California-in-england Reunion 2010

[speedyguy]

Re: CALIFORNIA-IN-ENGLAND 2010

« Reply #1 on Sept 16, 2010, 8:35am »

 

Friends of Speedway are pleased to announce the fifth California-in-England Speedway Reunion on 17th October 2010.

 

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 over 80 years of speedway.

 

If you have any memorabilia/memories please make your self known to any of the Friends of Speedway members 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.

 

Here you will be able to talk with riders 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.

 

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]

An enjoyable day of nostalgia - unexpected bonus was a visit from Reg Fearman, who just popped in but stayed for hours.

[speedyguy]

Fifth California-in-England Speedway Reunion Report of 17th October 2010

 

As organisers of this event, Friends of Speedway were more than pleased that their prayers had been answered for good weather and what a great day it turned out to be. Initially followers were slow to attend but all of a sudden the venue was buzzing with people arriving and meeting old friends and making new ones too.

 

With not quite so many of the old riders being able to attend over previous years the organisers was immensely grateful when ‘Mr. Fearless’ Reg Fearman arrived now he is back in this country. Many photos were taken and folk wanted a souvenir snap with Reg who is still an icon of promoting speedway over the years in England. It was suggested to him that if he was still at the helm of British speedway things would certainly be a lot better – to which he responded with that wry grin and a twinkle in his eye!

 

Stories were being swapped, tales were told and many ‘old lies’ were being re-lived. The local press was in attendance with reporters from two newspapers plus the scribe from Friends of Speedway taking useful contact addresses from folk who remembered the venue from those halcyon days of speedway at the park to be used in a forthcoming book.

 

With the event getting going a bit late it was well after 4pm when the last people left and the organisers could clear up and pack away their displays.

 

Thanks go to everybody who came to make it an enjoyable day, but especially to Tim Templeton who gave his time coming up from Poole with his display of bikes and body colours, to John and Pauline Kerrison from deepest Kent with their display and to Neil Roberts who combined his trip from Ireland to attend as his Father, Neil used to practice there all those years ago.

 

Words by Stuart Towner