Paul
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Posts posted by Paul
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.........Snowy love his heart with the "Weekly Fiddle" lmao, Magnificent Seven theme tune....This is my mobile tune.
Will be taking Snowy down to the Bonfire-Burnup tomorrow.But Shazzy, I SAY SHAZZY! I thought I was the only one who had the Magnicent Seven theme tune on there mobile! What an elite club we are in!
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I had decided not to comment on the loss of the London Stadium, but I suppose I should say my piece on the obituary of Hackney Stadium, later to become the London Stadium.
Like the many other posts on the demolition of Hackney Stadium it holds a whole host of memories for Lesley, Claire, Sarah and myself. If I’m honest I am pleased the stadium has been put under the bulldozer. That was not the Hackney Stadium that had so much atmosphere, that I like so many other people had fallen in love with. I’ve never known anything like the old place. Falling apart it may have been, but give me that old deteriorating old stadium any day, to the stadium that replaced it. When Hackney staged it’s last meeting in 1991, it was a terrible blow. Derek Howe’s the then promoter, will be known as the man that closed Hackney. The re-birth of the London Stadium was never the same. A grandstand that was best suited for functions other than for speedway or greyhound racing. I am sad the Vic Harding Lounge has gone. I know they could not have left it there. While the stadium was still standing, I suppose we although that there might be the smallest chance that the Hawks could return to Waterden Road.
The first announcement by Ted Sear at the first meeting of the season
“This is Hackney Speedway”
Ted Sear doing a Hackney war cry
“2, 4, 6, 8 who do we appreciate, H-A-C-K- N- E- Y, Hackney”!
Of course more often than not, Len would be jumping up and down on the centre green while the war cry was in full swing.
Len saying on the PA during the at the interval, doing the weekly fiddle
“What’s the jackpot tonight Snowy”?
Snowy’s reply
“£50 Len”
The one thing that nobody will be able to away will be the marching music of
“The Magnificent Seven” Still brings a lump to my throat when I hear it.
I think when I peg it, can someone tell my Mrs or Claire or Sarah to have that piece of music playing when they cremate me please!
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Over the weekend a discussion took place at the 4tt at Mildenhall as to who was/is England best rider. My vote I think would be Peter Collins.However some of the older generation at Tonbridge yesterday tell me the other PC [Peter Craven] was the best. As I am to young to have seen Craven ride [must ask Sean he's bound to have seen him ride] it is a difficult one for me to answer. Other forum members, I'm sure will have a view!
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27th July.Sittingbourne.Best Pairs.Details to follow!
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Riders for the meeting so far -
Sittingbourne
1 M Baseby
2 B Gilbert
3 B Burchett
4 J Purchase
5 D Hunt
TM Sean Wilkinson
Hackney
1David Durham
2 Lance Stott
3Richard Harbud
4
5JasonTaylor
TM Chris Fenn & Paul Tadman
Vic Harding memorial line up
1 Carl Rushen
2 James Clement
3 Tom Rowlett
4 Darren Smith
5 Keith Yorke
6
7 Michael Holding
8 Tom Hill
9 Mark Woods
10 Rob Painter
11 Roger Dickinson
12 James Theobald
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Start time for the Vic Harding Trophy will be 2.30pm. Following this meeting the Sittingbourne v Hackney match will take place. Get those old Hackney boards from the cupboard, loft, draws etc. In case you can't find your proggy boards there will be a few for sale at the track!
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He hated Swedes, do not why he just did!
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Hackney Hawks will racing after the Vic Harding Memorial Trophy against Sittingbourne at Iwade on the 29th June. Its what we've all been waiting for.More details to follow.
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The £30m that it cost to rebuild Hackney Stadium just shows what could happen if [which I very much doubt] London do get the nod for 2012. The old dome is the same, millions spent, then nothing after a year of opening. This part of London does need a massive amount of money invested in it. If you look around Stratford now it is on the up. With the Channel rail link in Stratford due to open in a few years time, this part of London could well become a success without the Olympics. The main grandstand is used during the day. I think its a Conference Centre with a bar area open to the public. I wrote several years ago to the local MP, he stated that the future of the Hackney stadium site was between Hackney Council and the owners. Hackney Council have always stated that Hackney Stadium was for sporting events and not for housing or industrial units. Hence it's in the mess it is in now, and not a supermarket. The old stadium had so much going for it. Not perhaps in decor, it may have well been falling down but the atmosphere was second to none. Must go and have a look at a Hackney video now, will probably shed a tear to.
