TonyMac

Many thanks to Miro and all others who have helped to identify more 'mystery men' on our site. I'm not sure about Poyser, though. The Oxford pic was definitely taken in 1968, the same year as this shot http://www.retro-speedway.com/extras/autog...pg&start=80 of JP in Reading colours - and they don't look like the same man! Poyser did make one official appearance for the Cheetahs in '68, but I'm wondering if the man in Oxford colours is Colin Clark, who rode that year for second division Crayford? Can anyone pse confirm whether Colin also rode second halves at Oxford, or perhaps appeared as their No.8, which might explain him appearing in the Cheetahs' body colour? I'm embarrassed at there being so many more Hackney 'unknowns' still to be identified, never mind the rest! Thanks again, though, to all for looking... http://www.retro-speedway.com/extras/autog...autogallery.php?

Have just added hundreds more 'new' pics to the site - this time from the 1968 season. Most teams show new images in classic black & white, including those pioneers of BL Division Two: Belle Vue Colts, Berwick, Crayford, Canterbury, Rayleigh, Nelson, Plymouth, Weymouth, Reading and Middlesbrough. There are a number of unidentified 'unknowns' among them, so - as ever - a big thanks to anyone who can put names to the faces and black leathers! Check out the Gallery section at: http://www.retro-speedway.com

UPDATE Have just added more than 120 pics to the site, all from the 1974 season, with most tracks included. There are 'unknowns' in the Coventry and Swindon sections (more from 1987 have been added to the Robins' section). For those of you who prefer the late 60s, keep your eyes peeled, as I'll be adding 500 or so more images in the next couple of days from the 1968 season, including the first pics of riders and teams who competed in the launch of the second division that year...

Timmy Joe Shepherd, for Hackney v Belle Vue, 1975 Unknown American. Two rides, two lasts. Never seen in the UK again.

We, at Retro Speedway, are now working on a brand new book on Romford Bombers, the second division period of 1969-71. The book will be on sale later this year. As well as providing an entertaining history on that era, it will also feature new and exclusive interviews with many of the ex-Romford riders and management, lots of pictures (many previously unseen), plus reviews of the three seasons in questions, right up to the sad closure. And for the anoraks, there will be a stats section, too. We also want YOUR memories of past meetings at Brooklands, which will form the fans' memories section of the book. So, either via this forum thread, or by email to me at editorial@retro-speedway.com . . . please let's have your memories - good and bad - about speedway at Romford. It could be a memorable race/meeting, your favourite rider and why, or something quirky about the place and what Thursday nights at this old track meant to you personally. Where you stood, the people you met, the characters of Romford Speedway. The best, most interesting and entertaining submissions we receive will appear in the book itself, so there's a chance for you to see your name in lights in a book to further preserve the great name and history of ROMFORD BOMBERS! So come on, let's hear from you... Remember those names (inc Rochester Bombers)...Kevin Holden, Phil Woodcock, Brian Foote, Ross Gilbertson, Des Lukehurst, Charlie Benham, Mike Vernam, Bob Coles, Mike Sampson, Bruce Edgar, Ted Spittles, Ian Gills, Chris Yeatman, Terry Shearer, Tony George, Colin Sanders, Stan Stevens, Barry Duke, Geoff Penniket, Frank Wendon, John Hibben, Brian Davies, Roland Schofield, Adrian Baker, Mick Steel, Roger Knight, Brian Read, Mike Holt, Dave O'Connor, Dave Percy, Clark Facey, Dene Davies, Ron Edwards, Colin Clark...etc, etc. And if you are a former Romford rider yourself, then we'd be delighted to hear from you, too...

