For anyone who doesn’t know about TGOD (the good old days) this issue is a must-read

Congratulations to Doug Nicolson and Tony McDonald for a wonderful article

Oh to turn back the clock (or calendar)

Also, there’s a very interesting piece about The Midland Riders Championship - more TGODs for us in that part of the country

I have enjoyed reading every edition of the magazine - from its beginnings as Vintage Speedway Magazine.

Great shame that no one could be found to take over the magazine.

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

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.

Issue 54 of CLASSIC SPEEDWAY is out now, so if you need to renew your subscription or take out a new one, please do so at https://www.retro-speedway.com

Here’s a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside . . .

GENTLEMAN GOTE

60 years on from Gote Nordin’s finest international achievement, PHIL CHARD presents a thorough examination of the stylish Swede’s illustrious career that spanned eight British teams and 22 seasons.

BIG NIGHTS: Southern Area League Riders’ Championship

Continuing his review of individual meetings, this time PHIL CHARD dips into the third tier where the Southern Area League Riders’ Championship proved the launchpad for future internationals and a few world finalists, including Mike Broadbank, Leo McAuliffe and Brian Brett. Past winners also include Alby Golden, Dave Hankins and Ross Gilbertson.

GLASGOW: 50 Memorable Moments

ROB PEASLEY traces the turbulent history of speedway in Glasgow, focusing mainly on Tigers and their heroes such as Tommy Miller and Charlie Monk, but also the four seasons of city rivals Ashfield, led by Ken Le Breton.

STRIKE ACTION

DOUG NICOLSON looks at walk-outs and strikes at a time when industrial action and wildcat strikes were a feature of working life.

PROFILE: Brian Brett

Taking a season-by-season statistical look at the former England international and World Finalist who rode for his local team Rye House, Southampton, Swindon, Newcastle and Cradley Heath.

CAN YOU COME BACK TOMORROW?

DOUG NICOLSON looks back at postponed meetings that were hastily rearranged for the next day or very shortly thereafter.

Plus . . . brief obits on Harry Bastable, Ian Hoskins, Jack Geran, Johnnie Reason and Taffy Owen, readers’ letters, photo quiz, crossword and a full-page 1952 New Cross team photo.

Issue 53 of CLASSIC SPEEDWAY is out now

Here’s a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside . . .

Subscription only (£20 per year in UK) from https://www.retro-speedway.com/
 

BIG NIGHTS: Internationale

Continuing his review of major individual meetings, PHIL CHARD re-examines the first nine stagings of the classic introduced to compensate Britain for the loss of the lucrative World Final to Sweden in 1961. Inevitably, Ove Fundin – winner of the first three meetings – was in the spotlight for contrasting reasons. Other winners include Barry Briggs, Charlie Monk, Gote Nordin, (cover man) Nigel Boocock and Wimbledon’s home track favourite Trevor Hedge.

CYCLE SPEEDWAY: How ‘skid kids’ caught the racing bug

DOUG NICOLSON and TONY McDONALD look back on the significant contribution of cycle speedway to its ‘big brother’. Includes a long list of some 90+ names who progressed from pedal power to the ‘real thing’, while BERT HARKINS reveals how he captained two teams who wore the famous colours of Wembley Lions.

CRADLEY HEATH: 50 Memorable Moments

“Ommer ’um, Cradley!” ROB PEASLEY traces the progress of a Midlands club from its humble third tier beginnings to top flight status and a world class rider in Bernie Persson. Others to feature in our six-page feature include Les Beaumont, Geoff Bennett, Graham Warren, Alan Hunt, Harry Bastable, Ivor Brown, Ivor Hughes (tragically, the only rider killed at Dudley Wood), Chris Julian, Roy Trigg and Bob Andrews.

HOME & AWAY

What is there to do when your team is racing away on your regular race night? DOUG NICOLSON looks at what enterprising promoters did in the 40s and 50s.

PROFILE: Cyril Maidment

In the first of a new series, we take a season-by-season statistical look at the former Belle Vue star who also rode for and managed Wimbledon.

SECOND CHANCE

In the last in our series recalling all non-regular team members who rode in second-halves, junior matches and trials at first division tracks in the first five years of the British League, from 1965 until the end of '69, we dig deep at EXETER, LONG EATON and NEWCASTLE.

