gazzatopfuel Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Yes I thought it did look disappointingly pedestrian.. Maybe this is why the 'midgets' never took off in the UK..? Not got a clue as to which track but that contraption isn't doing anywhere near "116 mph on the straights". 40 or 50 mph tops neither have i got any idea where this was shot, but i can assure you the motor was well capable of these figures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Clearly a case of incomplete records and those that were involved are now no longer with us or their memories have faded.That isn't Wimbledon,but Maitland-like the mistake gets repeated.Seems from discussions elsewhere the likelyhood is this was filmed at Rayleigh.I was never there nor have i seen any photos from that period so have to wait for evidence i've seen ariel photos of rayleigh in the 1950's and it had grandstands on both straights. these stands were still present when i went there in the 1970's. the pits at the weir were at the end of the home straight alongside the main stand, not on the bend like is shown on the cine film. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithC Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 There were a number of references to The Atom in Wimbledon programmes towards the end of the 1955 season, as well in May 1956. Also, there were several features and references to it in the Speedway News in 1955, confirming that the initial testing was done at Wimbledon, with the car driven by Ronnie Moore. I guess that Cyril Brine took over as test driver after the July crash at Plough Lane in which Ronnie suffered a broken collarbone. As there are still leaves on the trees in the clip it is likely that Cyril Brine was filmed in late summer, during the period Ronnie was recuperating. The lighting is very similar to that evident in the 1960 Rayleigh team picture on the Defunct Speedway Tracks site http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/ but was this photo taken at Rayleigh? The front cover of the Rayleigh speedway programmes from that era shows a photo in which a stand looks similar to that in the film clip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukes Posted July 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Except that this is absolutely 100% NOT Plough Lane, Wimbledon. Couldn't be a more different looking place than Wimbledon Stadium!! And also certainly is NOT Ronnie Moore in that midget car..! What we do know is 100% the driver is Cyril `Salty` Brine, as it is mentioned during the broadcast and at least from Allards they took the time for a courteous reply. The stadium may not be Wimbledon, but obviously you do not know where it is and from the tone of your post I think like many it is time to call it a day on here. Some people like to discuss and debate, but then their certain posters who only conive and complain with no actual positive input. Think many have been lost to the forum and it doesnt take long to understand why, same goes for those lost on the terraces, riders giving up and promoters washing their hands of the sport. But hey never mind lets complain about them still. Bye bye speedway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 i've seen ariel photos of rayleigh in the 1950's and it had grandstands on both straights. these stands were still present when i went there in the 1970's. the pits at the weir were at the end of the home straight alongside the main stand, not on the bend like is shown on the cine film. Ok,that sounds convincing.Like i said i have no idea about Rayleigh.Leaves it open again then.....but i would have thought it has to be somewhere around London.Does it really make sense to travel much further when there were so many stadia in the area and all the protagonists were there? Not sure why Dukes is getting so upset.I don't often back Parsloes up,but can't really see anything wrong with his post.It quite clearly isn't Wimbledon.If you know the stadium throughout its life and the area(after all we are talking London then at no point not even when being built in the 20s would it have looked like that,surely? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 The stadium may not be Wimbledon, but obviously you do not know where it is and from the tone of your post I think like many it is time to call it a day on here. Some people like to discuss and debate, but then their certain posters who only conive and complain with no actual positive input This is completely out of order. You're right, I do not know where it is but it's literally insane to allow the notion that this is Wimbledon Stadium to remain being suggested. I can assure you it is NOT Wimbledon Stadium! And the 'tone' of my earlier posting was purely and simply to put that error straight! I'm not "complaining" about anything simply pointing out what is in any case blindingly obvious!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chadster Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Could the track be the original track at Rye House, now the go-kart circuit, I believe? I've no idea, but as a readily available track near London it seems as likely a choice as any. Has anyone got any photos of the orignal Rye House? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC! Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Could the track be the original track at Rye House, now the go-kart circuit, I believe? I've no idea, but as a readily available track near London it seems as likely a choice as any. Has anyone got any photos of the orignal Rye House? Its not Rye House, for sure, my first thought was Arlington, but not sure the dates fit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 The more I look at the more I think it's Rayleigh. Go to http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Rayleigh.htm, and check out the 1960 team pic. The track lighting in particular looks identical, and the surroundings seem rural enough. Even the individual pics above this (Johnny Fitzpatrick and Alan Smith) showing the pits area looks the same. See what you think... Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miro Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 The Pathe site has clips of old Rye House and you can find clips of SAL era Arlington, far more basic. Aldershot was first thought but I'd agree with Rayleigh. As Chunky says the pits and the buildings to the right with corrugated iron roofs are identical in the film and on http://www.defunctsp...uk/Rayleigh.htm, is the kiosk on the bend not painted yellow and blue, and the lamps are very distinctive. I only went there once and much later, sure some Rayleigh people on here could confirm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 ok, you are starting to convince me. i've watched the film again and the lamp standards were different when i went there in the 1970's, and the cine film doesn't give you a view of the whole stadium. rayleigh it is then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithC Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 Cyril Brine was at Rayleigh on 27th August 1955 when the Rockets and the Dons met in a challenge match. Maybe testing of The Atom took place earlier in the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 Could the track be the original track at Rye House, now the go-kart circuit, I believe? I've no idea, but as a readily available track near London it seems as likely a choice as any. Has anyone got any photos of the orignal Rye House? I'm guessing this is the original Rye house. http://www.britishpathe.com/video/speedway-school/query/speedway 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 I'm guessing this is the original Rye house. http://www.britishpa.../query/speedway Indeed! I do hope the fact that the track staff are wearing Wembley Lions overalls doesn't lead to someone claiming that this track must be the Empire Stadium!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 Indeed! I do hope the fact that the track staff are wearing Wembley Lions overalls doesn't lead to someone claiming that this track must be the Empire Stadium!!!! Loved the noise Parsloes, can you not get smellyvision with it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerseyman Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Certainly is a trip down memory lane for a few on here! I'm not old enough to recognize the photos but still very interesting for the average speedway supporter. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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