sommelier Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Would like to hear other comments on best ever track, I know we have had the classic's like Hyde Road, County Ground and The Shay. But for me I would have to say Coatbridge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 I have been to many tracks over the years - and time does cloud the memory - but New Cross in the 1940s era under promoters Freddie Mockford and Cecil Smith was always immaculate and provided top class, close racing IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sommelier Posted March 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 I have been to many tracks over the years - and time does cloud the memory - but New Cross in the 1940s era under promoters Freddie Mockford and Cecil Smith was always immaculate and provided top class, close racing IMO. Never got to New Cross, started watching speedway at Wolverhampton in the late 60s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 I rarely saw a bad meeting at Wimbledon during the late 60's and through the 70's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sommelier Posted March 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 I rarely saw a bad meeting at Wimbledon during the late 60's and through the 70's. Yes have to agree, fond memories at Plough Lane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 The Title of the Thread says - Best Ever Track? It has to be Belle Vue, Hyde Road for me. I know that you mention it in your original Post - but - it simply was the best Track I ever visited. :approve: Whilst I appreciate that others will think differently - for me - it is a 'no brainer'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sommelier Posted March 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 The Title of the Thread says - Best Ever Track? It has to be Belle Vue, Hyde Road for me. I know that you mention it in your original Post - but - it simply was the best Track I ever visited. :approve: Whilst I appreciate that others will think differently - for me - it is a 'no brainer'. Yes, what a fab track Hyde Road. Did you ever go to Coatbridge ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 (edited) I rarely saw a bad meeting at Wimbledon during the late 60's and through the 70's. An especially well-prepared track when under the Ronnie Greene regime. Edited March 1, 2015 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Yes, what a fab track Hyde Road. Did you ever go to Coatbridge ? Sadly - No. That is why I qualified my statement saying 'that I had ever visited'. I have great memories from a number of Tracks - but for me Hyde Road was the best ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 For me, Sheffield under Frank Varey-always immaculate. Fond memories of Owleron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 I think the extreme to the best ever track may have been the California-in-England dirt track at Wokingham? But it always provided great and exciting racing for all that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sommelier Posted March 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 I think the extreme to the best ever track may have been the California-in-England dirt track at Wokingham? But it always provided great and exciting racing for all that. Interesting track choice, i never got to view ther but got a few programmes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arson fire Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 The Shay for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 The racing at New Cross was always very exciting because it was so small. There was never time for a race to become boring! But talking about the best prepared track for good racing, I think I'd have to say the best I visited was Hackney under Len Silver. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 (edited) Despite being a lifelong Wimbledon fan, it has to be west ham for me. Quite a few of my formative meetings were attended at custom house. That grand old stadium made a huge impact on my speedway life as a youngster. Edited March 2, 2015 by cityrebel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 The racing at New Cross was always very exciting because it was so small. There was never time for a race to become boring! But talking about the best prepared track for good racing, I think I'd have to say the best I visited was Hackney under Len Silver. Len Silver put a very good Track down at Sunderland. A number of Away Riders praised it and some of them rode it very well indeed. Bruce Forrester was superb around Sunderland others who rode it well included Mal MacKay, Dave Baugh, Alan Knapkin, Richard Greer, Doug Wyer and most of the Eastbourne Riders. The Track was only 312 yards in length, which probably goes to explain why Eastbourne liked it so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldace Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 The racing at New Cross was always very exciting because it was so small. There was never time for a race to become boring! But talking about the best prepared track for good racing, I think I'd have to say the best I visited was Hackney under Len Silver. Hackney was a death trap. Any rider with an ounce of self preservation stayed on the line. Yes if you brave (mad) enough there was a decent line out wide but you ran the risk of hitting someting liable to do harm if it went wrong. In a list of genuinley good race tracks Hackney would be a long way down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickthemuppet Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Hackney was a death trap. Any rider with an ounce of self preservation stayed on the line. Yes if you brave (mad) enough there was a decent line out wide but you ran the risk of hitting someting liable to do harm if it went wrong. In a list of genuinley good race tracks Hackney would be a long way down Have to agree completely Hackney was one of the most dangerous tracks ever. The light stanchions were built into the safety fence.. It was like waiting for an accident to happen.and they did. They would never build a track like that today . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruiser McHuge Posted March 3, 2015 Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 Certainly a lot of riders thought Hackney was a very dangerous track. I was introduced to speedway at Hyde Road in the 70's and that was the only track I saw for a good while so I think I was totally spoilt and just thought that Hyde Road was what all speedway was like...of course watching Peter Collins and Chris Morton there every week spoilt you as well.. It was later when we became hooked that we started going away and being quite shocked that speedway wasn't the same at all tracks...in fact I'm sure that if Hyde Road hadn't been the track that I first went to then I don't think I'd have become such a big fan. I can never get the love for the Shay though....I went there reguarly watching Belle Vue and I always found the racing very fast but very processional ..it certainly wasn't my favourite.....Sheffield I did always like though but outside of Hyde Road I think my favourite UK track was Cradley...I used to really like that track. Outside the UK I loved Claremont in Australia where I saw plenty of meetings...when it was prepared properly for bikes it was a fantastic track with a great atmosphere and a great night out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sommelier Posted March 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 So surprised no one has mentioned Coatbridge yet ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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