours including a reproduction California Poppies one. As an added interest we intend to have a display of riding apparel from the early days up to the present time.

 

Here you will be able to talk with riders (please see their name badges) from the 1950’s California Poppies team. You are invited to ask questions at any time and all officials will be sporting their name badges.

 

Machines will be started at various times during the day; you will smell the intoxicating aroma of Castrol R and Methanol to bring back memories of those earlier un-silenced days of speedway.

 

Part of the presentation will be a guided walk around the park where you can see the original children’s paddling pool from the holiday camp days which has been cleared by Friends of Speedway personnel and part of the railway track that took clay up to the brickworks which is how the lake was formed. You will be able to stand on the concrete start/finish line with marked out starting boxes; for those interested you can walk the racing line (stout footwear recommended) as it is very overgrown.

 

The park offers a wealth of historic interest in itself, plus a cafeteria with toilets including one for the disabled. As part of our ongoing development of the reunion the café has agreed to operate a BBQ in order to cut down queues for food and to give more variety too.

 

The display will be open between 11am ‘till 4pm.

 

For further information please call Stuart Towner on 0208-397 6599 or stuart.towner@blueyonder.co.uk

[arnieg]

Time to bump this back to the top of the list

 

weather forecast OK

[speedyguy]

Time to bump this back to the top of the list

 

weather forecast OK

 

 

Then we must hope that many people will turn up for what is always an enjoyable day. Chance is that I'll have to get the train from Waterloo to Wokingham - then a taxi. I once walked that distance - and enjoyed the pubs on the way. That was in the days when Jim Gleed, Ted Pankhurst (later a stock car champion), George Bason, Pete Mould and Gil Goldfinch were in the side - guess it was 1954.

[speedyguy]

California Reunion 2009

 

SENT BY STU TOWNER, 'Friends of Speedway":

 

The Fourth California Reunion Report

 

The morning of 11th October dawned very damp misty and the organisers were

worried it may put people off of coming along. It didn't really get a lot better

until it was time to clear up and then the sun came out – typical British

weather!

 

They had organised a line-up of speedway machines to span the years that the

sport had been in existence. This year the ice speedway racing bike was included

with an engine. Also something different was a rotary engined grass track

machine to compliment the display. Various machines were started during the

afternoon so that the assembled throng could savour the different sounds from

one era to another and the intoxicating aroma of methanol and Castrol R.

 

By 11am folk had started to drift in and the place began to buzz with people

chatting and meeting up with friends both old and new.

 

As always the reunion was organised by Friends of Speedway and very soon their

stall was busy with enthusiasts looking for a bargain amongst their goodies on

display. They also had a 1970s Jawa speedway bike fitted with a reaction tester

which was great fun especially for the children attending to be able to sit on a

bike and do a dummy start as if at the tapes.

 

As part of the attractions there was an organised tour of the California Country

Park by two of the park wardens. As there used to be a holiday camp there in the

past it was called a Hi-Di-Hi Tour. As part of this tour, Bryan Horsnell, who

used to sweep the concrete starting grid (and it's still there) told folk about

the days of the Poppies as the team was nicknamed then. There was also a small

display of riding apparel through the ages from two-piece leathers through to

modern day Kevlars and helmets to match.

 

Quite a few riders were in attendance from the 1950s era which included: Jim

Gleed, Eric Hockaday, Eric Jolly, Len Glover, Pete Rogers, George Major, Terry

Stone, Jim Gregory and Dave Collett.

 

The organisers were very excited when a family arrived and showed not one but

five postcards of pre-war speedway racing there. It was good also to meet up

with John, the son of Norman Cartlidge who was the Promoter there and who's

grandfather Alfred cut the original track out with a horse and plough. Referee,

Dave Robinson was another visitor who was in charge of the Elite league final

at Swindon the next evening.

 

Terry Stone was doing brisk business selling raffle tickets in aid of the

proposed extension of the Speedway Museum at Broxbourne in Hertfordshire. There

was also a display of Romford Bombers memorabilia.

 

The organisers wish to thank all those who displayed bikes, some coming

considerable distances.

 

The feedback from the wardens was that they were very pleased with the day; so

it's roll on next year.

 

Ends.

 

 

NOTE: An album of about 25 photos from the day can be found under California Reunion 2009 on the site listed first in my signature.