Wildcat Steve 33 Posted November 5, 2008 Nevs reminded me of the times we used to put playing cards pegged on our back wheels. this would have been about 1972 - 73 being around farms we used to get the old ICI fertilzer bags which were blue wash them out turn them inside out cut them out into race jackets and paint the skull and crossbow on them. I remember we had some yellow bags once we turned into Kings Lynn race jackets and raced around the grass triangle at the cross roads in the village of Mappowder in Dorset. Its still the same today. Makes me smile when ever i drive through there from time to time. Myself and my friend nigel used to be Poole while my brother and anyone else we could incourage to play were the away team. Oh great memories Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DW 11 Posted November 6, 2008 13 ht format, which I bet everyone can still remember, which numbers rode in which heat 4TT qualifying rounds Trying to finish in the top8 in the NL to get into the following years ILKOC The toilets on the third bend at Blantyre on a dark night(there were no lights!!!) Brian Collins and his Smiths Crisps leathers and second half race jacket Silver Helmet Proper Test Matches over 18 heats Tigers scoring 17 at Edinburgh in 1978 and doing the same at Berwick the following night!! Sawdust covered tracks in the wet Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
False dawn 2,298 Posted November 6, 2008 13 ht format, Happiness is 40-38. Hmmmm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
asturmer 0 Posted November 6, 2008 Being chased halfway home on my old (fast) motorbike, by a copper on a slow LE Velocette and getting away, having imagined myself as Les Rumsey or Barney Kennett, after a night at Canterbury speedway!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr_smudge57 5 Posted May 10, 2010 i remember being able to get the riders autographs as they pushed there bikes back to there cars on the second bend at the halifax shay where they were parked on the embankment. what a fantastic track the shay had,also getting the track staff to pass ya the disgarded goggles from the riders so you could watch the racing and keep the grit out of ya eyes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beckford Boy 6 Posted May 11, 2010 i remember being able to get the riders autographs as they pushed there bikes back to there cars on the second bend at the halifax shay where they were parked on the embankment. what a fantastic track the shay had,also getting the track staff to pass ya the disgarded goggles from the riders so you could watch the racing and keep the grit out of ya eyes. My favourite track of all time,it was breathtaking watching the Dukes and all the big track riders roaring around that massive bowl.Although my team,Wimbledon, took some terrible thrashings there,I always enjoyed my visits to the Shay.Anyone know if the Three Pigeons pub is still standing? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr_smudge57 5 Posted May 11, 2010 My favourite track of all time,it was breathtaking watching the Dukes and all the big track riders roaring around that massive bowl.Although my team,Wimbledon, took some terrible thrashings there,I always enjoyed my visits to the Shay.Anyone know if the Three Pigeons pub is still standing? the three pigeons ale house is still going strong,what a great old fashioned boozer that is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trees 2,814 Posted May 12, 2010 (edited) Although I only caught speedway at the end of the 70's I'd say: Big Sunday afternoon meetings in the UK, with parades of cars etc 70's music The certain smell of the KL programmes soup Having no worries about standing directly behind the one wooden fence, bobbing down when the riders came past Being totally filthy after a meeting, dust in your hair, ears and nose lol The flags and bunting flying in the centre GREEN at Lynn Riders sitting on their bikes on the track before each race (something they should bring back!) The water bowser lorry at Lynn Track rakers!! BLRC at Belle Vue Wembley The anoraks you could buy underneath the stand at Lynn My yellow and green scarf Golden Helmet match races Edited May 12, 2010 by Trees Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grachan 7,362 Posted May 12, 2010 70's music You still get that at Swindon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dietbowers 522 Posted May 12, 2010 You still get that at Swindon. Aye,I`ve noticed your foot tapping a few times Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trees 2,814 Posted May 13, 2010 70's music is ace .................. good old Swindon Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liverpool chad 2 Posted May 14, 2010 What i miss about speedway in the 1970's The crooked house outside Cradley, hot pork and crackling butties at Cradley. Peter Collins and his mechanic cutting the grip off the outside of his back tyres in the market squre at Kings lynn one bank holiday monday, and then going and hammering