Hot Shoe

Does anyone remember the Flying Lap that they had at Wembley in the 1970/71 period? Who competed for it and who held the record? Just one bike on that track sounded great as the noise echoed around that enormous stadium.

It was mentioned in a book of the 1880s that the New York World newspaper sponsored the series but that has been disputed by baseball historians and seems to have become an urban myth. There doesn't seem to be any connection between that newspaper and the World Series.

Thanks SCB. Much appreciated.

Does anyone know the line-up and final points result for this meeting? Any info much appreciated.

This ties in nicely with my Ivan Miller post a couple of months ago. I remember seeing Gary Flood at Comerfords of Thames Ditton, Surrey (then UK Bultaco importer) in the early 70s on many occasions along with Ivan Miller and Vic Allan. Excellent Motocross rider who was Australian champion many times. There's some great photos of Gary Flood on www.ozvmx.com especially one on a 250 Bultaco Grass Tracker with his Crewe speedway race jacket on.

Thanks for the info. He was as you say a talented motorcyclist and i well remember when he came over to the UK and (with another excellent motocross rider Gary Flood) worked and rode for Comerfords of Thames Ditton. I rode in motocross at the time and often saw his 400cc Husqvarna (complete with slimline BSA B50X alloy petrol tank) in Comerford's Comp Shop or over at Hounslow Heath on a weekday afternoon practice. He certainly made an impact on the UK Motocross scene and i presume with his Motocross exploits it was difficult to combine that with a career in Speedway as well.

Was Ivan Miller the New Zealander who came over to the UK to ride in motocross for Commerfords in the early 1970s the same person who rode Speedway for Rayleigh? If it is does anyone have any of his speedway stats? Any info much appreciated.

That reminds me of when i was at Belle Vue in the early 1990s. An announcement was made during the meeting asking if anyone had found a home made programme board which was made with photos of old Aces favourite Cyril Maidment. Even then that board must have been a good fews years old!

I have great memories of the White City Stadium. It was big and fast. Great for riders like Pusey, Collins etc. John Jackson was spectacular riding for Wolves in one meeting. Queens Park Rangers played some matches there in the 60s and it was one of the 1966 World Cup venues. Does anyone remember the (running!) races for spectators where you got a cash prize for the winner?

Couldn't put it better myself Wessex Wanderer. I think it's amazing that Lew put in so much time to Speedway when obviously his first love was always Grasstrack. I'm sure that the list of riders he has helped in their early Speedway & Grasstrack careers is far too long to put on here.

There is an excellent 5-page article on Lew Coffin titled 'Grass Great' in the latest issue (May 2008) of the UK magazine 'The Classic MotorCycle'. A really good read and well worth getting.

As chunky has already posted he also wore yellow leathers. These were totally different to the Leicester team leathers.

I seem to remember reading some years ago that Dewayne Keeter was the first rider to wear coloured leathers in British Speedway in the 1960s. As riders in Flat Track were wearing coloured leathers at this time in the U.S. then i suppose it's not unusual that it would be an American rider that would be the first over here.

Just like to thank everyone involved in making this a most enjoyable day. Worth going just to hear that Excelsior!!!!

Don't know if Arthur is Road Racing this season but he was flying around Aberdare Park last year on his Jawa engined Road Racer.

I recently sold my Weslake to Frank Wendon and spent a very interesting couple of hours talking to Frank about his times in Speedway at Romford and Canterbury etc. A very interesting bloke and the Wessie couldn't have gone to a better home. I'll have to give Frank a ring and see when the Wessie is ready for it's first spin for over a decade

I posted the original post Re: Speedway's Motocrossers and although a lot of names have been mentioned there were only a few who were really good at both. I'd certainly put Tom in that list along with John Louis, Arthur Browning and Malcolm Ballard. Just put in Tom's name in the "search" facility on this forum and you'll come up with more than a few references to Tom. I rode at the same time (although a lot slower!) as Hooper and Harvey (both excellent riders) and saw then ride on numerous occasions and to me they were the golden years of motocross but that's probably due to my age!!!

I have one sitting in the corner of my garage so that's a start!

I'd be interested to know whether the 'Laydown' Wessie will have quicker lap times than the standard upright Wessie around those smaller tracks. Keep us posted.

Just thought it might be worth reviving this thread as there seemed to be some interest re: Speedway riders who rode Motocross in the Arthur Browning thread.

That's interesting because in the latest edition of IRISH ROAD RACER magazine John McGuinness said that he is a regular spectator at Belle Vue Speedway and has recently bought a speedway bike from Jason Crump.

Team Man, i see the Christmas Cracker is being held on December 30th. Any idea at what track it's being held? Thanks for any info.

Parsloes, there's an interesting website that has info and photos of Sand and Grass Track racing in Wales from 1929. Although it doesn't seem to have any info on the Amman Valley event it's worth a look. www.sandspeedwales.co.uk

That's correct. Tig Perry was also an excellent rider and for a time in the early 1970s the Antig Bultaco was THE Grass Bike to have in the 250 class. Antig also produced Speedway frames. I would have thought the meeting (like most Centre meetings at that time) would have comprised mostly of Grass Trackers with a good few local Motocrossers.

Thanks for the great pics. I like the one with Jacko at the back - Bet he didn't stay at the back for long