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Yorkshire 1967, Just got a reply from Ian, he's moved up to Gargrave North Yorkshire recently and says he remembers a Don Wilson from Hatfield. Email me at; rodney_haynes45@hotmail.com and I'll pass on his phone number to you. Regards Rod Haynes.

Best race I saw for many a year was the run off for the British title in the late 90's between Chris Louis and Mark Loram at Brandon, they pushed and shoved each other for all four laps, passing and re-passing numerous times. I was also at Hyde Road when Anders Michanek and Peter Collins did the same, with Peter handicapped by his hand injury. Both superb races. Almost equal were the rider of the night finals at Belle Vue when Soren Sjosten, Ivan Mauger and Tommy Roper regularly jostled between themselves for four laps, none were underdogs regardless of their respective places in the Aces line up. - Rod Haynes.

Yorkshire 1967, Shall send a message to Ian, see what he says / remembers. He retired last year from his job as head of engineering at the college. Rod Haynes

Very good, in his final two years over here he was by far the best and most consistant trapper in the B.L., on a par with both his immediate Tiger's predecessor Charlie Monk and Ivan Mauger. The problem was that by then he rarely had to pass anyone, so he was thought of as just that - a fast starter - but believe me he could and did (pass) quite a number of surprised top liners on their own tracks. He overtook on the tight inside line around Owlerton just as Clive Featherby did during the previous decade there - albeit without many falling !. Anyone remember one warm night, in I think 1971, when he gated and demolished the track record, you could sense that he'd knocked a huge chunk off even before the official announcement. Mind you he must also have held the 'get back to Sheffield from Poole' record time as well !!. Rod Haynes.

Jim Irvine - now that's a name from the past, only last year I was putting together a new series of speedway articles for our local paper the Scunthorpe Telegraph's Biking Bygones specials and whilst sifting through some old photographs came across one of myself with a caption pencilled on the reverse ' pre season practice chasing Jim Irvine's rear wheel ' which got me thinking as to what happened to him, I reckoned him to be around 21 at the time so he would have had a birth date of about 1950 give or take a year or so. He came from I believe the North East as he had a Geordie type accent, not a heavily Scots one. He did indeed have only the one outing, the meeting at Berwick on July 1st 1972, where he raced in two heats as partner to my old mate Ian Wilson finishing third in both behind Ian thereby grabbing two bonus points to go with his two earned ones making four in all, an average of 8 per meeting, in fact easily the top average for the Saints that year, we very nearly won the meeting (38-40) due in part to his efforts. What amazed me was that he'd waited all season to make his league debut and then simply vanished into thin air, a handy rider to have around, he may have been a former grasstracker as he handled himself pretty competantly. Whatever happened to him, I also would be interested to know. Rod Haynes.

I recall taking the silver helmet from Peterborough's Roy Carter following Saints unexpected 39-38 win on 7th of August 1972, after which team manager Alan Chorlton passed me a cardboard box containing the trophy advising me to ' take it home and show it to my mates down the pub '. Unfortunately he had completely forgotten that we had a league fixture at Ellesmere Port the very next night so I declined the offer, more concerned at losing or damaging it than anything else, a meeting at which I as a relative newcomer in my first season had not a ' cat in hell's chance ' of retaining it against the Gunners top man on the night, who as it happened turned out to be 'flying' Paul Tyrer. Paul did indeed relinquish me of the silverware. The point is, had we not had another meeting so soon afterwards I certainly would have been tempted to taken it home and milked it a little, who knows I may have had a few free pints off my friends - now that would have been worthwhile ! they were a tight bunch those lads. Rod Haynes.

Thanks Ian, I try to read most of the postings on a regular basis and post replies to a few that I know something about, but have been laid up for almost two months after an ankle replacement and find it hard to concentrate for more than half an hour.All will be well in time though, it better be as I have promised my old mate Ian Wilson a lift to the Leicester opening. Best Wishes Rod Haynes.

Thanks Cyclone, been in touch with the m.c.c. who's secretary is to look up any information they have. Rod Haynes.

Hello and thanks again KevH, I understand that the Newmarket motorcycle club are still in existance and shall be in contact with them to see if anything is known. Rod Haynes.

Many thanks KevH, It would now be even more interesting to see if anyone has any idea as to who was involved regarding promotion / riders etc. as well as the actual site of the dirt track arena. Rod Haynes.

