TonyMac 720 Posted October 22, 2008 As we're about to publish a one-off titled SPEEDWAY IN THE 70s, I wondered what everybody misses most about that decade (we'll get to the 80s in all good time)... To set the ball rolling, here are a few things that readily spring to mind, but please add your own thoughts: 1. The 13-heat formula, tac subs, choice of gates. 2. 40-38 3. Team riding. 4. Bike racks on cars. 5. Track spares (that's a bike, not a loose woman!) 6. Wembley Stadium. 7. Meeting riders in the bar after meetings. 8. Standard equipment. 9. Supporters' club buses. 10. Passing. 11. Riders' names you could spell and pronounce. 12. Hyde Road. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grachan 7,314 Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) Monkey Masks Booing opposition riders without being told they "put their lives on the line for our entertainment" Cheese and onion rolls from the back straight bar at Swindon It being only 10 years since Swindon won the league New Polish riders being guaranteed to be useless. Edited October 22, 2008 by Grachan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyP 3 Posted October 22, 2008 Reading's Tilehurst Stadium. Dave Lanning commentating on World of Sport. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyP 3 Posted October 22, 2008 Cheese and onion rolls from the back straight bar at Swindon Good shout, I remember them well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jim the whipper 231 Posted October 22, 2008 Monkey Masks Booing opposition riders without being told they "put their lives on the line for our entertainment" Cheese and onion rolls from the back straight bar at Swindon It being only 10 years since Swindon won the league New Polish riders being guaranteed to be useless. Heinz soup from the back straight bar Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miro 9 Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) riders with facial hair, sideboards and weird haircuts in general leathers with big stars up the sleeve and the widespread use of sticky tape on riders kit mysterious riders from mysterious Communist countries bikes covered in stickers big time international Grasstrack racing the fun of start line disputes, rolling and pushing the tapes in general riders and officials hitting each other occasionally and nobody minding too much supporters shouting at each other and nobody minding too much angry team managers protesting to the ref on the start line phone booing angry team managers protesting to the ref on the start line phone and nobody minding too much homemade programme boards meetings of two halves meetings called meetings not matches and the proper use of proper speedway terms in general listening to radio Luxemburg in the car park at Tilehurst waiting to leave Edited October 23, 2008 by miro Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) Our local rivals, the Canterbury Crusaders. Oh, and the Speedway Mail. Edited October 22, 2008 by Guest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mervjankefanclub 48 Posted October 22, 2008 Second halves Scottish Junior league Helmet colours supplied by colour marshall including white Riders being pushed off from the pit gate Being allowed to wander through the pits at Blantyre 1 after the meeting When the 2 minute klaxon wasnt for all four riders Tape touching Bikes without cutouts having a mind of their own When riders started putting wee name plates on their rear mudguard Rear wheels without spoilers Track rakers actually pulling in shale When speedway riders were hairy arsed hard men, unlike todays prima donnas Being a wee laddie again Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dietbowers 522 Posted October 22, 2008 Being a lot younger then than I am now Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mervjankefanclub 48 Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) Being a lot younger then than I am now ........great minds DB And I would like to add.... ....riders wearing their old overalls in the wet and sawdust Edited October 22, 2008 by mervjankefanclub Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
falkirkbandit 89 Posted October 22, 2008 4. Bike racks on cars. Not the 70's but i always remember Rob Woffinden having a huge Citreon ( i think) with Dryborough Berwick Bandits on each door when he rode for Berwick in 1987, and the bike rack on the back, a few riders did actually, it all came flooding back after my Berrington visit last saturday, happy days! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dietbowers 522 Posted October 22, 2008 Not the 70's but i always remember Rob Woffinden having a huge Citreon ( i think) with Dryborough Berwick Bandits on each door when he rode for Berwick in 1987, and the bike rack on the back, a few riders did actually, it all came flooding back after my Berrington visit last saturday, happy days! I seem to remember quite a number of riders driving around in Citreon Safari`s Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mervjankefanclub 48 Posted October 22, 2008 I seem to remember quite a number of riders driving around in Citreon Safari`s I remember PC coming to Blantyre in his, I am pretty sure it was gold coloured and looked impressive beside the Vauxhall Vivas and Austin Allegros Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dietbowers 522 Posted October 22, 2008 I remember PC coming to Blantyre in his, I am pretty sure it was gold coloured and looked impressive beside the Vauxhall Vivas and Austin Allegros It did`nt take a lot to be impressive given the company it was parked in Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paulco 7,069 Posted October 22, 2008 My favourite Tigers track - Coatbridge . The place was a right dump - bits falling of the roof of the shed on the back straight , pee flowing out the bog door under the stand . But what a track . The Northern Riders Championship qualifiers . Probably the reason i'm still not keen on individual meetings - they were awful meetings . Not continually looking at the sky for rain - in the seventies it seemed so much dryer . Speedway on a Friday night . Glasgow were always a Friday night club - none of this Sunday afternoon bollocks then . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
