Hot Shoe

Sorry if your original post got sidetracked a bit Once you've restored the bike there are many tracks you can give it a spin around. It may be worth finding out your nearest training track and visit it. You may well see an 897 there and be able to get some info. Even if there are no 897s there don't be afraid to ask around as these were very popular engines and you may well get some tips from riders and mechanics. Finally, the best bit - Riding it. Have fun

Sad to hear of the death of Andy Ross. I especially admired Andy's Grass Track style and remember as a schoolboy asking him for his autograph after the South Midlands Centre GT Championships in 1967(?). He took the time to ask me if i wanted to be a Grass Track rider which of course i replied "yes". With a smile he then told me not to get involved with motorbikes because i'd never have any money. Needless to say i didn't take his advice and of course he was absolutely right! R.I.P Andy

It's still a baby The JAWA 897 SOHC 4-Valve Upright engine is from the mid to late 1980s and there must be loads of these spinning away around training tracks. Probably best to look on the TRAINING TRACKS AND AMATEUR / SECOND HALF RIDING FORUM.

Never went to Thornton Road so my memories are only of the riders. I remember seeing John Jackson ride for Wolverhampton midweek at White City then for Ellesmere Port at Rye House on the Sunday. Don't think he liked the tight Rye House track too much but on that big White City track he was spectacular. Worth the admission price alone.

Just got back from South Wales for the Aberdare Park road races. Great to see Arthur Browning in action on his Jawa road racer. I've seen Arthur ride in Speedway, Motocross, Trials and Enduro over the years and he always had (and still has) that amazing relaxed upright style whatever he rode. What a great allrounder. They certainly don't make 'em like that anymore!

Thanks GLYN. Info much appreciated.

Many thanks Main Man - Any idea whereabouts Peter Jarvis made the frames.

Anyone know who made PJ frames and where they were made?

Thanks for the info. I've only ever seen photos of the Teterow track and it looks spectacular. Must have been an amazing sight seeing the likes of Wiggy around there!

I know this is slightly off topic (sorry!) but does anyone remember any Mountain Grasstrack meetings? As i remember these were more of a grass oval with half the track on the side of a hill and were incredibly exciting as the solos and sidecars came flying down that hill. Often riderless! There was a track in the South Midlands Centre in the 1960s somewhere around High Wycombe where i remember one of my favourite Grasstrack and Speedway riders Andy Ross winning a few races there.

Yes, Tweseldown was twisty, bumpy and sandy. The Fox and Hounds, Beenham Park, Pirbright (remember the 100 mile Scramble?), Ladies Mile Petersfield, East Meon (?) and the track where they held the Kaj Bornebush meeting with that scary big hill there were some great circuits. I used to go to the Welsh Two Day Trial (Enduro) and remember Dave Jeremiah on his Jawa, Arthur Browning and those Cheney Triumphs and the incredible speed they got up to on those welsh tracks. Amazing! And have you noticed that todays Moto X bikes don't slide? (an even more tenuous speedway link!).

I loved Tweesledown. Great technical track with some excellent racing. I once had a throttle cable break at Tweeseldown and had to pop down to Ken Heanes shop and get a new one Colin, If we just mention the word Speedway in every post we might not get chucked off the forum for being off topic

Didn't Brian Wade win the 125, 250 and 500 British Moto X titles on Husqvarnas all in one season? I used to see the great Vic Allan regularly when he rode for Comerfords of Thames Ditton on one of their Bultacos when they were the UK importers. Happy days indeed!

I rode in a couple of those ITV Motocross meetings in the support races. One was at Lydden where the meeting also had Rallycross cars which made for interesting viewing between races

Thanks Puma23. Much appreciated.

Anyone know if the is any internet site that lists the National League tables of the 70s?

Andrew, Have sent you a message re: the above prog.

There's an interesting article in the latest isssue of Classic Racer magazine (Nov/Dec 2005). "Dirt tracking in Blighty?" by Pete Boast is a five page article about the Strongbow Triumphs and the U.S. Yamaha XS Dirt Trackers and the races at Chasewater and Haldon. Included are some great b&w pics of Briggo, Dave Aldana and Chippy Moore on XS Yamahas. Ted Hubbard, Les Collins and Tom Leadbitter on the Strongbow Triumphs, Kenny Roberts and last but not least Peter Collins on the awesome 4 cylinder 2-Stroke Yamaha TZ750. 'Nuff said!

And i can't believe i rode with him at the Hanworth Carnival grasstrack 30 years ago!!!

......and i thought you were such a knowledgeable lot!!!

Can anyone help to identify this badge please? It is approx two and a quarter inches in diameter with the words "WEMBLEY SPEEDWAY CYCLING CLUB" and is made of plastic or bakelite. The top half is white with a red lion and the bottom red with a white wheel and has a bolt through the centre. Any info appreciated.

A chequered flag don't make no sense to me...

I went to many meetings at White City and it was one of my favourite tracks. I remember John Jackson riding there for Wolverhampton one evening and was so impressed that i went to Rye House on the Sunday to see him ride for Ellesmere Port. Unfortunately small track = not so good but he really was spectacular at the White City.

Anyone remember when some members of the crowd at White City had a one lap running race around the track? I don't know how many times this happened but seem to remember the winner got a cash prize!

I seem to remember (many years ago) Ole Olsen turn up with his bike at Wimbledon in a Mini Van. Wasn't there a vogue (late 50s - early 60s) for riders to use American cars to transport them and their bikes to tracks? Later on the use of the Citroen Safari (front wheels out and loosen handlebars and in they go) made me wonder if anyone has any memories of riders forms of transport - The stranger the better of course!