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TonyMac

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Posts posted by TonyMac

  1. Posted

    FIRST TIME TRIUMPHS AND DISASTERS
     
    OUR social media forum theme this week is all about ‘the first time’.

    Tell us about the most memorable rider debuts for your team (good or bad) and/or opening night meetings. Maybe a new signing romped to a thrilling maximum, or crashed, or had mechanical gremlins and didn’t score a point?
     
    I appreciate that the disastrous postponed Belle Vue NSS curtain-raiser in March 2016 will be readily recalled by many but please try and look beyond that – and the quirkier the better.
     
    An explanation (rather than just simply typing a rider's name or track name) would also be most helpful and much appreciated.
     
    Best responses will be included in my forthcoming Speedway Star feature.
     
    Thank you,
    Tony Mac

  2. Posted

    SPEEDWAY DRIVE-INS
     
    Does anyone have any funny or interesting stories relating to vehicles parked on the terracing at places like Stoke and Long Eaton, where you could watch racing from the comfort of your car?
     
    Were there other venues that allowed vehicles to park inside the stadium, providing a view of the racing (in UK or abroad)?
     
    In response to another online post, I received comments about car lights being flashed to signal a home win, about some passengers hiding in the boot (to avoid paying admission money!) and one needing a tow when his car tyres got stuck in mud. Another fan's dad owned a motorhome and would start cooking dinner when he parked up at Loomer Road!
     
    I think I'll write a piece about 'Speedway Drive-ins' in our next Round The Bend newsletter, so I hopefully look forward to hearing from you.
     
    Many thanks,
    TMc

  4. Posted · Edited by TonyMac

    The first Dane I saw was Ole Olsen starring for Wolves in the opening meeting of the 1971 season at Hackney.

    Within days I saw Preben Rosenkilde, who had low-key spells for both Hackney and West Ham in '71.

    Later, we had Finn Thomsen, Bo Petersen and Jens Rasmussen at The Wick. Finn  was a class act and a good team-man - an excellent skipper always helping his team-mates and shrewd mechanically.

    But I always felt that he rode within himself in league and other domestic meetings, saving his best efforts for the World Championship. Maybe that is being a bit harsh on him, but that's how it appeared to me. Perhaps the broken thigh he suffered at Wolves in 1977, the year before he joined Hawks, was in the back of his mind?

    He did, though, always get fired up when competing against Billy Sanders. There was history there.

    • Like 1

  5. Posted

    On 5/11/2023 at 11:49 AM, chunky said:

    I remember a lot of the early Danes, like Godtfred Andreasen at Oxford, Erik Tilgaard (Newcastle), the Boghs, Kurt and Ernst, King's Lynn's Jan Henningsen, and Finn Thomsen's buddy at Wolves, Leif Berlin. Amazing to think that in those days, we needed a combined Norway/Denmark team as the Norwegians greatly outnumbered the Danes!

    Later on, we had world-beaters like Sheffield's Flemming Rasmussen, Rene Christiansen (Eastbourne), and the worst speedway rider most of us have seen, Claes Jensen.

    Surprised there is no mention of Klaus Lohmann above...

    Unfortunately, we couldn't find any decent available footage of Klaus (or the others you mention), otherwise he would be on the DVD. Nice bloke - it was a pleasure to meet him in Denmark for an interview for our Memories of Halifax Speedway DVD.

    • Like 1

  6. Posted

    On 5/11/2023 at 11:24 AM, salty said:

    Predictable afraid, but as a Cradley fan i have to go with Erik and Janno. 

    Erik was a Dudley Wood legend with 3 World titles under his belt, but also blessed with a lovely character which meant he was (afaik) popular with most in the sport. His accident at Odsal finished his career but in typical Erik fashion he has maintained a great outlook on life and it is good to see him still involved in the sport.

    Janno took a bit longer to get to World class status but by the time of clinching his World title was clearly well deserving of the Championship. Sadly we will never know how many other titles he could have accrued as he was another who retired prematurely through injury.

