speedyguy 20 Posted June 7, 2009 By John Hyam (South London Press) ‘COVENTRY’S TWO SPEEDWAYS’ From: Colin Parker, 59 Clinton Lane, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8. Phone queries to: 01926 854 852. Email: colineparker@tiscali.co.uk Softback, 192 pages, 155 illustrations (30 taken at the two Coventry tracks, some in sepia). Limited print run, unlikely to be repeated. £14.99 plus £1.76 postage, packing. All proceeds to the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund. THE book deals with the history of the Brandon and Lythalls Lane tracks in Coventry from 1928 until the outbreak of war in September 1939. Among riders mentioned is Tommy Farndon in his years at Lythalls and Brandon. There is also a short chapter on the 1935 season when Farndon died after an accident at New Cross. The book carries 18 action and portrait photos of Farndon as well as a photo of his autograph. The book also includes what is regarded as one of speedway’s greatest classic photos, a 1930 action shot taken at Wimbledon of Australian stars Vic Huxley and Billy Lamont. Author Colin Parker said: “What I've done is to include just about every known photo of the two Coventry tracks and then add a few of the very best from elsewhere, but only when relevant to the story. “The cover photo is a good sepia pic of the classic Tom Farndon versus Dickie Case British championship decider in 1935.” There is also a short four-page final chapter on midget cars which ran at Coventry from 1937 to 1939. The photos include one of cars and drivers lined up at Lea Bridge; a 1938 'Brandon Car Speedway' programme cover; an action shot of Charlie Pashley leading Walter Mackereth at Brandon; and a photo of Pashley and other drivers inspecting a Skirrow midget car at Brandon. NOTE: It is hoped that a fuller review of the book will be available in a few days time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fireblade 0 Posted June 7, 2009 The track in Foleshill was quite close to where the Ricoh now stands, the site now covered by housing and I believe Stadium close is a name of one of the roads Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedyguy 20 Posted June 21, 2009 An update on this excellent book. ‘COVENTRY’S TWO SPEEDWAYS’ From: Colin Parker, 59 Clinton Lane, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8. Phone queries to: 01926 854 852. Email: colineparker@tiscali.co.uk Softback, 192 pages, 155 illustrations (30 taken at the two Coventry tracks, some in sepia). Limited print run, unlikely to be repeated. £14.99 plus £1.76 postage, packing. All proceeds to the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund. THE Lythalls Lane cinder-track opened in July 1928, followed by Brandon in late September. The book tells the story of the two speedways up to the outbreak of war in 1939. It is a comprehensive history of events, of the riders, the promoters and the fans, both the serious and the comical. Every meeting is mentioned and some, either famous or infamous, are covered in more detail. There are stories of temper tantrums, tyre cutting, lay-down engines and guest riders. And although the the early circus-like atmosphere soon changed to more serious professional racing, both venues struggled for survival as the great depression took its toll on provincial clubs. But there were good years as well, with spectacular leg-trailing action and the emergence of a number of local riders from obscurity to become world-class performers. Among riders mentioned is Tommy Farndon in his years at Lythalls and Brandon. There is also a short chapter on the 1935 season when Farndon died after an accident at New Cross. The book carries 18 action and portrait photos of Farndon as well as a photo of his autograph. The book also includes what is regarded as one of speedway’s greatest classic photos, a 1930 action shot taken at Wimbledon of Australian stars Vic Huxley and Billy Lamont. Author Colin Parker said: “What I've done is to include just about every known photo of the two Coventry tracks and then add a few of the very best from elsewhere, but only when relevant to the story. “The cover photo is a good sepia pic of the classic Tom Farndon versus Dicky Case British championship decider in 1935.” There is also a short four-page final chapter on midget cars which ran at Coventry from 1937 to 1939. The photos include one of cars and drivers lined up at Lea Bridge; a 1938 'Brandon Car Speedway' programme cover; an action shot of Charlie Pashley leading Walter Mackereth at Brandon; and a photo of Pashley and other drivers inspecting a Skirrow midget car at Brandon. The book feature almost 150 illustrations, with many photos taken at the Coventry tracks and not previously published; much material is taken from contemporary newspapers, magazines and programmes as well as comments from some of the spectators who were present at the the time. All profits go to the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Midland Red 2,383 Posted June 24, 2009 Anyone seen this, care to review? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedyguy 20 Posted June 24, 2009 (edited) Anyone seen this, care to review? I have a copy but so far have not been able to review the book in depth. However, my initial impressions are extremely favourable. Sme great old photos and I tasted some lovely little stories. My advice is make sure of your copy - it's a limited edition and looks certain to become a collector's item. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway Edited June 24, 2009 by speedyguy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,116 Posted June 25, 2009 I have a copy but have not read in depth yet as I have been mainly interested in reading what Colin had to say about Tom Farndon! I have skimmed through the rest it and it seems really good. Well researched and a comprehensive coverage of pre-War Coventry. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedyguy 20 Posted August 21, 2009 This review appeared in the 'South London Press', Friday, August 21, 2009. It obviously has a South London slant, dealing with Tommy Frandon and his two London clubs, Crystal Palace and New Cross:::: COVENTRY'S TWO SPEEDWAYS From: Colin Parker, 59 Clinton Lane, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8. Phone queries to: 01926 854 852. Email: colineparker@tiscali.co.uk Softback, 192 pages, 155 illustrations (30 taken at the two Coventry tracks, some in sepia). Limited print run, unlikely to be repeated. £14.99 plus £1.76 postage, packing. All profits to the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund. THE title implies no links with south London speedway. Nothing could be further from the truth. While it deals with speedway and midget car racing at the Brandon and Lythalls Lane tracks between 1928 and 1939, in its coverage of the speedway riders, one name stands out - that of Tommy Farndon, pictured. He started his racing career at Lythalls Lane in 1929 but it was at south London tracks Crystal Palace and New Cross that he found both fame - and tragedy. After two seasons at Coventry, Farndon joined Crystal Palace in 1931, moving with the club when they went to New Cross in 1934. His main individual honours were the Star Championship in 1933 - an event of comparable status to the world championship - and winning the London Riders Championship in 1933, 1934 and 1935. At the time of his death, he was holder of the British Individual Match Race Championship. As a tribute to him, the event was never raced again. Farndon was also a regular for the England team in the annual test matches against Australia. Tragedy struck Farndon in a second-half race following a New Cross-Harringay National League match on August 27 1935. Also in the race were Ron Johnson, Bluey Wilkinson and Stan Greatrex. By the third lap, Greatrex had pulled out but Johnson, who was leading, hit the safety fence and fell in front of Farndon who then drove into the safety fence to miss his rival. He was thrown into the air before crashing down on his head. Farndon was rushed to Greenwich Hospital but died two days later. While he was in hospital, large crowds waited outside the hospital for bulletins on his condition. At one time the crowd was so large - many thousands - that police had to divert traffic at nearby Deptford Broadway. There are many other references to Tommy Farndon and his rider brother Sid throughout the book. Apart from tracing the early days of Coventry's two tracks, the many references to Tommy Farndon weigh strongly in its favour. I commend the book to all those who are interested in speedway history. JOHN HYAM Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,116 Posted August 21, 2009 Save the review, speedyguy, you can use it again when our Tom Farndon book comes out next February. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedyguy 20 Posted August 21, 2009 Save the review, speedyguy, you can use it again when our Tom Farndon book comes out next February. I look forward to that... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedyguy 20 Posted August 23, 2009 This review appeared in the 'South London Press', Friday, August 21, 2009. It obviously has a South London slant, dealing with Tommy Frandon and his two London clubs, Crystal Palace and New Cross:::: COVENTRY'S TWO SPEEDWAYS From: Colin Parker, 59 Clinton Lane, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8. Phone queries to: 01926 854 852. Email: colineparker@tiscali.co.uk Softback, 192 pages, 155 illustrations (30 taken at the two Coventry tracks, some in sepia). Limited print run, unlikely to be repeated. £14.99 plus £1.76 postage, packing. All profits to the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund. THE title implies no links with south London speedway. Nothing could be further from the truth. While it deals with speedway and midget car racing at the Brandon and Lythalls Lane tracks between 1928 and 1939, in its coverage of the speedway riders, one name stands out - that of Tommy Farndon, pictured. He started his racing career at Lythalls Lane in 1929 but it was at south London tracks Crystal Palace and New Cross that he found both fame - and tragedy. After two seasons at Coventry, Farndon joined Crystal Palace in 1931, moving with the club when they went to New Cross in 1934. His main individual honours were the Star Championship in 1933 - an event of comparable status to the world championship - and winning the London Riders Championship in 1933, 1934 and 1935. At the time of his death, he was holder of the British Individual Match Race Championship. As a tribute to him, the event was never raced again. Farndon was also a regular for the England team in the annual test matches against Australia. Tragedy struck Farndon in a second-half race following a New Cross-Harringay National League match on August 27 1935. Also in the race were Ron Johnson, Bluey Wilkinson and Stan Greatrex. By the third lap, Greatrex had pulled out but Johnson, who was leading, hit the safety fence and fell in front of Farndon who then drove into the safety fence to miss his rival. He was thrown into the air before crashing down on his head. Farndon was rushed to Greenwich Hospital but died two days later. While he was in hospital, large crowds waited outside the hospital for bulletins on his condition. At one time the crowd was so large - many thousands - that police had to divert traffic at nearby Deptford Broadway. There are many other references to Tommy Farndon and his rider brother Sid throughout the book. Apart from tracing the early days of Coventry's two tracks, the many references to Tommy Farndon weigh strongly in its favour. I commend the book to all those who are interested in speedway history. JOHN HYAM It has been pointed out that the actual hospital Tommy Farndon died in was Miller Hospital. The Greenwich Hospital is a newer hosptal at a different location (but in Greenwich) and was formed by a link-up between Miller Hospital and St Alfege's Hospital. Apologies but no prizes for spotting the error! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Midland Red 2,383 Posted September 9, 2009 Excellent read, particularly for a Coventry Kid born and bred I can just see the riders pushing their motor cycles along Holbrook Lane and down Lythalls Lane to the track, ready to have a go at the new sport And why did Brandon get so much rain pre-war? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
