FAST GATER

Just need someone like Mr Mole to get on to it and I am sure Noise and traffic would not be a problem ,just the council ,highways ,residents ( within 5 miles) who can't see or hear any thing and any other busy body who hate m/sport.It seems easier to knit fog than get anew track these days look how long it took B/ham.

I saw him race for the Dukes in the mid 70's he looke older than mid 30's but was great round the Shay and had an arm chair style.Was he one of the last to use a Jap as I remember?

I see Les Collins did not do too badly still think there is a place in the PL for this guy what a role models for the youngsters .The guy just wants to ride and IMO his age is not an issue but to many others it is !!!!!!!!!!!

I to pass the track every day and think that there are no greater problems than at P/BARR. It did not close because of local res but other reasons not least the end of Joey Owens career sadly.We just need Mr Mole to work his magic and we might get it but I can but dream

The track is still in tact and IMO would take a little time and some money (pits fence udate etc) and a charm offensive on the locals for the sport to return. . Being totally serious the place could be got ready with the right imput as the basic setup is there.

Two valve Jawa engine and frame and a rear sprocket the size of BIG Ben's clock face.I as not there that night but was told that the track was deep and wet which suited BM down to the ground.He was a good solid team rider but was never going to make the big time in s/way as was already stated an excellent grass man though.

Just finished reading mine Tony your article on Mauger /Ricko was spot on Ivan is the complete rider over all, the rest of the mag was excellent aswell keep up the good work and Merry Christmas to one and all

Nicky also rode for the Ellesmere Port Gunmers in the 70's as well on ex Mauger engines and Guy was forced to retire from being injured after falling from the tractor on a lap of honour i believe!!!

Sounds the perfect start to teambuilding for 07 (just a shame Snr is not a couple of years younger otherwise it would not be so funny )still a great rider in his time IMO

There's always a chance Rob/G snr can make this year's Potters team if rode as recently as 2004 make a good reserve and he is British is he not!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another nail in coffin was the career ending crash of Joey Owen ripped the guts out of the team and fans alike and I think your right CL at least to start.Even if planning was given it would for 2yrs at first before it was granted permanently.This seems the way councils deal with new or reopened tracks today but IMO there is a fan base in the Port.

Pete Jarman hitting the tractor after the race in the mid70's when the trackman did not see remount to finish the race.Pete had no serious injuries but his Jap powered bike looked worse for wear!!! Another thing that sticks in my mind was the promoter Jim Sefton ( early70's) liked to introduce the riders himself and always made a pig's breakfast of it.He was that informed that he once said is this brake working properly pulling the clutch lever in and out. Sadly lost his nephew in an accident while practicing on a s/way bike at a local beach when he hit a piece of drift wood. This was a huge loss to the man and led to him selling the promotion to Ernie Parkes one of the nicest people I ever met in s/way .Only for his premature death we may still of had s/way at E/Port even today as he was both true fan and a very wealthy man !!!!

JJ after he retired work at Ben Whitehouse's just out side Chester he has since set up his own panebeating business in Willington near Kelsal .I don't know whether you know but his nephew Gary( son of his late brother Fred ) has just won the British Speedway sidecar championship.So there is still a Jackson winning races on shale and Gary is one of the nicest people you could wish to meet!!!!!!

Take your point jacko but the method is normaly divide and rule not all councillors are or were in favour of the dogs.There nothing to say that with the right presentation and with new methods of reducing noise that some maybe presuaded but your right it is an up hill battle

l I believe that when Tony Mole tried to get s/ay back in about 2001 it was said at the time that there was no proper planning permission for the sport.This was eventually proved wrong but in the meantime Mr Mole lost patience and looked else where sadly but the Brummies prove that miracles do happen.The secret is to get the council on board from day one and the local coucillors aswell,as you say parking and noise can be sorted.Maybe a 3yr initial period to test the water may presuade the local authority to give it a go again!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the link still live in hope that the sport will return to the Port as I was by the stadium this week your right the track is still there.Seems a shame as when I speak many of the locals they seem up for it and say there is very little else in the area.At least I can dream while looking at the web site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you know the web site address for the Gunners by any chance please!!!!!

Great pictures I was in JJ pit crew for almost all his career at the Gunners and it was great to see him with his foot off the footrest as he always rode turn 2.A magician on a bike with the ability to go that much faster than many of his fellow riders just his gatting let him down some times. I had many nights of watching IMO one of the most naturaly gifted riders I have ever seen,after a race he hardly ever looked out of breath it was just so easy for him.I have said before that he rode for over 15YRS and never broke a bone and missed a hand full of matches due to injury if that. He always rode within himself and often said a safe 10 points is better than a dodgy 12 points' a fact sadly borne out by one of his greatest adversaries Joey Owen .

The Gunners Pub also had Colin Goad on the sign at one time sadly there are just a few pictures on the walls there now I believe

Tony yet again a great read and i am getting use to the colour aswell well done again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jacko actually learnt to ride doing donuts on moped on a piece of concrete on his father Bill's flower nursery ,the rubber marks could be seen for many years after, the customers would marvel at the control that he showed at a very young age .

Sorry it was not Brian but Robert Peter's son sadly he never made the grade but he had an impossible act to follow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another thing I remember was Colin Goad drilling hundreds of holes in parts of his bike to reduce weight and looking at Colin at the time a diet might have been better!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone remember the Brucies( think it is the right spelling) that used to be on the back straight great bunch of fans and Frank Varey on the tractor throwing sweets to the kids !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it is unfair to compare the Gunners with the Aces as they were worlds apart but I feel that the track at the Port did offer some good racing and produced some great riders.Chis Morton ,Carr brothersfor example