    Finally, special mention to Kristian Praestbro, who was, (for Dan McCormick) a fairly unsung signing from Belle Vue in 1978. Not only did he have 2 excellent point scoring seasons as a Heathen, he also played a massive role in helping Erik in his formative time at Cradley.

     

    Great point about Kristian.

    • Like 1

  7. Posted

    Who were your favourite Danish speedway riders that rode for UK clubs in the pre-1995 upright era, and why?

    And what memories of watching Danish riders in British racing spring to mind?

    If you'd prefer to email me, send your comments to retroeditorial@gmail.com
     
    Best responses will be included in my Backtracking piece for Speedway Star.
     
    We have just launched our latest DVD, DANES IN BRITAIN RACING.
     

    * Double-disc, 4-hour set
    * Featuring 41 Danish riders
    * 140+ races
    * 30 UK tracks

    WELCOME to this nostalgic double-disc set spanning four hours in which we feature more than 40 Danes who graced British league racing from the 1970s up to the end of ‘The Upright Years’ in 1994.

    They include past world champions OLE OLSEN, ERIK GUNDERSEN, HANS NIELSEN and JAN O. PEDERSEN.

    World Team Cup winners TOMMY KNUDSEN, FINN THOMSEN, BO PETERSEN, PREBEN ERIKSEN, PETER RAVN, JOHN JORGENSEN, MIKE LOHMANN, KRISTIAN PRAESTBRO, BRIAN KARGER and GERT HANDBERG.

    Plus fellow former favourites BENT RASMUSSEN, ALF BUSK, FINN JENSEN, STEEN MASTRUP, JOHN ESKILDSEN, JENS RASMUSSEN, SAM NIKOLAJSEN, PER SORENSEN, KENT NOER, PETER GLANZ, FRANK ANDERSEN, KURT HANSEN, JAN STAECHMANN, ALLAN JOHANSEN, LARS MUNKEDAL, HENRIK KRISTENSEN, TOM KNUDSEN, FREDE SCHOTT, JESPER OLSEN, MORTEN ANDERSEN, JAN PEDERSEN, CARSTEN SCHOTT, RICHARD JUUL, BRIAN ANDERSEN, JAKOB OLSEN, RENE MADSEN, JAN ANDERSEN, etc.

    As well as thrilling action footage from a golden era, this evocative feast includes contemporary interviews with Ole Olsen, Erik Gundersen, Hans Nielsen, Tommy Knudsen, Jan O. Pedersen, Finn Thomsen, Bo Petersen, John Jorgensen, Peter Ravn, John Eskildsen, Brian Karger, Gert Handberg, Sam Nikolajsen, Peter Glanz, Jan Staechmann, Frede Schott, Morten Andersen, Brian Andersen, Jakob Olsen, Jan Pedersen, Jesper Olsen, Richard Juul and Rene Madsen.

    Action footage from 30 UK tracks: Arena-Essex, Belle Vue (Hyde Road & Kirky Lane), Birmingham (Perry Barr), Bradford, Coventry, Cradley Heath, Eastbourne, Edinburgh (Powderhall), Glasgow (Shawfield), Halifax, Hull (Boulevard), Ipswich, King’s Lynn, Leicester, Long Eaton, Milton Keynes (Elfield Park), Newcastle, Oxford, Peterborough, Poole, Reading (Smallmead), Rye House, Sheffield, Stoke, Swindon, Stoke, Wembley, Wimbledon, Wolverhampton.

