Hackney 1988

[Reviresco]

 

I bow to your greater wisdom. My dad was a Harringay fan before Hackney re-opened in the early sixties.

Wasn't there speedway at Stamford bridge at one time?

 

I wasn't around then Terry, but believe that speedway meetings were held at Stamford Bridge between 1928 & 1932 and that the team that rode there, the Pensioners of course, were champions of the inaugural Southern League in 1929.

[chunky]

It's so great looking at a thread like this, and seeing how many didn't just follow our local team, but went wherever we could! I could always be found at Plough Lane, but was a regular visitor to Hackney (poxy journey on Friday night, but coming home, I could judge the traffic lights, and could get from the Green Man to London Bridge without stopping), Crayford (another miserable drive!), Oxford, Reading, Eastbourne, Rye, Arena, Canterbury, MK, Mildenhall, Lynn etc Used to love tha bank hols, taking in three in one day!

 

Great memories...

 

Steve

[Sidney the robin]

It's so great looking at a thread like this, and seeing how many didn't just follow our local team, but went wherever we could! I could always be found at Plough Lane, but was a regular visitor to Hackney (poxy journey on Friday night, but coming home, I could judge the traffic lights, and could get from the Green Man to London Bridge without stopping), Crayford (another miserable drive!), Oxford, Reading, Eastbourne, Rye, Arena, Canterbury, MK, Mildenhall, Lynn etc Used to love tha bank hols, taking in three in one day!

 

Great memories...

 

Steve

Chunky off the subject i know,did you ever see Scott Autrey and Mike Bast practice at Plough Lane.?At different times of course Autrey was it 71/72 ? Bast was going to sign i believe but it never happened it would of been a great home track for him if he had of done.

[Reviresco]

It's so great looking at a thread like this, and seeing how many didn't just follow our local team, but went wherever we could! I could always be found at Plough Lane, but was a regular visitor to Hackney (poxy journey on Friday night, but coming home, I could judge the traffic lights, and could get from the Green Man to London Bridge without stopping), Crayford (another miserable drive!), Oxford, Reading, Eastbourne, Rye, Arena, Canterbury, MK, Mildenhall, Lynn etc Used to love tha bank hols, taking in three in one day!

 

Great memories...

 

Steve

 

Used to love that little trick of trying to judge the traffic lights to get a clean run through. Heading back from Wimbledon, Hackney, White City, Crayford, or driving along the Embankment after a trip to Reading, Oxford, Swindon, and through London - great fun. Always thought that using the bus lanes (or whatever they were called in those days) back then was a good way of speeding up your journey - wouldn't get away with it these days though. Remember one night, must have been 1982, scooting in and out of the bus lane. looked in my rear view mirror and saw Mel Taylor dive in behind me and he followed my example all the way back to the Eastern Avenue. Of course he had a trailer hooked up, so it got a bit hairy at times. Thanks for bringing back another memory, Steve.

[steve roberts]

Remember visiting Hackney in 1973 and the third and fourth (no fifth in those days) gears packing up on the hired car! Managed to crawl to Waterden Road and after the meeting phoned the hire company to explain our dilemma. We had collected around a phone box somewhere around the East End waiting for a call back. Next a police car arrived...apparently we had been reported as acting suspiciously (this was during the height of the IRA bombings) After explaining our situation we eventually got back to Oxford using just the first and second gears...imagine that around the North Circular and the A40! But what memories!

[Gresham]

I've only just read this thread...seems there are a few people who followed speedway around the country, and not just when it was their team riding.

 

It was very similar for me.

 

Being on the road as an on site QS and company car, with decent fuel allowance, I made the most of it.

 

I'd try and make my daily work schedule fit around speedway meetings. I was based in the Bristol area and often around Swindon.

 

I'd get to as many meetings as possible...Exeter, Poole, Weymouth, Newport, Swindon, Oxford, Reading, Coventry, Cradley, Wolves.

 

Great memories following.

 

Shame my interest has dwindled and I go less often...it definitely became less and less after the introduction of laydowns and bike covers.

 

I've thought long and hard about why I lost interest...looking at races now, they can be just as exciting.

 

For me, I think it's aesthetics....Speedway to me, is just not aesthetically pleasing anymore. It doesn't look right imo.

 

Odd one I know...

