Richspeedway Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Hi guys, I was not sure where to put this post so I thought I would add it in here. I was looking at getting into Cycle Speedway and I wondered if their was anyone on here that has tried it or even rides for a team. I have found my local team is Birmingham and they train on a Tuesday night so I am going to pop down and see how I go. I was wondering if anyone has any tips or advice for a novice like me as I have only seen clips on youtube and so I have a idea of what it is like but I do not know alot about the sport. Cheers Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 (edited) Cycle speedway is a great sport. I rode in it in the 1950s for London area tracks Brockley Boomerangs, Welling Wings and Beckton Aces. It was all a memorable experience for me and even after all these years I look back on it fondly. I think the BSF should create a discussion board in this section for it. Have fun with the Birmingham track. And I suggest you do a google search for cycle speedway because there are quite a few sites dealing with the sport's activities which, although low key publicity wise, has an international element about it. Here's a link that may be of use to you: http://www.spokesman-online.co.uk/ Edited March 14, 2012 by speedyguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted March 15, 2012 Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 Terry Stone once spoke to me about all the tracks around East London - wish I'd had a recorder rolling as it was a lot of info! Where was the Beckton Aces track, speedy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted March 15, 2012 Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 (edited) Terry Stone once spoke to me about all the tracks around East London - wish I'd had a recorder rolling as it was a lot of info! Where was the Beckton Aces track, speedy? The Beckton Aces track was in Ellesmere Street, Poplar E4. This list of London cycle speedway clubs may be of interest to yoiu: http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=sniffy336&action=display&thread=824 Edited March 15, 2012 by speedyguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Thumb Posted March 15, 2012 Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 My step son rides for Great Blakenham - your best bet is to just go along one evening and have a chat with them, most clubs have club bikes you could use before commiting to buying your own bike - make sure you have a cycle helmet, gloves and long sleeve top and trousers tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 The Beckton Aces track was in Ellesmere Street, Poplar E4. This list of London cycle speedway clubs may be of interest to yoiu: http://londonspeedwa...play&thread=824 You're kidding me!! I know Ellesmere St. really well!!!!! Why was it called Beckton though when based in that part of Poplar!!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 (edited) You're kidding me!! I know Ellesmere St. really well!!!!! Why was it called Beckton though when based in that part of Poplar!!? I don't know. I'm a South Londoner - originally from Deptford. I think that I went to the track about three times. Then they dropped me!!! They didn't seem to like reserves who came in half a lap behind the other three riders! Edited March 16, 2012 by speedyguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 I don't know. I'm a South Londoner - originally from Deptford. I think that I went to the track about three times. Then they dropped me!!! They didn't seem to like reserves who came in half a lap behind the other three riders! Is this why you gave up the push bike and started travelling on the Streatham omnibus!!?? btw, thanks for that list of London tracks - a-maz-ing!!! Reckon our Tel mentioned half of these when chatting to me!!! One (well at least one...) missing though... The Arbour Atoms rode out of the Arbour Youth Club in Stepney - check out this: http://www.cyclespeedwayhistory.org.uk/2454.shtml Oh and ANOTHER...: a club which T. Stone esq. rode for along with Stan Stevens and I think quite possibly Gentleman George Barclay too... The Barking Park-based Longbridge Leopards http://www.cyclespeedwayhistory.org.uk/835.shtml Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raceleader Posted March 18, 2012 Report Share Posted March 18, 2012 Hi guys, I was not sure where to put this post so I thought I would add it in here. I was looking at getting into Cycle Speedway and I wondered if their was anyone on here that has tried it or even rides for a team. I have found my local team is Birmingham and they train on a Tuesday night so I am going to pop down and see how I go. I was wondering if anyone has any tips or advice for a novice like me as I have only seen clips on youtube and so I have a idea of what it is like but I do not know alot about the sport. Cheers Richard A great sport. Its traditions go back to 1946 on a national basis but there were a few clubs pre-WW2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richspeedway Posted March 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2012 Thanks everyone for the info and also for the weblink Speedyguy. During the week I have ordered some padded goalkeeper trousers, gloves and got some decent trainers this weekend so once my gear comes I will go and have a blast. It looks a fun sport and I am surprised there is not more clubs cause with the government and some groups talking about children get more obese and adults and it will get worse in the future then Cycle Speedway could really benefit from this and help get people being active and also get the sport some big publicity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted March 18, 2012 Report Share Posted March 18, 2012 (edited) This interest in cycle speedway obviously indicates that a forum/discussion for the sport should be stablished ASAP on this site? It does have links with 'proper' speedway. Many late 1940s and early 1950s riders graduated from cycle speedway to the motorcycle version. Edited March 18, 2012 by speedyguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazeaway Posted March 19, 2012 Report Share Posted March 19, 2012 This interest in cycle speedway obviously indicates that a forum/discussion for the sport should be stablished ASAP on this site? It does have links with 'proper' speedway. Many late 1940s and early 1950s riders graduated from cycle speedway to the motorcycle version. As of course did the greatest rider of all time. Ivan Mauger having ridden for The South London Rangers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted March 19, 2012 Report Share Posted March 19, 2012 As of course did the greatest rider of all time. Ivan Mauger having ridden for The South London Rangers. I completely forgot about Ivan Mauger and South London Rangers. Wasn't Ernie Baker in the same side? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 I completely forgot about Ivan Mauger and South London Rangers. Wasn't Ernie Baker in the same side? my dad was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 As of course did the greatest rider of all time. Ivan Mauger having ridden for The South London Rangers. Was this the club based at Sydenham or another one..? And what were the circs Ivan turned out for them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 I wonder if the mods have yet spotted an interest for cycle speedway and will decide to set up a special discussion section for the sport? The main season gets underway in a couple of weeks - and there is overseas interest including Holland, Australia and the USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 Was this the club based at Sydenham or another one..? And what were the circs Ivan turned out for them? Garratt Park, not Sydenham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 Was this the club based at Sydenham or another one..? And what were the circs Ivan turned out for them? The only team from that area I have a record of is Sydenham Stars but I don't know when or where they raced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raceleader Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 Here is some details about cycle speedway from the VCSRA site that may be of some interest: Cycle Speedway History Opened in April 2007 the National Speedway Museum located in The Paradise Wildlife Park at Broxbourne, Herts. has a corner devoted to the history and development of CYCLE SPEEDWAY. The Cycle Speedway display, sponsored and maintained by the VCSRA is a brief visual history illustrated with pictures and memorabilia of the sport from its birth in the ‘Skid Kid’ days of 1946 to the current, highly sophisticated short track cycle racing of today. For details of how to get to The Paradise Wildlife Park go tohttp://www.pwpark.com Cycle Speedway Today Cycle speedway is still flourishing in the UK although not as widespread as in the heady days of the 40's and 50's. Racing is held under the auspices of British Cycling and all details, fixtures, results etc. can be viewed on the British Cycling-Cycle Speedway web sitehttp://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/bc/cys/cs_latest_news.asp OR http://www.spokesman-online.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 tbh, I was thinking of Churchfields which is more Beckenham than Sydenham... So many place names in South London - confuses even a 'native' like me! I see from a quick bit of Googling about that track that a current associate (well I know him from Lakeside...), Martin Jarvis was a three times in a row British Youth champ as a Beckenham rider in the early '70s. Martin's involved at East London now and informs me that the promised indoor Cycle Speedway venue as part of the Olympics site never materilised. It MAY, I suppose, still happen when Eastway/Temple Mills on Ruckholt Rd. is turned back into a cycling venue... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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