EnglishRoundabout

Apologies if this is in the wrong section. I couldn’t bring myself to post it in the defunct track section just yet. For all supporters to post their favourite memories about Swindon speedway, whether whilst visiting Blunsdon, or riding against Swindon at your particular track. Or for Robins fans to reflect on some fantastic memories.

Sensitivity not in your vocabulary then? Or is it just ignorance?

I remember that well Steve. I think you ran either bare footed , or at least just with socks on!

I remember the excitement created by the signing of Jan Andersson. His first meeting was at Blunsdon, riding at number 4. He flew from the tapes and won his first race in such style. I think we all knew we had a potential superstar on our hands. Exeter Falcons visiting with the imperious Ivan Mauger leading the team. Bob Kilby made a fantastic start against Mauger in heat 11. Mauger subsequently chased him down but forced Kilby into the bend four fence. Not sure I’ve ever seen such a furious crowd. There were several people attempting to get to Mauger at the pit gate. Edgar Stangeland and Norman Hunter riding in the 1975 Robins team , with Geoff Bouchard riding at reserve Hope of a decent team forming? Sumner McKnight riding at number two....great leathers, great style, but plenty of last places Martin Ashby representing the Robins in the British final at Coventry in 75. A run off with Ray Wilson to decide who would qualify for the world final at Wembley in September. Probably the best match race I’ve ever seen. Ashby missed the start and hunted Wilson to 3 laps, before just edging in front going into the final two bends. However, Ashby allowed just enough room for Wilson to squeeze past him and around the outside for a width of a fronti wheel win. Gutted for Martin. Numerous trips on the speedway coach to Hackney, Wimbledon, Sheffield, Halifax, Ipswich, and Kings Lynn during the 70’s. Always received a hammering! Can’t ever remember seeing the Robins win at any of those tracks! Visiting the fantastic Shay track at Halifax in around 75/76. Geoff Bouchard scoring an amazing 16 points. Mike Keen thumping into the iron fence on bend one, resulting in a serious back injury. The coach broke down on the M6 on the way home. Arriving back in Swindon at 7.30 am. The 2007 play off final at Coventry. The coach I was on arrived late due to the traffic around Brandon. A mate rings me to say Sebastian Ullamek has crashed during the warm up......but then wins heat one by a mile! His last contribution of that meeting unfortunately. Arriving at the stadium just in time for heat two....through the main stand. I look across at bends one and two and can honestly say , the biggest away following I’ve seen in speedway. A sea of red and white. BUT, what a let down the evening was, with only Leigh Adams on form. Coventry were really on it and deservedly won.

Doris, your post has given me the idea of a posting a “ Swindon memories” section on speedway news and discussions. It would be really good to read posters favourite memories.

Some things never change! I’m good thanks mate, loving life on the Cornish coast these days.

Afraid so Coombers. When he was a Robin and not a pesky Pirate!

Like everyone on here, I’m saddened to hear the news about Swindon Speedway. Personally I have been going since around 1971, with the odd break for a few years, and then returning like so many others. I caught the final season of Barry Briggs. I was totally hooked. The smell, the shale that in those days peppered you if you stood anywhere near the corners, and the noise! No silencers, or deflectors! In those days it was every Saturday night too The crowds were huge. I remember at least 4 double decker buses arriving to ferry people back to Swindon after the meeting. The car park was always packed. The atmosphere terrific. I’m told in those days the crowd was consistently over 3k and on occasions rivalled Swindon Town for the biggest crowds. The seventies, despite the crowds, were a difficult time for the Robins. The trophy cupboard was bare. But the racing was excellent. Martin Ashby was the master at Blunsdon. His last bend passes were exhilarating. His gating exasperating! Bob Kilby was the complete opposite at the gate. Reflexes and anticipation like lightening. Sadly, this skill is rarely seen, or allowed by referees these days. Geoff Bouchard proved one the best signings of the 70’s...a real trier and a thrilling rider to watch. I missed most of the 80’s and 90’s, but the desire to see Leigh Adams every Thursday did the trick. Adams was absolute mustard to watch. His team riding was second to none. I saw him nurse the likes of David Rudd, Travis McGowan, James Wright around Blunsdon in majestic style. His heat 15 riding with Zagar was up there with the best. Then came the title winning seasons. The crowds remained very decent, the racing, in my opinion started to decline on a somewhat tired track. The reshape certainly helped, and in the final season, once the track bedded in, there were some superb meetings. Speedway at Swindon was my life as a teenager. Every Saturday night, regular away trips on the coach. Often there were 2 or 3 coaches at an away match. When I left the stadium after that last meeting, having won the title, I drove home to my home ( now in Cornwall) and didn’t dream for one minute, it would be the last time I watched Speedway at Blunsdon. Most people on here have said what I think about the management and it’s treatment of the supporters and indeed many predicted the stadium would never be built I perhaps naively, thought it would be I had some great times at Blunsdon, met some great people and even introduced “Everyone’s friend” Steve Shovlar to the sport! A sort of claim to fame! RIP Swindon Speedway. EnglishRoundabout.

Call me naive coombers me old mate, but I have always thought the new stadium would happen. I still do to be honest.