Hello again Tom, This brings back some very old memories as I also went to Wombwell to have a look around about 1964 'ish, caught the bus from home in the Barnsley road area of Sheffield almost directly to the town of Wombwell, then walked down the hill to the Dorothy Hyman stadium which I think was used for Athletics ( obviously ) and Karting ?. Right next to it was the old speedway track with like you say a practice session going on under the supervision of WHO ?. What I do recall was that the track had been well prepared by I think Phil Hattersley who's name came up earlier on. Apparently, the finest rider to grace the training session was none other than Bob Paulson during some of his earliest speedway outings. You should ask your mate over there, Stan Bradbury, if he remembers racing at Wombwell. All the best, Rod Haynes.

Hello Tony, Just a few corrections etc, to the list supplied by Frigbo. Brian Donovan came from the Manchester area, Geoff Langmaid I believe from near Lincoln, John Bowerman, a very colourful character from Sydney, Dave Buttigieg I believe was English and was in fact a National Karting champion at the time of him trying speedway for a very short time, and surely Chris Blythe was a good mate of Malcolm Mackay the pair coming over to Britain together about 1969 / 70, All the best Rod Haynes,

This might be a long shot I realise, but recently I have been researching my family tree / ancesters who originated from the small village of Bourn near Caxton in Cambridgeshire and while looking at village information / internet sites came upon a statement stating that : Speedway racing was staged at Caxton in 1930 although no information can be recalled about it at all, My intention is to go down to Bourn in early March in order to further my family knowledge and would like to ask around about the ' speedway ' whilst I'm there, Has anyone any information on Caxton Speedway please ?. Rod Haynes.

Hello Boston Five, As stated it was Frank Smith, but not Andy's father, it was the former Coventry and Peterborough rider. Rod Haynes.

Hello Tom, Hope you are O.K., The meeting certainly stuck in my mind as the rider in question was down as Lew Phelps and he was programmed at reserve for the St. Austell side. Unluckily he hit the fence halfway down the back straight and came to a very abrupt stop then fell onto the shale followed by his machine which seemed to pin him down. The reports after suggested that he never mounted a bike again, such was the seriousness of the accident. I have the prog. somewhere in my collection in the loft but owing to just having come out of plaster I can't climb up the ladder yet to find it. The Gulls that night were made up of I think: Charlie Monk, George Major, Glynn Chandler, Ray Wicket and some I can't at present remember. When the ankle permits I shall seek it out and report thoroughly. Rod Haynes.

Hello Steve, I think there must have been a mistake made with the compiling of the statistics, Cliff certainly rode in both the fixtures you mention, one of which I also competed in ( at Barrow) and can't recall, nor having seen anywhere, that he finished third in any race. By the way, he was pretty good on the speedway machine he rode, and in fact he was one of the very few who started in an official race as partner with his son Ian in I believe heat 13 at Barrow. Rod Haynes.

Geoff Carnell - Now that's a name from the past, remember him from winter practice days at Boston, the coldest place on earth at that time of the year. Seem to think he was there with a mate of his, both trying their luck to get second halves in the upcoming season (1972). Wasn't the other lad John Gosling, what happened to him ?, anyone know ?. Rod Haynes.

Hello Steve, v Canterbury 1-13 Ian Wilson, Doug Underwood, Brian Osborn, Graham Banks, Rod Haynes, Ian Wilson, Phil Bass, Barney Kennett, Graham Banks, Brian Maxted, Doug Underwood, Dave Piddock, Rod Haynes. v Workington 1-13 Ray Watkins, Dave Kumeta, Kym Amundsen, Ian Wilson, Rod Haynes, Dave Kumeta, Ian Wilson, Doug Underwood, Terry Kelly, Ray Watkins, Mitch Graham, Terry Kelly, Rod Haynes. As you can see, I myself was responsible for around 15% of those, bringing up the rear on both occasions. Rod Haynes.

Indeed he was a regular at Owlerton almost every Thursday, and following a late season fixture in 1974 he invited all the team members including all wives/girlfriends to the Sheffield club he was appearing on stage at that particular time. We were I think seated above the normal audience position on the 'second floor' and thoroughly enjoyed his live act when nearing the conclusion he looked up and took the mickey out of us with some cracking gags and gestures. In reality he appeared as a very quiet studious type to me, he forged a genuine friendship with Reg whom he did at the time uncannily resemble, in fact they could have been brothers. Regards Rod Haynes.