If the Olympics do come to London does that mean my house will be part of the Olympic village? Plus the price of my house might rocket up, and that would be a result!
The site of Hackney Stadium, well they could build the biggest Wetherspoons public house in the world and that would be result!
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Please make a note on your calendar that the Vic Harding Memorial Trophy will run on the 29th June at Sittingbourne Speedway Club-Iwade-. Vic's Mum, sister and her daughters will be the guest of honours at this meeting. I feel sure had we been allowed to run this meeting in February we would have seen a massive crowd. Think back the weather was fantastic that day!
I really hope a big crowd comes to the meeting on June 29th to show Edna Harding-Vic's Mum- that her son is still fondly remembered and why her son was so popular at Sunderland,Weymouth, Crayford and of course Hackney. It's hard to believe but it's 24 years since that tragic day.
Chris Fenn and I are putting something together that I hope will happen some time this year or the early part of next year. More details soon. No it's not a speedway track return for Hackney, unless the lottery numbers come up!
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Now Sean, my spies tell me you where a head of speedway knowledge.Romford never had meetings at the dog track! Perhaps you could speak to them though. Oh, I forgot Arena are only a few miles away.Mr Russell may have something to say about that if he ever got the idea Romford would try to re-open! Now there's a thought.
Talking of Arena their programme makes no mention of Colin Brine or Adrian Kearney this year. Alan Sargent is only mentioned as press officer/programme editor. Is there a Russell take over? Could this be why the Arene website has gone down? Anybody know?
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Yes the "Stow" is indeed a fine stadium. When I was involved with the Hackney Speedway Supporters Club we arranged for our dinner-dance in the Goodwood Suite which is or was in the main stand. We held it on a Friday night and with the lights on in the middle of the centre green it really did look the buisness. One of our beloved promoters at the time was of course Mr Terry Russell, he also was very impressed with the surrounds. Now at the time the I think the owners where the Chandlers, who also had a chain of bookmakers.Now Terry Russell new the Chandlers-suprise suprise- and I beleive he did try to or at least look at putting a speedway team in there. If it was done with the same style as Sittingbourne then, well! I believe the stocks went because they where told to, not sure by who though.
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As this forum is about yesteryear, with many memories for me and I am sure for many other members too. The Star do a "7 for heaven" which are compiled by ex-riders, perhaps members of speedway forum might like to put their own "7 from heaven". Here' mine
1. Peter Collins
2. Zenon Plech
3. Barry Thomas
4. Dave Morton
5. Ross Gilbertson ©
6. Brian Foote
7. Steve Schofield
8. Bruce Edgar
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I cannot believe the pics I have seen of the old Canterbury track. Were the trees their when the speedway was running? I know they grow fast as I have a couple in my front garden. Can perhaps somebody answer a couple of questions?
Why did the speedway stop?
Why did the dogs stop?
Why did the football stop
Why was the stadium allowed to close?
I would have thought it would have been in the interests of the local Council to at least keep the football and dogs their. Is it council owened? I suppose Tesco's will be going on the site.If it's houses perhaps a campain could start, and at least call one of the roads Hoskins Road,
-Mawdsley Steet, only joking Mr Glover- After all there is a Hoskins Close on the old Custom House track!
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Like many other people I first saw Ken McKinlay ride at West Ham in 1969.Made the bobble hat such a fashion icon! He rode with such ease, making riding a speedway bike look so easy. Ken took his trade after leaving the Hammeres in 1970 to Coventry, Oxford and finally Scunthorpe. Remember him riding at Rye House for the Stags and he really did ride like the gentleman he really was.My thoughts are with the his family and friends.
RIP Ken McKinlay
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I thought you may have forgotton that there is a meeting at Iwade on the 23rd February 2003! Spread the word speedway is back in Kent! With the weather on our side-spoken to Dick Jarvis he arranged sun with sun tropical heat- we should be in for a cracker!!! More details at www.hackneyhawks.co.uk
Romford Bombers
in Years Gone By
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I'm trying to collect every programme from Romford days. Does anyone have any they'd be prepared to sell?
Have loads of doubles up th loft! Send me a list of what you want and I let you know which ones I have. email address paul.tadman1@btopenworld.com