    Also featuring as opponents (trailing Danes – it’s a long and illustrious list!):
    From ENGLAND – Kenny Carter, Simon Wigg, Jeremy Doncaster, Chris Morton, Kelvin Tatum, Phil Collins, Neil Collins, Simon Cross, Marvyn Cox, Carl Blackbird, Gary Havelock, Martin Dugard, Richard Knight, Andy Smith, Alan & Andy Grahame, Gordon Kennett, John Davis, Paul Thorp, Joe Screen, Mark Loram, Chris Louis, Dean Barker, Andrew Silver, Kevin Smith, Kevin Jolly, Rob Woffinden, etc.
    From the USA – Bruce Penhall, Sam Ermolenko, Shawn & Kelly Moran, John Cook, Lance King, Ronnie Correy, Rick Miller, Charles Ermolenko.
    From SWEDEN – Per Jonsson, Jimmy Nilsen, Jan Andersson, Tony Olsson, Peter Nahlin, Richard Hellsen, Henka Gustafsson, Tony Rickardsson.
    From AUSTRALIA – Phil Crump, Billy Sanders, Gary Guglielmi, Leigh Adams, Jason Crump, Shane Parker, Shane Bowes, Glenn Doyle.
    From NEW ZEALAND – Ivan Mauger, Mitch Shirra, Mark Thorpe.
    Plus . . . Kai Niemi & Olli Tyrvainen (Finland), Armando Castagna (Italy), Einar Kyllingstad (Norway), etc.

    To order this DVD for £18 + £2 UK P&P, simply visit us at www.retro-speedway.com

    Thank you for reading.
     

  9. Posted

    PC signing at Stafford Classic Bike Show

     PETER COLLINS will be on the Retro Speedway stand signing copies of his fast-selling, much-acclaimed autobiography at the Stafford Classic Bike Show next weekend.

     PC will be there on both Saturday/Sunday, April 22/23.

     The full address of the venue is:
    Staffordshire County Showground
    Weston Rd
    Stafford
    Staffordshire
    ST18 0BD

    For full event details and how to get there, please visit their site at www.staffscountyshowground.co.uk

     It’s a good opportunity for Midlands-based supporters. PC regularly attends this twice-yearly event and says it’s an oasis for motorbike enthusiasts. So if you can make it, please do come and say ‘hello’ to PC, Susie and Tony Mac and get your book for just £20. As well as signing your book, Peter will also be very happy to pose for selfies.

     Keeping It On The Tyres has sold rapidly and we expect it to sell out completely before long, so don’t miss out.

    You can still order a signed copy from us. To take advantage of our 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 ‘Best Wishes’ in every copy ordered through Retro Speedway, which is another great reason to buy it for £20 directly from us instead of online giants Amazon and retailers Waterstones.

    Thank you.

    • Like 2

  10. Posted

    23 minutes ago, Diamonds85 said:

    The last couple of weeks... I really wanted to see Emil's first meeting back in this country so I booked Ipswich vs Peterborough last week (hotel booked, traveled down just for it to be called off as I was reaching Ipswich and about 10 minutes too late to cancel my premier inn... It was only being advertised that morning, surely the track must have been waterlogged all day as it wasn't really raining that much?)

    I was gutted by this so I stupidly decided to book this week up as a little speedway tour (I've been missing it greatly since mid last season when the Diamonds folded :()

    So I planned this week...

    Monday - Peterborough (on but a very delayed start with Nicki's crash, stadium issues, track issues, but was an ok meeting in the end)

    Tuesday - Day in Cornwall (p!ssed it down the whole time, expected)

    Wednesday - Poole (Off)/Thought about popping up to Oxford (Off)

    Thursday - Leicester (Off)/King's Lynn perhaps? (Off)

    Friday - Back home, across to Redcar (Off)

    Can't tell that the season's just started can you? Who's betting that Berwick will be off tomorrow also :rofl:

    I will point out though because I know people will have a go at me, that I know all of these meetings were cancelled for rider safety, and I completely understand that, it's the most important part of speedway... Just typical though ain't it, driest winter on record followed by the wettest March :D

    Tough to take. Where did you initially set off from (your home base)?

  11. Posted

    5 hours ago, salty said:

    So imagine my annoyance when the meeting, against Lakeside I think, was postponed at fairly short notice, not because of bad weather, but because holding the meeting would have caused difficulties with averages for Poole to make some planned team changes.  

    What was the 'official' reason given by Poole for the cancellation?

  12. Posted · Edited by TonyMac

    YOUR WORST RAIN-OFF EXPERIENCES

    For an article I will soon be writing for Speedway Star, I'm asking fans to recall their worst rain-off experiences. After you had travelled many miles only to find the meeting washed out or postponed for some other reason (snow, even dust!), what were the most disappointing - and please explain the circumstances surrounding them?

