Aaaaaagggggghhhhhh!

[kennylane]

 

In his book "A HISTORY OF SPEEDWAY: THE DUBLIN EXPERIENCE" the author George Kearns writes:

 

It is a claim of many, that Speedway was invented in a New South Wales Town called Maitland in 1923 where hundreds of spectators turned up at the local sports ground to watch a motor cycle race take place on an oval grass trotting track, however yours truly, through extensive research, found that a similar motor cycle race took place in Ashtown, Dublin, on an oval cinder trotting track in 1902 which also drew large crowds of spectators, which race was more likened to a dirt track race than the aforementioned grass track race. I also put my native Dublin on record as being very much a part of the evolution of Motor Cycle Speedway by staging one of the worlds first Motor Cycle Race Meetings on an oval cinder track in 1902.

[Ian]

Surely the simple truth is that there can never be an absolute gurantee about when a number of motorcyclists first raced each other around an oval track with a loose surface. It's one of these events like Christmas though: no one can be sure what the date was, but we generally agree on a date so that we can all celebrate at the same time. I'm perfectly happy with High Beech in 1928 as one to agree on, regardless of what may or may not have happened prior to that in Australia or anywhere else.

Edited February 4, 2010 by Ian

[speedyguy]

Surely the simple truth is that there can never be an absolute gurantee about when a number of motorcyclists first raced each other around an oval track with a loose surface. It's one of these events like Christmas though: no one can be sure what the date was, but we generally agree on a date so that we can all celebrate at the same time. I'm perfectly happy with High Beech in 1928 as one to agree on, regardless of what may or may not have happened prior to that in Australia or anywhere else.

 

 

Strong claims could be made for the USA in the 1920s. A track at Saint Antonio on the west coast in May 1922 must be a firm favourite,

Edited February 4, 2010 by speedyguy

[norbold]

Surely the simple truth is that there can never be an absolute gurantee about when a number of motorcyclists first raced each other around an oval track with a loose surface.

Absolutely right, Ian.

 

When I complained to the Speedway Star about Brian Burford's statement that Johnnie Hoskins had introduced speedway to Britain, the editor asked me if I would like to write an article about the origins of speedway in this country. I wrote the article which also included my thoughts on how/where/why speedway started worldwide as well. This article has been in his in-tray for several weeks now. I am ever hopeful that it will see the light of day soon! I hope it will move the discussion forward and once and for all dispel the myth that Johnnie Hoskins both "invented" speedway in 1923 and that he was responsible for bringing it to this country in 1928.

[speedyguy]

Absolutely right, Ian.

 

When I complained to the Speedway Star about Brian Burford's statement that Johnnie Hoskins had introduced speedway to Britain, the editor asked me if I would like to write an article about the origins of speedway in this country. I wrote the article which also included my thoughts on how/where/why speedway started worldwide as well. This article has been in his in-tray for several weeks now. I am ever hopeful that it will see the light of day soon! I hope it will move the discussion forward and once and for all dispel the myth that Johnnie Hoskins both "invented" speedway in 1923 and that he was responsible for bringing it to this country in 1928.

 

I look forward to seeing if you mention Fay Taylour and Camberley in 1927. Or Droyslden in the same year.

Edited February 4, 2010 by speedyguy

[norbold]

You won't be disappointed, speedyguy!

[Nigel]

Surely the simple truth is that there can never be an absolute gurantee about when a number of motorcyclists first raced each other around an oval track with a loose surface. It's one of these events like Christmas though: no one can be sure what the date was, but we generally agree on a date so that we can all celebrate at the same time. I'm perfectly happy with High Beech in 1928 as one to agree on, regardless of what may or may not have happened prior to that in Australia or anywhere else.

 

A fair point ! no doubt many others feel the same way....... but those who are passionate about history may not find satisfaction in the one size fits all approach ?

 

[Nigel]

In his book "A HISTORY OF SPEEDWAY: THE DUBLIN EXPERIENCE" the author George Kearns writes:

 

It is a claim of many, that Speedway was invented in a New South Wales Town called Maitland in 1923 where hundreds of spectators turned up at the local sports ground to watch a motor cycle race take place on an oval grass trotting track, however yours truly, through extensive research, found that a similar motor cycle race took place in Ashtown, Dublin, on an oval cinder trotting track in 1902 which also drew large crowds of spectators, which race was more likened to a dirt track race than the aforementioned grass track race. I also put my native Dublin on record as being very much a part of the evolution of Motor Cycle Speedway by staging one of the worlds first Motor Cycle Race Meetings on an oval cinder track in 1902.

