keef 105 Posted October 29, 2008 (edited) The Golden Helmet Test Matches Climbing in at Blunsdon Large crowds...16,000 lock-out at Blunsdon Briggo v Mauger Away meetings with large crowds of rival fans Singing Getting the speedway special bus and jumping off and running to the stadium when caught in traffic Second halves Hot Dogs/Tomato Soups Local riders ...dedicated to the cause Parade of helmetless riders London tracks More than one speedway magazine National newspaper and Tv coverage Saturday night speedway Unobstructed views Better music Edited October 29, 2008 by keef Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scarletrider 66 Posted October 29, 2008 Aarrhh, Jack Millen (PhilK) Charcters Tracks with dirt on them Riders who could ride the dirt Upright engines Riders who had time to chat with fans after the meeting Bold body jackets, not full of adverts An England team, not team GB Track rakers, (Lack of today) Progs without loads of adverts More than one weekly mag Good sized crowds Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grachan 7,362 Posted October 29, 2008 Progs without loads of adverts Or, for that matter, pages. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
False dawn 2,298 Posted October 29, 2008 Thanks, when I next have a bad day I will be in touch and arrange a 'sniff' of that wonderful smell!!!!!You'll have to be quick. My source of the astonishing aroma is the world of grasstrack and our season finishes this weekend. We all go into hibernation then, till the beginning of March, to avoid the withdrawal symptoms. Footnote: It's the smell of burned methanol that's so appealing. Be careful of the unburned stuff; it causes stinging, runny eyes and nasty feelings in the throat. Not nice I assure you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Laser558 0 Posted October 29, 2008 Rayleigh on Saturday Crayford on a Tuesday night Hackney on Friday Local derbies between Rayleigh, Canterbury, Eastbourne, Ipswich & Romford The Essex Gold Cup against Romford Brian Foote, Ted Hubbard, Terry Stone etc. Bank holiday monday morning meetings at Rayleigh, Dave Lanning and Johnnie Hoskins Rider of the Night Banger racing after the speedway meeting at Rayleigh Seeing Terry Stone's shining clean bikes, Geoff Maloney riding the boards Ivan Miller beating Arthur Price in a crucial league match at Rayleigh Regular friday/saturday night speedway Variety of speedway meetings, not just league matches Test matches when you got to see the good foreign riders Raw talent from second halves making it into the the team I wont go on but yes it was more fun and the supporters were a lot less fickle than those of today. We wanted to see speedway not just boring league matches Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
czechhero 32 Posted October 29, 2008 Ladbroke Stadium, Perry Barr Brum v Eastbourne Foreign touring teams The mystery of Iron Curtain riders Proper 2nd halves Arthur Browning Jap v Jawa Speedway on telly Ice Speedway on telly A plethora of teams Riders in football shirts Citroen Safaris Joe Thurley Joe Thurley's Trans Am The smell of the River Tame on a cold night on the way out of PB. The car in the PB car park with the model speedway scene on the parcel shelf. Home made clipboards Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 20,987 Posted October 29, 2008 And blokes with beards who have their jacket(and possibly hat)absolutelly covered in badges(usually with lots of year bars on some!!!!Who bought year bars for goodness sake????? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chunky 6,093 Posted October 29, 2008 And blokes with beards who have their jacket(and possibly hat)absolutelly covered in badges(usually with lots of year bars on some!!!!Who bought year bars for goodness sake????? OY!!! I represent that remark!!! Of course, I didn't have a beard then... Steve Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BOBBATH 467 Posted October 29, 2008 I recall year bars and badges-do people still buy them or are they no longer collected anymore. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Old Saint 3 Posted October 29, 2008 Little bit further back than the 70s: Bjorn Knutson, Briggo, Ronnie Moore, Peter Craven and Ove Fundin. Golden Helmet match races, Characters - Split Waterman, Brian Crutcher, Charlie Knott, Johnnie Hoskins, Rattles, "War chants", Seats, Tidy stadia, Man walking around selling badges, rosettes etc. Rakers and pushers, Well run meetings, World Championship rounds, Chromed bikes, Deep tracks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CARROTT 0 Posted October 29, 2008 THE SHAY STADIUM HALIFAX, WHAT A TRACK..BIG STEEPLY BANKED BENDS, METAL SAFETY FENCE DUG INTO THE EMBANKMENT, AND HANGING OVER THE FENCE WATCHING THE LIKES OF CHRIS PUSEY AND GRAHAM PLANT HURTLING TOWARDS YOU! THE TRACK ANNOUNCER, DUGGIE ADAMS, ONE OF THE BEST WHAT I'D GIVE FOR A TRACK LIKE THAT THESE DAYS! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shadders 4,134 Posted October 30, 2008 THE SHAY STADIUM HALIFAX, WHAT A TRACK..BIG STEEPLY BANKED BENDS, METAL SAFETY FENCE DUG INTO THE EMBANKMENT, AND HANGING OVER THE FENCE WATCHING THE LIKES OF CHRIS PUSEY AND GRAHAM PLANT HURTLING TOWARDS YOU! WHAT I'D GIVE FOR A TRACK LIKE THAT THESE DAYS! You must be joking!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mann 0 Posted October 31, 2008 You'll have to be quick. My source of the astonishing aroma is the world of grasstrack and our season finishes this weekend. We all go into hibernation then, till the beginning of March, to avoid the withdrawal symptoms. Footnote: It's the smell of burned methanol that's so appealing. Be careful of the unburned stuff; it causes stinging, runny eyes and nasty feelings in the throat. Not nice I assure you. I will try to remember that. Thank you Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest sjl Posted October 31, 2008 I will try to remember that. Thank you Remember rosettes?? How I wish I had saved along with my old programmes!! (Wish I had kept the photographs in black and white of my fave rider too) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 20,987 Posted October 31, 2008 Remember rosettes?? How I wish I had saved along with my old programmes!! (Wish I had kept the photographs in black and white of my fave rider too) I have about 40 or 50 in the cellar.All sorts.Even an Ivan Mauger/Newcastle one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
