speedyguy Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 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://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!!? 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! Well the passage of time for more than 60 years has got me! Firstly, the East End team I rode for around 1952 and run by Vic Duffy was NOT Beckton Aces as I "claimed" but Ferndale Stars. They were based on a track near the Ferndale pub by the entrance to one of the Docks. That was where we used to go to in convoy after meeting as a group near the old Royal Arsenal in Woolwich. I was already tired out by then having cycled to the meeting place from the Lewisham area. Nor were the Beckton Aces in Ellesmere Street, Poplar. They were members of the East London League and had a track in Manor Way in the area where there was - or still could be - a ski practice slope. Edited March 23, 2012 by speedyguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 The Newcastle Cycle speedway has reformed, found a track and are currently in hard practice with some taking it very serious with new bikes and things. No new members but olduns giving it another go. Seem to be enjoying themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 ELITE LEAGUE FIXTURES APRIL 2012 Sunday April 8 Horspath v Wednesfield Leicester v Ipswich Sheffield v Poole Sunday April 15 Wednesfield v Birmingham Sunday April 22 Birmingham v Sheffield Ipswich v Poole Wednesfield v Leicester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Nor were the Beckton Aces in Ellesmere Street, Poplar. They were members of the East London League and had a track in Manor Way in the area where there was - or still could be - a ski practice slope. That makes a lot more sense! Couldn't see any way a club called Beckton would be based in Poplar! I take it there was a track on Elleseme St., E14 as well though .? You're right about what they call the Beckton Alp (though sadly the one time dry ski slope there has long since now closed down). Incidentally the 'alp, was created to bury underneath it a second world war Gunnery site..: one very similar to the one used now as a Speedway track in Iwade! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richspeedway Posted March 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2012 Well last night I had my first taste of Cycle Speedway. Got to Birmingham Monarchs track, nice little venue in the corner of Perry Park. Met couple of the guys who ride for them who gave me a background to the sport, teams, leagues etc. Some of the first team were their going around so I got to see them see how fast it really is! Then they gave me a bike and I had my first go. I learnt fast to put the ball of your foot on the pedal otherwise your foot clips the tyre! It was a little manic to start and the scariest bit was hurtling into bends 3 & 4 with the banking. There was couple more youngsters, so we started from the gate as well and seemed to make good starts. I will definately go again next week and get more confidence with the bikes and track and and take it from there. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Thumb Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 Keep up to date with all the latest Cycle Speedway news at http://www.spokesman-online.co.uk/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 Cycle Speedway doesn't look very healthy at the moment unless I'm misunderstanding the fixture list. I mean are there really only two meetings at Leicester from April to September? Also what's happening with the Premier League now Hull and Southampton have pulled out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldace Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 Cycle Speedway doesn't look very healthy at the moment unless I'm misunderstanding the fixture list. I mean are there really only two meetings at Leicester from April to September? Also what's happening with the Premier League now Hull and Southampton have pulled out? Last years Premier League has been re branded as the Elite League. The new Premier League was going to be a slightly lower level of racing but with only four teams who starting with Southampton followed by Hull pulled out leaving a two team league, this was scrapped with Birmingham accepting an invite to join the new Elite League. Leicester will have 6 home Elite League fixtures as well as their midland and local league stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennylane Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 Keep up to date with all the latest Cycle Speedway news at http://www.spokesman...o.uk/index.html This link keeps getting posted on here by various people. Is it co-ordinated or just that previous Posts are not read? I think this one for The Spokesman has been posted three times? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raceleader Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 Does anyone know if this publication is still available? Thanks. http://www.cyclespeedwayvets.org.uk/trackr_html/trackr_nov07p1.