martinmauger

Dunno which was the bigger atraction at 'The Zoo'; the usually brilliant speedway or the almost essential fun fair afterwards, especially the go karts ....

Tom & Joe Owen scored maximums for fun whilst at Newcastle. Joe got quite a few for Hull too in 1978 once Mauger helped him get his mojo going, until his (Joe's) terrible 2nd half accident at Hull (Boulevard) mid to late-1978. Joe's career was ended riding for Ellesmere Port at Birmingham (Wheels Project) in 1985. Joe survived but was sadly confined to a wheelchair....

Been to a few 'multi-hour' meets, not due to many race related delays like crashes but everyone just taking their sweet time, most often afternoon World Champs Qualy meets which literally did go on forever. Been to Scunny when they rattled through 70-odd amateur races in 4 hours....

Absolutely ....

Speaking as I find: my 'Star was late, 'course it just 'had' to be the season preview issue too, phoned Dave Fairbrother "no problem mate, I'll put another in the post", arrived today 11am. Only took time out from reading it to post here, really can't complain, first time late in either 2 or 3 years, so conitinued great service then. Originally took out a 'sub' as it was 'late' every 3/4 weeks despite reserved in papershop I used for years , yet I would see it on sale in supermarkets, etc. So all is well. + I may be going to speedway soon, good stuff....

Adding my 2p worth: 7 or 8 years ago either the first or 2nd time I rode a speedway bike, I slid off (admittedly at lowish speed), left leg temporarily trapped under the bike, struggling to free myself, didn't initially realise my right foot was also somehow under the footrest. Once aware of how hot my foot was getting I did manage to extract myself, but the exhaust downpipe, just before it meets the silencer, burnt through the reinforced heel of the leather Daytona boot and 2 pairs of socks leaving me with a lump the size a golfball. I applied a cold bandage immediately and the lump went down in a day or so but to this day I still have scar the size of a penny on my right heel....

And I'd love to see Hull Vikings back, it means WAY more when it's your own team. There are few things I'm ain't too happy about in modern day speedway but I still enjoy the sport: it's still 4 riders turning left 4 times, no gears or brakes skidding the back wheel to turn, change lines and race. Still, wouldn't ever dream of telling anyone else what to do, or not do, yer pays yer money, etc and do whatever....

Took the words 100% outa my mouth. I'm not a fan of the double points rule either (or at least only award DP for the race winner) nor am I a fan of any current team but don't let one rule ruin your enjoyment, TWK, it's still a great sport....

Er no. Hull actually closed in September 2005 (sob!). 2004 was in fact our 'season in the sun' as Hull Vikings won the Premier League, the Young Shield and the PL Knock Out Cup....

Pete Boston, Michael Lee, Middlo; Neil Middleditch. Barry Briggs & the late Simmo: Malcolm Simmons not exactly short either....

Me too. While obviously delighted at the (apparent) signing of Olsen, I was disappointed that Jimmy Mac was the rider to make way. Seems he was reasonably happy to leave, ironically joining the club Olsen left (Wolves), as he wanted Midlands base. Jimmy Mac was a great rider though....

Dave Gifford doubled up with Coatbridge and Hull in 1974, last rode for the Vikings Hull on 31 July during the infamous Hull v Belle Vue match. He after agreed with the Aces riders that the extremely wet Hull track was unridable after 4 heats (resulting in the record 60-9 home win), however the rereree had deemed the track ridable and so Gifford was sacked on the spot ! He spent the remainder of the season at Coatbridge. I cannot comment as it was the week after the match in question that my parents decided I was old enough to attend speedway alone, which I was more than happy to do as several school friends were already regular fans. It wasn't uncommon for kids to go to speedway by themselves being dropped off and picked up in the knowledge no harm would come to them, it's still the same nowadays. Bobby Beaton rode for Hull until speedway closed at the Boulevard end of 1981 while Jimmy Mcmillan spent one more season at Hull, moving to Wolves making way for the rider control allocated Ole Olsen. But that's another story....

The late Kazimerierz Adamczak rode 1 match for Hull in 1976, scored no points in 2 rides and so was released. He joined Exeter and Newport, did little better and returned to Poland. He died in 1994....

Thanks for the heads up. Don't the actor on the right look a bit like Woffy ?....

And Hull Vikings (!). On a not dissimilar topic, when the ex-greyhound filming box was removed form Craven Park (a sale by Hull KR to Scunthorpe Speedway to start life as the current ref box at Scunny) it was discovered, or re-discoverd, the hard way that all the electrical wiring for speedway was fed through the junction which connected the box to the entire stadium mains supply. In fact Dave Dowling tried in vain to run what turned out to be the last meeting (so far!) in Hull in September of 2005, v Glasgow. But it really was not viable, or safe, what with no starting tapes (elastic band), no green light (ref's torch from centre green), no stoplights (stewards with red flag - at night), no exclusion lights, pit lighting or anything else I've probably forgotten. Whilst not pointing the finger at anyone - really - one issue and a huge stumbling block to running the remaining 2 home matches (v Glasgow & King's Lynn) which were never staged was that the wiring from stadium to filming box, and so to power the speedway equipment, appeared to have been severed by a blunt, yet sharp instrument, not unlike an axe. Unfortunate. Whilst still not pointing a finger, it was widely known that landlords Hull KR wanted speedway to end asap so they could lay a wider pitch. This they did, the grass laying equipment vehicles soon moved in to begin work, and irionically there was till just enough room for a speedway track, as the dog track was long gone at the time, before the new stand over turns 3 & 4 was built in 2008ish.....