Ditto...waiting patiently for Swindon to rise from the ashes after losing Somerset. All very sad.

Hello Fourentee, hope you are well. I knew Steve as a young lad. Used to play cricket with him and regularly went to speedway matches with him all over the country together. He was a huge wind up merchant even then. I bet he has an absolute blast on this forum, knowing how many bites he gets!

How dare those builders destroy a listed building which hold so many memories for so many people! Is there no sentimental consideration nowadays? Furthermore, what has happened to all those wonderful insects that made their home within that nostalgic structure?

Well he will put a few hundred on the attendance. Brilliant entertainer.

To put things in perspective, during Oxford’s last season in the premier league, their home match against Swindon had an attendance of around 500. 200 of them were from Swindon. There was simply no appetite for Speedway at Crowley. The new promoter must ask him/her self, ‘ What has changed?’

Another entertaining meeting tonight as Autumn approaches. No doubt the slightly cooler weather has helped the track staff in their preparation of the track as once against, there was exciting racing on a grippy track, with a few passing lines developing. The Gladiators new signing Lawson made a fine debut and was announced to the crowd as their first 2022 signing. He was supported again by the consistent Bowtell, the improving Cook and the hard charging Keleher. It was good to see guest Scott Nicholls now in the twilight of his career still getting stuck in and riding the Plymouth track with vigour. Jason Crump had a poor night, looking sluggish from the gate and down on power. A spectacular fall at the start of heat 3 when his clutch cable snapped, didn’t help his cause. For the Diamonds, Cornishman Ben Barker made a scintillating return to his old stomping ground. He alone, kept his side in the match. When he didn’t make one of his electric starts from the outside gate, he used every ounce of his track knowledge and craft, to carve his way past his opponents. His pass of Nicholls in heat 13 was superb, and his daring ride on the outside dirt to stay ahead of the chasing Lawson in heat 15 was brilliant Love him or loathe him, Barker is ( as the late Dave Lanning would say) entertainment personified The Diamonds challenge petered out with only Rondon and Wright providing any resistance to a now strong looking Plymouth team. The crowd looked pretty healthy again and the promotion must be well pleased with the set up they have developed.

Another decent crowd and another perfect summers evening to watch it in. The sun blazed down throughout before disappearing behind the copse beyond the flyover. The track appeared to prove a little difficult for the riders early on, but some remedial work seemed to sort it. The latter half of the meeting it looked really smooth and there was more passing. Plymouth certainly have provided excitement and value for money to their fans this season with yet another last heat decider. This time, coming from behind when the Brummies looked certain winners mid meeting. Riss, looking fast and stylish and the battling Castagna looked particularly dangerous and with Chris Harris enjoying his return to the south west, the Brummies looked like running away with it Led by the outstanding Crump, this week, the “engine room” provided back up. Pedersen not quite having his gating gloves on this week. It really is a pleasure watching the 3 times world champion once again. Hopefully he will continue next season. I noted his son was assisting him in the pits...an absolute spit of his father with that familiar shock of ginger hair. The crowd seemed bigger than usual, undoubtedly swelled by the presence of Harris. He still remains one of the most exciting riders I have ever seen. He simply never gives up and is one of only a few riders these days that can execute the “dive bomb” inside pass. He did this brilliantly passing Bowtell, and in heat 15, Pedersen. For a second or two it looked possible that he would catch Crump, but his chase ended when Crumpie realised he had Harris on his tail, and he sped away. Harris repeatedly acknowledged his young family who were sat in the NHS stand, and he always speaks well on his Centre green interviews. Additionally, he is still a superb team man, and is first out of the pits, sprinting across to team mates that have come to grief. Plymouth have a fine set up and deserve the healthy crowds with the financial risks they have taken this season. The slow but sure development of Cook, Bowtell and Ruml have produced a competitive side and the recruitment of the shrewd and experienced Garry May has certainly helped.

Don’t all proper Plymouth fans have to cross the bridge Lewy?

Terrible shame. Great race track, great memories. I made some good friends at the Oak Tree Arena.

I’ll be there Steve. In my seat on the home straight. Looking forward to your match report afterwards I’ll provide the balanced one later ....

If my memory serves me correctly, it was the Americans in the mid seventies that introduced the extra lap of wheelies and fist pumping/ waving to the crowd, after a victory I don’t recall too much more other than a gentle, almost sheepish wave to the crowd after a win by a home rider at Swindon, I certainly can’t remember a victory lap. Once prior the arrival on our shores of messrs Penhall, the Moran brothers, Gresham and Autrey, things changed and fan interaction definitely increased. .

As are plenty of Plymouth supporters!

I’ve taken the step to purchase a season ticket. I think Plymouth is around 50 minutes from where I live. I do appreciate though that there are folk with much tighter schedules than I have these days. Looking forward to the 17th for sure. Strangely, the last time I was at Plymouth was when Glasgow visited....led by Joe Screen. Up the Gladiators!!

And, plenty of farmers fields around there too!

IGNORANCE. Lacking knowledge or awareness in general. Uneducated or unsophisticated Reckon that might sum this fella up

Does anyone know if there are any meetings on Plymouth’s reserved dates of 4th and 11th May?