We, at Retro Speedway, are now working on a brand new book on Rayleigh Rockets, specifically covering the second division period of 1968-73. The book will be on sale around this time next year, if not sooner. As well as providing an entertaining history on that era, it will also feature new and exclusive interviews with the ex-Rayleigh riders and management, lots of pictures (many previously unseen), plus reviews of the six seasons in questions, right up to the sad closure. And for the anoraks, there will be a stats section, too. We also want YOUR memories of past meetings at The Weir which will form the fans' memories section of the book. So, either via this forum thread, or by email to me at editorial@retro-speedway.com . . . please let's have your memories - good and bad - about speedway at the Weir between 68-73. It could be a memorable race/meeting, your favourite rider and why, or something quirky about the place and what Saturday nights at this old track meant to you personally. Where you stood, the people you met, the characters of Rayleigh Speedway. The best, most interesting and entertaining submissions we receive will appear in the book itself, so there's a chance for you to see your name in lights in a book to further preserve the great name and history of RAYLEIGH ROCKETS! So come on, let's hear from you... Remember them: Allan Emmett, Bob Young, Geoff Maloney, Hughie Saunders, Dingle Brown, Terry Stone, Tiger Beech, Peter Cairns, Trevor Barnwell, Pete Wigley, Les 'Red' Ott, John Gibbons, Peter Moore, Steve Clarke, Peter Claridge, Brian Foote, Mike Gardner, Graeme Smith, Dennis Mannion, Laurie Etheridge, Roger Wright, Alan Jackson, Nigel Rackett, Garry Moore, George Barclay, Tony Hall, Laurie Guilfoyle, Bob Newman, Ian Champion, Colin Tucker, Barry Lee, etc, etc And if you are a former Rayleigh rider yourself, then we'd be delighted to hear from you, too.

Fans of Plymouth and Romford, in particular, will recall Colin Sanders from the late 60s/early 70s. He was Plymouth Devils' No.1 in 1969 before a couple of injury-plagued seasons with the Bombers. Sad to report that Colin is none too well these days and, on behalf of his family, I'm posting this in the hope that some of you who read it will take the time and trouble to write to Colin, to let him know that he is still remembered by fans in the UK. (Personally, as an 11-year-old, I recall getting his autograph on numerous occasions in the car park after meetings at Brooklands in 1971.) Colin has spent the last 23 years living a rather lonely existence in the USA, and it was while riding a motorcycle at the Dade City Raceway in Florida last summer that he suffered the major stroke that has left him paralysed down both sides of his body and unable to speak. He is, however, able to hear and understand what is being said to him. Apparently, he can also read, hence this appeal for a few 'best wishes' type messages. We'll be sending him copies of Backtrack and VSM mags to try and give him a lift but any additional written messages of encouragement from forum members would be most welcome. Colin's sister, Carole, has been in touch with us to say that her brother was flown back from the States this week and is now in Poole General Hospital. We're not encouraging visitors - Colin is not well enough for that at this stage - but letters or cards can be sent to him via his sister at: Colin Sanders c/o 12, The Field Shipley Heanor Derbyshire DE75 7JH Thanks for your support. Tony Mac

We interviewed Langy (via email) for the very first issue of Backtrack in March 2004, although admittedly it was only a simple Q&A that ran to one page. He certainly deserves to be covered in much more depth - a must for a future VSM.

