Guest Posted April 28, 2016 (edited) Good grief what memories! We purposely banked one of the bends so that you could really give it some wellie around the outside. The other bend was flat...and I mean flat...to catch out the opposition! Used to stop off after a visit to Blunsden to buy Fish and Chips at Highworth. Used to drive thru' the back roads to Faringdon via Coleshill. Didn't Ivan Mauger do cycle speedway as a young kid? Ivan Mauger did ride cycle speedway for one of the tracks in the south west London/Surrey area in the late 1950s, shortly after he arrived in the UK to join Wimbledon. This Link may give a mention of that period... ...http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/thread/1112/ivan-mauger-skid-kid Edited April 28, 2016 by Guest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gresham 928 Posted April 28, 2016 Highworth just 6-miles up the road from me...I think Rosco and Mad Wellie started cycle speedway at Swindon, they still have the track at The Oasis. I still look back in fondness when I drive past our old patch by Coate Water that served as Football, Cricket, and Speedway ground in late 60s/early 70s. unbelievable what's online http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/image_galleries/historic_highworth_photos_gallery1.shtml?20 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
van wolfswinkel 635 Posted April 28, 2016 unbelievable what's online http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/image_galleries/historic_highworth_photos_gallery1.shtml?20 Bloody ell Swindon Roobins would be happy to have a crowd that size. I've read that Stratton were one of the top teams in the area. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gresham 928 Posted April 28, 2016 More... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31013387 I'm on a roll haha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJA6WQu1lbY I've stumbled on a whole new world I never knew about. Surfing the net, you can find some cracking photos from the past. Didn't realise cycle speedway was so popular back in the day. Some cracking little tracks about and surprisingly good facilities...this is fun. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sidney the robin 4,735 Posted April 28, 2016 Would have been a good match...Swindon Crusaders v Oxford Crusaders. We had blue sabres done in marker pen, like Canterbury. Most of us lived in Carshalton Road. Our street cricket and football team had the same name, but jumpers for goalposts. As I remember we were unbeaten in all 3 sports, and were the most hated team on the estate, the Poole of the day!Remember riding cycle speedway at a place called Bamptons, on the Stratton Rd before the County Ground .It was great the surface was grey gravel just like the shay, we used to all get punctures galore great days though. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
van wolfswinkel 635 Posted April 28, 2016 Remember riding cycle speedway at a place called Bamptons, on the Stratton Rd before the County Ground .It was great the surface was grey gravel just like the shay, we used to all get punctures galore great days though. I think that may have been the old Bamptons Coach Works Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sidney the robin 4,735 Posted April 28, 2016 (edited) I think that may have been the old Bamptons Coach WorksYes mate sure they had a glass thing outside with a car in it never got vandalised though the good ole days😀😀 Edited April 28, 2016 by Sidney the robin 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
van wolfswinkel 635 Posted April 28, 2016 More... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31013387 I'm on a roll haha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJA6WQu1lbY I've stumbled on a whole new world I never knew about. Surfing the net, you can find some cracking photos from the past. Didn't realise cycle speedway was so popular back in the day. Some cracking little tracks about and surprisingly good facilities...this is fun. Its great this you tube....just watched Barry Briggs make his debut for Swindon at Oxford in 1964 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gresham 928 Posted April 28, 2016 Its great this you tube....just watched Barry Briggs make his debut for Swindon at Oxford in 1964 Indeed... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC9SeKCSyiM 50,000 in the Wembley supporter club...see 15mins through to 18...the whole footage is amazing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
van wolfswinkel 635 Posted April 28, 2016 Indeed... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC9SeKCSyiM 50,000 in the Wembley supporter club...see 15mins through to 18...the whole footage is amazing. My dad was one of those 50,000. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted April 28, 2016 Indeed... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC9SeKCSyiM 50,000 in the Wembley supporter club...see 15mins through to 18...the whole footage is amazing. My dad was one of those 50,000. This is splendid memories of speedway's now lost 'golden era' when it was a mainstream sport. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sidney the robin 4,735 Posted April 28, 2016 This is splendid memories of speedway's now lost 'golden era' when it was a mainstream sport. I thought speedway was still the same as in Yesteryear? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted April 28, 2016 (edited) Scroll down this Link and you will come across a full section, compiled mainly by Robin Richardson, devoted to cycle speedway in London. http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/ This is splendid memories of speedway's now lost 'golden era' when it was a mainstream sport. I thought speedway was still the same as in Yesteryear? I know that I can be 'a bit of a thicko' at times but I don't quite understand your reply reference Sidney the robin. Edited April 28, 2016 by Guest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sidney the robin 4,735 Posted April 28, 2016 Scroll down this Linkd and you will come across a full section, compiled mainly by Robin Richardson, devoted to cycle speedway in London. http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/ I know that I can be 'a bit of a thicko' at times but I don't quite understand your reply reference Sidney the robin. My fault "gustix" sorry and all that, an honest question " gustix" has speedway changed since Yesteryear in your view if so for the better or not.? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OveFundinFan 4,155 Posted April 29, 2016 I lived on the edge of a village and there was some common land nearby, we used to go on our bikes, slosh water from a neaby brook onto this "corner", went flying at the corner and through into slides feet up style as if we were doing speedway. Another area and we had jumps so emulated scramble riders up in the air. Close to the end of 1963, Mum Dad and myself went with Bob Duckworth to a Manchester cycle speedway track, Carrs Wood, where Bob was presenting trophies. The programme for the day was advertising a junior league for the winter 63-64, so I went back to my village, got all the lads to work on making this track using crushed cinder type stuff from a top a good half mile away. using wheelbarrows we did enough to create the bends, the straights (too long) were grass. Mum made us race bibs, red and yellow vertical stripes, and away we went into the league...... coming last! That was the start and end of Partington Flyers, but most of the team signed up for the summer season with Belle Vue for 1964 and then Wilmslow Hammers in 1965 and on. All good fun. Only a few tracks then were really well constructed, Carrs Wood was one, Offerton Devils was another. Offerton had Derek Garnett and Vic Hinchcliffe who were nationally the riders to beat in the 60's and 70's. Some brilliant riders around the Manchester scene back then. Clips I now see on You Tube show the standard of the tracks and safety requirements far exceed those of the 60's - very professional now, and I would imagine top cycle speedway ridwers now are like top speedway riders (and other sportsman) - dedicated to the cause, manage not only the body but what one puts into the body etc. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
