salty

Pretty sure I remember he worked at Thruxton Motor Racing circuit. Also seem to remember a Backtrack feature so i'll try and dig it out.

I was always under the impression Dudley Wood was considered a very fair track. In fact it was the excuse often trotted out for the lack of success enjoyed by Heathens teams in the first dozen or so years of the British League. Hyde Road I always felt the home riders had a bigger advantage, but to be fair if you had the machinery it was a great racing track.

Ok TWK I'll grudgingly admit there is some wheat amongst the chaff. But there is an awful lot if chaff!I get a bit sick of his constant belittling of the modern day sport and this forum. If you don't like it - why waste so much time on it?

Typical Gustix. One week he endorses "deviation from main themes" - obviously when he's the one doing the deviating - yet today he is desperate to get the "thread back on course". As pointed out it is a subjective matter so therefore no "verdict will be arrived at". One of the most interesting ( for me) threads in this section. Especially when compared to the nonsense usually launched by Gustix.

Got married in Morden Hall as well. Lovely place to have a registry office being a National Trust building. You must have a good memory because I can't remember talking about where I lived in Tooting. Spent a lot of Sunday nights in St Boniface club as well. Haven't been back to that part of London for 15 odd years, but met up with some of my old mates from that area a couple of years ago in Dublin.

Spooky. I've been married twice. First time in Norbiton, second time in Morden.

Boulger was brilliant for Cradley. When he arrived it was on the back of the awful 1973 season. By the time he left at the end of 76 we were a solid middle of the table team and a lot of that was down to his being a genuine number 1. Bobby Schwartz may have only had the one season at Cradley but only left because of the points limit - and because of his relationship with Penhall (and the fans) was always given a warm reception. Very similar to Wiggy. Less so for Peter Ravn, but that's maybe because he went to Monomore? As for Michanek, at his best he was up with the very best as a British League number 1. By the time he came to Cradley he was on the wane and certainly wasn't that committed to the cause, hence his premature release. I think his role was more a statement of intent from Dan McCormick that he meant business.

I liked the 1984 season as well. Top flight of 16 teams, which was lopped down to 11 for the following season. Obviously the riders were spread a bit thin with Exeter having to use guests for their away fixtures and Newcastle being pretty weak, but I enjoyed the sport that season. Living in London by 1985 there was no British League teams to follow. As for the all conquering 1983 season, the Heathens team was that good the entertainment definitely suffered.

1. Oxford. Perfectly good stadium lying unused whilst greedy venture capitalists hope to cash in. Hope for once the good guys win and we get Speedway back at Cowley. 2. Sunderland. The new owners wish to maximise use of their new facility. 3. Cradley. Someone, somewhere finds the land in the cultural and sporting desert that is Dudley to allow the Heathens home. 4. Bristol. Long since campaigned for, all seems to have gone quiet. However, hope springs eternal that the stars align and the city gets a track back along with the crowds Eastville enjoyed in the late 70's 5. Ballyskeagh. Greyhound track between Belfast and Lisburn, now known as Drumbo Park. An entrepreneur with deep pockets sees the crowds that the Belfast Giants attract in Ice Hockey's Elite League and decide that the great road racing culture in Northern Ireland would support a new motorcycle venture in massive numbers. And it's only down the road from me.

Hard to compare the two sides like for like, but more relevant to look at their points differential to see how much they dominated the league by. Both sides only had two away defeats all season, but averaging out their points we find... Belle Vue Home 51 - 26 Away 36 - 42 Cradley Home 53 - 25 Away 32 - 46. Cradley on top in both cases and also they had 6 away wins of 20 points or more, whereas the Aces only had one (ironically at Dudley Wood).

Missing the point of the original question - which was - which was the better team? Belle Vue 1972 or Cradley 1983? Of course the correct answer is Cradley 1983.

How very dare you!! Now I might often stand in a room trying to remember why I entered it, but I can definitely remember my Cradley stuff! A cursory glance at my Heathens programmes shows Errol riding quite regularly in 1969, but also a couple of second half rides in the early part of 1970. Haven't got the time to trawl through any more seasons, but I suspect that might have been it for the "Red Devil" - known for his flowing red scarf and red bke.

Was always good entertainment in the second halves at Dudley Wood in the late 60's/early 70's.

Graham won the first race I ever saw. Cradley v Newport at the back end of the 1968 season.

Dave was a terrific reserve for us in 1981 and played a key role in securing the league title. Averaged 6.12 from reserve in the league, one wonders how far he would have gone in the sport if he had returned in 1982. As far as the OP is concerned - tough one. I guess you're looking for tracks that may have only had short spells in a particular division? I seem to remember Dave Younghusband had a long spell unbeaten at Dudley Wood at the start of the British League era (about 4 visits I think), unfortunately when he returned as a Heathen for a short spell, following a bad injury, he was almost the polar opposite of unbeaten.

Correct in both cases. The former was also known as Speedy Pete.

Rip Snortin' Ray Morton Todd "The Fastest Alive over the first 25" Wiltshire courtesy of Dave Lanning in his Wimbledon days. "Electric" Eric Gundersen "Ever Trying" Alan Grahame (changed to Big Al in later years) "Flying" Phil Collins My favourites of earlier years were the Lemon Juice Kid and the Ladybank Express.

RIP Bryn.

I'd agree with Alan's points above and also add in Penhall's retirement and the loss of Wembley, which was coupled with economic troubles in the early 80's. From what I recall the sport went from a period of relative success in the late 70's to one of quick decline by mid 80's.

Get well soon. Back in the saddle for tapes up in March.

The name would be "Backtracking"!!! http://www.retro-speedway.com/page.php?140

As I recall the Speedway Star and News lasted until the 1973 season, when the colour back cover was introduced.

Back to the OP. My favourite top 7 for the named teams.... Swindon - Briggs, Ashby, Kilby, Crump (P), Keen, Broadbanks, Gafurov Sheffield - Airey, Haley, Wilson ®, Wyer, Moran (S), Paulson, Valentine Belle Vue - Mauger, Sjosten, Pusey, Wilkinson, Collins, Morton, Smith Reading - Michanek, Lovaas, Andersson, Brannefors, Mullett, Leigh, Schwartz Halifax - Boocock, Carter, Cartwright, Younghusband, Kentwell, Gavros, Baker As for my Heathens Persson, Boulger, Collins, Pedersen, Gundersen, Price, Bastable.

Have been a subscriber on and off for donkeys years - currently lapsed - but tend to pick a copy up at my local Sainsbury's. If I miss a couple of weeks it doesn't bother me. Prefer the off season editions and will try and get this weeks copy to read the article on the 1969 Pirates (my first season watching the sport). Having said that I was disappointed with the coverage of the Hancock furore in Melbourne and I feel the increasingly prolific Paul Burbidge is a tad Piratecentric in his coverage. This season my favourite feature has been the Peter Oakes pages.

Thanks for the answer, Steve. Found it via going to back issues on the Retro site - number 59.