    Maybe you had the misfortune to suffer TWO postponements (even three!) on the same very wet day?

    What is the furthest distance you've travelled to find the dreaded 'meeting off' signs awaiting you on arrival?

    I'm not talking about ABANDONED meetings that started. This is only about POSTPONEMENTS.

    You can either respond here, or email me at retroeditorial@gmail.com

    The best entries will be included in my piece for the Star.

    Many thanks.
    Tony Mac

  15. Posted

    16 hours ago, BL65 said:

    Gote Nordin was one of the best riders in the world in the mid-1960s and a big favourite of mine.  I watched him cruise to two consecutive wins with sublime displays in the Internationale at Wimbledon in 1966 and 1967, each time against a field of world-class riders.  He also claimed second place in the event in 1965 and but for a fall he might have secured a top three finish in 1964.  In 1961 Nordin joined Ove Fundin and Bjorn Knutson on the rostrum to complete a Swedish 1-2-3 in the World Final.  Between 1964 and 1967 he had three seasons in Britain, averaging over 10 points per match for National League Wimbledon, then in the British League for Newport and Poole.

    On the DVD we show previously unseen 8mm cine clips of Gote passing Olle Nygren on his way to victory in the 1966 Internationale. Admittedly, the footage is grainy but his bolt upright style (and Olle's white painted boots) are unmistakable.

    • Like 1

  16. Posted

    18 hours ago, steve roberts said:

    Hasse Holmqvist was my all-time favourite Swedish rider. He rode as a "Cheetah" before my time but the excitment generated when it was known he was to become a "Rebel" in 1973...his signing certainly caught the Cowley faithfull's imagination. His first meeting at Oxford that year he registered a maximum against Coventry and although he never continued in that vein his point scoring however was invaluable. My abiding memory was when he rode up to the tapes he always had this habit of kicking his clutch plate with his right heel. He used to ride some terrific tight bends and I remember on one occasion that he "closed down" Cowley specialist Terry Betts by leaning all over him with that very distinctive style. The "Rebels" that year were issued with team leathers (long before team suits became the norm) and Hasse's were too short...don't think he ever did wear them that year relying on his custom blue and white leathers. Last saw him when I made the trip to Crayford in the most awful weather in 1983 when he was touring with his club team...wish I could say that he signed off with a maximum but alas no.

    On our DVD, we show previously unseen 8mm colour cine clips (taken from the Smallmead terraces) of Hasse riding for Oxford against Reading in 1975. He is wearing all-white leathers. He also features in the coverage of the 1973 International Tournament Final at Wembley.

    • Like 1

  17. Posted

    19 hours ago, Chadster said:

    No Torbjorn Harryson? Remember seeing him scoring a 15 point maximum at Belle Vue in 1967 and was the only rider to beat Ove Fundin that night. He only rode two seasons in Britain but was regarded as perhaps the next big thing until he broke his leg in the 1969 Worlf Final and never got over the injury.

    The list includes all those we show footage of on the DVD. Apart from a few fleeting seconds showing the actual crash you refer to in the 1969 World Final, sadly Toby does not feature. I wish he did, as he was renowned as a spectacular performer.

  18. Posted

    On 3/7/2023 at 6:43 PM, steve roberts said:

    Latest DVD release from the Retro Label is "Swedish Riders"...will be worth having a look at. So many greats to choose from. My particular favourite was the elusive Hasse Holmqvist who rode for the "Cheetahs" and "Rebels" (previously for Wolves) and I remember the occasion that he parked his caravan outside my house for a brew up!

    Thanks, Steve. I've just started a new thread on the Swedes in the 'Years Gone By' section.

    • Like 1

  19. Posted · Edited by TonyMac

    Who were your favourite Swedish speedway riders that rode for UK clubs pre-1995, and why?

    Or what memories of watching Swedish riders in British racing spring to mind?
     
    Best responses received before this weekend will be included in my piece for next week's Speedway Star.
     
    A reminder of the 39 featured on our brand new SWEDES IN BRITAIN RACING DVD . . .
     
