steve roberts Posted November 18, 2016 Report Share Posted November 18, 2016 Just received my copy of 'Backtracking - Volume 2' and read Tony Mac's fascinating account regarding riders and teams identities pre Kevlar Team Suits. Jerseys were a common form of unifying teams and got me wondering who was the first team to adopt their use. I'm guessing that it was Wembley? Never knew that the shirts that West Ham used were Red and Blue. Always assumed that it was Claret and Blue after the football team! My team, Oxford, adopted team leathers in 1973 but I recall that Hasse Holmqvist's pair had to be re-adjustred him being so tall! I guess that Mildenhall adopted the most striking team leathers (based on John 'Tiger' Louis) of black and yellow/gold with stripped tiger arms. I agree with Tony Mac in that the most bizarre, and in my view the most ugly, team leathers were those used by Cradley Heath in 1972! I guess that most teams (certainly in the British League days) had at one time or another some sort of identity (whether leathers or jerseys) before the advent of recognised team suits became the norm. By the way the books 'Backtracking' Volumes One & Two are fabulous reads...well done Tony Mac! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted November 18, 2016 Report Share Posted November 18, 2016 In my favourite era of the early 1970's, the hammers wore claret and blue west ham football tops underneath their red, white and blue race jackets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted November 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2016 In my favourite era of the early 1970's, the hammers wore claret and blue west ham football tops underneath their red, white and blue race jackets! Yes you're correct...I misread Tony's comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMac Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Thanks Steve. While today's team kevlars bring a uniformity to the sport, it has been at the expense of individuality. Many riders were most easily identified by their leathers and it would be interesting to see how many changed their set from one season to the next in the era when multi-coloured leathers became fashionable. The team was always identified by its racejacket and emblem. If you rode for Belle Vue or Wimbledon, the famous ace of clubs or yellow star said it all, regardless of the design or colour of the leathers riders chose to wear underneath it. Today, all the riders in a team basically look the same. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted November 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Thanks Steve. While today's team kevlars bring a uniformity to the sport, it has been at the expense of individuality. Many riders were most easily identified by their leathers and it would be interesting to see how many changed their set from one season to the next in the era when multi-coloured leathers became fashionable. The team was always identified by its racejacket and emblem. If you rode for Belle Vue or Wimbledon, the famous ace of clubs or yellow star said it all, regardless of the design or colour of the leathers riders chose to wear underneath it. Today, all the riders in a team basically look the same. Agree totally Tony! Much preferred the days of individual leathers and simpler iconic race jackets (that'll surprise a few on here!!) The days when it was so much simpler identifying riders such as the 'Polka Dot Kid' and 'Little Boy Blue' amongst many, many others. When I first attended speedway this was one of he main reasons for me going but of course we now live in a much more clinical world and individuality is replaced by uniformity. I never had an issue identifying the different teams and who was riding for whom back then. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Out of interest what Issue of Backtrack was the feature on team leathers in? I can't find it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Glad to see this thread-in the greatest year ever(1965 of course) I recall the following teams that showed up with all the riders wearing smart team colour jerseys over their leathers and under their race jackets-Exeter (green and white quarters), Wolves (amber) and Poole (blue and white quarters)-they all looked great andI can recall thinking I wish all teams did that. I also remember some individuals wearing jerseys -Ivor Brown in his spotless white springs to mind- he wore this jersey whether riding for his team or as an individual. I seem to remember Ivor getting quite a few bookings at Newport in 1964, a great and controversial rider -we used to like to see him because he was so (un)popular with the home fans!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted November 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Out of interest what Issue of Backtrack was the feature on team leathers in? I can't find it!!! This particular editorial is in the new book just published entitled 'Backtracking - Volume Two'. I recall that a feature appeared in the 'Backtrack' magazine but can't remember when. If I come across it I'll let you know but perhaps Tony can help? Glad to see this thread-in the greatest year ever(1965 of course) I recall the following teams that showed up with all the riders wearing smart team colour jerseys over their leathers and under their race jackets-Exeter (green and white quarters), Wolves (amber) and Poole (blue and white quarters)-they all looked great andI can recall thinking I wish all teams did that. I also remember some individuals wearing jerseys -Ivor Brown in his spotless white springs to mind- he wore this jersey whether riding for his team or as an individual. I seem to remember Ivor getting