speedyguy Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 (edited) From the Daily Mail, page 52, May 7, 2012: QUESTION: When I was a youngster, I used to watch West Ham speedway at Custom House on a Saturday evening. Does anyone know its history and why it closed down? ANSWER; Further to the earlier answer, I was promoter/manager for the Greyhound Racing Association, from 1965-70, when the Custom House stadium was sold for redevelopment. A number of the streets on the housing estate which were built on the old stadium's grounds were named after famous West Ham riders Bluey Wilknson, Eric Chitty and Tommy Croombs. I have a book to be published in the summer - Cinferfellas, When Speedway Was Rock'n'Roll - in which the central character is is a Hammers hero in the the immediate post-war years when crowds of 60,000 regularly attended the stadium. The book (originally a play) strongly features West Ham history, along with other famous clubs of the time such as Wembley and Belle Vue (Manchester). Incidentally, speedway was not staged on a Saturday but was always on a Tuesday evening, although there were some stagings of Formula 1 Stock Car Racing on some Saturdays. West Ham Speedway was, and remains the 'Newmarket of Speedways' and is sadly missed. Dave Lanning, Poole, Dorset. Edited May 7, 2012 by speedyguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genesis Posted May 17, 2012 Report Share Posted May 17, 2012 My wife's great Aunt's were fanatical West Ham followers and would always be there on a Tuesday night plus New Cross & Hackney as well. When they passed away we found a couple of drawers full of programmes, photos and an autograph book with the likes of Stevenson, Coombes, Chitty, Wilkinson signatures in it. I spent a little time researching it and eventually spoke to the great niece of Tiger and the grandson of Eric Chitty, sending them photos they had never seen. Fascinating to imagine the following the sport had through the 30's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keef Posted May 17, 2012 Report Share Posted May 17, 2012 After New Cross closed in 63 we used to go to West Am Ackney and Wimbledon occasionally. Can remember Knutsson(my favourite rider), Harrfeldt, MacKinlay, Hunter, Simmons, Trott. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 today is the 40th anniversary of west ham speedway's closure. despite being a dons fan custom house was the 'daddy' of the london tracks. it left a lasting impression on me as a child and i still miss it today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted May 24, 2012 Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 today is the 40th anniversary of west ham speedway's closure. despite being a dons fan custom house was the 'daddy' of the london tracks. it left a lasting impression on me as a child and i still miss it today. Rebel i have pictures was West Ham really big? they used to have alot of British Finals and other big events there too didnt they.Also Old Meadowbank looked a massive track too i am sure they had a world final anglo inter continental final a superb line up i think 1971? Briggo maybe was only reserve? the only time since the 50s that he hadnt qualfied not gospel thou. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldace Posted May 24, 2012 Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 Rebel i have pictures was West Ham really big? they used to have alot of British Finals and other big events there too didnt they.Also Old Meadowbank looked a massive track too i am sure they had a world final anglo inter continental final a superb line up i think 1971? Briggo maybe was only reserve? the only time since the 50s that he hadnt qualfied not gospel thou. Yes Sidney 1965,1967,1969 and 1970 British Finals were at Custom House Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted May 24, 2012 Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 It was a big place, sidney, and relatively open, and you'd get the wind coming off the river! I loved the place, but for us, the biggest problem was the drive there! I was at the 1969 British Final, and other memories include Christer Lofqvist's debut (against the Dons, when Sverre Harrfeldt broke his arm) and the Lokeren Memorial. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted May 24, 2012 Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 Rebel i have pictures was West Ham really big? they used to have alot of British Finals and other big events there too didnt they.Also Old Meadowbank looked a massive track too i am sure they had a world final anglo inter continental final a superb line up i think 1971? Briggo maybe was only reserve? the only time since the 50s that he hadnt qualfied not gospel thou. i went to the 1970 british final at custom house. there was 20,000 there that night and there was plenty of room for more. west ham was a big, wide 415 yard pacy track with plenty of racing lines. the place was steeped in speedway history and if you ever went to hyde road, then you will know exactly what it was like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 i went to the 1970 british final at custom house. there was 20,000 there that night and there was plenty of room for more. west ham was a big, wide 415 yard pacy track with plenty of racing lines. the place was steeped in speedway history and if you ever went to hyde road, then you will know exactly what it was like. Hyde rd was special,i think every time apart from once it Piddled with rain the 1983 BLRC was like a swamp.Odviously Rebel West Ham means alot to you and you still have your memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Hyde rd was special Very much so. it Piddled with rain the 1983 BLRC was like a swamp. Same as when we won the KOC up there in 1970! