Sotonian

Belle Vue opened in 1928 at Kirky Lane and, of course, race there now. Granted there was a gap between 1929 and 1987! Sheffield opened in 1929 and are still at Owlerton, closing during WW2 and, I think, most of the 50's.

Glasgow Carntyne Nelson Celtic Park White City Ashfield Hampden Park Blantyre Craighead Park Shawfield

Good topic. Halifax v ? (Odsal 1950's) Neath v Stoke (St Austell 17.7.62) Neath v Bradford (St Austell 31.7.62) Neath v Edinburgh (St Austell 1962) Norwich v Southampton (Ipswich 1951) but abandoned Rochdale double header v ? & ? (Belle Vue 1971) Tamworth v Rayleigh & Leicester (Birmingham 18.10.50) Wembley v Belle Vue (Newport 16.4.71)

Also White City Nottingham in the 1930's.

Chiswick Nomads (?) Dagenham Daggers (pre-war) High Beech Foresters/Rabbits (pre-war?) Rayleigh Rovers (1957?) Weymouth Scorchers (1954-5) Plymouth Drakes (1960) /Bulldogs (1961) Belle Vue Merseysiders (?) Liverpool Eagles (1957)

I agree about The Jam but the Clash were 100% punk in their early years.

I think you mean Hedon.

How about Ivan Blacka? I remember him riding for Edinburgh with some success. Didn't he also ride for Wolves, or at least double-up, rather less successfully?

An idea floated by, I think, Bob Dugard back in the late 1970's. I can't remember much debate about it so I'll try and start some here. Pros (in no particular order) No gardening Easy track preparation Little track maintenance during meetings (watering on very hot days) Fewer rain-offs Consistent surface - no ruts, holes and bumps More tracks - share with stock cars Cleaner for riders - keeps sponsors happy Cleaner for spectators - watch from the bends in comfort Fewer track staff required Cons (again, no particular order) Different riding technique required? How difficult is it to broadside on tarmac? Different starting technique required? The concrete starting areas of the 1950's were problematic. 'Blue-line' rubber deposits, especially in the wet. International adoption of the surface Fewer track staff required Fewer track staff appears in both lists since it's good for the promoter but bad if you happen to be one.

Reidar Eide won the first meeting, somewhat of a surprise victor given the quality of opposition.

We weren't - it was 'invented' in Australia by an Australian - Johnny Hoskins. No fluke - he scored the most points over the series. Had it been a one-off meeting your argument would be stronger (but I still wouldn't agree).

Yes, he's good, but, I feel, not as dominant day in, day out as Fundin and Mauger were. For example, Fundin finished on the rostrum in the World Final 10 years running. Mauger's record is something pretty similar. And they didn't have the luxury of sitting out British league racing to concentrate on the world championship.

Many older tracks were built within greyhound stadia or around football/rugby pitches. Those factors dictated track length. New, especially standalone tracks, are smaller due to price and availability of land (and maybe to minimise track maintenance too?).

Clive Fisher and Poole(?) BTW, Screensport was not a Sky channel, it was owned by WH Smith.

I have scans of the above progs. What is your e-addr?

According to speedwaywapshop.co.uk, Ian Somerville from Linlithgow has both programmes. He's usually selling on ebay as 'Skidmarks' and can be contacted through that medium.

Please email me a list to woolstonian@hotmail.com

The Martin Dugard / Stefan Andersen incident? Certainly against Boycey when he lumped Gollob in the 1995 British GP.

It was actually staged 1940-45. I don't know the third place finishers but first and second were: 1940 1. Eric Chitty 2. Bill Pitcher 1941 1. Eric Chitty 2. Bill Kitchen 1942 1. Eric Chitty 2. Frank Varey 1943 1. Ron Clarke 2. Bill Kitchen 1944 1. Frank Varey 2. Jack Parker 1945 1. Bill Kitchen 2. Tommy Price & Eric Chitty

Would it have been a match as such? Weren't all meetings individual affairs in 1928?

Bottom right is Dot Cowley.

Mark Hall?

Shawn Moran - David East

Sad to hear this. I last saw him at the Saints event at Fair Oak (the Welcome Inn). Suffice to say, he was as amenable as ever and still as enthusiastic as anyone. Get well soon Alby.

Local teletext also reported 'over 35000'.