Belle Vue Memories How Good Was Hyde Rd.?

[oldace]

 

There was a ride at BV called the "Bobs", it was a big open ride, unlike the Scenic Railway which was partly covered to simulate going into a rock face.. The Scenic Railway was the ride next to the track. Pretty sure the Scenic Railway did not have a brake man but the Bobs did. Never plucked up courage to ride the Bobs, and by comparison to today rides like The Big One at Blackpool it would be considered a mild ride, but went on the Scenic Railway a good few times.

I heard that the Bobs was dismantled and taken to the USA when the funfair closed.

 

All though it was the speedway you wen to BV for........ Johnnies marching girls were pretty good too. Someone must remember them.

 

 

No Penny is correct on that. The Scenic Railway had a brake man on a platform at the back of the train.

 

The "bobs" was taken down in 1971 and really never replaced. It was, by the standards of the day" a white knuckle" ride which along with the scenic railway was about the only decent ride in there by then.

 

The scenic railway limped on to 1980 before it too was demolished. By then the fairground was little better (if any) than your average travelling funfair. If I recall THF then leased it out to a third party to run for a couple of years before the inevitable selling off for houses.

Edited September 18, 2014 by Oldace

[Bruiser McHuge]

I honestly don't think I would have become such a speedway fan if Hyde Road wasn't the track that I started going to as a school kid...that was the only track I knew for a good while so I didn't know any different and thought all speedway tracks were like that....it was a good while later we started going away and soon realised I was spoilt by watching speedway at Hyde Road every week ..

It was a great track when at its best, although there were plenty of dreadful races as well when you look back, especially when some of the smaller tracks making their annual visit came to town....they just didn't have the speed to compete and it led to many one sided affairs

Even top riders sometimes took a while to adjust and quite often started the meeting well but faded badly as the track took it's toll on their engine, but good riders soon learned it and their battles with the likes of Collins and Morton were memorable..

Hans Nielsen always rode too much of an inside line for ages at Hyde Road and would always be picked off with ease...later on he completely mastered the track and became almost unbeatable there..

Kenny Carter 's visits were always a highlight...Halifax were generally pretty poor but Carter wasn't and he was fast...and he usually won....great atmosphere though

Erik Gundersen in many ways was the most spectacular there as I have never seen a rider ride Hyde Road so wide...he usually did it from the front though but he looked like he was shaking hands with the crowd he was so wide....and he was in the last ever race at Hyde Road,,but he didn't win it as fittingly Chris Morton did...

Ole Olsen's visits were a highlight..he was fast and the crowd used to love to boo him...all except Soldier Boy who loved Olsen as I recall...I remember Olsen winning a second half final and coming over the crowd to give Soldier Boy his trophy.....great days

 

Oh..and I remember visiting Belle Vue zoo and a monkey nicking my dad's glasses off his nose through the bars and running off with them...when the keeper got them back they were a mangled mess.....happy days indeed ...

[waiheke1]

Hyde Road is where I fell in love with speedway. My parents first started taking me midway through the 81 season, as a kiwi Larry Ross, Aces number 1, immediately became my favourite rider, closely followed by the mighty Mort. I ecall Larry Kosta and Mile Lohmann as being rubbish, though I was at the time unaware of the horrific injuries sudfferred by Lohmann the previous season, while Kosta was one of the few Americans who didn't excel around Hyde Rd. My first test match was that season as well, a comprehensive victory for England over the USA, and my first bir individual meeting saw KC blitz the field in the BLRC.

82 is probably my favourite season, PC returning to ghive the Aces an awesome heatleader trio, and forming a superb heat 13 partnership with Mort. BL champions. Stand out visisotrs were Carter, Gundersen, Shaun Moran and Penhall, while I also recall an immaculate 15 point maximum from Ole Olsen. KC again was untouchable in the BLRC.