Here's what's cookin' in issue 24, as we look forward to a fifth year of Backtrack... MAIN MAN – OLE OLSEN We’ve brought you some major exclusive interviews in Backtrack magazine over the past four years, but they don’t come any bigger than this one, with three times World Champion Ole Olsen – the most powerful man in speedway. Editor Tony Mac recently visited the original Great Dane at his home in Denmark and the result is a captivating 8-page interview with the man who put Danish speedway on the map. As forthright and controversial as ever, Ole talks about his own illustrious racing career, including his memories of riding for Newcastle, Wolverhampton and Coventry in the British League. Read what he has to say about: *Mike Parker, the rebel promoter who brought him to England in 1967. *Learning from the maestro, Ivan Mauger. *Why he would have quit BL if he hadn’t been granted his wish to join Coventry in 1976, when the BSPA tried to force him to Hull. And what did he call Ian Thomas that so incensed the Vikings’ boss? *Ole’s reason for turning down Briggo’s invite to join the Golden Greats…and why this man of the future always prefers to look forwards rather than back. *His radical thoughts on the state of British speedway and how to cure them. “I think they should stop British speedway for two years – close it down – and then come back with a whole new concept,” he says. *Olsen advises the BSPA how to handle riders who refuse to ride in wet conditions. *And among his revolutionary plans for the continued development of the Speedway Grand Prix is to change the starting system, so that the man on the outside starts one metre in front of the rest on an angled start-line grid. Our top writer John Berry airs his own personal thoughts on Olsen, the man who became his most difficult opponent when they managed England and Denmark respectively in the mid-80s. All this and much more…and this is only Part 1! The second instalment of the interview, when Ole talks candidly about his feud with Hans Nielsen, explains why he backed Erik Gundersen and how that, in turn, also upset Tommy Knudsen, will be in our next issue (No. 25), when he also talks about his World Final ups and downs and Vojens. ERIK GUNDERSEN The second part of our Erik Gundersen interview, a 5-pager, also makes for compelling reading, although it won’t please British track bosses. For the triple World Champion talks enthusiastically about his new role as Denmark’s Youth Trainer . . . and why the future looks rosy for his country and gloomy for the Brits. ‘Gunder the Wonder’ explains, in detail, how the Danes are re-building for the future with a structured youth policy aimed at producing the next generation of Nicki Pedersens. But, as Erik warns here, it’s not only the progression of bike-mad kids in Denmark and Sweden who Britain should beware of. He predicts that Russia will follow Poland and become a major force in world speedway in the seasons ahead, having himself been offered a coaching role in the old Soviet Union. The former Cradley Heath hero also offers to help Britain puts its house in order after years of neglect when it comes to youth development. BELLE VUE – 80-year celebrations To mark the 80th year of racing at Belle Vue, and in Britain, in 2008, we talk to former Aces’ boss Eric Boocock about what it was like to race at the much-missed Hyde Road raceway and the honour of being part of the famed Manchester set-up. Booey also pays tribute to the late Allan Morrey, one of the unsung heroes of Belle Vie Speedway for many years. JOE THURLEY Although currently awaiting triple heart bypass surgery that he hopes will happen in April, the former Birmingham boss reveals the highs and lows of reviving the Brummies at Perry Barr in 1971, the glory days of the mid-70s and then his ill-fated decision to take them up into the top flight. It’s a gamble he now regrets. KEVIN JOLLY A strong East Anglian feel to this four-page interview, as former Mildenhall starlet Kevin recalls the tension of past local derby clashes in the top flight between Ipswich and King’s Lynn – and why he wished he’d never moved from Foxhall to Saddlebow Road. DEFUNCT TRACK: RAYLEIGH If you were a regular at The Weir track in south-east Essex in the early 70s, you’ll be wallowing in nostalgia with this 3-pager on the Rockets, who were revived by Len Silver in 1968 and ran until the dreaded bulldozers flattened the place at the end of the 1973 season. NATIONAL SERVICE How speedway was back page news – and occasionally even made the front! – during the glory days of the 70s and early 80s, when England ruled world speedway. Plus… The Rod Haynes Column, Life and Times of a 70s Racer . . . interview with former Middlesbrough announcer and team manager Tony Coupland, a tribute to ex-Oxford graduate Rick Timmo, and Q&As with Ian Hindle and Russ Dent, as well as your letters and the latest round of our Mastermind quiz. _____________________________________________ If you don’t already subscribe to Backtrack, which is now entering its fifth year, it costs just £16.00 a year (UK) to have six issues delivered direct to your door. Or, if you want to try one issue first before committing, you can buy single copies for £4.00 (inc P&P) via the PayPal facility at the publisher’s website: http://www.retro-speedway.com Alternatively, you can place your order over the phone by calling 01708 734 502.

Can you recall any specific examples of this yourself? Speaking to a number of riders from the 60s period, it's clear that Olle was widely regarded as ruthless, some have said 'dirty'. I'm going to ask him about how he was perceived by his rivals. You can't help but admire the man and what he has put back into the sport.

