dukes Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 Just as a matter of interest, how many members of the forum out their were Halifax fans? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 I was, Started going in about 76 and have happy memories of the late great Chris Pusey. There is also 1 other Halifax fan on the list that I know off. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
born_2b_mad Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 I was at the Shay on Tuesday night (Halifax v Staines FA Trophy) and I couldn't believe how much the ground had changed. Part of the original grass banking is still visible in the corners, but that's about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 Me!!!! From August 1981 until the relocation to Bradford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 (edited) Halifax was before my time i'm afraid, but I started going to Bradford in 1988 and went to every meeting until it closed. Have to make do with getting my speedway fix at Sheffield and Belle Vue now! I still see a few Bradford faces at some tracks when i'm on my travels though! Edited February 12, 2004 by Spy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 I first went to Speedway at Halifax. That was in the era of Eric Boocock, Greg Kentwell, Alan Jay, and my favourite Dave Younghusband. I followed the Dukes for four years until education and work took me to Lancashire! The big meeting was 'The Dews Trophy'. I always remember the end of season meeting, with fireworks, speeches, Mechanics race, and the deby meetings with Sheffield and Belle Vue. I stood at the top of the third and fourth bend under the little cover that was there. Super memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrizHeathen Posted February 13, 2004 Report Share Posted February 13, 2004 I wasn't a Dukes fan but i enjoyed my visits to the Shay enormously. The track was so different to anything else. I'll always remember bank holiday Mondays at Halifax (Cradley were usually soundly beaten). Halifax v Cradley in the morning, followed by the Interrnational at Wimbledon that night. A good club house there too, and what was the name of the pub down the hill from the Shay on the right hand side of the road? I remember a Cradley supporters club coach had got to the Shay early one Sunday and someone had arranged an early opener there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukes Posted February 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2004 Depending on which way you arrived at the Shay, it could be the Shay Hotel, Shears or even the 3 Pidgeons. Personally I was at the Shay from 1965 till it closed its doors on speedway and I was lost to the sport for a time. I remember the likes of Boothroyd,Boocock,Roper,Elliot,Kentwell all the way down the years through the Pusey, Lohmann brothers and That man who should have been World Champ. Yes Kenny Carter. Remember the mechanics race with Arthur Forrest every year and that enigma of an announcer Mr.Adams-=. He was Great. The crowds,the atmosphere,everything their was great...................................... Memories? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted February 13, 2004 Report Share Posted February 13, 2004 I visited Halifax quite a few times as a Sheffield fan, some are fond memories with us winning, some not so good as when we lost. I remember the actual ground being a bit odf a dump, but the track raced quite well, with its long straights and tight banked bends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiffy the shifta Posted February 14, 2004 Report Share Posted February 14, 2004 I loved the visits to Halifax back in the 80's and as mentioned the clubhouse would always be open and welcoming. As a regular watcher of rugby league im also amazed at how the Shay has changed And yes for the record i still miss king Kenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greybear Posted February 17, 2004 Report Share Posted February 17, 2004 There is also 1 other Halifax fan on the list that I know off. Chris I am the other Halifax fan that Wings mentioned Started goin in 1974 as Boocock was riding his last season. Moved on with the Dukes to Bradford in 86. Now a regular at Stoke & BV with occasional trips to Sheff. The Shay had a fantastic track. Stadium was a bit of a dump - but no worse than a lot of other stadiums, even some of the current ones! Still live just 5 mins walk from the ground. I also was at the Halifax vs Staines FA Trophy match last Tuesday. The Shay pub has seen better days. The 3 Pigeons is still goin strong & The Shears is a nice pub which serves good food these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted February 17, 2004 Report Share Posted February 17, 2004 The Shay had a fantastic track. Stadium was a bit of a dump - but no worse than a lot of other stadiums, even some of the current ones! My cousin always reckoned a bomb had dropped there and they decided to build a speedway out of it. Actually, I always enjoyed my trips to the Shay. It also softened me up before becoming a County Ground regular! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trackman Posted February 20, 2004 Report Share Posted February 20, 2004 I started to go to Halifax in the mid 60's, the only time I was disappointed was when the swan appeared. Charlie Monk had us in stitches one night when he won his race, he stopped on the back straight, jumped over the gate to the changing rooms! ...... due to a nature call... It was his fastest time of the night. ;O))) Regards. PS. I was going to post the story, of my first time ((.... I seen the SWAN!....PMSL whilst writing it, reliving the memories of that time! Speedway was Speedway back then, now you need 10 bikes, ride for 4 teams, live in 3 countries, have your motors tuned in Germany or Italy, and not hold a British passport! thats what our Speedway riders need to be stars today! ()) Halifax always had an Aussie in the team ;O) as well as the Best of British. