TonyMac

90 STARS OF BRITISH LEAGUE DOUBLE DISC (4-hour) SET . . . only £16 To commemorate 90 years of British speedway (1928-2018), we present 90 stars of the British League era from 1970 to 1990. Thrill again to classic action footage of many of the all-time greats who graced the top flight when the BL was universally recognised as the greatest league in world speedway. Featuring 17 past individual world champions: Ronnie Moore, Barry Briggs, Ivan Mauger, Ole Olsen, Anders Michanek, Peter Collins, Michael Lee, Bruce Penhall, Erik Gundersen, Hans Nielsen, Per Jonsson, Jan O. Pedersen, Gary Havelock, Sam Ermolenko, Greg Hancock, Billy Hamill and Mark Loram. Plus other track legends of England, Denmark, Sweden, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Scotland and Finland. 1 Andersson 2 Ashby 3 Autrey 4 Bastable 5 Beaton 6 Betts 7 Boocock E 8 Boocock N 9 Boulger 10 Briggs 11 Carter 12 Cartwright 13 Collins L 14 Collins N 15 Collins Pe 16 Collins Ph 17 Cook J 18 Correy 19 Courtney 20 Cox 21 Cross 22 Crump 23 Davey 24 Davis 25 Doncaster 26 Dugard 27 Ermolenko 28 Evitts 29 Grahame Al 30 Grahame An 31 Gundersen 32 Hamill 33 Hancock 34 Harkins 35 Havelock 36 Jancarz 37 Jansson B 38 Jansson T 39 Jessup 40 Jonsson 41 Jorgensen 42 Karger 43 Kennett G 44 Kilby 45 King 46 Knight 47 Knudsen 48 Lee 49 Lofqvist 50 Loram 51 Louis 52 Lovaas 53 Mauger 54 McMillan 55 Michanek 56 Moore 57 Moran K 58 Moran S 59 Morton C 60 Morton D 61 Nielsen 62 Niemi 63 Nilsen 64 Olsen 65 Owen J 66 Pedersen 67 Penhall 68 Persson 69 Petersen 70 Plech 71 Pusey 72 Ross 73 Sanders 74 Schwartz 75 Shirra 76 Sigalos 77 Simmons 78 Smith A 79 Tatum 80 Thomas 81 Thomsen 82 Thorp 83 Titman 84 Valentine 85 Wigg 86 Wilkinson 87 Wilson Ray 88 Wilson Reg 89 Wiltshire 90 Wyer Let the arguments begin . . .!

You could say the same about Peter Collins and Dave Morton, to name just to who spring to mind (Mort admitted as much in his book). But it's always Simmo that gets singled out. As I say, he's made himself an easy target. Even Crumpie admitted Newport was a death-trap.

He loved going there after he joined Poole, when it became a 'local derby'.

Doubt you could defame Simmo more than he did himself. At least he had the balls to come out and admit his flaws and wrongdoings (well, most of them!) instead of trying to project a false image way beyond his racing days. The negative responses on this thread are virtually all of his own making, because those opinions are largely based on his own admissions. I'm sure people would think much less kindly on quite a few other big names if they had bared their souls with equal transparency but I don't blame them for not doing so. Believe me, there were other equally damning things Simmo wanted to put in his book but I advised him not to disclose. The mind boggles! I'm naturally biased, because he was always very good for Retro Speedway, but his genuine love for speedway and motorcycling in general never left him. When he became terminally ill, I suggested we drop his Backtrack column because he clearly had more important things to worry about. But he was indignant and insisted we carried on for as long as possible - one of his last pieces, I believe, was in support of the Iwade (Sittingbourne) training track. He cared deeply about how speedway has been mismanaged in the UK and expressed his very well founded fears in typical forthright fashion. Simmo earned a lot of money out of speedway (and wasted most of it) but he also gave a lot back and there are plenty of younger riders who benefited from his knowledge and experience. I will have nothing but fond memories of one of British speedway's all-time greats.

Our new London Speedway Tracks & Teams DVD has footage of Simmo (and other Hammers and Dons) competing in this very meeting covered above in such depth...