One thought occured to me: aren't folk going a little overboard a bit hasty-like re: GTR engines? I mean one rider, Freddie Lindgren, had a successful season using these motors and reported much reduced wear so he saved money and is happy. But Lindgren is a very good rider anyway so would know how to get the best out his equipment and look after it, not missing servicies or running his motors flat out even if they are not running 100% ok until they blow up. But we are talking about one rider using these engines over one season. I know Chris Harris had some rides on the GTR at GP level and Kelvin Tatum has had plenty of spins on them (again, both good riders) but suddenly people think these new motors could be speedway's salvation. When Weslakes, JAWA 4-valves, Goddens and GMs were launched they were supplied to a few different riders, works riders, who used them and presumably gave feedback to improve the engine(s). Their success sales grew and gave speedway the situation were GM became almost every riders' weapon of choice. I DO hope the GTRS are competitive at all levels, it will make speedway more interesting, and I certainly hope they DO reduce costs (a blow up 20 laps after a service is no fun for any rider) but it just seems to me folk are jumping the gun a little. Like I said, just a thought....

Indeed. Such an issue exists in Hull's surrounding area where there is literally so much spare land, one could easily run another league or two....

This production appeared very locally (Willerby a couple of miles away) and I totally forgot about it, probably due to a week of 'couhging & sneezing fun' due to the flu. I would reccomend those who can check it out though....

It's still alive, though you wouldn't know it at times due to the many folk asking "speedway, is it still running ?" or (more infuriatingly) "what's speedway ?". I too struggle to understand those that think £100+ is good value for a road race (bikes or cars) where you can see one corner and a bit of a straight (if one is lucky) from 1/4 of a mile away due to gravel traps. The competitors disappear for a minute or so and maybe swap places, though probably not, or not re-appear and the spectators have no idea how or why. Still no team of my own to support (sob) but still looking forward to the new season. Still can't foget about the sport or stop watching....

Seems like Mr Mole almost saved / re-opened tracks for fun, he certainly saved Hull in the winter of 1997. He deserves some kind of reward for his services to speedway....

Saw a prog the other nite about the early days of F1 and the lack of safety: at one point they were losing an average of one driver per month. Amongst other improvements the drivers demanded armco barriers at all circuits as some drivers had been killed when oping off the circuit and crashing in woods. Well at one GP, Spain early 1970's I believe it was, Emerson Fittipaldi didn't believe the armco was secure as it was attached to posts by bolts - no nuts - and bits of wire, he kicked the barrier and a lot of it collapsed. Emmo refused to race, he was either World Champion or at least GP leading points scorer at the time, but after sitting out most of qualifying the rest did eventually race. A driver crashed in the race and was killed, decapitated, as the armco barrier at one point was too positioned too high. Crashes still occur in F1, as they always will, but 99% of the time drivers stagger, if not walk away from enormous accidents which perviously they would not have survived and mercifully fatailities are almost unheard of....

Once when Soldier Boy supported his beloved Aces, in particular Peter Collins, at Hull (Boulevard) the announcer was so sick of the back and forth banter with SB (which he was defo losing) he annnounced "there is only one mouth bigger than yours and that is Falmouth !". Cue loads of laghter all round. Then it was announced "the next record is especially for our friend from Belle Vue" and proceeded to play "Run For Home" by Lindisfarne: "Chorus: Run for home run as fast as I can Oh-oh running man running for home Run for home run as fast as I can Oh-oh running man running for home." Etc. Cue loads more laughter - including Soldier Boy - who stood up and applauded with loads of thumbs up to the announcer. Long time ago, mid 1970's forget the score now but the SB incedent is still fondly remembered, good stuff....

Terrible accident and sadly ended Mark's carreer there and then. For a long time I wondered how he suffered such awful injuries as I always thought the Ipswich fence basically collapsed on impact due to the deliberately loose-ish panels. Air fences are huge faff to install, remove and store but an excellent safety improvment provided they remian in position. But I think the storage of deflated fences being a problem at greyhound stadia is a bit of an excuse as, having attended greyhopind meest, 80%+ of punters watch from monitors in the bars and watching outside the stand, even without a speedway fence with kickboards, you can still only see the head and back of the dogs. If Craven Park were still operating speedway, an air fence would be a big factor as it would almost certainly need removing between speedway meetings. The banking on the speedway bends was limited to only around 6-8" or so. One close season the banking was completely levelled off by person or persons unknown.....

When a rider is unfortunate enough to go into an air fence so many times it lifts and the rider goes under it, hitting whatever is behind so the fence may as not be there. A thought occurred to me the other day, HGV covers have a strap every 2ft or so, so perhaps more fixings would help stop air fences lifting on impact. A strap or fixing every 2 ft may not be practical but just an extra fastening in the centre of each panel would help. Prior to air fences tracks would be surrounded by boards or mesh fencing which may well still be present so if a kickboard was fitted aound the bottom of the solid part of the fence, even armco or just some kind of posts, then air fence panels with just an extra fixing in the centre would be more secure and so less prone to lifting on impact. Depending on how the 'solid'-type air barriers as used at Berwick, King's Lynn and soon to Glasgow are fitted, maybe an idea could be used from those. Like I said, just a thought....

Coincentally I recently watched Oxford v Hull 6 September 1996, a 48-all draw in no small thanks to Bobby 'Showtime' Ott being in brilliant form. Only rode 6 months or of that season but he was a rider who put bums on seats, cleared the bars & pits and was a popular guest.....