[steve roberts]

The family used to plan our holidays around speedway with trips to Eastbourne, Poole, Weymouth and Exeter. When I learnt to drive (1978) I used to drive all round the country (White City every week) generally following Oxford but as a neutral observer also. The sport was different during the seventies and eighties and, without repeating why I eventually stopped going, gave tremendous satisfaction and camaraderie. Wouldn't have missed it for the world. Would I do it now? No.

[Gresham]

The family used to plan our holidays around speedway with trips to Eastbourne, Poole, Weymouth and Exeter. When I learnt to drive (1978) I used to drive all round the country (White City every week) generally following Oxford but as a neutral observer also. The sport was different during the seventies and eighties and, without repeating why I eventually stopped going, gave tremendous satisfaction and camaraderie. Wouldn't have missed it for the world. Would I do it now? No.

Strange one isn't it...I follow and participate in many other sports still. Skiing, Football, Rugby, Cricket etc...watched and took part in them all...they've all changed over the years, the same as Speedway has...but I still watch and partake in them still, just as much as before...but not Speedway.

 

I read threads on this forum, and scratch my head to why certain fans think that Speedway is ok as it stands now.

 

Often going round and round in circles making excuses and refusing to see the wood for the trees.

 

People talk about other sports not being the same as before...but so many are still healthy with crowds still following.

 

To go from the second highest watched sport in the country to what it is now, yet other sports still keep healthy screams there is something massively wrong with it.

 

Sorry for digressing...but it has just hit home how much travelling I used to do to watch Speedway...it's being run into the ground.

 

Another example today...looked to see who Somerset are riding against this week...they aren't. No meeting scheduled...rained off week before.

 

No wonder supporters find something else to do instead...proper shambles.

[Reviresco]

Remember visiting Hackney in 1973 and the third and fourth (no fifth in those days) gears packing up on the hired car! Managed to crawl to Waterden Road and after the meeting phoned the hire company to explain our dilemma. We had collected around a phone box somewhere around the East End waiting for a call back. Next a police car arrived...apparently we had been reported as acting suspiciously (this was during the height of the IRA bombings) After explaining our situation we eventually got back to Oxford using just the first and second gears...imagine that around the North Circular and the A40! But what memories!

 

I had two drive shafts go, on two different cars, on the A12 en route to meetings at Foxhall. Had the butterfly valves in a carburettor stick open just after leaving the bottom of the M11 on the way back from a midweek meeting and started hurtling towards the Gants Hill roundabout (I think) at greatly increasing speed. Luckily thought to turn the engine off, brake and head into a bus lay-by. Also had the brakes fail heading to a roundabout after exiting the Dartford Tunnel on the way back from Canterbury. All in the late 70's. Cars weren't built like they are these days, and I couldn't afford expensive motors, starting my working life in London on £666 per annum. Good times though.

[steve roberts]

 

I had two drive shafts go, on two different cars, on the A12 en route to meetings at Foxhall. Had the butterfly valves in a carburettor stick open just after leaving the bottom of the M11 on the way back from a midweek meeting and started hurtling towards the Gants Hill roundabout (I think) at greatly increasing speed. Luckily thought to turn the engine off, brake and head into a bus lay-by. Also had the brakes fail heading to a roundabout after exiting the Dartford Tunnel on the way back from Canterbury. All in the late 70's. Cars weren't built like they are these days, and I couldn't afford expensive motors, starting my working life in London on £666 per annum. Good times though.

Strewth! Some adventures there!

 

Don't laugh but my first motor was a Morris Marina 1.8 TC (GOJ 926L...even remember the number plate!) But boy! Having those Twin Carbs helped get me out of some tricky situations...especially around Marble Arch before they spoilt the fun by putting traffic lights there! We and the family went everywhere in that car. Certainly served me well...except the king pins needed constant attention!

[Reviresco]

Strewth! Some adventures there!

 

Don't laugh but my first motor was a Morris Marina 1.8 TC (GOJ 926L...even remember the number plate!) But boy! Having those Twin Carbs helped get me out of some tricky situations...especially around Marble Arch before they spoilt the fun by putting traffic lights there! We and the family went everywhere in that car. Certainly served me well...except the king pins needed constant attention!

