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First High Beech Programme


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​I reproduce the text of an email I have received. It concerns the sale of a programme for the first British speedway/dirt track meeting at High Beech on February 19, 1928. Sadly, I could not transfer the mentioned photo:

 

The message reads: "I was taking part in an online auction last week when up came Lot 486 Ist High Beech Speedway programme 19.02.28 with an estimate of £1200 - £1500

"As you can see by the attached photo (as proof) it sold for a staggering £5200 plus commision. It was bought by a buyer in the room but I have no idea who it was... i’m unsure if this is the highest price paid for a speedway programme to date."
Edited by Guest
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My guess would be it was bought by Allen Trump. Though I really don't know.

 

Was told it was "someone from Kent" (not Mr Trump) who paid in cash at the time!

Edited by cyclone
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Was told it was "someone from Kent" (not Mr Trump) who paid in cash at the time!

That was what I was told as well. My contact criptically told me that it wasn't a well known collector, but rather someone who had been seen at Kent Kings matches now and then.

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I have the original badge from the first ever meeting at high beech in my collection. I'm not sure if it was just issued to officials and possibly riders. The first version of the badge has a rider sitting on a road bike, the later reissue has a speedway rider broadsiding. Both versions are very rare.

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Thought there was quite a worrying problem with fake badges on the market?Reproductions passed off as originals.I was quite surprised that someone would even go to that sort of trouble,but there must be money in it.

Edited by iris123
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When was the later badge issued, cr?

in the early 1930's I reckon. The first badge was made by pullen, the second by the birmingham medal company. Who commissioned it and why, I do not know. It must have been the first ever speedway reissue. Maybe there was a demand by riders and fans who were present at the first meeting.
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in the early 1930's I reckon. The first badge was made by pullen, the second by the birmingham medal company. Who commissioned it and why, I do not know. It must have been the first ever speedway reissue. Maybe there was a demand by riders and fans who were present at the first meeting.

Thanks cr. I was interested because that second badge is not a true representation of how it was at High Beech. There was no broadsiding and the riders did just use their road bikes, so I'm wondering why they changed it. Perhaps to fit in with how people saw speedway by the time I was issued?

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Thanks cr. I was interested because that second badge is not a true representation of how it was at High Beech. There was no broadsiding and the riders did just use their road bikes, so I'm wondering why they changed it. Perhaps to fit in with how people saw speedway by the time I was issued?

i totally agree Norman.
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  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks cr. I was interested because that second badge is not a true representation of how it was at High Beech. There was no broadsiding and the riders did just use their road bikes, so I'm wondering why they changed it. Perhaps to fit in with how people saw speedway by the time I was issued?

 

Norbold, out of interest, when did 'broadsiding' start in the UK? At what point in 1928?

 

All the best

Rob

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I thought it had been stated on a number of occasions that it was the second meeting at High Beech

 

I realised after I asked the question that it had a fairly simple answer: “When the Australians came over and did what they'd already been doing!”. As you say, this was High Beech meeting No 2 (April 1928).

I guess some of the more off-the-beaten-track venues in 1928, without any 'names', still had meetings similar to the first High Beech meeting, with people just on standard road motorbikes and no broadsiding.

 

All the best

Rob

Edited by lucifer sam
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Yes, I think it was probably the second meeting at High Beech. The ACU had revoked its ruling that bikes had to have brakes by then and, as you say, Rob, the Aussies had turned up, in particular A J Hunting who wxplained how it should be done!

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