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salty

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Posts posted by salty

  2. Posted

    21 hours ago, E I Addio said:

    The stands on the back straight were demolished after a fire. Some oily rags had been dumped under the stand and somehow caught fire. It really was a great shame because on a summer evening there was no better place to be. From the stands on the home straight you could see the ships funnels all lit up in the King George V Dock, less than half a mile away . It all looked fantastic and added to the atmosphere.

    I think part of, the problem was that the stadium was probably thrown up in a bit of a hurry when the sort came here in 1928 when money was short and no thought given to long term plans so was life expired 40 years later. It was a great stadium though. Coventry always reminded me of it in a way and that sadly is no more. Hackney never really had the same atmosphere to my mind though.

     

    As far as I recall Custom House was designed by Archibald Leitch who was the foremost Stadium designer of the day. Responsible for stands at grounds such as Ibrox, Roker Park and Goodison amongst many others. The trademark lattice design of the metalwork on the double decker stands at West Ham was similar to the ones at the other stadiums mentioned. 

    • Like 3

  6. Posted

    3 hours ago, chunky said:

    Well, the OP stated "other than England, Australia, Sweden etc" (which I would take to include Denmark), so I think we should just focus on the minor speedway nations...

    Minor Speedway nations! In that case Collins and Grahame at Cradley!

    Point taken though - no Danes from late 70's onwards.

    • Haha 1

  7. Posted

    30 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

    What about Shields Salty ? so wanted him to continue in Britain. For me  he was like Mick Mckeon  Coatbridge/ Halifax ( king of Claremont)  both was never going to be here long term both class riders.

     

    53 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

     

    Was great for Cradley in '81, Sid. Got better and better as the season went on, providing crucial backing to the big 4 of Penhall, Gundersen, Collins and Grahame. Pretty sure he averaged over 6 in the BL taking plenty of extra rides as McNeil and Rasmussen struggled as the season went on. Was gutted when he never returned and the 1982 team struggled all year long from reserve.

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

  8. Posted · Edited by salty

    Lars Hultberg rode in 1973 on Bernie's recommendation. As I recall he had a really tough start to the season, not helped by the team being very weak and injury hit. 

    I think he'd just started to show a bit of form, scoring 9 at the Shay, when he got injured and was out for a couple of months. When he returned the struggle continued and I think he got released and replaced, eventually, by Mal Corradine. Maybe with a bit more time and not getting injured at the height of the summer, he would have made it? We'll never know.....

    Klinge was introduced for a few meetings at the end of 1980 I think. Danish junior champion as I recall. Don't know why he never came over more permanantly, I think he had a decent career in Denmark.

    • Thanks 1

  10. Posted

    Went to the last few Speedway meetings at White City in the early 80's. Racing could be processional, but there was usually a good race or three. Also went to the last Greyhound Derby there in 1984? Very good atmosphere. To be honest it was amazing the place stayed open so long, given it's size and location.

    • Like 1

  11. Posted

    9 hours ago, norbold said:

    Norwich, Crystal Palace, Walthamstow, Greenford and Clapton (Lea Bridge).

    A story about my never going to Norwich. I left school in 1965 and went to Teacher Training College in Norwich. Although I left school in 1965, I'd had to apply for college in 1964, so I applied for Norwich specially so i would be able to go to speedway there. Sadly as we know, Norwich closed at the end of 1964, so I was to remain speedwayless - though I did get along to King's Lynn once!

    Sounds similar to my decision making process when it came to Uni. The 5 choices owed more to their proximity to Speedway tracks than the quality of the education they would provide. Was close to going to Leicester or Queen Mary's (for Hackney) but ended up plumping for Kingston and weekly visits to Plough Lane.

    As for the tracks I wish I'd been to.....West Ham, Trelawny, Glasgow White City, New Cross, Norwich.

    • Like 1

  12. Posted · Edited by salty

    4 minutes ago, r8gdp said:

    I agree . I am losing a bit of interest it was for better when all the points in every race mattered.it makes the races 1/20 less important not as exciting . It was nt broken before so why try to fix.   

    And we miss out on Pearson telling us every point matters countless times each GP. 

    So not all bad.

    • Like 2

  19. Posted

    8 minutes ago, iainb said:

    I seem to remember the Star doing a big piece on the future of Speedway a couple of seasons back when it really seemed as if the sport was at a cross roads. Didn't they do a big survey and almost the whole edition was devoted to it?

    If I remember correctly they interviewed every promoter. Also I seem to recall a general air of complacency and feeling that the product was fine. Keyboard warriors and their negative views were largely condemned. Whilst there was some acceptance of problems, the general vibe was one where people needed to show more positivity and everything would be fine!

    • Like 2

  20. Posted

    3 hours ago, falcace said:

    Before my time, but Jim Airey stepped away at his peak. Definitely worth an inclusion in any list.

    Stands out for me. Which is why I mentioned him on page 1!! 

    As for Middleton, I'd say he was well on the wane by the time he packed it in. The rider I saw for Birmingham and Leicester ( and Kings Lynn before that) was nowhere near the one who led the Hawks and the Rebels.

    • Like 1

  22. Posted

    Roy Trigg, Colin Pratt and Bob Andrew’s are close at Cradley. But Bob moved to Hackney when Colin moved to Dudley Wood so they never rode together. Troy rode for Cradley at Stoke and Bobs grandson  rode at Monmore for the Hearhens. Think Triggys son rode some second halves? As I said close….,

    • Like 1
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