 

Not great fun at the time, for sure, Steve. The good old A12 used to go through Chelmsford in those days and had the wonderful 'Army & Navy' roundabout which was always a bottleneck. As I worked in London, then caught a train to Harold Wood, or wherever I was then living in Essex, it was fingers crossed for no problems with the trains, then a quick change of clothes at home and then hop in the car for the 60+ mile journey. I was always tight on time. (There was a flyover put on the Army & Navy roundabout, but they built it the wrong way and didn't take the A12 traffic over it?!) It was also before the advent of the Orwell Bridge and the southern Ipswich by-pass so, when the A12 ran out a few miles south of Ipswich, I had to then get on the old Town by-pass, that basically avoided the town centre, but it was still an ordinary 30mph suburban road. The number of times I scooted into Foxhall Heath and heard the opening of 'The William Tell Overture", over the PA to signal the riders were at tapes for the 1st Heat, are too many to count. (I think there has been a Thread about music you associate with speedway and that plus the fantastic "Walk in the Black Forest" that they played at the end of the Foxhall meetings, are two that always bring back great memories - and of course "Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines" and the theme to "The Magnificent Seven".)

 

The best thing about the journey back from Foxhall in those days was the burger van that was located just south of the 'Army & Navy' in Chelmsford. Don't know what it was about them, but definitely the best burger van burgers I've ever eaten. Yum Yum. My mouth is watering, just at the thought. (Worst burgers were at The Shay, I swear that once, after buying it, taking a bite, finding it inedible and dropping it on the floor, the little bugger of a burger moved itself during the meeting and by the end of the Second Half it must have been at least 30 yards away from where I had dropped it!)

 

If I was going to an 'away' midweek match, I would take my car into the City, park it up and drive out through London down along the Embankment, Earls Court and out onto the M40 for Oxford, M4 to Reading, M3 to Poole or wherever, though I must have taken the afternoon off to go to places like Exeter. Following speedway certainly improves your UK geography and knowledge of road systems.

 

I'll see your Morris Marina 1.8 TC, and raise it with my first car, which was an Austin 1100 - XWC 209F - British Racing Green - four door. Even had a radio. A lovely little car - until the brakes went on the way back from Kingsmead. Maybe that's why it wasn't one of my favourite tracks - plus the fact it's in Kent (spit). Upgraded to a 'K' reg Vauxhall Firenza, to emulate the great saloon car driver, Gerry Marshall. That blew out all its oil on the A2/M2 again on my way to the Dartford Tunnel. and then broke a drive shaft on the A12. Then a Vauxhall Magnum (not the ice cream lolly) - GLX 144N and that was the other one that had a drive shaft break on the way to Foxhall - a match against Halifax, I think. Eventually gave up with cheap second hand cars and got a loan to buy a new (only time ever) Golf GTi (LMP 334W), that I did 100,000 miles in and which Billy Sanders enjoyed driving back from King's Lynn once n 1982 when he had dumped his sponsored car in the Saddlebow Road car park. (I remember when he had a Lada, when he was at Hull and he was given an Austin Princess one year with the Witches. A bit different from the sponsored vans and motor homes the guys use today.)

Sorry, rambled on there a bit, but we might have unearthed two possible new Threads for consideration, the 'best and worst food at speedway' and, 'what was the first transport/car that you used to go to speedway'... (Iris' may have been his pedal bike .)

 

EDIT: Should have said that I remember well the Marble Arch fun and games - plus Trafalgar Square kept you on your toes too, especially the black cabs on there...

Edited April 19, 2016 by macca56

[steve roberts]

 

Not great fun at the time, for sure, Steve. The good old A12 used to go through Chelmsford in those days and had the wonderful 'Army & Navy' roundabout which was always a bottleneck. As I worked in London, then caught a train to Harold Wood, or wherever I was then living in Essex, it was fingers crossed for no problems with the trains, then a quick change of clothes at home and then hop in the car for the 60+ mile journey. I was always tight on time. (There was a flyover put on the Army & Navy roundabout, but they built it the wrong way and didn't take the A12 traffic over it?!) It was also before the advent of the Orwell Bridge and the southern Ipswich by-pass so, when the A12 ran out a few miles south of Ipswich, I had to then get on the old Town by-pass, that basically avoided the town centre, but it was still an ordinary 30mph suburban road. The number of times I scooted into Foxhall Heath and heard the opening of 'The William Tell Overture", over the PA to signal the riders were at tapes for the 1st Heat, are too many to count. (I think there has been a Thread about music you associate with speedway and that plus the fantastic "Walk in the Black Forest" that they played at the end of the Foxhall meetings, are two that always bring back great memories - and of course "Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines" and the theme to "The Magnificent Seven".)