83 started with one of my fgavourite meetings of all time - the Premiership against what was to become arguably the greatest BL team of all time Cradley, yet we returned to Hyde Rd for the second leg with a 6 point advantage. Cradley fought back hard though, and Aces headed into the final heat - despite Mort having competed 15 point maximum from the number four slot which was to be his position for the start of that season - 2 points down on aggregate. But a 5-1 from Ross and PC secured the silverware for the Aces - the only they would win that season. Highlight was the emergence of Andy Smith as a wild but truly exciting talent, I remember him passing Mike Lee - who was brilliant that season - around the boards in one heat 11 to join Mort for a 5-1. The 83 overseas final was the first time it had been staged at Hyde Rd, and Phil Collins was a shock winner, while Mitch Shirra was also a surprise medalist. Biggest surprise though was the elimination of PC and Shaun Moran, who along with Mort, Ross, Lee and Carter would have been expected to be battling for the title on a track both (normally) rode so well - though the wet conditions didn't help either of them.

84 the aces had an amazing team around Hyde Rd, the 64-14 victory over Eastborne will always be remembered. Lance King won the Overseas title - on a scorchin day i think -with a 15 point maximum, though a super duel with Shaum Moran was ended when Shaun suffered an engine failure. Larru cruised through to the next round, but the absence of Mort and PC - eliminated on the infamous Brandon British Final - was a reakl shame, as both were in fantsastic form. Mort won the BLRC after a three way run off (in which Erik was excluded for tape touching!), superbly passing Hans.

85 I was gutted that Larry Ross was sold to Halifax (though living in Huddersfield I still got to go to watch him ride on a number of occasions), and it was by far the weakest Aces team of my era - Andy Campbell was a dreadful signing (signed as a HL, turned out to be a decent resevce), Eddie Ingels (worst American around Hyde Rd since Larry Kosta a few years earlier !) - but this meant lots of close meetings, and I recall last heat deciders against Sheffield and Oxford on nights where the racing was brilliant through out. PC and Mort both finished in the medals in the BLRC.

86 was an even worse season for the Aces, Andy Smith missed most of the season with injury, PC got injured and when he came back dropped two points off his average. Highlight was Declan Eccles, who was wild but one of the better compulsory juniors in the league, the form of Carl Blackbird ("and the Blackbidr is flying") and ever reliable Mort.

My family moved back to Nz a handful of meetings into the 87 season, though fittingly I got to see the PC farweell meeting (also Bruce Pennhall's last races on UK soil?). The Aces had a really exciting team, with PAul Thorp signed at reserve, ANdy Smith back fit (though clearly struggling early season),and Peter Ravn retruning as a number 1 on a bargain average. I was convinced the Aces would win the title, but sadly they finished mid table in what, even more sadly, was the last season a t Hyde Rd.

So favourite Aces in the era Were Larry, Mort, PC, Andy Smith, to round out seven I'd add Paul Thorp, Declaun Eccles and probably "the racing Carr" Peter Carr. Visitors, Kenny Carter was the best in my mind, followed probably by gundersen, Hans (purely because by mid 80s he rode ANY track brilliantly), Shaun Moran (though he'd normally have one bad rider per meeting), Bruce Penhall.

I remember looking down iinto the pits (we always sat on the third bend, apart form one meeting where we tried the first bend but hated the sheer volume of shale we got hit with!). Baked potatoes from the stand, buying the odd souvenir froom Taffy's shop. Bammy's fireworks, Dick Barry on the mike.

Simply my favourite speedway memories.

[nw42]

Hyde Road is where I fell in love with speedway. My parents first started taking me midway through the 81 season, as a kiwi Larry Ross, Aces number 1, immediately became my favourite rider, closely followed by the mighty Mort. I ecall Larry Kosta and Mile Lohmann as being rubbish, though I was at the time unaware of the horrific injuries sudfferred by Lohmann the previous season, while Kosta was one of the few Americans who didn't excel around Hyde Rd. My first test match was that season as well, a comprehensive victory for England over the USA, and my first bir individual meeting saw KC blitz the field in the BLRC.

82 is probably my favourite season, PC returning to ghive the Aces an awesome heatleader trio, and forming a superb heat 13 partnership with Mort. BL champions. Stand out visisotrs were Carter, Gundersen, Shaun Moran and Penhall, while I also recall an immaculate 15 point maximum from Ole Olsen. KC again was untouchable in the BLRC.

