tonyd

Mr controversy Garry Middleton, a man guaranteed to liven up any meeting either by his riding or by upsetting a opposition rider, team manager or promoter. The London Cup The Southern Riders Championship The Gold Cup Wembley, Wimbledon, Hackney and White City Speedway clubs The WD & HO Wills International at Wimbledon The end of season Champions Chase at Hackney

Thanks for the report Phil but the important question is ....... WHO WON ?

If I remember right didnt a early morning cleaning lady phone someone up to report that a couple of people had got into the stadium and were messing about on the bikes? (I might have even read it in one of Briggo's or Mike Patrick's books)

. They could do a competition for the supporters as they enter the stadium and draw a name out on the parade and the winning name will be that nights referee. Im sure that there must be many young schoolkids competent of pushing a few buttons, annoying the riders and upsetting the crowd during the match. Lets face it the current referees have been doing this for years. Im only kidding folks, before everyone starts going loopy and posting replys.

Dont know but I think he (and his no nonsense refereeing) is sadly missed, always the man in charge at the meeting and took cr*p from no one no matter how big a star the rider or team manager was. Seen him get through many a meeting in record time with the 2 minute warning for the next race coming on as the last riders left the track. Come back Frank British speedway needs you.

I have just said to my wife that its now 39 years ago since we lost Tommy and she has just said it was one of the worst days of her life when she heard the news. She was a ardent Wimbledon supporter when we met (I supported Wembley) never missing a home meeting and going to as many away fixtures as possible but the death of Tommy changed things for her totally. She continued to go for a couple of years after his death but she could not find the enthusiasm to keep going like she used to and after a couple of years drifted away from the sport totaly. The loss of Tommy finished her love of speedway and to be honest I think it was the start of the downward spiral for Wimbledon speedway as well. Sleep well Tommy, the world misses you.

My thoughts are that Adam should sit down and have a chat with himself about if he should carry on racing speedway. Dont get me wrong I have nothing but admiration for Adam (or any other rider) but with the amount of accidents the poor sod has had its a wonder just how much more can his body take? This week there are two big meetings one for Ricky Ashworth and one for the late great Billy Sanders (ok life not lost on the track) and we have just had the BEN Fund meeting, I WOULD HATE TO SEE / WE DONT NEED or WANT another meeting added to the calander in seasons to come for any more riders. This post might upset a few people and we all know speedway riders are a special / strange breed of people but these are my personal thoughts and I know myself that watching Adam race nowdays I wonder and sort of worry everytime he comes off or clashes with another rider (part and parcel of racing) if all is going to be ok now-a-days.

Wembley Lion if you went to Alperton High School on Ealing Road next to the station so did I. I was there between 1968 and 1972 After Wembley closed I went to Wimbledon when I could get a lift, but when I got a car I was off everywhere. 1970's a great time for speedway.

It was a lifetime ago Cityrebel. 1971 I was 14 and my Saturday consisted of leaving home early to walk to the stadium (I lived at Alperton the bottom end of Wembley) and go to the pit gate to see riders arriving, watch the match and then back to the pit gates again to see the riders loading back up. Next hot foot it down to the Captains Table ( remember "Eat Where the Lions Eat" ) to get a bag of chips and to see the riders again (cars with bikes on the back all parked outside) before walking home eating me chips. Happy Days.

I do remember seeing a couple of the flying lap attempts in the 70/71 seasons (may have been called the One Lap Dash then as well) but as I said above they may have been programme filler races because I dont remember them being run regular just now and again. Another thing I have always wondered is were all the tracks that were laid for World Finals etc after 1972 the same size or did they vary each time slightly ? ie track width, length or shape of bends?

Yes I remember it. Did'nt they have 1 or 2 laps to get up to speed and then lap 3 they were timed? If I also remember right the programme said that Freddie Williams was the timed record holder and it was his time that they were all trying to beat. Who ended up the record holder I have no idea (or even if it was a real competition or it was just a prgramme filler) maybe someone like Norbold or Bert can supply more information about it.

I was thinking the same thing or maybe they just didn't want to ride for what was on offer. Its one of those questions that the likes of the supporters will never get the answer to.

I agree nothing could better this, Perfect in every way. ( ok add Bert flying across the line to the sound of the cannon going off for total 100% perfection )

Modd im afraid your talking out your a*se with that posting, you proberly wont find a more dedicated fan in the country than Shadders, the amount of time and money he spends on following the rockets at home and around the country he is entitled to have his say about the promotion, the team and what there not achieving. If I was Len and co I would start listening to what the fans are saying or there could be a even more like me who got totally fed up and disillusioned with the crap teams and lame excuses that I gave up going all together a couple of years back.

Well if your standing on the terracing and pushed I suppose you would step back and down.

For me I believe the riders do there best to be professional sportsmen and purvey that to image to sponsers and supporters around the country, but im afraid I do not feel the same can be said about some promoters or the sports ruling bodies who seem to like to present the sport as a form of amateur entertainment

Having worked in construction over the years I agree with what you have said, any problem can be overcome but it takes expert knowledge and money (proberly lots of it) and most speedway clubs not just stoke would have a problem with finding extra funds for anything outside of the planned budget. I say Good luck to Stoke, I hope they get it sorted and get back on the track asap as its now one of my local tracks since moving to the midlands from down south.

Well I assume his mum does.

A quote thats heard every year on the terraces and one that I that feel needs to be printed in bold lettering on the front cover of the speedway rule book. (is there still a genuine speedway rule book ?)

I have no idea if its a world record or not but I do wonder how some tracks can take over 2 hours to run fifteen heats of speeday at times and 4/5 hours to run a double header. If the amateur meetings can run 100+ heats in the best part of a day why cant some "professional" tracks run just15 heats in under two hours ?

Dont like the Speedway Star or the man keeping it on the shelves for those that do, to tight to buy one but at the same time likes a free read (and leave a well thumbed copy for those that do want one) just incase there is something interesting in it. ????? You just cant please everyone.

Because we do not have enough riders to put together a competitive world class team at present. A best pairs trophy maybe and thats about it.

Yeah great idea .......... how about a installing a ramp half way down the back straight and turning the starting gate into a wall of fire on the last lap for the winner to ride through ?????

Did anyone ever find out how Gary came to pass over to spend eternity sitting on a clould with the other lost speedway greats passing the time of day ? I used to love a meeting with Gary in it, you never knew who was turning up .... Gary Middleton the rider that could beat the best on the night or Gary Middleton the rider who could wind up the opposition being Mr controversal ...... whoever turned up you could be sure of a good nights entertainment. For me I think todays speedway needs more riders like Gary a rider you either loved or hated (or loved to hate) but one everyone admired. Also did the book on his life ever get published and into print ?