 

Comparing the Hoskins Grass track at Maitland 1923 with a motorised bicyle race in 1902 is stretching the point a tad.. a 'similar' motor cycle race.. he must be joking.. chalk and cheese come to mind..

[Bavarian]

Just discovered that I wrote the following text in the wrong thread. Here's were it belongs. It is about the very first motorcycle dirt-track/speedway meeting in Germany.

 

According to an unconfirmed report in the chronicals of the local bicycle racing club in Cologne, Germany, a 350m dirt oval track for motorcycle racing was built on the infield of the local cycling track in Cologne. Motorcycle races had taken place on the steeply banked concrete cycling track in Cologne from the early 1920's on.

A few years on the local motorcyclists decided to follow a new trend that reportedly originated from Overseas - motorcyle dirt track racing on a short oval race track! They laid the dirt track on the infield of the concrete cycling oval and ran the first ever dirt-track meeting in Germany - the year was 1925, a long time before the sport arrived in England!

[Nigel]

Bit more fuel for the fire

 

Claude Langdon the man who ran Stamford Bridge claims he was planning to introduce speedway to England before the High Beech meeting took place.. claims his was the first real speedway in the country

 

Langdon was a showman with a big ego... and in the Hoskins traddition ... he could tell a tale

 

He should have stuck to Ice skating shows.... then we would have had speedway on ice....real cool

[Nigel]

Just discovered that I wrote the following text in the wrong thread. Here's were it belongs. It is about the very first motorcycle dirt-track/speedway meeting in Germany.

 

According to an unconfirmed report in the chronicals of the local bicycle racing club in Cologne, Germany, a 350m dirt oval track for motorcycle racing was built on the infield of the local cycling track in Cologne. Motorcycle races had taken place on the steeply banked concrete cycling track in Cologne from the early 1920's on.

A few years on the local motorcyclists decided to follow a new trend that reportedly originated from Overseas - motorcyle dirt track racing on a short oval race track! They laid the dirt track on the infield of the concrete cycling oval and ran the first ever dirt-track meeting in Germany - the year was 1925, a long time before the sport arrived in England!

 

Very interesting I would love to know more ..

 

It is a fact that American style dirt track racing on the big horse trotting tracks was taking place in Germany and Austria through out the 1920s

[Bavarian]

Very interesting I would love to know more ..

 

It is a fact that American style dirt track racing on the big horse trotting tracks was taking place in Germany and Austria through out the 1920s

 

Yes the motorcycle racing on horse racing tracks, usually about 1km or 1 mile long tracks, with sand or grass surfaces, took place all over Europe from a very early time on. Reports from Austria date this back even before the first world war. But this form of motorcycle racing developed here naturally, just like it did in America and Australia. Motorcycles became very popular all around the world at the time and it was only natural that there would be race events.

 

The developement of the various forms of motorcycle track racing in various parts of the world were influenced by the kind of race tracks that were around there at the time. In America they had the board tracks and dirt-tracks, in Germany and other Contiental European countries there were many bicylce race tracks of either wood or concrete, usually with steep banking on the corners, and motorccycle racing took place there. And there were the many, many horse racing tracks in Europe. But dog racing was not common on the Continent. In England of course there was a dog track in nearly every major city, and with the sport catching on in the UK as it did, the dog tracks are to blame for the fact that the speedway tracks of today are restricted to teh relatively short length of 400m or less.

 

In the early years of the sport in Australia, the ideal length for a motorcylce speedway track was considered to be around one third of a mile, and the shape as circular as possible to allow the spectacular broadsliding all the way round.

 

The idea to built a short oval (quarter or third-of-a-mile in length) dirt-track for motorcycle racing in Cologne as early as in 1925 was certainly inspired by reports coming from overseas. I would love to know a little bit more about the venture, but have not found any more details. But it can be assumed that just like at High Beech in February of 1928, the locals at Cologne may not have had the knowledge of how to run a 'real' dirt-track / speedway meeting at the time.

[Nigel]

Thanks for that Bavarian

 

I have read reports of Dirt Track racing in Italy in 1911. No doubt like most industrialised countries racing on oval tracks began around the turn of the century. The British Press reported on the dirt track meetings held in Germany in the 1920s One report remarked on the skid turning techniques used, reminiscent of our own skid turning exponents it said !!!

 

I assume that the Cologne meeting being inspired by reports from overseas can only mean Australia ?

 

Pity more information cant be found.