 

The best thing about the journey back from Foxhall in those days was the burger van that was located just south of the 'Army & Navy' in Chelmsford. Don't know what it was about them, but definitely the best burger van burgers I've ever eaten. Yum Yum. My mouth is watering, just at the thought. (Worst burgers were at The Shay, I swear that once, after buying it, taking a bite, finding it inedible and dropping it on the floor, the little bugger of a burger moved itself during the meeting and by the end of the Second Half it must have been at least 30 yards away from where I had dropped it!)

 

If I was going to an 'away' midweek match, I would take my car into the City, park it up and drive out through London down along the Embankment, Earls Court and out onto the M40 for Oxford, M4 to Reading, M3 to Poole or wherever, though I must have taken the afternoon off to go to places like Exeter. Following speedway certainly improves your UK geography and knowledge of road systems.

 

I'll see your Morris Marina 1.8 TC, and raise it with my first car, which was an Austin 1100 - XWC 209F - British Racing Green - four door. Even had a radio. A lovely little car - until the brakes went on the way back from Kingsmead. Maybe that's why it wasn't one of my favourite tracks - plus the fact it's in Kent (spit). Upgraded to a 'K' reg Vauxhall Firenza, to emulate the great saloon car driver, Gerry Marshall. That blew out all its oil on the A2/M2 again on my way to the Dartford Tunnel. and then broke a drive shaft on the A12. Then a Vauxhall Magnum (not the ice cream lolly) - GLX 144N and that was the other one that had a drive shaft break on the way to Foxhall - a match against Halifax, I think. Eventually gave up with cheap second hand cars and got a loan to buy a new (only time ever) Golf GTi (LMP 334W), that I did 100,000 miles in and which Billy Sanders enjoyed driving back from King's Lynn once n 1982 when he had dumped his sponsored car in the Saddlebow Road car park. (I remember when he had a Lada, when he was at Hull and he was given an Austin Princess one year with the Witches. A bit different from the sponsored vans and motor homes the guys use today.)

Sorry, rambled on there a bit, but we might have unearthed two possible new Threads for consideration, the 'best and worst food at speedway' and, 'what was the first transport/car that you used to go to speedway'... (Iris' may have been his pedal bike .)

 

EDIT: Should have said that I remember well the Marble Arch fun and games - plus Trafalgar Square kept you on your toes too, especially the black cabs on there...

Terrific post! I really enjoyed reading that little lot!

 

Good grief forgotten about the Vauxhall Firenza...cars had character in those days! (another thread here possibly?)

 

Yes it was certainly quite challenging getting to meetings back in the seventies and eighties when I travelled extensively following my chosen sport. Seemed to spend my time continually driving back and forwards to Wolves and Cradley Heath (there's another story there!) during the eighties. Often involved working Monday. Picking up my brother from his place of work and straight onto Wolves often with him passing sandwiches to me whilst I was driving and only making it in time for the start...and then finding that, on at least one occasion, the meeting had been cancelled!

 

I recall a visit to King's Lynn (WTC Qualifier) and going on to Boston arriving just in time for the start of heat eight. Then having to crawl back to Oxford at about 30mph as I was low on fuel (no 24 hour petrol garages in those days) having forgotten to fill up earlier!

 

My I could go on...!

Edited April 19, 2016 by steve roberts

[Reviresco]

Terrific post! I really enjoyed reading that little lot!

 

Good grief forgotten about the Vauxhall Firenza...cars had character in those days! (another thread here possibly?)

 

Yes it was certainly quite challenging getting to meetings back in the seventies and eighties when I travelled extensively following my chosen sport. Seemed to spend my time continually driving back and forwards to Wolves and Cradley Heath (there's another story there!) during the eighties. Often involved working Monday. Picking up my brother from his place of work and straight onto Wolves often with him passing sandwiches to me whilst I was driving and only making it in time for the start...and then finding that, on at least one occasion, the meeting had been cancelled!

 

I recall a visit to King's Lynn (WTC Qualifier) and going on to Boston arriving just in time for the start of heat eight. Then having to crawl back to Oxford at about 30mph as I was low on fuel (no 24 hour petrol garages in those days) having forgotten to fill up earlier!

 

My I could go on...!

 

Thanks Steve. Drivers these days don't know how lucky they are.