2018 AUTUMN EDITION Welcome to issue 42 of our quarterly magazine MIRAC: Man of the People Following the death of New Zealand and Wimbledon legend Ronnie Moore, TONY McDONALD looks back on the life and times of a man many rate as the greatest speedway rider of all-time. We also present a list of the 42 UK tracks 'Mirac' rode at between 1950 and his final farewell in 1974. Plus, Ronnie's Timeline – from birth in Hobart, Tasmania in 1933, via two individual world titles, a host of other domestic success, Dons glory and the life-threatening crash that ended his career, up to his sad passing in August, 2018, aged 85. BOB ANDREWS – exclusive interview Former Cradley Heath, Hackney and Wimbledon star Bob Andrews on his quest to finally be reunited with the World Pairs trophy – nearly 50 years after he and Ivan Mauger won it for New Zealand in Sweden on the most glorious night of Bob's career. DICK BRADLEY – exclusive interview Former Bristol star and world finalist Dick Bradley was a reluctant hero when England came calling. But, as PHIL CHARD recalls, the 1952 Test against Australia at Harringay turned out to be the greatest night of his career. MIKE ERSKINE: Man of many parts JOHN CHAPLIN reflects on the multi-talented achievements of old Etonian Mike Erskine, a mechanical boffin whose engineering skills helped transform other riders into stars. MICK HANDLEY – exclusive interview Mick Handley had his local Black Country clubs Wolverhampton and Cradley Heath vying for his services but, as ROB PEASLEY explains, it was the chance to shine for Crayford's new second division Highwaymen that proved a shot in the arm . . . WHITE SPIRIT Coming up for 50 years since Glasgow White City staged its last speedway meeting, DOUG NICOLSON looks at the life and times of his spiritual home, where Tommy Miller, Junior Bainbridge, Ken McKinlay, Charlie Monk and Jim McMillan were among legends in stripes. BRADFORD: 50 Memorable Moments Bradford’s huge Odsal Stadium later became the venue of the 1985 and 1990 World Finals, after a million-pound investment from Bradford Council. ROB PEASLEY looks back at the origins of the sport in the city, when the likes of Arthur Forrest, Ron Clarke, Eddie Rigg and Jack Biggs were heroes. Plus . . . obits on Bob Dugard, Joe Weichlbauer and Kevin Hayden, crossword, your letters and full-page 1968 King's Lynn team photo. To order this single edition or subscribe for a year for a silly amount, please visit us at www.retro-speedway.com or phone Susie on 01708 734 502.

HERE COME THE . . . CZECHS In the next issue (88) of Backtrack, Martin Rogers will be looking back at the Czech Republic riders who competed in the British League between 1970 and 1990.in the 70s & 80s... Alongside the main piece will be a section of supporters' comments about the Czechs who raced in the UK during that era, so please either post your personal recollections, anecdotes, memories or opinions here or email us at: editorial@retro-speedway.com As well as the recognised big names, Antonin Kasper Snr and Jnr, Jiri Stancl, Vaclav and Jan Verner, Zdenek Kudrna, Ales Dryml and Petr Ondrasik, what do you recall of lesser lights such as Emil Sova, Ladislav Hradecky, Zdenek 'Sam' Tesar, Bo Brhel, etc? Or perhaps your most vivid memories relate to one of the many international tour matches raced in Britain at BL2/NL level, when the 'bouncing Czechs' were usually guaranteed to enliven proceedings? We look forward to hearing from you ASAP – respond and you might well get your name in Backtrack! Thanks, Tony Mac