    OVE FUNDIN
    BJORN KNUTSON
    ANDERS MICHANEK
    PER JONSSON
    TONY RICKARDSSON

    OLLE NYGREN
    GOTE NORDIN
    SOREN SJOSTEN
    BERNT PERSSON
    BENGT JANSSON
    CHRISTER LOFQVIST
    HASSE HOLMQVIST
    TOMMY JANSSON
    CHRISTER SJOSTEN
    JAN ANDERSSON
    RICHARD HELLSEN
    TOMMY NILSSON
    BORGE RING
    LARS HAMMARBERG
    LILLEBROR JOHANSSON
    PIERRE BRANNEFORS
    ANDERS ERIKSSON
    ERIK STENLUND
    LEIF WAHLMANN
    JIMMY NILSEN
    TONY OLSSON
    ROLAND DANNO
    CONNY IVARSSON
    PETER NAHLIN
    MIKAEL BLIXT
    DENNIS LOFQVIST
    HENRIK GUSTAFSSON
    PETER KARLSSON
    MIKAEL KARLSSON
    JORGEN JOHANSSON
    STEFAN DANNO
    JONATHAN FORSGREN
    MIKAEL TEURNBERG
    CHRISTER ROHLEN
     
    To order this DVD for £18 + £2 UK P&P, simply visit us at www.retro-speedway.com
     
    Personally, my two schoolboy heroes when I first started going to speedway in 1971, aged 11, were always classy Bengt 'Benga' Jansson (Hackney) and spectacular Christer Lofqvist (West Ham). Both great to watch.

    Thanks in advance.

  20. Posted

    As the publisher of Peter Collins' autobiography, he asked me to post the following apology. A copy of which has also been sent directly to Mia Casey.
    -----------------------------------------------------

    January 31, 2023

    AN APOLOGY

    I would like to sincerely apologise to Mia Casey, daughter of the late Steve Casey, who died recently of cancer, for the extra distress I have caused her over the personal message I wrote in my autobiography to her dad at an event held in Glossop on November 3rd last year.

    My words were regrettably written in a moment of impulse amid a feud with the Belle Vue management that has been ongoing for the last 35 years, and I’m sorry to Mia for any upset caused.

    I have had no contact with Steve, or any other member of the Belle Vue management set-up, for a number of years and I was totally unaware of his cancer diagnosis before I signed his book.

    Sorry, Mia, for your loss and for the extra grief that this has caused you and your family at this sad time.

     

    Yours sincerely,
    Peter Collins

    • Like 2

  21. Posted · Edited by TonyMac

    4 hours ago, Gordon Pairman said:

    I have kept quiet on this for a very long time in the hope that there would at least be an acknowledgement of the wrong that occurred that night. 
    For those that want more, please see my comments on the thread entitled Steve Casey RIP

    Firstly to say that we at Retro Speedway are naturally sincerely saddened by the news of Steve's death. In my experience he was a very amiable, decent bloke. He was clearly devoted to Belle Vue, had a keen sense of Aces' history, and was a natural enthusiast for speedway as a whole.

    With respect, Gordon, and I fully appreciate you are feeling very sad and upset right now, the acknowledgement you hoped for WAS addressed by Retro Speedway - PRIVATELY - with Steve direct. An online forum is not the best way to handle such personal matters. I believe Steve thought so too.

    Possibly unknown to you, Susie and I both communicated personally with Steve, separately, over the book signing matter. Understanding the possible upset caused, we offered to try and resolve things to his satisfaction. He appreciated our sympathetic words.

    As you rightly point out on the other thread, Steve did read the book and said he enjoyed it. In fact, on Nov 23 he sent me an unsolicited text saying: "Hiya Tony...just finished the PC book and really enjoyed it...was a great read with some fabulous memories and insights (accompanied by four 'thumbs up' emojis)." I obviously thanked him for his kind comments.

    Earlier this month, he phoned me to say how grateful he was to unexpectedly receive our new DVD, Defunct British Speedway Tracks 2, which we sent him as a goodwill gesture, to hopefully lift his spirits after another spell in hospital, and because he actually features on it in the BV Kirky Kane segment.