 

Until I bought the GTi, all of my cars had characters. Mainly mean and moody. I think the Firenza (metallic gold) was the one of mine that had more water in the foot wells than in the radiator and screen wash bottle combined. The day all the engine oil blew out of its exhaust on the way to the Dartford tunnel, when I looked in my rear view mirror I thought, cripes, its got dark quickly behind me in the East, not realising that it was the plumes of black smoke the car was emitting.

 

And the Magnum's speedo stopped working one day on the way to Foxhall, but I could tell when I was doing 70, because the gear stick started vibrating then and almost jumping out of gear. For some reason I drove back along the Ipswich docks and through town that night, rather than on the old by-pass. The windows were emblazoned with all the speedway stickers you could buy in those days - Happiness is 40 - 38, etc. I was getting bugged by the car behind tail-gating me, so when I got on the 50 mph dual carriageway heading to the A12, I accelerated, but not as fast as to make the gear stick vibrate, not realising the the car behind was driven by a cop who promptly pulled me over and breathalysed me. He seemed most upset that I proved to be sober and started giving me a real hard time, so when he asked me if I knew what speed I was doing, I quite truthfully said 'No'. When he asked why not, I quite honestly chirped up with - 'well officer, my speedo isn't working, but I knew I wasn't doing 70 as my gear stick wasn't vibrating'. I think he was so gob-smacked that he let me go, as long as I produced all my documents at my local police station within a week.

 

You've reminded me also that I did indeed run out of petrol on the way back home one night on the A12 and had to be rescued by a chuckling RAC man, with his can of petrol. As you say, no 24hr service in those days. And also, being fed sandwiches and crisps by my then girlfriend and when I got out of the car and dropped all the crumbs, being swooped on my by a murmuration of starlings, looking for a feed - well, maybe not quite a murmuration, but enough to give onlookers a laugh.

 

And another possible Thread: The furthest you have travelled for a postponed meeting. In Britain, I think mine would be: Newbury Park to Halifax in 1983 or 84. A round trip of over 400 miles (at least on a Saturday night). Got as far as paying for the car park, but forgot to take the car park ticket with me for the re-arranged fixture the following Saturday! I was travelling on my own then too, probably listening to Rumours and ELO on the cassette player. On the return journey, I was driving out of a service station and two young ladies jumped out in front of my car and waved me down. I stopped and they asked if I was going to London, as they were heading to a friend's party down there. So they hopped in and I dropped them off at Redbridge tube station. I doubt if anything like that would happen these days.

 

I won't say what my furthest journey ever was for a speedway meeting, but it was a considerable lot further and more expensive than that.

 

I used to go to Boston regularly in 1986 when Dave Jackson was riding there (along with Woffinden senior ?) as I'd got to know Jacko quite well, doped and oiled for him a few times and sponsored him for a £1 a point during the season. Lovely lad was Jacko and the Jacksons were a great family and I was lucky enough to stay in Darwin with them for a few weeks once upon a time.

 

Apologies all, rambled on again - and miles off topic, sorry.

[steve roberts]

 

Thanks Steve. Drivers these days don't know how lucky they are.

 

Until I bought the GTi, all of my cars had characters. Mainly mean and moody. I think the Firenza (metallic gold) was the one of mine that had more water in the foot wells than in the radiator and screen wash bottle combined. The day all the engine oil blew out of its exhaust on the way to the Dartford tunnel, when I looked in my rear view mirror I thought, cripes, its got dark quickly behind me in the East, not realising that it was the plumes of black smoke the car was emitting.

 

And the Magnum's speedo stopped working one day on the way to Foxhall, but I could tell when I was doing 70, because the gear stick started vibrating then and almost jumping out of gear. For some reason I drove back along the Ipswich docks and through town that night, rather than on the old by-pass. The windows were emblazoned with all the speedway stickers you could buy in those days - Happiness is 40 - 38, etc. I was getting bugged by the car behind tail-gating me, so when I got on the 50 mph dual carriageway heading to the A12, I accelerated, but not as fast as to make the gear stick vibrate, not realising the the car behind was driven by a cop who promptly pulled me over and breathalysed me. He seemed most upset that I proved to be sober and started giving me a real hard time, so when he asked me if I knew what speed I was doing, I quite truthfully said 'No'. When he asked why not, I quite honestly chirped up with - 'well officer, my speedo isn't working, but I knew I wasn't doing 70 as my gear stick wasn't vibrating'. I think he was so gob-smacked that he let me go, as long as I produced all my documents at my local police station within a week.

