Wasteland Training Track

[Guest]

By JOHN HYAM

 

IT was the most unlikely place to find a speedway practice track. The circuit was situated on wasteland behind a cemetery in south west London.

The width of the track meant that only two riders could go round. Yet it has become part of the folklore that makes speedway history. But for all its so-called failings the track at Chiswick produced several riders who graduated to what we like to term as 'better things in the sport.'

The most noteworthy was Clive Hitch, while another was Ray Humphries also affectionately and probably better known as Tyburn Gallows.

Hitch was the best of the Chiswick graduates, with a career that extended into the 1970s. He was a high profile performer at Rye House, Rayleigh, Exeter, Middlesborough, Halifax, Long Eaton, Coventry and Swindon.

Gallows came to major prominence in the early 1960s when he was taken under the guidance of Reg Fearman then promoting at Stoke. And there was something of a furore after one end of season meeting at Sun Street Stadium, the highlight of which was a scaffold with a Guy Fawkes hanging from it which Gallows ceremoniously set on fire.

At the time it was claimed that Humphries was the assistant hangman of Great Britain, working in conjunction with the famed Albert Pierrepoint. That claim has been confirmed and then denied so many times it's hard to confirm its authenticity.

Gallows' activities eventually came to the attention of the Speedway Control Board. In a bid to achieve 'cleaning up the sport's reputation', they told the rider: "You must not race as Tyburn Gallows but as Ray Humphries."

But that was soon overturned by the rider. He simply changed his name by law to Tyburn Gallows.

There were others from Chiswick who made an impression in the sport. Another was Bob Thomas, who had second-half rides at Rayleigh and then enjoyed a spell with Swindon before opting out of racing o concentrate on his motorcycle business in North London.

There was Bob Warner, who rode for Young England rider in 1958, and whose senior claim to fame was with Wolverhampton in the early 1960s. After that he was on the fringes of team places with Norwich and Wimbledon.

Other graduates from Chiswick who caught the eye of then Wimbledon promoter Ronnie Greene were Dave Freeborn and Arthur Ashby. Both were given extensive second half rides at Plough Lane in late 1959 but failed to make the last hurdle as Wimbledon team riders.

But let's not get away from what the Chiswick training track actually was. Thomas told me: "Basically, the Chiswick track was a 'glorified cycle speedway' without a proper safety fence. It was on the south side of Chiswick Bridge near a cemetery and mortuary. It was on the wasteland with a cinder base and about 200 yards long.

"It opened in 1957 and ran into the early part of 1958. It was too narrow for more than two riders at a time but we really used to turn on the power when we went out."

Chiswick's organiser was Ted Payne, who also used to take part in practice rides. He was tremendously enthusiastic about the venture, enough to compile a team from the trainees to race challenge matches at Aldershot and Eastbourne.

Edited December 5, 2016 by Guest

[iris123]

More on the Nomads of Chiswick here

 

http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=78716&hl=chiswick

[Guest]

More on the Nomads of Chiswick here

 

http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=78716&hl=chiswick

 

I recall that Link well. I needed to make some serious clarifications on it as can be seen. An interesting thread in its way but does not highlight the venue IMO as clearly as does my OP on here.

Edited December 5, 2016 by Guest

[iris123]

 

I recall that Link well. I needed to make some serious clarifications on it as can be seen. An interesting thread in its way but does not highlight the venue IMO as clearly as does my OP on here.

Just trying to point out something

 

 

Forum regulations.

Starting Topics

Before you start a thread, check to see if a similar thread has already been started.

 

You do seem to be starting an awful lot of new threads covering things that have already been discussed .

 

Don't want to be upsetting the mods seeing as you already have at least 7 warning points!!!!!

Edited December 5, 2016 by iris123