    I hope this serves as the public 'acknowledgement' you expected and that those reading these posts gather a true picture of Retro Speedway's part.

    RIP, Steve.

     

    • Like 7
    • Thanks 2

  22. Posted

    From the final chapter of PC's book:

    I STILL love speedway and don’t like to think that it is in its death throes but a lot of things seem to point that way.

    I was fortunate enough to ride in what was a golden age for British speedway, in the 1970s and early 80s, and things have gone downhill since then. Make no mistake, British speedway is in crisis, with promoters and riders battling the effects of crippling running costs, dwindling attendances and very few major sponsors.

    A lot of tracks are on the brink, struggling to keep going. Hardly a year goes by without another closure. As I write, at least three clubs operating in 2022 may not be around next year.

    Speedway gets hardly any publicity in the national media these days and I think one of the reasons for that, and why crowds are down, is because there have been too many rule changes. Some of them are a joke and fans are sick of it. Their patience and loyalty has been tested to the limit.

    How can we expect the sport to be taken seriously by the media or non-fans when teams are so heavily dependent on guests and the rider replacement facility? There is clearly a shortage of quality riders but for most of them to be doubling-up (or doubling-down) and appearing for different clubs each week is farcical and leaves speedway’s credibility in tatters.

    Even if disenfranchised supporters can be lured back and much-needed new ones found from somewhere, how will British speedway keep them when so much about the way the sport is being run is wrong? Stadium facilities are an issue at many places but clubs who rent their tracks where greyhounds, and maybe stock cars, are also staged have their hands tied. The woeful state of dilapidated stands and toilet facilities are beyond their control. 

    All the continental countries have youth training schemes or community stadiums which encourage kids to become speedway riders. Too many of our tracks are bound by council regulations and curfews.

    • Like 3

  23. Posted · Edited by TonyMac

    4 hours ago, JC! said:

    Clearly your argument is emotional rather than based in any form of business logic, so best just agree to disagree.

     

    How is failing to make former favourites welcome logical or sound business practice? On the contrary.

    It's obvious that that vast majority of ex-riders wouldn't pay to get in anyway, so the promoters would lose nothing financially.

    But then consider the potential positives from their presence on race night  . . .

    As Steve has previously tried to explain, there is anecdotal evidence that a number of supporters, both existing and past, enjoy meeting up with old faces who remind them of their younger days and a better time for speedway. Let's face it, too many speedway meetings drag on so long these days that a friendly chat with an ex-rider will often be the highlight of that fan's night.

    If he or she leaves the stadium feeling good, or at least believing that their time and money showed some tangible reward, then they are more likely to return.

    Think of the goodwill factor, too. Does it do any speedway promoter good to make ex-riders even slightly unwelcome or made to feel like parasites? If a track's legends and former favourites help spread the word about their local former track it can possibly lead to newer fans coming along - and help to keep some who are in despair and thinking of abandoning the sport. Imagine the fan's thought process: "I can't really be bothered go to (insert track name) tonight, its cold and damp, I'll be waiting around for ages between heats, fuel and admission costs have gone up . . . but, then again, I KNOW I'll enjoy meeting and speaking to my old heroes, so, sod it, I'll go." 

    Whether you agree with PC's stance on passes or not (he and I don't agree on everything he has written about every subject in the book), it doesn't do Belle Vue or any other track any good to have this perpetual public debate. It's a needless negative for the best racetrack in the UK where, by general consensus, average crowd figures for domestic meetings were poor last season in relation to the success achieved by the Aces. I'm not suggesting that letting 20 ex-riders into the NSS every home meeting will make much difference to the paying attendance, but it certainly won't do any harm.

    Some promoters 'get it' (Berwick gave Craig Pendlebury a life-long stadium pass even though he rode so little for them) but they all need to dig their heads out of the sand on this and many other issues.

    British speedway needs all the goodwill it can possible muster. It should look at the bigger picture.
     

     

    • Like 3
    • Thanks 2
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