 

You've reminded me also that I did indeed run out of petrol on the way back home one night on the A12 and had to be rescued by a chuckling RAC man, with his can of petrol. As you say, no 24hr service in those days. And also, being fed sandwiches and crisps by my then girlfriend and when I got out of the car and dropped all the crumbs, being swooped on my by a murmuration of starlings, looking for a feed - well, maybe not quite a murmuration, but enough to give onlookers a laugh.

 

And another possible Thread: The furthest you have travelled for a postponed meeting. In Britain, I think mine would be: Newbury Park to Halifax in 1983 or 84. A round trip of over 400 miles (at least on a Saturday night). Got as far as paying for the car park, but forgot to take the car park ticket with me for the re-arranged fixture the following Saturday! I was travelling on my own then too, probably listening to Rumours and ELO on the cassette player. On the return journey, I was driving out of a service station and two young ladies jumped out in front of my car and waved me down. I stopped and they asked if I was going to London, as they were heading to a friend's party down there. So they hopped in and I dropped them off at Redbridge tube station. I doubt if anything like that would happen these days.

 

I won't say what my furthest journey ever was for a speedway meeting, but it was a considerable lot further and more expensive than that.

 

I used to go to Boston regularly in 1986 when Dave Jackson was riding there (along with Woffinden senior ?) as I'd got to know Jacko quite well, doped and oiled for him a few times and sponsored him for a £1 a point during the season. Lovely lad was Jacko and the Jacksons were a great family and I was lucky enough to stay in Darwin with them for a few weeks once upon a time.

 

Apologies all, rambled on again - and miles off topic, sorry.

Absolutely brilliant post! Set me up for work this morning! These stories would make a great book...or at least make it into the 'Backtrack' magazine! 'Speedway Travellers Tails!'

I'm sure that I've told this story before but my first trip to Cradley on a Sunday (an England vs. USA Test Match) Could I find the track? I spent what seemed like hours driving around Dudley getting more and more frustrated. Then I happened to notice a car with a speedway sticker in his rear window and I'm thinking 'great'. So I follow him around what was apparently a housing estate ('no problems' I think) until he pulls up outside his drive with me behind. 'Thought that you were following me' he said! He was only going home for some lunch before going on to the speedway! He did, at least, explain to me how to get to the track which I was obviously grateful for. Never had a problem from that day on finding the track...with the leaning house opposite the entrance!

Edited April 20, 2016 by steve roberts

[Reviresco]

Absolutely brilliant post! Set me up for work this morning! These stories would make a great book...or at least make it into the 'Backtrack' magazine! 'Speedway Travellers Tails!'

 

Great idea Steve, but don't let 'tmc' know as he'll pilfer any profits we might make. Maybe, "Confessions of a Speedway Fan" or similar and when its turned into a film, we could get Robin Askwith to play the lead role. For sure, he wouldn't have simply dropped off those two girls that thumbed a lift off me on my return from the aborted trip to The Shay. He would've been shagging them silly on the hard (core) shoulder... (although the way you spelt Tales, we could use that and Askwith would fit perfectly ).

 

Hope work treats you well.

 

EDIT: meant to say, I loved your Cradley story. Dudley Wood was, I think, the most difficult speedway track to find in the UK, so I can empathise with the plight you suffered. At least he was a friendly Heathen. I was probably not concentrating very well, as I would've been shaking in my trainers, wondering what awaited a visiting supporter inside the stadium, having been briefed on incidents in the past and advised not to show any colours, and to take a neutral programme board (the Crayford one came in handy, I seem to remember). Never experienced any trouble there myself though mind. All well before sat nav, etc. and quite often done with a map on the passenger seat, with a few hand written directions to assist, or with the girlfriend / wife holding the road map book (never call it a road atlas) facing the direction you were driving in. This book of fan's travelling exploits, cars used, food sampled and distances travelled to postponed meeting is getting closer by the post I feel...

Edited April 20, 2016 by macca56

[norbold]

I'm sure that I've told this story before but my first trip to Cradley on a Sunday (an England vs. USA Test Match) Could I find the track? I spent what seemed like hours driving around Dudley getting more and more frustrated......

