Captain Chuckle

Me and my mucker Frank raced over to Green Lanes after the Hackney meeting the night Harringay closed and saw the last few dog races. I have still got the losing Tote tickets from the last race, the Tote equipment was the old trusty dead man's handle that moved from one trap number to another with a tortured clanking sound. None of this soulless computerised rubbish that we have now. It was definitely Harringay in the Long Good Friday, I would recognise that unique Tote board anywhere. Last year when I was shopping in Sainsbury's (I should be shot for treason) I asked what had happened to the mementoes that were on display on the wall, commemorating the reunion day that the Friends of Speedway staged around 5, 6 or maybe more years ago, the manager's answer was, "They must have got lost during renovations." Obviously he didn't give a damn where they were, extremely sad that the tribute to Harringay Speedway has probably ended up in the dustbin. To this day I swear that I saw Lord Lucan on the fire escape stairs under the main stand.

That was certainly a never to be forgotten trip,I can remember vividly all the happenings that you mention .Add to those the queues for the toilet ,when one had to do one's dutyand have a wash from the tiny trickle of water that came out of the tap and be out in a couple of minutes or risk the next person battering the door down in sheer desperation.Do you remember the "hotel" they took us to for a meal? Even Oliver Twist would have turned his nose up at the dish served to us,at the time I likened it to eating a rubber ball in a bowl of glue. As you say the frequent security checks ,when the Red Goons virtually took the carriage apart were unbelievable.Arriving at the stadium to find that our seats had been sold three times over .That massive crowd created a fantastic atmosphere and when PC and Simmo did the business for us ,we all stood 10 feet high. Ah! the good old one off World Final.

From 63 onward I would go for:1- Ronnie Moore,2- Trevor Hedge, 3-Olle Nygren,4-Eddie Jancarz,5-Tommy Jansson,6-Roger Johns,7-Mick Hines. Standby No.8 ,Mark Burrows another great team man along with Roger and Mick.