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 (edited) Here's another good link. I assume the articles listed will open when clicked on? http://www.britishcy...k/cyclespeedway Sadly, I have tried the link to The Spokesman http://www.spokesman...o.uk/index.html and found the list of articles all neatly dated but cannot find out how to open them? Help please? Edited April 3, 2012 by speedyguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 (edited) Last years Premier League has been re branded as the Elite League. The new Premier League was going to be a slightly lower level of racing but with only four teams who starting with Southampton followed by Hull pulled out leaving a two team league, this was scrapped with Birmingham accepting an invite to join the new Elite League. Leicester will have 6 home Elite League fixtures as well as their midland and local league stuff Only 6 Elite League meetings still doesn't seem like many in a March to the end of October season. Are East Park (?) Wolverhampton still riding? Edited March 29, 2012 by Gemini Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 Here's another good link. I assume the articles listed will open when clicked on? http://www.britishcy...k/cyclespeedway Sadly, I have tried the link to The Spokesman http://www.spokesman...o.uk/index.html and found the list of articles all neatly dated but cannot find out to open them? Help please? I have now worked out how to get The Spokesman articles. There is a Topic Title in the centre, then go to the index on the left (there's a column of them) and click on the one that you wish to enter. Simple as that - except for me apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldace Posted March 30, 2012 Report Share Posted March 30, 2012 Only 6 Elite League meetings still doesn't seem like many in a March to the end of October season. Are East Park (?) Wolverhampton still riding? The old Premier League was traditionall only 6 team so always only gave 5 home meetings. The last few years it has been 7 teams then 8 now as the Elite League it is back to 7. East Park are still running but they are not, and have never been an Elite League team. They race in the Midland League 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted March 30, 2012 Report Share Posted March 30, 2012 Hey fellas! Cycle speedway is not men only! http://www.spokesman-online.co.uk/35.html http://www.spokesman-online.co.uk/page_149.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted April 3, 2012 Report Share Posted April 3, 2012 some cycle speedway pictures i took on Sunday .. North Park (Norwich) v Great Blakenham http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_womble/sets/72157629726760649/ at least one contributor on this thread is in some of them ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted April 3, 2012 Report Share Posted April 3, 2012 some cycle speedway pictures i took on Sunday .. North Park (Norwich) v Great Blakenham http://www.flickr.co...57629726760649/ at least one contributor on this thread is in some of them ...... Excellent photography. It's all so different from my bomb-site track days in the 1940s and 1950s. But it is still very much good old cycle speedway and it's nice to know that it is alive and doing so well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted April 3, 2012 Report Share Posted April 3, 2012 (edited) Unlike London proper (with no arguments please about Lakeside Hammers and Rye House - again!) which has no speedway tracks, there is one cycle speedway club in London. These are its details. They race home matches on Sunday afternoons. http://eastlondoncyc...aguematches.htm And here's one I hope to get more information on - it's rather outside the London area however. Sun Apr 17 World Championships (at Edenton, North Carolina, USA) to Mon Apr 25 Edited April 3, 2012 by speedyguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Wilko Posted April 3, 2012 Report Share Posted April 3, 2012 Some time in the late 60s/early 70s my Mum's milkman (!) started a Cycle Speedway team on the existing but abandoned track in Morden Park, a few miles from Wimbledon's Plough Lane although not as close to it as South London's Garratt Park track. I rode for them for a few seasons - they were called the Morden Monarchs - and our main local rivals were Tolworth (Tudors?) and like most teams they used to beat us. With the passage of time memories are a bit hazy but I do remember away matches against Bow and/or Edmonton, plus a track in the shadows of Wormwood Scrubs. If you are prepared to fight your way through the brambles which have taken over the site you can still make out (just) parts of the track - or at least that's what my wife told me a year or so ago when I sent her in there! I still have a picture somewhere of us taking on the Dons on the Plough Lane track as part of an end of season celebration - 1 lap only I think, or maybe just half a lap. I still live within walking distance of the park and to this day can be seen cycling through it. While typing I have remembered that the previous team that rode in Morden Park was the Sutton Saints who I think must have folded and therefore vacated the track. Happy Days - or should I say Daze! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted April 3, 2012 Report Share Posted April 3, 2012 Some time in the late 60s/early 70s my Mum's milkman (!) started a Cycle Speedway team on the existing but abandoned track in Morden Park, a few miles from Wimbledon's Plough Lane although not as close to it as South London's Garratt Park track. I rode for them for a few seasons - they were called the Morden Monarchs - and our main local rivals were Tolworth (Tudors?) and like most teams they used to beat us. With the passage of time memories are a bit hazy but I do remember away matches against Bow and/or Edmonton, plus a track in the shadows of Wormwood Scrubs. If you are prepared to fight your way through the brambles which have taken over the site you can still make out (just) parts of the track - or at least that's what my wife told me a year or so ago when I sent her in there! I still have a picture somewhere of us taking on the Dons on the Plough Lane track as part of an end of season celebration - 1 lap only I think, or maybe just half a lap. I still live within walking distance of the park and to this day can be seen cycling through it. While typing I have remembered that the previous team that rode in Morden Park was the Sutton Saints who I think must have folded and therefore vacated the track. Happy Days - or should I say Daze! And all about the Morden Monarchs can be seen here http://www.cyclespeedwayhistory.org.uk/1105.shtml as can data on many other cycle speedway teams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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