TonyMac

Welcome to Issue 9 of our quarterly retro magazine. There's another feast of speedway nostalgia for your enjoyment... BENGT JANSSON - Exclusive interview In his most candid interview yet, Bengt Jansson tells Classic Speedway what really happened on that momentous night in 1967 when the world title slipped away from him. There have been one or two conspiracy theories put forward about the run-off to decide the 1967 World Championship between Benga' and his fellow Swede Ove Fundin after they had both finished with 14 points. One of them was that Bengt had in some way been compromised by Swedish speedway politics that favoured Fundin over himself. It has even been suggested that he was under strict orders from SVEMO bosses not to try and beat the Swedish great, who was bidding to go one better than the record four title victories he shared with Barry Briggs. Now Jansson tell us the truth about that night . . . what he said to Fundin as they walked the Wembley track before the run-off . . . why he thought he was the best rider on the night . . . and his deep disappointment at losing out. Plus we examine why the former popular West Ham, Edinburgh and Hackney star never came that close to winning the world title again, and what the 67-year-old is doing now. PETER COLLINS Former World Champion Peter Collins is a keen speedway historian and a collector who has accumulated some 40 bikes - from early-30s JAPs to the much more modern Jawa, Weslakes and GMs. In this exclusive interview, PC talks about his passionate hobby in which he lovingly restores vintage machinery, including early 1930s JAPs that used to belong to Belle Vue legend Eric Langton. IVAN MAUGER Lay-down engines, leading link front forks, dirt deflectors, four-valve motors and silencers are part and parcel of speedway today but, as six times World Champion Ivan Mauger points out and our accompanying pictures confirm, there is nothing new about any of them. ALF HAGON - Exclusive interview The former Harringay, Wimbledon, Leicester, Oxford, Poole and West Ham rider is the latest to feature in our Q&A series, reflecting on the highs and lows of his eventful career in the capital. JAROSLAV VOLF - Exclusive interview We talk to the first Czech rider to appear in the individual World Final. SECOND SCENE In our new series on the British League second division we turn the clock back to 1968 and the re-launch of the sport at Middlesbrough, where the Teesside Teessiders got off to a winning start against North-East rivals Berwick. BUDDY FULLER Recalling the career of a speedway trailblazing entrepreneur from South Africa, the latest in our Legends series. Plus columnists Ian Hoskins and John Hyam, your letters and much more... http://www.retro-speedway.com

Thank you. Hope you enjoy it.

Another hundred+ pre-ordered Peter Collins books being posted out today (yes, we know there is a Royal Mail strike on today but let's at least get the packages in the system...), and in the days ahead. Please stay patient and thank you. Meantime, PC took last night off to reunite with ex-British Lions team-mates Doug Wyer & Reg Wilson at Sheffield, and also catch up with Eric Boocock, Neil Machin and many others. Thanks to Julie Reading and all at Sheffield Speedway for your help and co-operation.

Not the case. Everyone who pre-ordered a signed copy should (Post Office permitting) receive it in the post BEFORE the signing at the Longsight & District Sports & Social Club, 140 Kirkmanshulme Lane on Thursday, October 27, and the one at Sheffield Speedway on Monday the 24th. We thank everyone for their patience. ~

If you haven't yet ordered your copy of PC's autobiography, you can do so for £20 (inc UK P&P) here at www.retro-speedway.com and save a fiver on the RRP. The 506-page book is currently being printed and you should receive it by October 31. Meantime... WHO, WHAT, WHERE? TRY THE PC QUOTES QUIZ From these edited excerpts, who or what is PC referring to in his book . . . ? “******’s old man *****, a bit of a stickler, gave me a rollicking for crashing and bending his son’s bike. I was 17 and green, hadn’t seen the place before but got no sympathy.” “I say ******* ‘did me’ but it was my naïve mistake to keep going up the inside. I probably blamed him for what happened at the time but, to be honest, if you clip someone’s back wheel, it’s always your fault. Another reminder to ‘keep it on the tyres’.” “He became one of England’s greats but he was always slow into the corners. It was his Achilles heel. I’m not having a go at him – you can’t argue with his superb record over a long and distinguished career. It’s just an observation.” “I must have ruffled *****’s feathers because he confronted me after our race – I have a picture from a newspaper cutting of him taking a swing at my dad, who was trying to break it up. When your opponent gets angry enough to want to fight, you’re always well advised to keep your helmet on!” “He didn’t say it in a menacing manner but with typical Yorkshire cockiness designed to get into my head. ****** probably felt that his mind games worked a treat, because he beat me both times we met.” “***** legged it across the centre green, grabbed the driver by the throat and pulled him down. ***** also ended up on the ground and had to be restrained as the tractor driver, other track staff and ambulance men joined the fracas.” ******** always had a lot to say and wouldn’t hesitate to throw a punch at anybody if he thought it was justified. But it was good to have him on our side because he always had our best interests at heart.” “It was both frightening and exhilarating at the same time.” “When I first started riding there were some much less dedicated riders who would turn up for meetings with a dirty bike they hadn’t bothered cleaning from the night before, and ******* was one of them. His idea of cleaning the bike was to kick it with his steel shoe, to make dirt fall off it.” “While waiting for traffic lights to turn green he’d rev the engine as hard as possible before releasing the clutch and doing wheel-spins along the road in central Manchester.”