MORE SHEFFIELD MEMORIES

Following 50 Memorable Sheffield Moments published in our last issue, Tigers supporter TONY BAKER sent in his own personal recollections of Thursdays spent cheering on Tigers from the Owlerton terraces throughout the 60s.

Plus . . . brief obits on Ernie Baker, Stan Bradbury and John Stallworthy, readers’ letters, photo quiz, crossword and a full-page 1953 Birmingham team photo.

 Welcome to issue 52 of our quarterly magazine, Here's a flavour of what to expect . . .

OLLE NYGREN Tribute

Martin Rogers recalls the indelible impact made in Britain and on the world stage by Olle Nygren, the first of the Swedish greats, who died recently, while Tony McDonald adds his personal memories of this Boy’s Own hero known affectionately as ‘Varg Olle’.

BRIAN CLEMENTS Interview

Phil Chard recalls a curious, short-lived British career that was strangled by speedway red tape before ex-Southampton rider Brian Clements turned on the horse power and made his mark in another racing sport.

NATIONAL TROPHY – up for the Cup!

Doug Nicolson looks at the all too few shocks and giant-killings in the National Trophy, a knockout competition that ran from 1931 to 1964. Second Division upsets were caused by Birmingham, Norwich and Poole.

SHEFFIELD: 50 Memorable Moments
Rob Peasley traces Tigers’ turbulent history in the pre-70s era at Owlerton. Ex-riders featured include Tommy and Guy Allott, Stan and Len Williams, Ron Bagley, Tommy Roper, Jack Kitchen, Clive Featherby, Bengt Larsson, Charlie Monk, Arnie Haley, etc.

BIG NIGHTS: British League Riders’ Championship
Reviewing British speedway's major individual meetings, Phil Chard reflects on the first six years of the BLRC dominated by Swindon superstar Barry Briggs in front of packed crowds at Belle Vue.

SECOND CHANCE

Name-checking all non-regular team members and others who never made the grade but rode in second-halves, junior matches and trials at two top flight tracks in the first five years of the British League, from 1965 until the end of '69 inclusive. This time we revisit King’s Lynn and Newport. See how many of them you remember having a skid at the end of the swinging 60s.

Plus . . . brief obits on Rune Sormander, Ken Middleditch, Dennis Gray and Pat Flanagan, your letters, photo quiz, crossword and a 1966 Poole team photo. 

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 Welcome to issue 51 of our quarterly magazine . . .

Remember, it's subscription-only (£20 per year in UK) from http://www.retro-speedway.com

LEST WE FORGET

TONY McDONALD calls for an annual British memorial meeting (Covid-19-permitting) to honour all ex-riders with UK track connections who made the ultimate sacrifice ‘in the line of duty’ and away from the track, including our cover men Alan Hunt, Tommy Farndon, Teo Teodorowicz, Jack Unstead, Ivor Hughes, Joe Abbott, Ernie Roccio, Bluey Wilkinson, Phil Bishop and the other Lokeren victims.

SAVING GRACE – How the Provincial League rescued British speedway from the brink

Now 60 years since the Provincial League’s first season ended, DOUG NICOLSON takes a season by season look at the second tier’s pivotal contribution to British speedway’s survival.

Plus . . . PL by numbers and top threes from 1960-64

FIRST CZECHS

VITEK FORMANEK recalls the first visit by a Czechoslovakian team to Britain in 1967 which earned the late Antonin Kasper a taste of team racing and another slice of history with Coventry and West Ham.

LEICESTER: 50 Memorable Moments
ROB PEASLEY looks back at the highs and lows of the Hunters and Lions in the pre-70s era at Blackbird Road. Ex-riders featured include Syd Jackson, Cyril Page, Vic Pitcher, Len Williams, Ken McKinlay, Jack Geran, Gerry Hussey, Polish trio Marian Kaiser, Stefan Kwoczala and Pawel Waloszek, plus Rick France, Norman Hunter, Ray Wilson, Anders Michanek, John Boulger and Graham Plant, etc.

BIG NIGHTS: The Laurels
Reviewing British speedway's major individual meetings, PHIL CHARD revisits the first 30 years of Wimbledon’s long-running Laurels classic. Between 1939 and ’69 past winners include: Wilbur Lamoreaux, Tommy Price, Vic Duggan, Jack Parker, Aub Lawson, Ronnie Moore, Jack Young, Ron How, Per Olaf Soderman, Ken McKinlay, Barry Briggs, Ove Fundin, Nigel Boocock, Ray Wilson and Dons’ home favourite Trevor Hedge.