Many thanks to BL65 for putting together this list of British tracks Ronnie appeared at, along with dates on which he paid his first visit. If there are any others that need to be added (perhaps Division Two venues where he may have appeared in unofficial match-races or open events, etc), then plse let us know. Cheers. Ronnie Moore – First Appearances at British Tracks Aldershot 21 July 1951 Match Races v Trevor Redmond and Geoff Mardon Belle Vue 15 April 1950 Belle Vue v WIMBLEDON (Spring Cup) Birmingham 2 June 1951 Birmingham v WIMBLEDON (National League Division 1) Bradford Odsal 17 June 1950 Bradford v WIMBLEDON (National League Division )) Bristol 21 April 1950 Bristol v WIMBLEDON (Spring Cup) Coatbridge 17 May 1969 World Championship Qualifying Round (Individual) Coventry 26 September 1950 Brandonapolis (Individual) Cradley Heath 21 April 1951 Midlands v KANGAROOS IChallenge) Edinburgh 18 August 1951 Match Races v Jack Young Exeter 21 April 1969 Exeter v WIMBLEDON (British League) Glasgow White City 4 July 1951 Scots v KIWIS (Challenge) Glasgow Hampden Park 3 July 1970 GREAT BRITAIN v Sweden (International) Hackney 4 July 1969 Hackney v WIMBLEDON (British League Division 1) Halifax 26 April 1969 The Dews Trophy (Individual) Harringay 26 May 1950 Harringay v WIMBLEDON (National League Division 1) Hull 7 August 1974 Hull v COVENTRY (British League Division 1) Ipswich 3 May 1956 Golden Helmet Match Races v Peter Craven King’s Lynn 10 May 1969 King’s Lynn v WIMBLEDON (British League Division 1) Leicester 12 October 1951 Leicester v WIMBLEDON (Challenge) Motherwell 21 May 1954 Motherwell v WIMBLEDON (Challenge) New Cross 12 April 1950 New Cross v WIMBLEDON (Spring Cup) Newcastle 14 July 1969 Newcastle v WIMBLEDON (British League Division 1) Newport 23 May 1969 World Championship Qualifying Round (Individual) Norwich 31 May 1952 Norwich v WIMBLEDON (National League Division 1) Oxford 21 June 1951 Match Races v Ernie Rawlins Plymouth 3 October 1952 Southern Stars v NEW ZEALAND (Challenge) Poole 16 June 1953 Scratch Races Rayleigh 2 July 1955 Rayleigh v WIMBLEDON (Challenge) Reading 29 March 1971 Reading v WIMBLEDON (Metropolitan Gold Cup) St Austell 9 October 1951 Scratch Races Sheffield 8 October 1969 Sheffield v WIMBLEDON (Division 1 KO Cup Final 1st Leg) Southampton 18 August 1953 Southampton v Oxford v WIMBLEDON (2nd Half Challenge) Stoke 1 August 1953 Stoke v WIMBLEDON (National Trophy) Swindon 2 October 1954 Swindon v WIMBLEDON (Challenge) Wembley 18 May 1950 Wembley v WIMBLEDON (National League Division 1) West Ham 27 June 1950 West Ham v WIMBLEDON (National League Division 1) White City London 25 May 1954 Match Races v Cyril Roger and Freddie Williams Wigan 20 June 1952 Wigan v NEW ZEALAND (Challenge) Wimbledon 27 March 1950 Junior Scratch Races Wolverhampton 26 September 1969 Pride of the Midlands Trophy (Individual) Yarmouth 18 August 1951 Match Races v Jack Young

Update to the original list . . . Ronnie Moore's first appearance at Rye House was on Sunday August 28, 1960, the opening of the 'new' track. He appeared in a series of match-races v Mike Broadbank before watching the Ronnie Moore All Star Trophy, which was won by Tommy Sweetman (whose son, Chris, confirmed these details): Champions’ Match Race Ht1 Mike Broadbanks bt Ronnie Moore 70.4* Ht2 Ronnie Moore bt Mike Broadbanks 73.0 Ht3 Ronnie Moore bt Mike Broadbanks 73.2