I had a similar experience with trying to find Cradley. Back in 1965, I was a West Ham supporter at college in Norwich. (Incidentally why I was at Norwich is another story I might explain later!) West Ham were on track to pull off the treble, League, Cup and London Cup. If we won the away match at Cradley the League was ours. So I hired a car and got a few college friends to come with me and I drove from Norwich to Cradley. So there I was following the signposts to Cradley when I came to a T junction with absolutely no signs at all, so I took a guess and finished up in Halesowen. Fortunately there was a Tourist Office in the main car park in the town, so I went there to ask directions to Cradley. It was closed. So we got back in the car and just drove around a bit hoping to stumble on the right road. We eventually got to Cradley just in time. I found some of my West Ham friends and a good evening was had by all as we beat Cradley and won the League.

 

Naturally, I started celebrating with the West Ham supporters and decided to travel back to London with them on the coach. Fortunately one of my Norwich friends could drive, so he said he would take the car back to Norwich. They told me afterwards that they took the car and slept in a lay-by as they didn't fancy the drive back that late at night.

 

Meanwhile, when we got back to West Ham in the early hours, I still had a long way to go to get back home as we had just moved to Loughton and decided I would walk back to Hackney with a friend of mine, a distance of some five miles. About half way back we decided we needed a rest and went into an all night launderette for a quick nap. We eventually got back to my friend's house at about 7:00 a.m., where we had another quick nap. I then got the bus and tube up to Loughton, looked in at home (much to my parents' surprise!) and got the train back to Norwich, where I met up with my travelling companions from the day before, who said they were never going to go to another speedway meeting in their life if it meant having to drive half way across the country!

[Gresham]

Enjoyed reading those travelling tales fellas... Indeed Cradley was by bar the hardest track to find in my experience too.

 

Had to stop three times to ask people directions...all within a mile of the track...none had even heard of it, even a local Petrol station. Couldn't get my head round that.

 

I can't think of any decent food i've had at any speedway tracks...apart from the humble chees and onion crusty roll served on the back straight at Blunsdon :-)

 

Best food i've ever eaten at a stadium, non hospitality, in other words for normal fans, has to be Forest Green Rovers FC. Totally Vegan throughout...even the beer...and i'm a proper meat eater.

 

Now there's a thought...FGR's are planning a new stadium development just off the M5...if a Promotor was willing to go totally Green in speedway, i'm sure they'd back it.

[steve roberts]

I always found Larry Ross' analogy regarding travelling around the country to various tracks interesting when he first came to Britain. Apparently he would always have to start his journey from Plough Lane to travel across London and beyond.

 

'I knew may way across London but I had to start from Wimbledon. If I was starting from, say Kingston, I couldn't go across London to the M1 unless I went to Wimbledon first, and then I'd be able to find my way!'

[Reviresco]

I always found Larry Ross' analogy regarding travelling around the country to various tracks interesting when he first came to Britain. Apparently he would always have to start his journey from Plough Lane to travel across London and beyond.

 

'I knew may way across London but I had to start from Wimbledon. If I was starting from, say Kingston, I couldn't go across London to the M1 unless I went to Wimbledon first, and then I'd be able to find my way!'

 

Love that Larry Ross quote Steve and can empathise in a way as, I could usually find my way OK to most places (apart from Dudley Wood) on my own, but finding my way back home, I seemed to find more difficult - particularly if my car's carburettor went, or I was stopped for speeding when my speedo wasn't working .

 

I don't know why, but Larry Ross was one of my favourite riders that rode for a team that I did not support (another possible new thread there?) A bit like Dave Morton. No reason to like or support them, but I did and wasn't to mithered if they won a heat against 'my team'. 'Waiheke Aces' would know better than me, but when he was at Wimbledon, Ross always seemed to put his hand up to acknowledge his pusher (the guy who pushed the bike to help him start it, not a drug pusher) and always seemed to do some relaxation exercises on his way to the tapes, by rolling his head and shoulders and stretching his arms. Maybe just a habit he got into and he may well have stopped doing this by the time he went to Hyde Road. Are you there Waiheke, or are you back in Rio?

[steve roberts]

Remember well Larry's warming up exercises flexing his shoulders as he rode round to the tapes! He was the only rider (other than Alf Busk) who succeeded in riding around White City very close to the fence picking up plenty of drive (scoring 17 points in the process during a league encounter between 'The Rebels' and Wimbledon in 1977).

Edited April 22, 2016 by steve roberts