Little Thumper Posted August 24, 2016 Report Share Posted August 24, 2016 Friends, those of us who go back a few years and live in the region now described by that lovely Mr. Osborne, as the Northern Powerhouse, will perhaps have fond memories of visits to Thornton Road in Ellesmere Port to support the Gunners. The tapes went up for the last time in 1985 and over the years there has been wishful speculation that one day the sound of the snarling 500 single would again reverberate around this hallowed arena where the local heroes such as John Jackson, Steve Finch, Geoff Pusey, Louis Carr once plied their noble trade. In those days, speedway heaven for me would be a trip to watch the Gunners on a Friday night and then the following night would be our weekly visit to the Cathedral of Speedway, Belle Vue. If for some reason, Belle Vue were not at home on a Saturday night, then we would have to troll down to Loomer Road, Stoke for our speedway fix. In those days, Loomer Road was a pretty smart place. Anyway, for various reasons, mostly involving local politics, the chances of dirty, noisy, anti-social speedway thuggery ever returning to this rather unfortunate area of the world were always slim to nil. I was in the area a couple of years ago and popped my head in the gaff to see what was going on and to my amazement, gangs of workmen were beavering away getting the old place shipshape and ready for action! Wow, the return of speedway at long last? Sadly not. Enquiries revealed that refurbishment was for the benefit of the WoofWoof racing fraternity, as some guy was taking a punt on the the sport being on the up! As I was in the area dealing with another matter, I have today re-visited said establishment to see how it is all panning out. It would appear that the optimism in the future of dogging may have been a little bit misplaced. I have seen better turned out war zones than the shambles that I viewed this morning. The place was totally smashed-up, burnt out, vandalized, looted and totally overgrown. What a sad, sad sight. Enquiries revealed that the land was going to be used for a housing development but as to who the potential customers might be, I know not. Thornton road used to be such a vibrant, action-packed place to go and it is upsetting to see what has become of it. Sorry for rambling on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted August 24, 2016 Report Share Posted August 24, 2016 Friends, those of us who go back a few years and live in the region now described by that lovely Mr. Osborne, as the Northern Powerhouse, will perhaps have fond memories of visits to Thornton Road in Ellesmere Port to support the Gunners. The tapes went up for the last time in 1985 and over the years there has been wishful speculation that one day the sound of the snarling 500 single would again reverberate around this hallowed arena where the local heroes such as John Jackson, Steve Finch, Geoff Pusey, Louis Carr once plied their noble trade. In those days, speedway heaven for me would be a trip to watch the Gunners on a Friday night and then the following night would be our weekly visit to the Cathedral of Speedway, Belle Vue. If for some reason, Belle Vue were not at home on a Saturday night, then we would have to troll down to Loomer Road, Stoke for our speedway fix. In those days, Loomer Road was a pretty smart place. Anyway, for various reasons, mostly involving local politics, the chances of dirty, noisy, anti-social speedway thuggery ever returning to this rather unfortunate area of the world were always slim to nil. I was in the area a couple of years ago and popped my head in the gaff to see what was going on and to my amazement, gangs of workmen were beavering away getting the old place shipshape and ready for action! Wow, the return of speedway at long last? Sadly not. Enquiries revealed that refurbishment was for the benefit of the WoofWoof racing fraternity, as some guy was taking a punt on the the sport being on the up! As I was in the area dealing with another matter, I have today re-visited said establishment to see how it is all panning out. It would appear that the optimism in the future of dogging may have been a little bit misplaced. I have seen better turned out war zones than the shambles that I viewed this morning. The place was totally smashed-up, burnt out, vandalized, looted and totally overgrown. What a sad, sad sight. Enquiries revealed that the land was going to be used for a housing development but as to who the potential customers might be, I know not. Thornton road used to be such a vibrant, action-packed place to go and it is upsetting to see what has become of it. Sorry for rambling on. A little taster of the place from 1985 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4vJ_5FZ9HU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Thumper Posted August 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2016 A little taster of the place from 1985 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4vJ_5FZ9HU Thanks for that, racers and royals. I'd forgotten about the stand on the back straight. No sign of it on the photos that I took this morning, so it must be long gone Probably, one of the locals has taken it to build an extension. I don't think that the camera shooting that footage was over-endowed with mega pixels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ommer Mon Posted August 24, 2016 Report Share Posted August 24, 2016 Only visited once with Cradley and that was a long time ago. I seem to recall it as a big open track that produced good racing that day. I think Alan Grahame may disagree as I think the ended up draped over the fence on the third bend after a nasty coming together. Always sad to see yet another venue trashed in the name of housing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadders Posted August 24, 2016 Report Share Posted August 24, 2016 Were Ellesmere Port ever in the third tier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted August 24, 2016 Report Share Posted August 24, 2016 I went there twice in the 1980's. It was a beast of a track, mastered by by the likes of jackson, finch and the Carr brothers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waco Posted August 25, 2016 Report Share Posted August 25, 2016 (edited) I believe Hughie Saunders ex Rayleigh ,Hackney, in the seventies, and Rye House team manager early eighties ,,held the track record there at one time.. Edited August 25, 2016 by waco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike.Butler Posted August 25, 2016 Report Share Posted August 25, 2016 I was told only last week that a junior football team were currently playing here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Thumper Posted August 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2016 I was told only last week that a junior football team were currently playing here. Well. they would have to be brave kids to play football inside that place. I think, Mike, that they will be playing football on the pitches which are just a little further down Thornton Road, just before you get to the boarded-up pub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAST GATER Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 I believe Hughie Saunders ex Rayleigh ,Hackney, in the seventies, and Rye House team manager early eighties ,,held the track record there at one time.. First track record held by Mr J Jackson then riding for Crewe ,my local track makes me want to weep could still be brought back to life but will never happen sadly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 Were Ellesmere Port ever in the third tier?I dont think speedway has been there since 1986. Mole did attempt a revival before birmingham, but got refused permission by the council. