steve roberts Posted March 31, 2021 Report Share Posted March 31, 2021 Just received the latest issue...superb editorial on Olle Nygren. However the "Up for the Cup" article fails to mention that Oxford also managed the Double in 1964 (Treble if one counts the Britannia Shield) as well as Wimbledon (1956, 59 & 60) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keepturningleft Posted April 10, 2021 Report Share Posted April 10, 2021 Those early BLRC meetings truly were magnificent occasions. I saw four of them '68 to '71 and can honestly say that no other speedway meetings out of the hundreds I have seen ever made such an impression. It wasn't just the racing, it was the whole Belle Vue experience, mainly the funfair before and after. I was a Halifax fan and in '68, Eric Boocock almost won. Very exciting! The unique nature of the formula, one rider from each club guaranteeing all teams were represented, may have been frustrating for those with higher averages, but the nature of that formula meant that we saw fans from every single club on the terraces and the capacity crowds are testimony to the huge success of the event. Maybe you could see an assortment of fans at World Finals and now GP's, but the BLCR was a domestic event and that made it different and a bit special. For most of us it was also the final meeting of the season and so represented a farewell to speedway until the following year. I don't have a clear memory as to why I didn't go to any more BLRC's but I was 17/18, it was on a Saturday night, and other interests were tugging away at my loyalties. Nevertheless, speedway memories don't get any more magical than the BLRC! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted April 10, 2021 Report Share Posted April 10, 2021 3 hours ago, keepturningleft said: Those early BLRC meetings truly were magnificent occasions. I saw four of them '68 to '71 and can honestly say that no other speedway meetings out of the hundreds I have seen ever made such an impression. It wasn't just the racing, it was the whole Belle Vue experience, mainly the funfair before and after. I was a Halifax fan and in '68, Eric Boocock almost won. Very exciting! The unique nature of the formula, one rider from each club guaranteeing all teams were represented, may have been frustrating for those with higher averages, but the nature of that formula meant that we saw fans from every single club on the terraces and the capacity crowds are testimony to the huge success of the event. Maybe you could see an assortment of fans at World Finals and now GP's, but the BLCR was a domestic event and that made it different and a bit special. For most of us it was also the final meeting of the season and so represented a farewell to speedway until the following year. I don't have a clear memory as to why I didn't go to any more BLRC's but I was 17/18, it was on a Saturday night, and other interests were tugging away at my loyalties. Nevertheless, speedway memories don't get any more magical than the BLRC! Spot on. I went to the first 5 meetings (Barry Briggs)...great trips up to Hyde Road with the other Hammers fans. Great memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted April 10, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2021 5 hours ago, keepturningleft said: Those early BLRC meetings truly were magnificent occasions. I saw four of them '68 to '71 and can honestly say that no other speedway meetings out of the hundreds I have seen ever made such an impression. It wasn't just the racing, it was the whole Belle Vue experience, mainly the funfair before and after. I was a Halifax fan and in '68, Eric Boocock almost won. Very exciting! The unique nature of the formula, one rider from each club guaranteeing all teams were represented, may have been frustrating for those with higher averages, but the nature of that formula meant that we saw fans from every single club on the terraces and the capacity crowds are testimony to the huge success of the event. Maybe you could see an assortment of fans at World Finals and now GP's, but the BLCR was a domestic event and that made it different and a bit special. For most of us it was also the final meeting of the season and so represented a farewell to speedway until the following year. I don't have a clear memory as to why I didn't go to any more BLRC's but I was 17/18, it was on a Saturday night, and other interests were tugging away at my loyalties. Nevertheless, speedway memories don't get any more magical than the BLRC! Unfortunately it was one meeting that I never made. One of my greatest regrets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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