If you haven't yet ordered your copy of PC's autobiography, you can do so for £20 (inc UK P&P) here at www.retro-speedway.com and save a fiver on the RRP. The 506-page book is currently being printed and you should receive it by October 31. Meantime... WHO, WHAT, WHERE? TRY THE PC QUOTES QUIZ From these edited excerpts, who or what is PC referring to in his book . . . ? “******’s old man *****, a bit of a stickler, gave me a rollicking for crashing and bending his son’s bike. I was 17 and green, hadn’t seen the place before but got no sympathy.” “I say ******* ‘did me’ but it was my naïve mistake to keep going up the inside. I probably blamed him for what happened at the time but, to be honest, if you clip someone’s back wheel, it’s always your fault. Another reminder to ‘keep it on the tyres’.” “He became one of England’s greats but he was always slow into the corners. It was his Achilles heel. I’m not having a go at him – you can’t argue with his superb record over a long and distinguished career. It’s just an observation.” “I must have ruffled *****’s feathers because he confronted me after our race – I have a picture from a newspaper cutting of him taking a swing at my dad, who was trying to break it up. When your opponent gets angry enough to want to fight, you’re always well advised to keep your helmet on!” “He didn’t say it in a menacing manner but with typical Yorkshire cockiness designed to get into my head. ****** probably felt that his mind games worked a treat, because he beat me both times we met.” “***** legged it across the centre green, grabbed the driver by the throat and pulled him down. ***** also ended up on the ground and had to be restrained as the tractor driver, other track staff and ambulance men joined the fracas.” ******** always had a lot to say and wouldn’t hesitate to throw a punch at anybody if he thought it was justified. But it was good to have him on our side because he always had our best interests at heart.” “It was both frightening and exhilarating at the same time.” “When I first started riding there were some much less dedicated riders who would turn up for meetings with a dirty bike they hadn’t bothered cleaning from the night before, and ******* was one of them. His idea of cleaning the bike was to kick it with his steel shoe, to make dirt fall off it.” “While waiting for traffic lights to turn green he’d rev the engine as hard as possible before releasing the clutch and doing wheel-spins along the road in central Manchester.”

In his long-awaited book that will be published later this month, Peter Collins reveals how Stuart Bamforth offered him the chance to take over the running of the Aces a year before the world famous Manchester venue closed in 1987. PC also explains how he literally helped shape the club’s next two tracks, at Kirkmanshulme Lane and the National Speedway Stadium. To order a signed copy at the discounted price of £20 (UK), please go to www.retro-speedway.com

THE long wait for the Peter Collins autobiography is nearly over. This mammoth 504-page, full colour book by British speedway’s most decorated champion and published by ourselves at Retro Speedway is now with our printer. All being well, everyone who has pre-ordered a personally signed copy should hopefully receive it by the end of this month. We sincerely apologise for the delay of a book that we initially planned to release in mid-August but was delayed for all the right reasons. We’ve added more than 100 pages to the original spec, many more rare pictures and lots more content. All this added weeks to a hefty tome but we are confident the wait will be worthwhile. Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you haven’t ordered your copy from us yet, taking advantage of our introductory offer of a £5 saving on the RRP of £25 in the UK, go to www.retro-speedway.com or phone Susie on 01708 734 502. Peter will sign every copy ordered through Retro Speedway, which is another great reason to buy it for £20 directly from us instead of the likes of online giants Amazon and retailers Waterstones. Thank you.

Initially, PC will be a printed softback (386 full colour pages). But it's very likely that it will evolve into an eBook edition too at some future date. As for the other autobiography we have planned for next year, I'd rather not reveal the author at this early stage. But it's none of those you've mentioned.