83 started with one of my fgavourite meetings of all time - the Premiership against what was to become arguably the greatest BL team of all time Cradley, yet we returned to Hyde Rd for the second leg with a 6 point advantage. Cradley fought back hard though, and Aces headed into the final heat - despite Mort having competed 15 point maximum from the number four slot which was to be his position for the start of that season - 2 points down on aggregate. But a 5-1 from Ross and PC secured the silverware for the Aces - the only they would win that season. Highlight was the emergence of Andy Smith as a wild but truly exciting talent, I remember him passing Mike Lee - who was brilliant that season - around the boards in one heat 11 to join Mort for a 5-1. The 83 overseas final was the first time it had been staged at Hyde Rd, and Phil Collins was a shock winner, while Mitch Shirra was also a surprise medalist. Biggest surprise though was the elimination of PC and Shaun Moran, who along with Mort, Ross, Lee and Carter would have been expected to be battling for the title on a track both (normally) rode so well - though the wet conditions didn't help either of them.

84 the aces had an amazing team around Hyde Rd, the 64-14 victory over Eastborne will always be remembered. Lance King won the Overseas title - on a scorchin day i think -with a 15 point maximum, though a super duel with Shaum Moran was ended when Shaun suffered an engine failure. Larru cruised through to the next round, but the absence of Mort and PC - eliminated on the infamous Brandon British Final - was a reakl shame, as both were in fantsastic form. Mort won the BLRC after a three way run off (in which Erik was excluded for tape touching!), superbly passing Hans.

85 I was gutted that Larry Ross was sold to Halifax (though living in Huddersfield I still got to go to watch him ride on a number of occasions), and it was by far the weakest Aces team of my era - Andy Campbell was a dreadful signing (signed as a HL, turned out to be a decent resevce), Eddie Ingels (worst American around Hyde Rd since Larry Kosta a few years earlier !) - but this meant lots of close meetings, and I recall last heat deciders against Sheffield and Oxford on nights where the racing was brilliant through out. PC and Mort both finished in the medals in the BLRC.

86 was an even worse season for the Aces, Andy Smith missed most of the season with injury, PC got injured and when he came back dropped two points off his average. Highlight was Declan Eccles, who was wild but one of the better compulsory juniors in the league, the form of Carl Blackbird ("and the Blackbidr is flying") and ever reliable Mort.

My family moved back to Nz a handful of meetings into the 87 season, though fittingly I got to see the PC farweell meeting (also Bruce Pennhall's last races on UK soil?). The Aces had a really exciting team, with PAul Thorp signed at reserve, ANdy Smith back fit (though clearly struggling early season),and Peter Ravn retruning as a number 1 on a bargain average. I was convinced the Aces would win the title, but sadly they finished mid table in what, even more sadly, was the last season a t Hyde Rd.

So favourite Aces in the era Were Larry, Mort, PC, Andy Smith, to round out seven I'd add Paul Thorp, Declaun Eccles and probably "the racing Carr" Peter Carr. Visitors, Kenny Carter was the best in my mind, followed probably by gundersen, Hans (purely because by mid 80s he rode ANY track brilliantly), Shaun Moran (though he'd normally have one bad rider per meeting), Bruce Penhall.

I remember looking down iinto the pits (we always sat on the third bend, apart form one meeting where we tried the first bend but hated the sheer volume of shale we got hit with!). Baked potatoes from the stand, buying the odd souvenir froom Taffy's shop. Bammy's fireworks, Dick Barry on the mike.

Simply my favourite speedway memories.

 

Great post, we share plenty of memories from that era, although you clearly retain more details of the actual results than I'm able to. My most vivid recollection of Declan Eccles were the grey overalls he always seemed to wear, made him seem a no nonsense type of rider, great to watch when in full flight.

 

Wasn't Glen Hornby another of Bamforth's fledglings, I seem to remember he also went out on a limb for Martin Scarisbrick, neither of the pair ever fulfilled their supposed potential.

 

We sat 3rd bend also, easily the best place to view racing @ Hyde Road, PC & Mort had so many different lines round that pit bend, almost impossible for any rider to outdo them.

Was the little souvenir kiosk still there, just inside the Redgate Lane entrance? Bought my first Soren Sjosten rosette from there.