LONDON SPEEDWAY TRACKS & TEAMS IT'S RAW, IT'S RARE, IT'S RETRO! THANKS to very rare and previously unseen 8mm cine footage from the 60 and 70s, plus video film from the 80s, you can now relive magical memories of speedway at sadly defunct London venues Hackney, West Ham, Wimbledon, White City and Wembley on this unique double-disc set. Featuring more than 200 races from 40+ meetings, plus 90 London riders and many other opponents, including: HACKNEY HAWKS v HAMMERS (1968) WCQR (1968) England v Poland (1974) HAWKS v Oxford (1974 & 1975) Oxford v HAWKS (1974) GOLDEN JUBILEE (1978) Berwick v HACKNEY (1985 & 1986) Colin Pratt, Gerry Jackson, Roy Trigg, Les McGillivray, Malcolm Brown, Barry Thomas, Dag Lovaas, Dave Morton, Christer Lofqvist, Mike Broadbank, Dave Kennett, Steve Lomas, Laurie Etheridge, Ted Hubbard, Zenon Plech, Finn Thomsen, Bo Petersen, Vic Harding, Bent Rasmussen, Bobby McNeil, Jens Rasmussen, Toni Kasper, John Titman, Sean Willmott, Martin Hagon, Andy Galvin, Paul Bosley, Trevor Banks, Paul Whittaker. WEST HAM HAMMERS v Swindon (1966) Rye House v HAMMERS (1966) England v USSR (1966 & 1968) HAMMERS v Newcastle (1968) HAMMERS v Coatbridge (1969) HAMMERS v Belle Vue (1970) Ken McKinlay, Sverre Harrfeldt, Norman Hunter, Malcolm Simmons, Brian Leonard, Tony Clarke, Reg Trott, Ted Ede, Ray Wickett, Stan Stevens, George Barclay, Christer Lofqvist, Olle Nygren, Martyn Piddock, Garry Hay. WIMBLEDON DONS v Belle Vue (1960, starring Peter Craven) DONS v HAMMERS (1965 x 2 & 1966) DONS v HAWKS (1965 & 1982) WILLS INTERNATIONALE (1966, 1974 & 1975) Belle Vue v DONS (1977) Oxford v DONS (1974 & 1975) DONS v Poole (1983) Arena-Essex v DONS (1989) DONS v Ipswich (1989) DONS v Eastbourne (1989) Ronnie Moore, Olle Nygren, Reg Luckhurst, Trevor Hedge, Jim Tebby, Bob Dugard, Johnny Edwards, Barry Briggs, Tommy Jansson, Larry Ross, Bert Harkins, Graeme Stapleton, Barry Crowson, Mick Hines, Roger Johns, Colin Richardson, Stefan Salomonsson, Rudy Muts, Malcolm Simmons, Dave Jessup, Kai Niemi, Anders Eriksson, Brad Oxley, Kelvin Tatum, Mike Ferreira, Alan Mogridge, Ari Koponen, Todd Wiltshire, Ray Morton, Neville Tatum, Nathan Simpson, Rodney Payne, Scott Humphries, Paul Woods (guest). WHITE CITY World Team Cup Final (1976) REBELS v DONS (1977) Wolves v REBELS (1977 BL title decider) REBELS v HAWKS (1978) Mildenhall v REBELS (1978) Gordon Kennett, Steve Weatherley, Kai Niemi, Trevor Geer, Marek Cieslak, Mike Sampson, Paul Gachet, Dave Kennett, Andrzej Jurczynski. WEMBLEY LIONS away to Leicester (1971) England v Sweden (1973 inc Christer Lofqvist) World Final practice sessions (1967, 1969 & 1981) Bert Harkins, Sverre Harrfeldt, Brian Leonard, Brian Collins, Tony Clarke. If you can spare 5.30 mins, please check out this preview . . . and to order for just £16 (UK post-free) please visit www.retro-speedway.com

Allegro.... or Skoda?

Our brand new DVD out this week.... all about a once top notch world event that the FIM diluted to nothing. Love the emotive line from Chris Morton: "A couple of scraggy-arsed kids from Partington beat the world." £20 for an epic 6 hours of action and candid interviews from www.retro-speedway.com

It was a great pleasure interviewing Zenon Plech, one of my boyhood heroes at Hackney, in his home town of Gdansk a few years ago. Here's a sampler that might just whet your appetite for our ZENON PLECH DVD - £16 from www.retro-speedway.com

MEMORIES OF COVENTRY SPEEDWAY DVD On sale from Retro Speedway for just £16 at www.retro-speedway.com Sadly, memories are all we are now likely to have left of this great, old venue.

MEMORIES OF BERWICK SPEEDWAY DVD £16 from www.retro-speedway.com

MEMORIES OF HALIFAX SPEEDWAY DVD £16 from www.retro-speedway.com

MEMORIES OF SWINDON SPEEDWAY DVD £16 from www.retro-speedway.com

AMERICANS IN BRITAIN RACING DVD £16 from www.retro-speedway.com

101 BIG WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENTS (1970-94) £16 from www.retro-speedway.com

It will be out next week, Steve.