I don't think you need have any concerns re. clarity. From my experience spanning numerous recent interviews with him about his life looking back over a 68-year period, PC has a very good memory; in many cases his recall of minute detail is remarkable. Enjoy Slaski!

Many thanks for your kind words.

Many thanks, Ian, for your very kind words and support over many years. We'll miss you and all our other loyal subscribers.

They might. We are in talks that will hopefully bear fruit.

Nothing like pre-judging, eh! The book will, of course, be edited. That PC's book wasn't written well before now was his decision but it means it will now be bang up to date and, from the feedback we're getting, eagerly awaited. People won't agree with everything he says - but then isn't that true of most decent autobiographies in which the author is forthright in his/her opinions - whether or not we agree with them.

Thank you. We'll definitely continuing to produce DVDs and publish occasional books with a retro theme if the subject warrants it. The Peter Collins autobiography, launching at the Cardiff GP in August, will be our biggest yet at 386 full colour pages. Next year we'll publish another autobiography that we expect will provoke plenty of reaction.

Thank you - up the 'Awks!

Thank you for your kind comments.

Thank you for your kind words. We're talking to people in the hope that someone suitable will take one or both of them over.

Many thanks, Steve, for your kind words and unwavering support of both magazines. We wouldn't have come this far without our loyal subscribers.

Do any of you forumites participate in a football prediction game among friends or work colleagues generally known as 'Last Man Standing' , where you pick a different team each week (can't select the same team twice) and whoever goes the furthest without losing wins the prize pot? Entry fee is usually a fiver or tenner. When one 'game' has been won, a new one begins. I take part in a football comp that usually hosts between 4 and 6 'games' a season. It's fun, adds an extra frisson to matches and is relatively low-cost to enter. We would like to set up something very similar tailored to speedway - 'Last Fan Standing' - and would welcome any pointers or advice in terms of the best format to adopt and use of league fixtures that will make the game a worthwhile entry... Obviously, one based solely on the British Premiership is a non-runner due to lack of teams and very fragmented fixture list. But would one geared around the Championship work? Or maybe a combo of Premiership & Championship? We basically need to offer a selection of 8 or 10 matches per week to pick from. We would need to come up with a contingency in the event of rain-offs. It could be that at the same they choose their first pick (team), participants also nominate a second pick that would become active if their first pick is rained-off or postponed at short notice for whatever reason. If there are too many rain-offs, then that week's game would be suspended and held over to the following week (administrator's nightmare!). So please don your thinking caps and any thoughts would be much appreciated. It would be our intention to donate a per-centage of the prize pot to a worthwhile charity - the SRBF being an obvious possibility. If you would prefer to respond privately, my email is retroeditorial@gmail.com Cheers, Tony Mac

Can anyone help, please, by confirming if any of the 1986 individual meetings listed below were decided by a run-off for FIRST PLACE (not interested in run-offs to possibly determine other rostrum placings)? Thank you. 24/08/1986 Middlesbrough Northern Riders' Championship (NL) Martin Dixon 24/08/1986 Milton Keynes Central Riders' Championship Paul Thorp 28/08/1986 Arena Essex National League Junior Grand Prix Junior Individual Jay Pleece 31/08/1986 Stoke National League Junior Grand Prix Junior Individual Glenn Doyle 04/09/1986 Ipswich Star of Anglia Hans Nielsen 07/09/1986 Mildenhall C.R.M. Trophy Dave Jessup 14/09/1986 Rye House National League Junior Grand Prix Junior Individual Colin Lampkin 17/09/1986 Wimbledon National League Junior Grand Prix Junior Individual Jay Pleece 23/09/1986 Poole National League Junior Grand Prix Junior Individual Will James 26/09/1986 Glasgow National League Junior Grand Prix (North R5) Junior Individual Kelvin Jelaca 30/09/1986 Milton Keynes Craig Featherby Memorial Trophy Alastair Stevens 05/10/1986 Long Eaton National League Junior Grand Prix Final Junior Individual Stuart Thompson 14/10/1986 King's Lynn British Junior League Riders' Championship Sean Wilson 29/10/1986 Wimbledon The Laurels Nigel Sparshott 31/10/1986 Peterborough Hexagon Trophy Les Collins