 

Going in the pits after the meeting was always a great end to the evening, Larry Ross always had his bikes in a big estate car, Citroen I think.

 

See, you remember results, I just retain the trivia, still great memories though..

[waiheke1]

Glen hornby got the "local junior" slot in 87, but was never likely to make it big.

Scarisbrick started the 85 season for the aces (recalled from loan at newcastle, whom he represented at the 84 blrc after a string of injuries to other riders) and was actually pretty solid at reserve, but was ultimately replaced by carl blackbird (I think eddie ingels replaced mark crang, who was comfortably the worst rider I saw in aces colours -but its possible I have the replacements the wrong way). Barry ayres was another who looked good for the colts and had a reserve slot for the 86 season - better than hornby imho, but again would have averaged under three I think.

[fatface]

Hyde Road is where I fell in love with speedway. My parents first started taking me midway through the 81 season, as a kiwi Larry Ross, Aces number 1, immediately became my favourite rider, closely followed by the mighty Mort. I ecall Larry Kosta and Mile Lohmann as being rubbish, though I was at the time unaware of the horrific injuries sudfferred by Lohmann the previous season, while Kosta was one of the few Americans who didn't excel around Hyde Rd. My first test match was that season as well, a comprehensive victory for England over the USA, and my first bir individual meeting saw KC blitz the field in the BLRC.

82 is probably my favourite season, PC returning to ghive the Aces an awesome heatleader trio, and forming a superb heat 13 partnership with Mort. BL champions. Stand out visisotrs were Carter, Gundersen, Shaun Moran and Penhall, while I also recall an immaculate 15 point maximum from Ole Olsen. KC again was untouchable in the BLRC.

83 started with one of my fgavourite meetings of all time - the Premiership against what was to become arguably the greatest BL team of all time Cradley, yet we returned to Hyde Rd for the second leg with a 6 point advantage. Cradley fought back hard though, and Aces headed into the final heat - despite Mort having competed 15 point maximum from the number four slot which was to be his position for the start of that season - 2 points down on aggregate. But a 5-1 from Ross and PC secured the silverware for the Aces - the only they would win that season. Highlight was the emergence of Andy Smith as a wild but truly exciting talent, I remember him passing Mike Lee - who was brilliant that season - around the boards in one heat 11 to join Mort for a 5-1. The 83 overseas final was the first time it had been staged at Hyde Rd, and Phil Collins was a shock winner, while Mitch Shirra was also a surprise medalist. Biggest surprise though was the elimination of PC and Shaun Moran, who along with Mort, Ross, Lee and Carter would have been expected to be battling for the title on a track both (normally) rode so well - though the wet conditions didn't help either of them.

84 the aces had an amazing team around Hyde Rd, the 64-14 victory over Eastborne will always be remembered. Lance King won the Overseas title - on a scorchin day i think -with a 15 point maximum, though a super duel with Shaum Moran was ended when Shaun suffered an engine failure. Larru cruised through to the next round, but the absence of Mort and PC - eliminated on the infamous Brandon British Final - was a reakl shame, as both were in fantsastic form. Mort won the BLRC after a three way run off (in which Erik was excluded for tape touching!), superbly passing Hans.

85 I was gutted that Larry Ross was sold to Halifax (though living in Huddersfield I still got to go to watch him ride on a number of occasions), and it was by far the weakest Aces team of my era - Andy Campbell was a dreadful signing (signed as a HL, turned out to be a decent resevce), Eddie Ingels (worst American around Hyde Rd since Larry Kosta a few years earlier !) - but this meant lots of close meetings, and I recall last heat deciders against Sheffield and Oxford on nights where the racing was brilliant through out. PC and Mort both finished in the medals in the BLRC.

86 was an even worse season for the Aces, Andy Smith missed most of the season with injury, PC got injured and when he came back dropped two points off his average. Highlight was Declan Eccles, who was wild but one of the better compulsory juniors in the league, the form of Carl Blackbird ("and the Blackbidr is flying") and ever reliable Mort.