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 went once in about 77 in my mates old car. had to go up the A road cuz hes car wasn't good. got there and pulled up next to a merc, when I went to get out the door fell off its hinges onto the car park. with no emotion or shock I just said to him "your doors fell off". he nearly had heart attack laughing. the 2 in the merc weren't impressed. you had to be there I suppose 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAST GATER Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 I dont think speedway has been there since 1986. Mole did attempt a revival before birmingham, but got refused permission by the council. No there were in the old NL but only 2 divisions back then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sommelier Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 I used to watch Kenny Carter practicing on Saturday mornings, where happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dickie Head Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 Ports former promotor Mervyn Porter was at the NSS yesterday watching. Still keeping in touch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeamBouchard Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 John Jackson broke the track record (twice) on 2/5/72 on his way to a 12 point max for Crewe. Prior to that, the track record had been established by Russ Dent (winning the first heat of the first ever match) and it was then lowered by George Barclay, Paul Tyrer and Robbie Gardner (twice) before John set the new best time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluejam Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 (edited) Friends, those of us who go back a few years and live in the region now described by that lovely Mr. Osborne, as the Northern Powerhouse, will perhaps have fond memories of visits to Thornton Road in Ellesmere Port to support the Gunners. The tapes went up for the last time in 1985 and over the years there has been wishful speculation that one day the sound of the snarling 500 single would again reverberate around this hallowed arena where the local heroes such as John Jackson, Steve Finch, Geoff Pusey, Louis Carr once plied their noble trade. In those days, speedway heaven for me would be a trip to watch the Gunners on a Friday night and then the following night would be our weekly visit to the Cathedral of Speedway, Belle Vue. If for some reason, Belle Vue were not at home on a Saturday night, then we would have to troll down to Loomer Road, Stoke for our speedway fix. In those days, Loomer Road was a pretty smart place. Anyway, for various reasons, mostly involving local politics, the chances of dirty, noisy, anti-social speedway thuggery ever returning to this rather unfortunate area of the world were always slim to nil. I was in the area a couple of years ago and popped my head in the gaff to see what was going on and to my amazement, gangs of workmen were beavering away getting the old place shipshape and ready for action! Wow, the return of speedway at long last? Sadly not. Enquiries revealed that refurbishment was for the benefit of the WoofWoof racing fraternity, as some guy was taking a punt on the the sport being on the up! As I was in the area dealing with another matter, I have today re-visited said establishment to see how it is all panning out. It would appear that the optimism in the future of dogging may have been a little bit misplaced. I have seen better turned out war zones than the shambles that I viewed this morning. The place was totally smashed-up, burnt out, vandalized, looted and totally overgrown. What a sad, sad sight. Enquiries revealed that the land was going to be used for a housing development but as to who the potential customers might be, I know not. Thornton road used to be such a vibrant, action-packed place to go and it is upsetting to see what has become of it. Sorry for rambling on. You ain't rambling on LT,and there's no need to be sorry!Not so long ago,I went for a walk along Dudley Wood Rd,Cradley Heath.It was enough to make a grown man cry!!! Like your avatar too!!Respect!! Edited August 30, 2016 by bluejam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 (edited) A little taster of the place from 1985 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4vJ_5FZ9HU Oh, that's me on the mic! Did you have to choose a 5-0?! . You try talking for 70 seconds on two guys cruising round unopposed. I don't think that the camera shooting that footage was over-endowed with mega pixels It was shot on hi-band u-matic using professional cameras for Screen Sport TV. It's what's happened to the picture afterwards that's the problem. It's been copied on VHS until it's been copied to death. Our standards were far better than these knackered VHS copies suggest. Bear in mind VHS was still pretty new at the time and unlike digital every time you made a copy you lost a heck of a lot of definition. I suppose in a way it's a compliment that they've been passed round so much. Jan Staechmann has bought what back catalogue that survived and I think you'll find that his legit copies are of a rather higher standard. http://www.classicspeedwayvideos.com/ Ports former promotor Mervyn Porter was at the NSS yesterday watching. Still keeping in touch. Glad to hear it - a true gentleman and a pleasure to work with in 1985. Edited August 31, 2016 by rmc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAST GATER Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 (edited) What pleasure to see his thread about my old team and track which IMO was one of the best in the country for size and prep I can still remember Frank Varey throwing sweets to the kids as he graded the track . Then there was Joe Shaw with his famous comb over and Ernie Parks the promoter ( one of the nicest men you could possible meet a real Gent) he would come up to Jacko and say if you win this one John "there will be a little extra for you" in your packet this week.They were wonderful times to be involved with the sport and they were a great bunch of riders who rode for the club over the 70's happy days indeed . Edited August 31, 2016 by FAST GATER Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Thumper Posted August 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 You ain't rambling on LT,and there's no need to be sorry!Not so long ago,I went for a walk along Dudley Wood Rd,Cradley Heath.It was enough to make a grown man cry!!! Like your avatar too!!Respect!! I was at school with Ian and we lived round the corner from each other in the back streets of Macclesfield. Sad day when he took his own life. Miss you "Hammy". Hold On To Your Friends 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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