Issue 108 (JANUARY – FEBRUARY, 2022) Subscription only at Retro Speedway: Backtrack Magazine (retro-speedway.com) Issue 108 is out now and here’s a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside . . . DENNIS SIGALOS – Life & Times World Pairs Champion and individual World No.3 in 1982, the world was at the feet of stylish and colourful Californian Dennis Sigalos. ROB PEASLEY looks back at the career of the Hull, Ipswich and Wolverhampton No.1, who would have been best placed to challenge the Danish domination of the late 80s but for a serious ankle injury. RUN-OFFS Whether to determine the winner of an individual meeting or settle the final qualifying places, you can’t beat a nailbiting last-race decider or two to get the crowd buzzing and riders’ nerves jangling. In the first of a two-part feature, DOUG NICOLSON reviews the most controversial and unusual run-offs from British speedway in the 70s. TRACK RIVALRIES: Edinburgh v Glasgow With fresh insights from Brian Collins, who rode for both Monarchs and Tigers, ROB PEASLEY reviews 15 tartan tussles between Scotland’s biggest second tier teams. BIG NIGHTS: Manpower Trophy (Reading) Reviewing British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings, PHIL CHARD rewinds to Reading’s star-studded Manpower Championship that began in 1971. Winners of this classic were Barry Briggs, Ivan Mauger, Anders Michanek, Phil Crump, Peter Collins (twice), Finn Thomsen, John Davis and Chris Morton. ON THE BOSSES – Cyril Crane Of all the promoters with whom MARTIN ROGERS crossed paths, there was nobody quite like Cyril Crane, his boss and later landlord at King's Lynn. Their 20-plus years of shared history was by all accounts 'complicated'. This is a look at some of the contradictions which made up speedway's Jekyll and Hyde personality. CZECH GOLDEN HELMET Since 1928 the Czech Golden Helmet has remained one of the most prestigious meetings in the world speedway calendar. VITEK FORMANEK interviewed Pavel Lejhanec, the man entrusted with making the last 30 editions of this coveted trophy and whose family are intrinsically linked to it. Past winners from the Backtrack era include record seven-times champion Ole Olsen, Jiri Stancl (five titles), Milan Spinka, Dennis Sigalos, John Davis, double winner Erik Gundersen, Hans Nielsen, Per Jonsson and Jeremy Doncaster. Plus . . . Letters, Notebook and a feast of nostalgic pictures.

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.

2021-22 WINTER EDITION Issue 55 of CLASSIC SPEEDWAY is out now Here’s a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside . . . Subscription only at Retro Speedway: CLASSIC SPEEDWAY LATEST ISSUE (retro-speedway.com) COLIN PRATT – TRIBUTE It speaks volumes for the indelible mark Colin Pratt left on his beloved sport as a former star rider and hard-working promoter of integrity that his recent death evoked such a huge flood of tributes from the speedway community. MARTIN ROGERS, who knew Pratty well as a friend, journalist and promoter (he employed him as King’s Lynn team manager in 1983), recalls the pre-70s racing career of an honourable speedway giant. IAN HOSKINS – TRIBUTE Following the death of Ian Hoskins on September 6, 2021, aged 97, DOUG NICOLSON pays tribute to the charismatic promoter, a born showman, who put Scottish speedway on the map. BIG NIGHTS: Pride of the South Continuing his review of key individual meetings, PHIL CHARD heads to the south coast for a look back at Southampton’s annual classic won by three different home track heroes, Barry Briggs, Brian Crutcher and Dick Bradley. Other winners were Bert Edwards, Johnny Hole and Arne Pander. TRACK RIVALRIES: Wembley v Wimbledon ROB PEASLEY recalls the shared post-war dominance of two London clubs and 10 key clashes from the 50s between Lions and Dons, featuring legendary stars such as Tommy Price, Ronnie Moore, Freddie Williams, EXTRAS DOUG NICOLSON looks back at times when promoters came up with added and occasionally quirky attractions to spice up meetings. PROFILE: Tommy Sweetman Taking a season-by-season statistical look at Wolverhampton’s Provincial League-winning skipper who also rode for England, Aldershot, California, Wimbledon, Southern Rovers, Rayleigh Rovers, Norwich, Swindon, Rye House, New Cross, Exeter and Hackney before retiring from the BL and emigrating to New Zealand at the end of 1969. Plus . . . Briggo making light of his heart attack; brief obits on ‘Derek’ Close, Peter Lloyd, Bill Moulin, Gordon Mitchell, Chris Harrison, Brian Meredith and Linda Ochiltree; readers’ letters; photo quiz; crossword; and a full-page 1955 Belle Vue team photo.

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