My family moved back to Nz a handful of meetings into the 87 season, though fittingly I got to see the PC farweell meeting (also Bruce Pennhall's last races on UK soil?). The Aces had a really exciting team, with PAul Thorp signed at reserve, ANdy Smith back fit (though clearly struggling early season),and Peter Ravn retruning as a number 1 on a bargain average. I was convinced the Aces would win the title, but sadly they finished mid table in what, even more sadly, was the last season a t Hyde Rd.

So favourite Aces in the era Were Larry, Mort, PC, Andy Smith, to round out seven I'd add Paul Thorp, Declaun Eccles and probably "the racing Carr" Peter Carr. Visitors, Kenny Carter was the best in my mind, followed probably by gundersen, Hans (purely because by mid 80s he rode ANY track brilliantly), Shaun Moran (though he'd normally have one bad rider per meeting), Bruce Penhall.

I remember looking down iinto the pits (we always sat on the third bend, apart form one meeting where we tried the first bend but hated the sheer volume of shale we got hit with!). Baked potatoes from the stand, buying the odd souvenir froom Taffy's shop. Bammy's fireworks, Dick Barry on the mike.

Simply my favourite speedway memories.

Wow! I could've almost written that myself! My first meeting was also in 1981 v King's Lynn. Our family were hooked right from the get-go. And Mort was always my favourite, though Larry Ross was a great rider for the Aces and probably the key man in the title-winning 82 season. He was very reliable away from home and could always gate when needed to. I agree that Kenny Carter was the best visitor. Mort and PC brilliant at Hyde Road, but they had to be at the absolute top of their game to beat Kenny.

 

One meeting that sticks in my mind is a 1982 British League match v Sheffield. The racing was dynamite all night with Mort, PC and Shawn Moran right in the thick of it. Wayne Brown was also flying for the visitors. The Aces were two down going into the final race. But lo and behold Mort and PC pulled it out of the bag with a 5-1 against Shawn Moran and Reg Wilson. I recall both teams being sent round on the traditional lap of honour,, such had been the quality of the racing.

[mammorrockar]

Hi !

I have read many off you in this forum and it look likes many off you was big fans off my onkels

Christer Sjosten and Soren Sjosten.

And that makes me very happy.

/Linda

[The White Knight]

Hi !

I have read many off you in this forum and it look likes many off you was big fans off my onkels

Christer Sjosten and Soren Sjosten.

And that makes me very happy.

/Linda

I thought Soren was brilliant, I didn't see too much of Christer.

[Sidney the robin]

Hi !

I have read many off you in this forum and it look likes many off you was big fans off my onkels

Christer Sjosten and Soren Sjosten.

And that makes me very happy.

/Linda

Soren was some rider very exciting , Christer i only see for Coatbridge/Poole again like his brother great value a really exciting rider.😀 Edited June 2, 2017 by Sidney the robin

[steve roberts]

Hi !

I have read many off you in this forum and it look likes many off you was big fans off my onkels

Christer Sjosten and Soren Sjosten.

And that makes me very happy.

/Linda

Saw both ride on a number of occasion. Great entertainers!

[Guest]

This was the first of my visits to Belle Vue - way back in 1956.

Saturday 19th May 1956

Belle Vue Reserves 35 Southern Area League 19 (Challenge)

Belle Vue: Slant Payling, Alf Webster, Brian Craven, Jack Kitchen, Bob Fletcher, Lew Grepp, Tony Robinson.

SAL: Vic Ridgeon, Albert Sparrey, Ross Gilbertson, Pete Mould, Colin Gooddy, Ray Cresp, Bob McHugh.

The first actual race result was Ht 1: Payling, Ridgeon, Webster, Sparrey.

Edited June 2, 2017 by Guest

[longlivefrankie]

First visit 1972 BLRC , was mesmerised , as quite a few mentioned the funfair, zoo and the almost gladiatorial atmosphere under the lights made it my no 1 fav track, annual visits to the BLRC were a real treat

 

Only two other tracks for atmosphere came close ...Wimbledon for the internationale and other big meeting although loved league meetings there (uncle was living in London at time so frequent visits) and then Wembley for the world finals 72, 75, 78

[cityrebel]

Hyde road was a fantastic race track. It felt like you were watching speedway in a museum. West ham was the only other venue that had the same atmosphere for me.