Canterbury Crusaders

[steve roberts]

34 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

I went to Crayford only the once a very technical track in the Woodsy years he was a rider i liked and at Eastie.Milton Keynes i went to a fair few times from 1978/79 i quite enjoyed my visits more so because i got to see the top NL boys ie) Owen (bros) Jacko, Sampson ( ect).The tracks that i really enjoyed visiting were  Hyde Rd, The Shay, Owlerton, Blackbird Rd, County Ground, Waterden Rd great days.

Some of those tracks you listed Sid produced some good racing as they would, of course, today if still operative and vice versa. The Boulevard at Hull was a very narrow track and I'm sure the standard of racing would be similar at that venue today if still operating due to the restrictions and lack of racing lines. I've never been one to suggest that the racing was better or worse depending on the era under discussion...more to do with the standard of tracks and restrictions imposed for whatever reason.

[Sidney the robin]

2 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

Some of those tracks you listed Sid produced some good racing as they would, of course, today if still operative and vice versa. The Boulevard at Hull was a very narrow track and I'm sure the standard of racing would be similar at that venue today if still operating due to the restrictions and lack of racing lines. I've never been one to suggest that the racing was better or worse depending on the era under discussion...more to do with the standard of tracks and restrictions imposed for whatever reason.

I would say Steve alot of tracks had a real home advantage in those days and that balanced thing's up and there were alot of homer riders then.Now i dont think that is the case mainly because the tracks have changed and the riders usually get to ride them more than once a season.

[steve roberts]

18 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

I would say Steve alot of tracks had a real home advantage in those days and that balanced thing's up and there were alot of homer riders then.Now i dont think that is the case mainly because the tracks have changed and the riders usually get to ride them more than once a season.

...and, of course, track conditions have changed and vary from track to track (although that was always and still is the case I would hazzard to guess?) I recall talking to Peter Collins on the third bend at Cowley (after he had retired) supporting his son Chris and I asked him how much speedway had changed? His view was that the bikes had become too fast and that tracks in Britain hadn't changed to reflect that. Obviously Polish tracks being naturally wide and spacious riders are better able to adapt but within the confines of many British tracks for varying reasons that concept is more difficult.

Edited October 16, 2019 by steve roberts

[Sidney the robin]

56 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

...and, of course, track conditions have changed and vary from track to track (although that was always and still is the case I would hazzard to guess?) I recall talking to Peter Collins on the third bend at Cowley (after he had retired) supporting his son Chris and I asked him how much speedway had changed? His view was that the bikes had become too fast and that tracks in Britain hadn't changed to reflect that. Obviously Polish tracks being naturally wide and spacious riders are better able to adapt but within the confines of many British tracks for varying reasons that concept is more difficult.

I think that is why the track had to be changed at the Abbey Steve, the bikes have changed and the straights were to long for the bends which had been changed over the years.I preferred yesteryear racing mainly because of the variation of tracks ie) as an example. you could visit Monday to Sunday.     Exeter, Leicester, Poole, Sheffield, Hackney, Belle Vue, Eastbourne/ Mildenhall a real mixed bag.

Edited October 16, 2019 by Sidney the robin

[chunky]

7 hours ago, Sidney the robin said:

I would say Steve alot of tracks had a real home advantage in those days and that balanced thing's up and there were alot of homer riders then.Now i dont think that is the case mainly because the tracks have changed and the riders usually get to ride them more than once a season.

Yeah, there were many more tracks with a home advantage then because there was a much bigger variety of shapes, sizes, and surfaces.

Look at how we have lost all the big tracks - Hyde Rd, the Shay, Earle St, Custom House, Hampden Park etc... We have also lost a number of smaller tighter ones like Wimbledon and Crayford.

The surfaces aren't so varied either now because the machinery basically dictates what we can and can't use. We used to have fine sand-like tracks and heavy cinder tracks, and the bikes - and riders - could handle everything.

Edited October 16, 2019 by chunky

[Triple.H.]

10 hours ago, steve roberts said:

...and, of course, track conditions have changed and vary from track to track (although that was always and still is the case I would hazzard to guess?) I recall talking to Peter Collins on the third bend at Cowley (after he had retired) supporting his son Chris and I asked him how much speedway had changed? His view was that the bikes had become too fast and that tracks in Britain hadn't changed to reflect that. Obviously Polish tracks being naturally wide and spacious riders are better able to adapt but within the confines of many British tracks for varying reasons that concept is more difficult.

With the benefit of hindsight I would willingly pay twice the entrance fee at just about any track  just to see Les Collins even on an average day by his usual standards. 

As long as he missed the gate of course

[cityrebel]

On 10/16/2019 at 9:16 AM, Sidney the robin said:

I think that is why the track had to be changed at the Abbey Steve, the bikes have changed and the straights were to long for the bends which had been changed over the years.I preferred yesteryear racing mainly because of the variation of tracks ie) as an example. you could visit Monday to Sunday.     Exeter, Leicester, Poole, Sheffield, Hackney, Belle Vue, Eastbourne/ Mildenhall a real mixed bag.

I've always said Sid, the racing hasn't changed much, but the venues have. We have lost far too many great tracks in this country, not to have had a major impact on the sport.

[chunky]

5 hours ago, cityrebel said:

I've always said Sid, the racing hasn't changed much, but the venues have. We have lost far too many great tracks in this country, not to have had a major impact on the sport.

Hit the nail on the head, there...

[RobMcCaffery]

A Saturday night down the M2 to Kent was always a lovely end to the week. Yes, Wally Mawdsley did run it for a while towards the end before selling out to Chris Galvin, but its first promoter through the sixties and seventies was the one and only Johnnie Hoskins. It was narrow but racing was possible. I miss so many tracks that we've lost but Kingsmead is one of the greater regrets outside the loss of the London tracks, Coventry, Cradley and of course the original Belle Vue. 

The second division was my league though and I so miss being able to head to that fine city for a good night's speedway with a great atmosphere and fans. 

Edited November 1, 2019 by RobMcCaffery