New Cross Speedway Night

[Paul]

Well…….what an evening. The main speaker a certain Norman Jacobs gave an excellent history lesson on New Cross speedway, with loads of pictures displayed via a proxcima whilst giving his talk. I do have to say it was very much an older audience, I recon me and Mr Jacobs where probably the youngest there !

I did here several committee members say on my way out that it was extremely well attended, to which I think it was. There must have been about 50 people there, all listening with great interest at what the guest speaker had to say.

It was nice also to see Terry Stone their, although no bikes on display he did bring some speedway memorabilia for the people to look at and giving the speedway museum a plug.

One of the reasons I went was because I didn’t know a great deal about New Cross speedway, such as Briggo riding for them for a while and when Crystal Palace closed they moved lock stock and barrel in to New Cross.

All in all an excellent evening Thanks must go to Mr Jacobs for travelling from his home in Clactonville in Essex and one question please Mr Jacobs. There was a picture of Wally Mawdsley you showed, who was that with him in the picture

[norbold]

Thank you for those kind words, Paul.

 

I was hoping no-one would ask that question as I have no idea! I thought I got away with it last night!!!

[davidba]

Really gutted i couldn't get out of family commitments to attend, but glad it went well Norman.

I finally made it to the stadium site on Monday before the snow hit London, though it was freezing. The track is still vaguely visible from ground level and the old steps are stil there.

As i walked away singing 'Ilkley Moor by tat' to myself, something magical happened, the sound of bikes came from the track area. I rushed back down Hernshay St and watched two men on scramble bikes ride around the area, though they soon dissapeared over the horizon, but as i left again i once more heard the bike noise and stood there for a few minutes imagining it on race night.It got too cold so i headed home but it did add some autheticity to my attempts to picture it all as it was,sadly my battery was dead on my camera by then though i have one blurry shot of a bike in the distance.

 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=302819&id=684042497&l=38f86e110b

[Jim Blanchard]

Really gutted i couldn't get out of family commitments to attend, but glad it went well Norman.

I finally made it to the stadium site on Monday before the snow hit London, though it was freezing. The track is still vaguely visible from ground level and the old steps are stil there.

As i walked away singing 'Ilkley Moor by tat' to myself, something magical happened, the sound of bikes came from the track area. I rushed back down Hernshay St and watched two men on scramble bikes ride around the area, though they soon dissapeared over the horizon, but as i left again i once more heard the bike noise and stood there for a few minutes imagining it on race night.It got too cold so i headed home but it did add some autheticity to my attempts to picture it all as it was,sadly my battery was dead on my camera by then though i have one blurry shot of a bike in the distance.

 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=302819&id=684042497&l=38f86e110b

Erm.. Iikley Moor by tat - Funny but we always sang that at New Cross - we once sang it together Norman I'm sure... (Just kidding)

 

I have a New Cross Speedway tribute site if any one would like to check it out and I would welcome any imput and contributions. Its not 100% accurate but it can always be amended..

 

http://www.jbsportsimages.co.uk/page0.html

 

We also have the correct 'parade' music and the leaving tune..

Edited December 4, 2010 by Jim Blanchard

[davidba]

Erm.. Iikley Moor by tat - Funny but we always sang that at New Cross - we once sang it together Norman I'm sure... (Just kidding)

 

I have a New Cross Speedway tribute site if any one would like to check it out and I would welcome any imput and contributions. Its not 100% accurate but it can always be amended..

 

http://www.jbsportsimages.co.uk/page0.html

 

We also have the correct 'parade' music and the leaving tune..

 

Always thought it was an odd choice of song for the movie, but hey i've seen 'Swagman' a couple of times recently so that was always gonna be in my head!!

[Split]

Hello to all Rangers fans!

 

I’ve just discovered this site and hope to be a regular contributor from now on.

 

The first speedway match I ever saw was New Cross v. Wimbledon in 1960. I attended meetings regularly both in the National and Provincial league days. I was then forced to “support“ arch rivals Wimbledon when the track closed down.

[speedyguy]

Hello to all Rangers fans!

 

I’ve just discovered this site and hope to be a regular contributor from now on.

 

The first speedway match I ever saw was New Cross v. Wimbledon in 1960. I attended meetings regularly both in the National and Provincial league days. I was then forced to “support“ arch rivals Wimbledon when the track closed down.

 

 

The first meeting I saw at New Cross was April 1946 - when their opponents were a side labelled as The Rest!

