British Speedway Memories Book

[moxey63]

Here's a snippet from one set of 'memories' received:

 

The first speedway meeting I attended was Leicester v Kings Lynn on April 1, 1969. I'd never heard of speedway before but my dad, who used to go to Leicester Super many years before, asked me if I'd like to go. We'd moved up to Leicester from Bromley in the previous September and my only experience of live motor sport prior to this was one visit to Crayford to watch stock cars.

 

Before the first lap had been completed that evening I was completely hooked, and had a new sporting hero in Ray Wilson. I knew from that first lap that all I wanted to be was a speedway rider. I was completely captivated by the smell, speed and sight of the chrome plated bikes under the floodlights.

 

That has answered my other question... how to actually answer the questions you asked, Tony. Before your latest post, had thought of doing it in the style of the "On Two Minutes" section you have in Backtrack, but started doing it in the story-telling way, which is just as well.

[hrhbig]

I will do my bit... for the good old days. Good idea, I think, a book about the olden days... by fans, from the golden age... just hope it'll be priced at retro day price... about thirty bob or something.

OW MOOCH ??!!!!!

[2ndBender]

Out of line?

 

I hadn't realised there was a line to be towed.

 

I suppose it's the logical extension of having the Speedway Mail article written by those who are going to buy it.

 

It's a personal opinion - I prefer it if I'm paying to do the reading, I prefer someone with some credentials to have done the writing.

 

Much the same in other walks of life - there is nothing worse than a singer encouraging "audience participation" in a song: no, I paid to hear YOU sing it - if I had felt the need for a karaoke version, I'd have gone to a bar.

 

Actually I wouldn't - I'd have killed myself first.

 

This is simply "You've Been Framed" in paperback form.

 

"The Fans' View" of the 1971 World Final:

- we had ham & pease pudding sandwiches wrapped in tin foil,

- Elsie had too much stout & was sick on the bus,

-Ole Olsen won the meeting,

- wasn't black leather & shiny chrome better under lights

 

They you go - Chapter One, done & dusted.

 

Wow! Your glass is not just half empty, is it? It was sucked dry, and thrown away, long, long ago. I stopped posting on here a while back, due largely to the bile and venom in posts like this. I'm with The White Knight on this one, and I hope to contribute to tmc's request/invitation soon. Good Luck!

[TonyMac]

The response to our British Speedway Memories questionnaire is going very well. For example, here are just a few small extracts from a handful of the answers relating to Q10 – ‘What makes speedway so special?’:

It’s the sheer assault on the senses. From the simple things like the satisfying ‘plop’ of the ‘Speedway Star’ on the doormat on the morning of race day; the comforting feel of hallowed accessories like Dad-made programme holder and ‘Ronnie Moore’ banner and precious badge-laden scarf; the heady aroma of burning methanol, hamburgers, onions, shale dust and cigarette smoke; the reverential marking of programmes with the mysterious lexicon of speedway - EF, RR, DNF, F, ECX/T, EXC/F, EXC/2; the strains of ‘Blaze Away’ heralding the arrival of the riders at Wimbledon; raucous crowds cheering local heroes and booing pantomime villains; the unique thrill of the moment just before the tapes fly-up; the deafening roar and speed of powerful machines; marvelling at the sight of leather-clad warriors dicing with death; spectacular crashes and winners’ pulling victory wheelies at the chequered flag. Happiness is 40-38.

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A unique motor cycle sport where you can see the entire race; the smell of methanol; the theatre of it all, particularly under floodlights; the friends I've made at the speedway; the friendly atmosphere

among home and visiting fans - something that has declined over the years sadly.

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The fans are loyal, passionate, long suffering (often taken for granted and let down by the promoters, the governing bodies and the referees) but they never need to be segregated and it remains a safe sport for all the family to enjoy. The noise, smell, colour, personalities, danger, courage, skill and the fact that the entire race can be seen from the terraces all make speedway attractive to me. But it’s the good natured sense of being members of the big speedway family that makes the sport so special.

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Once speedway is in your blood, you keep on coming. The sport generates so much emotion, and you always have to expect the unexpected. Sometimes off the track, even. What an incredible story it’s been this (2012-13) winter about that brave woman who’s taken over Workington, when all seemed lost (and my heart, after losing Newport the year before, was bleeding for Comets fans). Laura Morgan, is it? Let’s finish on that high note. I don’t suppose I’ll ever get there but that story somehow symbolises what speedway is, what speedway means.

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If you would also like to contribute your memories to our book, answer the questions below and send them to us at Retro Speedway. Come on, we want the whole of the speedway community – riders, promoters, staff and, of course, supporters to get involved…

BRITISH SPEEDWAY MEMORIES

A lavishly illustrated book to be published by Retro Speedway in Autumn 2013

 

LATER this year we at Retro Speedway will publish a new book called BRITISH SPEEDWAY MEMORIES. As the title suggests, it will be a compilation of special memories as recalled by supporters of our wonderful family sport.

 

It doesn’t matter which era of speedway’s history you treasure most . . . whether your interest dates back to the post-war boom period or you have only been following the sport for a short while . . . we all have special moments in time and favourites we like to remember and reflect upon with pleasure. Now let’s share them with each other for our mutual enjoyment.

 

The idea is that we are going to record all of your thoughts and memories in one convenient place that will never be far from reach – hence BRITISH SPEEDWAY MEMORIES.

 

All you have to do to be part of it and ensure your name is included in the book is answer the following 10 simple questions. If not all, then as many as you can.

 

Firstly, please state YOUR NAME, POSTAL ADDRESS, EMAIL ADDRESS & PHONE NUMBER

(Don’t worry, apart from your name, we will NOT publish your details in the actual book!)

 

1. Tell us about the first speedway meeting you can remember attending and what led you to go?

2. Where did/do you watch speedway most regularly?

3. What was/is your favourite away track to visit, and why?

4. Name your three most favourite (not necessarily the best) riders, and why you have chosen them?

5. Of all the meetings you have been to, do you have one memorable classic that stands out from all the rest?

6. Can you single out one particularly great race that will live longest in your memory?

7. What do you miss most about speedway in the past?

8. What, if anything, would you like to see reintroduced to speedway today?

9. What is your favourite memory you take from speedway?

10. Whether you used to attend speedway meeting or still do so today, describe what makes speedway so special to you?

 

Thank you. Now please email your answers to Tony Mac at editorial@retro-speedway.com Please send them to us as soon as possible, but the deadline for responses is

August 31st, 2013.

Edited May 24, 2013 by tmc