quite a few bookings at Newport in 1964, a great and controversial rider -we used to like to see him because he was so (un)popular with the home fans!! Malcolm Ballard would wear a rather scruffy cream (dirty/) jersey whilst a 'Rebel' and I remember that he appeared reluctant to wear the team leathers (mentioned earlier) but when he did he wore that same jersey over the top! When he joined Poole the following year (1974) he used to wear those same team leathers...always 'The Rebel' in more senses than one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 This particular editorial is in the new book just published entitled 'Backtracking - Volume Two'. I recall that a feature appeared in the 'Backtrack' magazine but can't remember when. If I come across it I'll let you know but perhaps Tony can helpe! Thanks for the answer, Steve. Found it via going to back issues on the Retro site - number 59. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 (edited) John Davis always had flashy leathers and what about the Red Devil Mike Broady Broadbank(legend 7 times world finalist). Edited November 20, 2016 by Sidney the robin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Surprised that nobody has mentioned Leicester, and their wonderful team leathers from 1969/70. Let's not forget the Rye House leathers of the 70's sponsored by Infradex! Eastbourne wore a team jersey (light blue with yellow sleeves) in 1970, and two years later, Halifax wore red and white leathers (with a blue stripe on the leg). Of course, King's Lynn wore yellow jerseys with green stripes on the arms in the late 70's, and of all the jersey-wearers, I think they looked the best. However, all of the above were predated by Newport 1964 (where were you, Bobbath???), with black and yellow hoops... Finally, in reply to Tony's comment, "Today, all the riders in a team basically look the same", is it just me, or have the riding styles evolved into a largely generic style? Look at a pic of four riders on the bend, and they generally look identical. Where did the individual styles go? After all, when they all wore black leathers, it was no different to wearing a team suit!!! Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted November 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Surprised that nobody has mentioned Leicester, and their wonderful team leathers from 1969/70. Let's not forget the Rye House leathers of the 70's sponsored by Infradex! Eastbourne wore a team jersey (light blue with yellow sleeves) in 1970, and two years later, Halifax wore red and white leathers (with a blue stripe on the leg). Of course, King's Lynn wore yellow jerseys with green stripes on the arms in the late 70's, and of all the jersey-wearers, I think they looked the best. However, all of the above were predated by Newport 1964 (where were you, Bobbath???), with black and yellow hoops... Finally, in reply to Tony's comment, "Today, all the riders in a team basically look the same", is it just me, or have the riding styles evolved into a largely generic style? Look at a pic of four riders on the bend, and they generally look identical. Where did the individual styles go? After all, when they all wore black leathers, it was no different to wearing a team suit!!! Steve Also the fact that riders now all wear full face helmets (obviously the right thing with safety in mind). Once upon a time one could differentiate between riders depending on the masks/scarves that they wore. Who could have confused Anders Michanek, and later Rickard Hellsen, with any other rider with their very easily identifiable face gear? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Chunky, I can't believe I omitted the Wasps of 64- thanx for reminding me-I hope this does not mean I am becoming (more) senile!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BL65 Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Riders had to have a 'style' of their own to manhandle their JAPs around the track and we had 70 to 80 seconds per race to identify them years ago. Now they are at times indistinguishable as they hang off the back of their supersonic machines while they complete 4 laps in between 50 to 60 seconds, fearlessly bouncing off the air fence or each other. I just read on the Cradley Heath website that the Dudley Wood track record was lowered from 81.6 seconds in mid-1947 to 60.7 midway through 1990. I wonder how much lower the record could have fallen if the track was still around today. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Wasn't only th face gear.You could also recognise some riders just by the boots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Wasn't only th face gear.You could also recognise some riders just by the boots Alan Cowland! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Wasn't only th face gear.You could also recognise some riders just by the bootsolle nygren. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sotonian Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Or their tartan - Bert Harkins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted November 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Wasn't only th face gear.You could also recognise some riders just by the boots Reg 'Feathers' Luckhurst with his gold boots! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted November 21, 2016 Report Share Posted November 21, 2016 (edited) Ken Le Breton white leathers the White ghost ( didn't see him ride😅)also remember King's Lynn in the mid 70s with there yellow tops with two black stripes down the side. Edited November 21, 2016 by Sidney the robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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