Michael Lee from the back. The smell's around certain tracks like Sheffield, Hackney and Newport-Newports almost square track and wondering how nobody ever ended up on the railway track. Fans with anoraks covered in sew on badges, Home made programme boards, Scarfs with rosettes of favorite riders pinned to them. The Daily Mirror Tournament, Lenningrad touring, Full blown test match series. Queuing down the street to get into Exeter for the first time Going to Belle Vue and visiting the zoo in the afternoon speedway in the evening and then a quick walk around the fair before going home, Watching the scenic railway and bobs inbetween races. Seeing Alan Wilkinson clatter Charlie Monk comming out of the last bend at Halifax and poor old Charlie being picked up outside the pit gate having kartwheeled the length of the home straight Seeing Alan Wilkinson slide off at Hyde Road against Swindon and never ride or walk again Watching the bank holiday fixtures up and down the country one track in the morning and the return in the evening. Trying to get to three tracks on a bank holiday monday! Watching speedway at Nelson and watching the cricket nextdoor inbetween heats. Big meetings at Wembley(empire stadium) Dag Lovas reveling in the rain Soldier Boy, the deaf and dumb man selling pens. Simmo missing lots of meetings with some unbelievable excuses! Taking two weeks off work in 1976 and traveling all over the country watching speedway and cricket, 14 days 14 meetings and from that time i have tried to get to at least 3 meetings every week up and down the country. Coventry vs Hull for the league title(what a crowd) Golden helmet Match race's- seeing Tommy Jansson winning the runoff at Cradley and then never seeing him again World of Sport covering speedway. These are just some of the memories that made the 1970's a greet time for me and speedway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emerald tyke 49 Posted May 14, 2010 Memories where do I start!!... Queuing to get through turnstiles at Odsal every wednesday night.....tears if it was a wet day and cancellation!! Being able to stand directly behind the fence and feel the "shudder" as the riders went by....while catch the dirt on our coat when bent down, and ahhhhhhhhh that smell and grunt of the engines Floodlights standards every so many feet around the full length of track...(can't recall which rider lost control and struck his head on the said lights) Sid and Mick Sheldricks white and blue vests "flapping in the turbulence" as they sped around the Odsal bowl, and the sad night when Sid did serious damage to his hip (I think!) when exiting the final bend where it used to narrow inwards....caught many a rider out that did!!. This was when the Odsal start tapes were on the same straight as the clubhouse, when the stadium had 2 stands...more modern era it was at opposite straight as no stand at other side after the modernizations 1985:rolleyes: Racing up behind the stand from the pips chasing Steve Wilcock in his hunter(car) to get his autograph!...again!! ..Finally the best one....running to the very primative loos and it was only when the cubicle door hit you on the forehead that you knew some lady was in the loo before you.....NO LIGHTS! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StevePass 3 Posted May 14, 2010 Riders going over to the safety fence prior to a race and straightening the front wheel alignment out by leaning the wheel against the fence and turning the handle bars. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
psymon 0 Posted May 15, 2010 Your name being drawn out by the Junior Supporters Club to be ridden round on your favourite riders bike during the interval (although in my case it had to be by Ashley Pullen, as Kelvin Mullarkey had been knocked off by Merv Jankie (surely not), collected Hughie Sanders and ended up being bashed round by the safety fence so he couldn't take me (sigh) Sitting on big cushions my mum had covered with gold and blue material on the concrete stand at Rye House The riders having flour fights and stuff in the last meeting of a season Being part of a large away support at speedway meetings Chanting in the stands (Give us an R etc.) Weslakes! Watching Peterborough riders trying to ride Areana Essex before it had a safety fence and getting excluded for going too wide Watching the Inter-Continental Final at White City Watching speedway in a full Wembley Stadium Being in the crowd for the filming of King Cinder Buying replica race-jackets in the club shop and wearing it as you rode round on your Grifter push bike at home Getting home after speedway to eat buttered crumpets as you watched the Muppets on TV Riders with proper names like Dingle Brown and Tiger Beech Seeing loads of Banners at speedway Driving up to away meetings and (a) being passed by the riders doing over 100 ( seeing loads of other cars with the team scarf's jammed in the top of the car windows Cars with speedway related Sun Visors Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