[speedyguy]

Thanks for that Bavarian

 

I have read reports of Dirt Track racing in Italy in 1911. No doubt like most industrialised countries racing on oval tracks began around the turn of the century. The British Press reported on the dirt track meetings held in Germany in the 1920s One report remarked on the skid turning techniques used, reminiscent of our own skid turning exponents it said !!!

 

I assume that the Cologne meeting being inspired by reports from overseas can only mean Australia ?

 

Pity more information cant be found.

 

 

 

More likely the big American dirt tracks with riders like Eddie Brinck and Sprouts Elder showing their paces.

[Bavarian]

I assume, that the 350m dirt track they built in 1925 inside that velodrome in Cologne was surely inspired by reports of similar short oval racing in Australia, at tracks such as Davies Park in Brisbane. (When did that one open, was it in 1924?) I have no prove for this, but I think it is the most plausible explanation. The German text only states 'from Overseas'.

 

But afaik in the 1910'S and 20'S the Americans did their motorcycle dirt track races on bigger ovals, similar sizes as those big horse racing tracks that were already in use for motorcycle racing in Europe at the time. And these races usually went over longer distances.

[norbold]

At last!

 

Pages 26-29 of this week's Speedway Star.

[RobMcCaffery]

At last!

 

Pages 26-29 of this week's Speedway Star.

 

An excellent piece Norbold. The first meeting really comes down to interpretation. I agree with your suggestion that the Easter meeting at the rebuilt High Beech should be seen as the first true speedway meeting in Britain. Either way that was a very interesting read, well-written.

 

The core elements to define a speedway meeting that you identified as machines with no brakes racing on a small oval with loose surface permitting broadsiding are very sound.

 

Were you able to establish the first meeting at which races consisted of four riders racing over four laps? I know clutch starts at a starting gate came a fair bit later but when did we first see helmet colours?

 

Rob McCaffery

Edited March 11, 2010 by rmc

[falkirkbandit]

A great article Norman, i thoroughly enjoyed it!

[cyclone]

An excellent piece Norbold. The first meeting really comes down to interpretation. I agree with your suggestion that the Easter meeting at the rebuilt High Beech should be seen as the first true speedway meeting in Britain. Either way that was a very interesting read, well-written.

 

The core elements to define a speedway meeting that you identified as machines with no brakes racing on a small oval with loose surface permitting broadsiding are very sound.

 

Were you able to establish the first meeting at which races consisted of four riders racing over four laps? I know clutch starts at a starting gate came a fair bit later but when did we first see helmet colours?

 

Rob McCaffery

 

Afraid I am not convinced by the article that the Easter meeting at High Beech was the first real speedway meeting held in Britain.

 

Why am I sceptical ?

 

Well Mr Jacobs acknowledges that the first meeting held on the newly redesigned track took place on Saturday 7th April (at 3pm btw).

 

Furthermore an Official Programme was issued for this event, which as far as I am aware does not refer to it as being a practice !!.

 

A full list of officials are listed (timekeeper, judges, machine inspector, track stewards, marshalls, clerk of the course, etc.), together with comprehensive details of competitors and events which were printed. It also carries the following :-

 

"Next Meetings :-Monday April 9th at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m"

 

I also believe there was a brief reference in "Motor Cycling" of 11th April to the meeting of 7th April, 1928.

 

Even if this meeting was less publicised than the Easter Monday events, I am puzzled as to why Mr Jacobs concludes that this was probably a practice event.

 

IMO the existence of a Programme for 7/4/1928 which is of the same design/layout as subsequent issues at High Beech in 1928, and was also sold for twopence, would indicate that the first real speedway meeting in Britain was held at High Beech on April 7, not April 9 as referred to in the article in the Speedway Star.

Edited March 12, 2010 by cyclone

[RobMcCaffery]

Afraid I am not convinced by the article that the Easter meeting at High Beech was the first real speedway meeting held in Britain.

 

Why am I sceptical ?

 

Well Mr Jacobs acknowledges that the first meeting held on the newly redesigned track took place on Saturday 7th April (at 3pm btw).

 

(snipped)

 

IMO the existence of a Programme for 7/4/1928 which is of the same design/layout as subsequent issues at High Beech in 1928, and was also sold for twopence, would indicate that the first real speedway meeting in Britain was held at High Beech on April 7, not April 9 as referred to in the article in the Speedway Star.

 

I said Easter, not Easter Monday - Saturday was Easter Saturday - deliberate ambiguity...

 

Either way it's a superb piece by Norman.

 

Rob McCaffery.

Edited March 12, 2010 by rmc