TonyMac 720 Posted February 22, 2007 Issue 56 - Volume 14 No.4 - Winter 2007 RAY WILSON History-making England star who burst onto the scene at Long Eaton in the 60s. Here, Ray looks back on his early racing days for the Archers and his country, as well as the men who helped him reach the top, including his father Ron, who rode for Leicester Hunters and Oxford before becoming promoter at Blackbird Road. Ray talks about his schoolboy idols and how one of them, Ken McKinlay, taught him things in the workshop that would stand him in very good stead throughout his illustrious career as one of England’s all-time greats and a Leicester Lions legend. He reveals that only rider who, he believes, deliberately set out to ‘do’ him on the track. If you want to follow the Ray Wilson story beyond the 60s period covered in VSM, may we recommend you take a look at our sister publication Backtrack. In the new issue 18, Ray recalls in another in-depth interview his greatest hour when he became known as ‘World Cup Willie’, won three consecutive World Team Cup gold medals and the World Pairs Championship, plus much more… BRIAN BRETT We pay tribute to the one of the most popular racers from the 60s who sadly died recently. With the help of his former Swindon team-mate Mike Broadbank, we look back at Bretty’s days with the Robins, Newcastle and Cradley Heath before he took early retirement from the sport. WALLY GREEN Another old favourite who has now passed on to that speedway track in the sky, we remember the reluctant hero who came within a whisker of the world title, treasured the honour of leading his country and became a legend at West Ham. MAX GROSSKREUTZ Australian ace Max is the latest in our popular leg-trailers series. This is one for those who admired the spectacular exploits of the former pre-war Belle Vue and Australian star who went on to manage at Norwich. ERIC LANGTON We reveal news of the Eric Langton Story – a cracking DVD that includes his last major interview before his death. Are more revelations about THAT World Final run-off against Lionel Van Praag from 1936 on their way…? OVE FUNDIN When the five times World Champion was made a Freeman of Norwich . . . and grabbed another slice of sporting history. JACK WINSTANLEY A ‘good journeyman’, he spent 22 years racing for many tracks. John Hyam gives an insight into into the career of one of speedway’s most dedicated performers . . . BIRMINGHAM REVIVAL As the sport gets ready to welcome back the Brummies in 2007, Eric Linden remembers former glory days at Birmingham and the impact of Graham Warren in particular. SPEEDWAY MUSEUM As building work gathers pace at Paradise Wildlife Park in readiness for the planned late April opening, there’s news from Australia that trophies won by the late, great Aussie World Champion of 1938, BLUEY WILKINSON, could soon be on display in the new Hertfordshire museum. Also, a racejacket that once belonged to one of the tragic victims of the 1970 Lokeren road crash. HAVE BIKE, WILL TRAVEL Car boots and trailers . . . how riders got from A to B light years before the luxury Motorhomes of today! KIWI REUNION Ian Hoskins has the words and Bob Andrews the pictures from the latest reunion of New Zealand stars of the past. Plus the regulars . . . YOUR LETTERS & COLLECTING. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