Plse give your Dad my best. I used to interview him in the Rye House pits for Speedway Mail in the late 70s - many moons ago - when we were all young! You and Simon might like to check out our Memories of Rye House page on Facebook, here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1944707489184484/

ISSUE 87 (JULY - AUGUST, 2018) of Backtrack is out now and here's a flavour of what to expect . . . TONY LOMAS – Exclusive interview Third in the British Final, a maximum for England and just a point away from reaching the World Final, Tony Lomas held down a full-time job and started a new business while scaling the heights in a brilliant 1971 campaign that put him on the speedway map. Tony McDonald tracked him down in the Yorkshire Dales to find out why his career with home-town club Coventry ended acrimoniously and how a protracted move led to title-winning glory with Exeter. Tony Lomas quotes: "I was naive and overawed. I led in every race for a couple of races but then let people pass me because I didn't think I was good enough to be in front. It sounds silly but that was how I felt in the big meetings at that time. I wanted to do well but didn't think I was capable." "Being a local lad, I hadn't cost Coventry a penny in transfer fees, I never received any signing-on money or guarantees and my travelling expenses to Brandon were 25p per meeting." "It was an honour to ride in the same team as him but, at the same time, I was in awe of him because he was so good. Ivan was in his own bubble but, all credit to him, he was fantastic." "The Exeter promoters treated me well. They paid me £750 for signing-on at the start of the championship year but Wally came on the following winter and said they didn't want to pay as much as that in '75. I was disappointed – they'd just won the league and were getting tremendous crowds – but I told him that if he had to lose a rider (through Rider Control), I was prepared to consider going." Here come the . . . AMERICANS Martin Rogers, editor of Bruce Penhall's Stars and Bikes book in 1980, recalls the all-American heroes whose unique brand of showmanship brought colour and razzmatazz to the British League scene . . . plus how British fans remember the Californians. SCOTT AUTREY – Trailblazer Steve Luxton reports from California, where former team-mates and friends gathered to see Scott Autrey honoured by his peers. COLIN GOODDY – Exclusive interview An unlikely move to Poole revitalised the near veteran Colin Gooddy's career. Phil Chard catches up with one of the sport's great characters whose much-travelled career also included spells in the Backtrack era with Oxford, Cradley Heath and Crayford. BRETT'S BATTLE Martin Neal talks to the former Berwick, Edinburgh and Aussie favourite Brett Saunders who admits he's lucky to be alive after suffering a serious stoke last December. IAN MACDONALD – man who delivered the Mail In the first of a new series of interviews, we turn the tables on those who have written countless words on speedway. Tony McDonald has a long chat with the founding editor of Speedway Mail. THAT WAS THE YEAR: 1971 Andrew Skeels reflects on a season which heralded a world title for the speedway's first Great Dane, a British history-maker in Poland, domestic bliss for Belle Vue, Hackney, Eastbourne and Ipswich, the return of league racing to Birmingham and the end for Romford and Wembley. COLIN GEAR interview (part 3) In this third and final part, we bring you more behind-the-scenes revelations from former riders' union boss, including a riders' revolt against referee Frank Ebdon, the SRA's battle to keep foreign riders out of the second division, Colin's disgust when the Lee Richardson Memorial meeting was scrapped and more. ON TWO MINUTES WITH . . . LAWRIE BLOOMFIELD Martin Neal catches up with the former Ipswich, Newcastle, Peterborough, Canterbury and Arena-Essex rider now enjoying family life in Brisbane, Australia. MILTON KEYNES: 50 Memorable Moments It's 40 years since speedway came to the Buckinghamshire new town famous for its concrete cows and network of roundabouts. Rob Peasley looks back at the most happy and gloomy times for Knights whose star riders included Bob Humphreys, Andy Grahame, Bert Harkins, Nigel Sparshott, Keith White, Steve Payne, Trevor Banks, Troy Butler and Gordon Kennett. Brett Alderton and Craig Featherby, both killed in the early 80s, are also remembered. To order this single issue or to subscribe for the year for as little as £22 (UK), please visit www.retro-speedway.com

Thanks, Steve. The former SRA secretary is Colin Gear.

Deja Vu.

The results of SMI's 1991 survey reflected the mood but the BSPA has done little or nothing to address these old problems.