Sandor Levai - your memories

[TonyMac]

Our next issues of Classic Speedway (56) and Backtrack (109) will include in-depth profiles of Sandor Levai, the multi Hungarian Champion and one of the sport’s biggest characters in his heyday.

Contributors will include his daughter Sarah Dickens, who has provided a fascinating insight into Sandor ('Alec') the person and family man (including family archive pics) who fled to England following the 1956 Hungarian uprising.

But we would also like to hear from speedway followers.

With a reputation as a ‘hard man’, Sandor spent years trying to break into British league speedway before riding for Stoke (1963), Norwich (1964), Belle Vue (1965-68), Newport (1969-71), Ipswich (1972-73) and Cradley (1974-75).

So what are your memories of this popular Magyar character, with his warm smile and cheery disposition, who died in his native Hungary in October 2009, aged 74?

Please post your thoughts, stories or just small anecdotes here, or if you'd prefer, email them to Tony Mac at retroeditorial@gmail.com before next Monday (Feb 21). The best responses will be included in the feature articles.

[steve roberts]

The last time I saw Sandor ride was in the snow at Cowley in 1975 when the Cradley team withdrew from the meeting which resulted in a 58-14 for the "Rebels". From that day Cradley's John Boulger was christened by the Oxford faithful as "Snowflake".