CRY HOUSE

How a determined group of Rye House supporters, led by former promoter Steven Ribbons, are fighting a dubious plan to rip up this historic old race track and replace it with five-a-side football pitches for community use.

SECOND CHANCE

Name-checking all non-regular team members and others who never made the grade but rode in second-halves, junior matches and trials at two top flight tracks in the first five years of the British League, from 1965 until the end of '69 inclusive. This time we revisit Coventry and Sheffield. See how many of them you remember having a skid at the end of the swinging 60s.

Plus . . . brief obits on Bernt Persson, Pete Seaton, Rim Malskaitis, Johnny Davies and Andrzej Pogorzelski, your letters, photo quiz, crossword and a 1967 Swindon champions team photo.

 Welcome to issue 49 of our quarterly magazine . . . 

 PAWEL WALOSZEK: Unlucky Nearly Man

ROMAN CHYLA examines the illustrious career of former Polish star Pawel Waloszek and the 1970 World Final runner-up's elusive quest for gold. And especially for Leicester fans, GRAHAM BRODIE reviews Waloszek's one and only British league season with the Hunters in 1961, with the Pole's full meeting scores.

MIND THE GAP

With Coronavirus decimating the 2020 season, DOUG NICOLSON looks at other times when racing was curtailed. From petrol rationing and bus strikes to smallpox scares, Covid-19 is by no means the first to stop the bikes in their tracks.

CHANGING WORLD – launch of the World Team Cup

Almost 60 years on from the launch of the World Team Cup, PHIL CHARD reflects on Sweden's home track victory at Gothenburg and the men who shaped history. Top names featured include Ove Fundin, Olle Nygren, Rune Sormander and Gote Nordin plus, from runners-up Great Britain, Peter Craven, Ron How, Ken McKinlaty, George White and Nigel Boocock.

NEWCASTLE: 50 Memorable Moments
ROB PEASLEY looks back at Diamonds' highs and lows at the Tyneside club where legends Ivan Mauger and Ole Olsen first shone. Others to feature include George Pepper, Jeff Lloyd, Norman Evans, Wilf Jay, Derek Close, Mike Parker (promoter), Brian Craven, Brian Brett, Peter Kelly and Anders Michanek.

BIG NIGHTS: Pride of the East
British speedway's premier individual events, this time PHIL CHARD recalls pre-70s stagings of the Pride of the East. Launched in Norwich (1957-63) and continued at King's Lynn (1966-69), past winners of this annual Norfolk classic include World Champions Ove Fundin, Peter Craven and Bjorn Knutson, plus Colin Pratt, Bengt Larsson, Terry Betts and Howard Cole.

SECOND CHANCE

Name-checking all non-regular team members and others who never made the grade but rode in second-halves, junior matches and trials at four top flight tracks in the first five years of the British League, from 1965 until the end of '69 inclusive. This time Tony Mac revisits Belle Vue, Cradley Heath, Glasgow and Hackney. See how many of them you remember having a skid at the end of the swinging 60s.

YOUNG COLONIAL BOYS

DOUG NICOLSON remembers a couple of Kiwis, Bruce Ovenden and Joe Hicks, who travelled to Scotland in the winter of 1963-64 in search of fame and fortune with Glasgow Tigers.

YESTERDAY'S NEWS & VIEWS

Delving into Retro Speedway's library to find what various publications were writing about. This time we reveal the time editor Basil Storey was at loggerheads with London promoters, how burglars cracked open the Old Meadowbank safe, Bradford's battle to stay afloat, the return of racing to New Cross in 1959, why National League chiefs were branded "selfish" for excluding Ipswich from the Test match schedule, and the emergence of Bengt Jansson as the biggest threat to the Fundin-Briggs dominance of the World Championship.

Plus . . . Len Read and Eric Linden obits, your letters, crossword and a 1963 Wimbledon team photo.

Remember, we no longer sell individual copies, so please subscribe at www.retro-speedway.com

Anyone got any good stories they would like to share wth us about the former Norwegian No.1 and crowd-pleasing favourite at Wimbledon, West Ham and Wembley?