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackofdiamonds Posted February 20, 2004 Report Share Posted February 20, 2004 Halifax was a must trip for us Diamonds fans in the sixties being fairly close and racing on a Saturday. I still think that apart from Belle Vue, racing at the Shay was the best. One complaint - no bar, but a table selling bottles. Being from Newcastle, one night we decided to try a bottle of brown ale. Not quite the same thing! This was the most horrible drink I have ever tasted. We did finish it though, gritted teeth and pinched nose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanisnumber1 Posted February 20, 2004 Report Share Posted February 20, 2004 My son is seanisnumber1, but I used to go to the Shay. I went from 1965 until 1984 when it closed. I did not go to speedway for a few years, but now go to Sheffield most weeks with my son. The pub referred to was the Shay Hotel. Does anyone remember or go to the Prospect Inn at Boothtown aftre the meeting when riders and fans used to have a drink together. The swan that is referred to was on the body jacket I think. But it was not a swan but an elephants head rather than the full elephant. I still have my enamel badge with year bars for all the years. My favourite was Ian Cartwright and I still see him around at Sheffield and Hull with his son Simon. I think that speedway was better in the 60's & 70's possibly due to the bikes being slower then. The Shay was certainly the best track I have been to with its banked corners. Does anyone remember Henny Kroeze who scored a 21 point maximum, and that was in the 13 heat format. It takes you back......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 I was going to post the story, of my first time ((.... I seen the SWAN!....PMSL whilst writing it, reliving the memories of that time! Go on, tell us the story again I remember reading it a while back and it was great, I'd love to read it agian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trackman Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 PMSL! Good on Ya SCB. if Lioness was talking to me I could ask for a link! Sir Lunchy, is much too Serious for that sort of thing, maybe Shazzy, Gem or Pawprint might help? where is Lioness?? :.O.(.... Regards. PS. one each...XXXXX ;o)...... Sorry Lunchy! do you think the short time Cam had in the UK, will benefit him this year??..... I do! TinHat Time!!!!! .....())) Sorry Phil "off topic" as always! ))))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dublin duke Posted February 24, 2004 Report Share Posted February 24, 2004 My dad used to bring me & brother from '65 into the '70's (and to the "steam pigs" HRLFC). I remember one meeting where Reider Eide went over the fence and into the crowd (his bike didn't....just him). The Shay was the best. My dad is still a HRLFC season ticket holder at The "new" Shay. We moved to Ireland in the '70's - NO SPEEDWAY!!! So, I'm probably one of the very few (if not the only) serious speedway fans in Ireland. I make the pilgrimage to Cardiff every year with my own son and go to Sheffield when visiting my father who now lives in Huddersfield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted February 29, 2004 Report Share Posted February 29, 2004 Yes i remember Hennys 21 point maximum.In fact i have the leathers he wore in the meeting. I was a regular at the shay from 1967 until the ham brothers took over(1981ish . I used to help Dougie Adams (set up the pa play records) and have so many memories from the shay. Some fantastic racing and great charicters riders and referees and of course Dougie. I remember lots of incidents and the riders who took exception to a reffereeing decsion and climbed the dreaded ladder to vent there anger (Jimmy Mcmillan) for one. i remember Kenny Carter when he broke his jaw watching a meeting from the box he was the king. My personal favorite referee was John Rhodes. He was a big bloke with a personality to match. He once excluded Ole Olsen under the two minute rule when Ole tried to get some extra time for one of his team mates by siting on his bike outside the pit gates. On came the red lights on went the white and yellow and black exclustion lights. Olsen was quickly on the phone to protest he was ready to race and only waiting for his partner. John was haveing none of it the crowd where insensed pure theatre. The time when Kenny was rideing for England V Denmark and Erik Gundersun made the gate and pinned KC to the white line on bend 2 only for KC to take one hand off the handle bars and hit Erik on the shoulder that got him a good ticking off from John Whittaker. I could go on all night. Does anyone remember Mick Newtons bike setting alight at the tapes when Ivan Mauger was Lieing up for a second half race.Never seen Ivan leave in such a hurry. But i think Henny apart my personal duke was Mick Mckeon. That bloke had a heart has big has a lion. The crash at the Old Belle Vue when he and Mike Lohmann both recived very nasty injuries was the worst crash i ever saw. I remember Micks last meeting at the shay on completeing his race got a Halifax scarf from someone in the crowd and did a lap appaulding the fans. I was in tears. Great memories. So sad its lost forever. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lioness Posted February 29, 2004 Report Share Posted February 29, 2004 PMSL! Good on Ya SCB. if Lioness was talking to me I could ask for a link!Sir Lunchy, is much too Serious for that sort of thing, maybe Shazzy, Gem or Pawprint might help? where is Lioness?? :.O.(.... Regards. PS. one each...XXXXX ;o)...... Sorry Lunchy! do you think the short time Cam had in the UK, will benefit him this year??..... I do! TinHat Time!!!!! .....())) Sorry Phil "off topic" as always! ))))) Sorry Phil I completely missed this-had a bad couple of weeks of it. E-mail on its way in explanation mate Hate to think wot link your talking about tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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