[norbold]

Hello to all Rangers fans!

 

I’ve just discovered this site and hope to be a regular contributor from now on.

 

The first speedway match I ever saw was New Cross v. Wimbledon in 1960. I attended meetings regularly both in the National and Provincial league days. I was then forced to “support“ arch rivals Wimbledon when the track closed down.

Welcome, Split, good to have you here. We need all the Rangers' fans we can get.

 

Do you know which NX v Wimbledon that was as they met several times during 1960? I'm only asking because that may have been the second meeting I ever saw. My first was NX v Norwich on 11 May 1960 and the second was against Wimbledon on 18 May. So I may have beaten you by a week!

[Split]

Welcome, Split, good to have you here. We need all the Rangers' fans we can get.

 

Do you know which NX v Wimbledon that was as they met several times during 1960? I'm only asking because that may have been the second meeting I ever saw. My first was NX v Norwich on 11 May 1960 and the second was against Wimbledon on 18 May. So I may have beaten you by a week!

 

It was late in the season and might have been the last match that year.

 

I do remember it was pouring with rain but racing went ahead.

 

I now live in Johannesburg by the way but haven’t bumped into Doug Davies yet.

[norbold]

It was late in the season and might have been the last match that year.

 

Ah yes, 14 September, one meeting before the end. The Grand Challenge Cup.

 

I didn't go to that one!

 

The last meeting was on 21 September, the Champion of Champions Individual Cup won by Ronnie Moore.

[iris123]

Really gutted i couldn't get out of family commitments to attend, but glad it went well Norman.

I finally made it to the stadium site on Monday before the snow hit London, though it was freezing. The track is still vaguely visible from ground level and the old steps are stil there.

As i walked away singing 'Ilkley Moor by tat' to myself, something magical happened, the sound of bikes came from the track area. I rushed back down Hernshay St and watched two men on scramble bikes ride around the area, though they soon dissapeared over the horizon, but as i left again i once more heard the bike noise and stood there for a few minutes imagining it on race night.It got too cold so i headed home but it did add some autheticity to my attempts to picture it all as it was,sadly my battery was dead on my camera by then though i have one blurry shot of a bike in the distance.

 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=302819&id=684042497&l=38f86e110b

Might have passed you on the monday as i went down to the Millwall shop to get a few goodies and thought about looking over at the old stadium as we went up Ilderton road......but my dad wanted to shoot off to Burgess Park and take me to meet some of his mates down the pub

[davidba]

Might have passed you on the monday as i went down to the Millwall shop to get a few goodies and thought about looking over at the old stadium as we went up Ilderton road......but my dad wanted to shoot off to Burgess Park and take me to meet some of his mates down the pub

 

 

Small world!

[keef]

Great times looking through my rose-tinted specs. Remember that first meeting against Hackney, last meeting against Poole in 63, and the almost unbeatable late great Squibbo. My favourite rider was Geoff Penniket. My mother-in-law's cousin was named Vic after Vic Duggan. I think Briggo rode for Southampton there against the Provincial League Select?

We still went dog racing there and occasional trips to Millwall's Den, although we preferred to watch the classier club of south-east london Charlton Athletic.

Went to Wimbledon Hackney and West Am after the Frying pan closed.

Plan to visit over Christmas with a drive around south London for nostalgia's sake.

[norbold]

I think Briggo rode for Southampton there against the Provincial League Select?

No, Briggo wasn't in the Southampton team that night. Chum Taylor took his place.

 

It was the only time I ever saw Southampton as I had missed their visits in both 1960 and 1961, the only National League team I hadn't seen, so it was very fortuitous that they paid a visit to Provincial League New Cross in 1963. The Saints won 46-30 with Bjorn Knutson top scorer with 11 points. He was however beaten by Colin Pratt in heat five. Pratty also scored 11, losing out to Taylor in heat 12.

[BOBBATH]

Glad to see Jim Squibb mentioned-he was already in his 40's when riding for NX (born 1921). I recall him as the captain of Exeter-still a top rider in the first year of the BL in 1965-also the guy behind the riders protest at the PLRC Final in 1963 I think. A great rider.

[slickmick]

57 years ago I was rather more then a twinkle in Daddy's eye, more a "not another bloody mouth to feed". So thanks Norbold for putting the story straight, I know I was only a sprog but I do remember the Latter years at the Frying pan.!!