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 (edited) Very much so. Same as when we won the KOC up there in 1970! Steve Chunky Belle vue was there lineup, Mauger Sjosten Pusey Roper Hemus Eyre Broadbelt? probably way off the mark maybe the year is wrong not sure about Roper? Edited May 25, 2012 by sidney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted May 26, 2012 Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 Chunky Belle vue was there lineup, Mauger Sjosten Pusey Roper Hemus Eyre Broadbelt? probably way off the mark maybe the year is wrong not sure about Roper? First leg (at Plough Lane), the Aces lined up (1-7) : Mauger, Pusey, Roper, Eyre, Sjosten, Waplington, Hiftle. Second leg (at Hyde Rd), the Aces lined up (1-7) : Mauger, Pusey, Roper, Hemus, Sjosten, Eyre, Hiftle. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted May 26, 2012 Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 First leg (at Plough Lane), the Aces lined up (1-7) : Mauger, Pusey, Roper, Eyre, Sjosten, Waplington, Hiftle. Second leg (at Hyde Rd), the Aces lined up (1-7) : Mauger, Pusey, Roper, Hemus, Sjosten, Eyre, Hiftle. Steve Thanks Steve wasnt far out, Mike Hiftle did he also start with the Belle vue colts?Shows to beat that Belle Vue side was some achievement . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickthemuppet Posted May 26, 2012 Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 Custom House was a very big track about 440 yards. Compare this to tonight's GP venue at Ullevi. ,the Hammers track was about 30 yards longer. They had a crowd of 57,000 for the restart of Speedway after WW2. for a challenge match against Wembley. in April 1946. There has also been reports that there were crowds there of 80,000.for some speedway matches. Besides Speedway ,Greyhound racing was also staged here. There was also the Thames Association football club which played in the Third Division South in 1930. It was not a success with one match only attracting 469 people. Must have looked quite empty in a stadium that could hold 120,000. After three seasons the football team resigned from the league and was dissolved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted May 26, 2012 Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 Rebel i have pictures was West Ham really big? they used to have alot of British Finals and other big events there too didnt they.Also Old Meadowbank looked a massive track too i am sure they had a world final anglo inter continental final a superb line up i think 1971? Briggo maybe was only reserve? the only time since the 50s that he hadnt qualfied not gospel thou. Old Meadowbank wasn't all that big - 363 yards (332 metres). However, it had very wide sweeping bends which made it look big, and the short straights meant that riders generally weren't too spaced out. Glasgow's White City was exactly the opposite, with very long straights and hairpin bends. Compared with these West Ham looked huge, but I never thought much of the racing there. Perhaps that's because speedway is a bit like fags and booze in that you get hooked on a specific brand and nothing else is ever quite the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted May 26, 2012 Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 Thanks Steve wasnt far out, Mike Hiftle did he also start with the Belle vue colts?Shows to beat that Belle Vue side was some achievement . Mike started out with Berwick after early rides at his home team, Newcastle. He was more known for his longer spells with Halifax and then Berwick again. I was at school and in the same boys club as Mike, and he was a bouncy kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted May 26, 2012 Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 (edited) Mike started out with Berwick after early rides at his home team, Newcastle. He was more known for his longer spells with Halifax and then Berwick again. I was at school and in the same boys club as Mike, and he was a bouncy kid. Was that just if he fell off??? Edited May 26, 2012 by The White Knight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted May 26, 2012 Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 Was that just if he fell off??? He did that quite regular when he first started Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted May 26, 2012 Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 Custom House was a very big track about 440 yards. Compare this to tonight's GP venue at Ullevi. ,the Hammers track was about 30 yards longer. They had a crowd of 57,000 for the restart of Speedway after WW2. for a challenge match against Wembley. in April 1946. There has also been reports that there were crowds there of 80,000.for some speedway matches. Besides Speedway ,Greyhound racing was also staged here. There was also the Thames Association football club which played in the Third Division South in 1930. It was not a success with one match only attracting 469 people. Must have looked quite empty in a stadium that could hold 120,000. After three seasons the football team resigned from the league and was dissolved jack young had a lot to do with the west ham track being reduced in size in 1954 to 415 yards, it remained this length until it's closure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted May 27, 2012 Report Share Posted May 27, 2012 Was there for 1965 British Final-first one where Prov League riders competed(first year of BL)-it was rained off-went back the following week. Great meeting-closest Charlie Monk ever came to a World Final qualification-he wuz robbed ref!!Were any other forumlanders at that meeting?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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