How Do Grass Track And Speedway Compare?

[Guest]

It's hard to make a comparison but what standard would leading non-speedway linked 500cc grass track riders rate in regard to a speedway standard? I hope that question makes sense?

 

[Guest]

This wikipedia link gives some well known speedway riders among the 500cc National champions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grasstrack#List_of_British_Grasstrack_Champions

[michaelcroucher]

Most top speedway riders think grasstrack riders are mad. Just ask Chris Holder on what he thinks about Grasstrack.

[Guest]

Most top speedway riders think grasstrack riders are mad. Just ask Chris Holder on what he thinks about Grasstrack.

 

It's just not possible for me to fulfil that request but I would be interested in Chris Holder's opinion if available.

[Guest]

Chris Holder gets a mention here as being a spectator at this grass track meeting. The race action looks pretty good to me.

http://www.adimages.co.uk/blog/british-masters-grasstrack-4/#more-3880

[michaelcroucher]

I think that speedway riders back in the 80s use to do both and maybe before this but i can only remember as far back as the 80s. Now that most speedway riders ride all the time they dont find the time to do both. I still go to grasstrack and think that you can see some great racing. what i like about it is that you can have a speedway rider turn up who is really good at speedway and they will race with an amateur and not always win. Could you image this on a speedway track.

 

[Van der Elst]

I know of at least 1 speedway rider from the 1960's who also did grass track.

[OveFundinFan]

I have seen some really fantastic races on the grass, but those same riders are just average at speedway. Chris and Dave Baybutt, Gerry Short are typical - champs on the grass.

There again, the like of Peter Collins, Chris Morton, Jeremy Doncaster, Simon Wigg and others were spectacular on both, and successful on both.

[customhouseregular]

Unless my memory is paying tricks I can recall attending Grass Track meetings in Kent during the late 60's, and seeing Malcolm Simmons perform really well. I also recall watching John Louis in Scramble meets at Ramsden Essex, before he switched to Speedway.

[Ray Stadia]

I saw a Grass Track meeting yesterday at Ugley, near Stansted airport. I haven't been to a meeting for a while and unfortunately, some classes were lacking in riders, i.e. a 350 cc heat, had only 3 riders. The main event was the British under 21 championship and was won by James Shanes, who I understand rides speedway at NL level, but is tipped as a great future speedway prospect, I understand. He was brilliant! Very exciting and full throttle! The best supported class was the upright class, which had a rider by the name of Stephen Green, not heard of him before, but was also very entertaining and not a youngster! I had a great afternoon.

[customhouseregular]

Will Rayleigh ever have speedway again?...what a lovely thought. I have fond memories of Rayleigh. My father and I helped Len Silver with work at the old Arterial Road ground prior to the Rockets joining the old British League 2nd. Division.

[customhouseregular]

Will Rayleigh ever have speedway again?...what a lovely thought. I have fond memories of Rayleigh. My father and I helped Len Silver with work at the old Arterial Road ground prior to the Rockets joining the old British League 2nd. Division.

I remember hitching a lift from Upminster to Rayleigh to watch an Easter Trophy meeting. This would have been 1963 I think. My friend and I sat on the grass overlooking the 3rd./4th. bends to watch lower order riders, presumably Provincial League competing in the Spring sunshine. I believe this was Easter Sunday afternoon. As I recall the meeting was won by Jim Heard with Malcolm Brown second. My word it does not seem 50 years ago.

[engineman]

When I was racing grasstrack in the 70s, it always struck me that PC, Chris Morton etc, whilst bad gaters in speedway,, were generally at the first bend ahead of us ! In those days 16 riders in a heat was not uncommon, made for congested first bends too!

[OveFundinFan]

, it always struck me that PC, Chris Morton etc, whilst bad gaters in speedway,, were generally at the first bend ahead of us !

My claim to fame in grass track was that I could out gate both PC and Chris Morton.

One race I was round the 2nd bend before PC passed me - mind you I didnt see him again until I was back in the pits.

[engineman]

My claim to fame in grass track was that I could out gate both PC and Chris Morton.

One race I was round the 2nd bend before PC passed me - mind you I didnt see him again until I was back in the pits.

 

I'd have been happy to outgate them!

 

My claim to fame is that I ran into Chris Morton when he locked up in front of me. I shut off, and he cleared off to win the race! That's what made them better than average....they come out on top.