Issue 12

[TonyMac]

Look what we have for you in Issue 12 of

 

Classic Speedway....

 

TOMMY ROPER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

You wont see successful businessman Tommy Roper at any speedway reunions and he doesnt usually reminisce about the old days either. But he made an exception for Classic Speedway and, after an evening of warm Yorkshire hospitality and a whole raft of amusing and interesting tales, were very glad he did.

 

It took his speedway career a while to get going. Spells with Bradford, Sheffield, Middlesbrough and Long Eaton along with a brief retirement preceded a move to Halifax, where his career really came alive and he helped the Dukes to a memorable British League and KO Cup double in 1966.

From there he went to glamour club Belle Vue before winding down his racing days at Oxford, a return to Halifax and finally Hull.

 

In a 14-year career he proved he could live with the best of them on his day but if his mum and dad had their way, it would never have started at all.

 

TONY CLARKE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Fearless on track and off, former West Ham favourite Tony Clarke gives a rare and candid interview in which he tells all about his battle for stardom, why he didnt stay at the top, the gift that former team-mate Gary Hay gave him as a result of the Lokeren road crash and theres also a confession about Russian bikes that went missing!

 

CLIVE HITCH Q&A

His riding career began and ended at Rye House, and in between he had spells with Coventry and Halifax, but it was with the Swindon Robins that Clive Hitch enjoyed most success. Now retired and living near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, he looks back over his career with Classic Speedway.

 

RONNIE MOORE BOOK

At a time when retired riders with a story to tell publish their autobiographies or DVDs chronicling their career, Ian Hoskins was somewhat amazed to find a little known biography about former double World Champion Ronnie Moore that was published 35 years ago. The Ronnie Moore Story, as told to Rod Dew, was published in New Zealand in 1976. Weve a taste of whats inside the 190 pages . . .

 

LEGEND: PHIL TIGER HART

A chance meeting on the other side of the world transformed Tiger Harts life and led him to become a Birmingham legend and one of the sports most enduring figures.

 

CHARACTERS: JOHN SOMERVILLE

If you want to know anything about speedway badges, programmes or photos, then Scottish collector John Somerville is the go-to man. We dragged him away from his scanner long enough for a rare interview.

ONCE A JOLLY SWAGMAN DVD Review

IT is almost impossible to imagine viewing a modern feature-length film in which the plot revolves around speedway but it did when the Rank Organisation made Once A Jolly Swagman at Londons Pinewood Studios in 1948.

 

And now it has been re-released in DVD format for all of us speedway romantics to enjoy.

 

A young Dirk Bogarde, in only his fourth film role, plays the lead character Bill Fox, who attains superstardom and all the trappings of success with the fictional pre-war Cobras speedway team.

 

Find out how you can order a copy of this DVD direct from Retro Speedway for £12.99 + P&P.

 

http://www.retro-speedway.com

Edited February 25, 2011 by tmc

[The White Knight]

Another 'cracking' Issue. I thoroughly enjoyed the Tommy Roper and the Tony Clarke pieces - Tony is a very lucky man.

 

Talking about Ronnie Moore - There are Books out about Ivan Mauger, Briggo, Simmo, Michael Lee etc. What about 'Mirac' surely his life must be worth recording too. Perhaps RetroSpeedway may be interested. Just a suggestion.