Have to agree totally with the following: Jacques post 27. The meeting at Gelsenkirchen last year was a disgrace to speedway, I recall only two passes all night and one was Nicholls decking Harris in the last place runoff. Steve Shovlar post 56. I drove there with my wife last year, we were guests of sponsors Subspecies (a close friend) and found it easy-ish to find our way there. But, and it's a big but, due to the pathetic meeting we would never bother going back there again and I suspect many more from last year wouldn't either, hence the alleged low ticket sales figures. Rabbit post 59. You hit the nail firmly on the head, a complete lack of professionalism from those concerned. If there were underhand forces at work to: (1) help the smirking hairdrier recover from injury. (2) cover up ticket volumes. (3) give yet another G.P. meeting to Poland. Etc. Etc. Then those responsible will have a hell of a job covering it all up adequately without the help of the national media, not the speedway ones, as they already do that to try and give the illusion of all being well. Rod Haynes.

O.K. Vince you make some valid points, but selectively, the G.P. series as with the old finals has thrown up very few unworthy victors, so we seem in relative agreement about that. The rider I mention as falling short skillwise by the way is clearly unable to handle a roughly rutted track (style badly flawed) without resorting to foul tactics thereby endangering the lives of his fellow competitors. Barring injury what possible reason can there be for not allowing all seven top riders from the final qualifying round into the next series instead of the present wild card system. As I said, the F.I.M. did get the best (fit) sixteen in the final from the two semi finals, you don't get that with the present set up. Time and again people have voiced their opinion both in forumland and in person that more than half the riders finishing below the top eight look jaded, sometimes some thoroughly uninterested in proceedings as well, and ought to be replaced. Now if in the interest of more countries being represented is the reason for some of them being there in the first place then the system is flawed anyway. I note your comments on track surfaces is broadly in agreement with mine and many others, my theory about how this has come about involves the extreme power vested in certain individuals and a Danish influence can't altogether be ruled out, with slick surfaces etc. Ironically though nowadays the roughest, rutted or sopping wet tracks usually produce the best (but more dangerous) racing. Wembley although not to everyone's liking was always prepared correctly for the big night. Effectively the series is dead and buried now with the Italian and German (again) rounds now meaningless, rarely was the old style title in all it's years of running decided before the last FOUR races. Having spectated at Cardiff mid season and final rounds at both Gelsenkirchen and Sydney I have to say both the latter rounds were complete meaningless flops, and the 2007 German G.P. the most boring meeting I ever witnessed in forty six years. The truth is that the G.P. series probably began with the best of intentions but also as a great money making scheme on behalf of the 'owners' of the staging rights. A couple of years ago the general concensus of those in power was that it had become tired and so it was tinkered with in an attempt to revive it's appeal, and to a certain extent it worked. As others have mentioned it now feels as though the series is too big, the authorities too full of self importance and to hell with the leagues that ultimately train and supply it's riders. Lastly some heats ( Cardiff 2007 for example) seem to have been (badly) manipulated to financially produce the 'required result'. Sad that OUR sport has sunk to such depths to try and keep the series itself popular. It won't be long before the authorities/owners have to reinvent the G.P. series yet again. The problems then might show the 'owners' in their true light as being far from professional in what they do. Rod Haynes.

As someone who has watched both live and recorded versions of the two World championship systems I feel educated enough to put this into some kind of perspective. First the G.P. series where (1) not everyone involved has to qualify on merit, (2) invitations including wild cards bring it into disrepute, (3) around half the tracks ( not all temporary ones either ) are a disgrace by being improperly prepared and not conducive to real and safe racing. And that's just for starters, we can pick faults all along the line and that's not even mentioning the unaccountability of the ' owners ' of the series, and the fact that appointed referees aren't up to the job in at least 50% of cases. I also maintain that the general costs of equipment everywhere has escalated wildly because and since the G.P.'s started. I could go on but for those of us who watched many of the old style World finals with the associated dramas played out in around half of the heats in front of packed houses ( yes including Bradford 1990 and Pocking 1993 ) the current method of finding the true champion is completely flawed, how can a guy with the best of machinery but little skill win more than one title ! Discuss that if you will. The F.I.M. finally found the ideal formula between those named finals, it was the simple system of two semi finals that rooted out the many dud Europeans ( plenty of these characters made final day over the decades ) and gave us paying spectators the strongest final line ups possible before dropping the one night final in favour of the circus foisted upon us. Finally those who never got the chance to see a Wembley final missed out on some of the finest speedway meetings ever staged, I can't say as there was ever an undeserving victor, and although I genuinely felt for Dave Jessup with his engine failure would never have thought of him as the best that year had he won. Rod Haynes.

Hi Team Man, Just seen the picture of you going out of the start at Peterborough. By heck the grim look on your face tells a story alright, I guess it was a relief to you when the bike eventually straightened up from that angular lift off position and set itself back down on terra firma. Good luck to everyone who enjoys the thrill of riding those powerful old machines. Regards Rod Haynes.