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12th California-in-england Reunion 2017

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The Twelfth California-in-England Reunion

Friends of Speedway are pleased to announce the date of the above reunion to be held on 8th October 2017
at the Country Park where the speedway took place.
All are welcome to attend and please bring any memorabilia that you may have.
Details from Stu Towner on 020-8397 6599
Edited by Guest

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The full address of the venue is:

California in England,

Nine Mile Ride,

Wokingham,

Berkshire.

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Reunion organiser Stu Towner has advised that final details of this year's event on October 8, 2017, will be available in a few days. This year's will be the 12th to be held.

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The full address of the venue is:

California in England,

Nine Mile Ride,

Wokingham,

Berkshire.

For those with Sat nav`s(invented in the 1980`s) the post code is rg40 4hu

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The full address of the venue is:

California in England,

Nine Mile Ride,

Wokingham,

Berkshire.

 

 

For those with Sat nav`s(invented in the 1980`s) the post code is rg40 4hu

 

Thank you for the address update racers and royals.

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Reunion organiser Stu Towner has advised that final details of this year's event on October 8, 2017, will be available in a few days. This year's will be the 12th to be held.

Looking forward to this event, thoroughly enjoyed myself last year

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PRESS RELEASE


That time of the year is fast approaching for the Friends of Speedway organised Twelfth California-in-England Speedway Reunion on 8th October 2017.

The full address is: California Country Park, Nine Mile Ride, Finchampstead, Wokingham, RG40 4HT. This is situated on the B3430 coming from the A322 junction 3 off the M3. There is a large sign at the entrance to the park and a pay and display car park; then there is a short walk to the display area which will include a selection of machines covering over 80 years of speedway.

If you have any memorabilia/memories please make yourself known to any of the Friends of Speedway members bearing their name badges. We are still searching for any cine film not only of the racing, but of the park in general that could be loaned to be copied. It is a never-ending search for items of interest of all the different activities that that went on in the park; not only speedway.

On display will be speedway photographs and team body colours including a reproduction California Poppies one. Also, a small display of memorabilia from the days when it was a holiday camp with photos and postcards.

Here you will be able to talk with riders from the 1950’s California Poppies team. You are invited to ask questions at any time and all officials will be sporting their name badges.

Machines will be started at various times during the day; you will smell the intoxicating aroma of Castrol R and Methanol to bring back memories of those earlier un-silenced days of speedway. Also we are hopeful of celebrity guests of international fame and are keeping our fingers crossed that he will be able to attend. Also attending will be the family of Poppies Captain, Ron Sharp.

At the time of going to press the organisers can confirm that Eric Hockaday, Jim Gleed and others which rode there as away team members.

Part of the presentation will be a guided walk where you can see the original children’s paddling pool from the holiday camp days which has been cleared by Friends of Speedway personnel and part of the railway track that took clay up to the brickworks which is how the lake was formed. Not only will you will be able to stand on the concrete start/finish line with marked out starting boxes (the only surviving one that we know of); you will see the whole shape of the track which has been cleared with the councils permission. An original member of the track staff will give a short talk of his duties there. For those interested in walking to the track stout footwear recommended.

The park offers a wealth of historic interest in itself, plus a cafeteria with toilets including one for the disabled.

The display will be open between 11am ‘till 4pm.

For further information please call Stuart Towner on 0208-397 6599 or stuart.towner@blueyonder.co.uk

Edited by Guest

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PRESS RELEASE

. Also we are hopeful of celebrity guests of international fame and are keeping our fingers crossed that he will be able to attend.

 

Only a matter of hours until this event and no information as to who this "celebrity guests" will be? :neutral:

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Only a matter of hours until this event and no information as to who this "celebrity guests" will be? :neutral:

Well I'm going iris! :D

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Well I'm going iris! :D

Well i guess you have gained some international fame after a trip abroad to see a meeting that was cancelled :o:P

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Well I'm going iris! :D

Hope the weather is kind to you this time and maybe you get the chance to try out the specially cleared childrens paddling pool.Sounds like a real highlight :D

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The 12th California-in-England Speedway Reunion

By STUART TOWNER

This event was held on 8th October and the day dawned bright and warm. The mist was rising over the lake as the stalwarts set to work arranging bikes and generally getting organised.
For various reasons there were not quite so many bikes on display but still a good variety and cross section to show the enthusiasts as they arrived. The machines ranged from a 1928 Rudge, 1929 BSA like the one that Jack Parker helped to develop, a 1930 Rudge and a few JAPs, Jawa, Weslake, Jawa Ice racer. Also a replica Luckhurst Mallorca Bultaco, a rotary Norton grass bike and a Bultaco grass bike too making up the numbers.
Various machines were started during the day so the assembled throng could savour that rich aroma of Methanol and Castrol R and from open exhaust pipes - not a silencer to be seen.

Past attending riders were a bit thin on the ground also but California favourites Eric Hockaday and Jimmy Gleed were there as were ex-Aldershot riders Dave Collett and Dai Davies who incidentally had a round trip of 400 miles to be there! Barry Duke and John Hammond were also seen taking in the delights of the sights and sounds. It was fitting too to see Vi and Terry Sharp, the widow and son of California Captain Ron Sharp.
Friends of Speedway, the organisers wish to thank all those who attended and hope to see you all again next year - provisionally on 14th October.

Edited by Guest

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Hmm,looks like Sommelier must have been the celebrity guest of international fame. :rolleyes: Unless it was the childrens paddling pool made in China :rofl:

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