I'm off to interview Swedish great Olle Nygren tomorrow (Monday, Feb 4), who will be featured prominently in our next issue of VSM. Do you have any questions in particular that you'd like me to ask Olle? Anything about him, or his long career, that you have always wanted to know? Just post your (sensible!) questions on here, and I'll do the rest... Any thoughts on Olle's career that you'd like to share on this forum? Cheers, Tony Mac

Thanks, Rob, for looking anyway. Wonder what caused Olsen to hit the fence - unlike him to go there without 'help' from a rival? Maybe there was a mechanical problem? Can anyone shed any light? Ole couldn't recall the details of this incident when asked.

In the next issue of Backtrack magazine, we're running a feature on the excellent coverage speedway received (compared to modern times) from much of the national English daily press, mainly tabloids, in the 70s and early 80s. To illustrate the article, I wondered if anybody has kept newspaper cuttings from that period that you would be willing to either scan and email to me (would have to be scanned at 300dpi) or post to us? Obviously, we would return anything that was posted. I'm thinking of cuttings from the likes of the Daily Mirror when Mike Lee was a regular columnist, and other stories that carried big headlines featuring big names such as Lee, PC, Ivan, Ole, England (winning!), World Final coverage, etc, etc. Any help would be very much appreciated. Pse note, though, we're only concerned with NATIONAL paper coverage, not local press. Pse PM me if you'd prefer. Cheers, Tony Mac

I've just added some pictures I took of Ole and family to our website. Scroll down to the bottom of the text on the Olsen home page news story... http://www.retro-speedway.com

I'd like to see that, too, Rob, so can you please provide a link for it when you next get a minute...? I don't know the details of the crash, bit Olsen broke his shoulder at Oxford, which severely hampered his chances of winning the title in ’73.

I did say ARGUABLY! Seriously, you make a very good point about PC's brilliant form that season and, who knows, but for the leg injury, he could well have retained his crown in Sweden. One thing to consider, though: did he make such consistently, uncharacteristically good starts in Ullevi BECAUSE he had such a serious leg injury, and knew that to gate well was his only chance of glory? Perhaps, if he hadn't had the injury, he would have been his normal self and had to do it all from the back...and on that notoriously slick track, with its limited passing options, in the rain....? Food for thought. If anyone was hard done by in ht 18 it was Lee. But in all honesty, there was no way in the world that Kittilsen was going to be brave enough to exclude BOTH Ivan and Ole on that occasion. He, sensibly, allowed them more time to sort out their mud-clad bikes for the rerun. His mistake was in applying the two-minute buzzer so quickly in the first place, although, it has to be said, that Lee was ready to go. As Ole admits in our interview, it was his fault that he didn't win that race - he admits he shouldn't have been out-gated by Johnnie Boulger in the first place.

Sure did ask him... ...well, come on, in the real world, there was no way Kittilsen was going to exclude either of those two given the diabolical track conditions, which forced OO to change bikes for a third time. Lee was last in ht 18 when Boulger fell and the race was stopped. If victory came too soon for him in 1980, then '77 would have been far too big a burden for Mike to carry. Olsen was arguably the best rider in the world over the course of that '77 season, although the leg injury to PC was a huge factor.

Those who have been calling for an in-depth, exclusive interview with the great Ole Olsen will be pleased to know that I had a four-hour chat with Ole at his home in Denmark yesterday. It will be the dominant feature of our next issue. In fact, he had so much to say about speedway past, present and future that it will run over the next two issues. Ole was candid, controversial, talked a lot of sense, and has some radical thoughts and ideas, too. Newcastle, Wolves, Coventry, world finals, Danish team manager, Pete Adams, helping Erik Gundersen, his 'feud' with Hans Nielsen, Ivan Mauger, his rivalry with Michanek, how British promoters should handle riders in wet track disputes, his future plans for the SGP, how he 'escapes' speedway...all this and much, more. So if you haven't renewed your Backtrack subscription yet, or have been thinking about subscribing, then I'd urge you to do so now. This one is a biggie... http://www.retro-speedway.com

Those who have been calling for an in-depth, exclusive interview with the great Ole Olsen will be pleased to know that I had a four-hour chat with Ole at his home in Denmark yesterday. It will be the dominant feature of our next issue. In fact, he had so much to say about speedway past, present and future that it will run over the next two issues. Ole was candid, controversial, talked a lot of sense, and has some radical thoughts and ideas, too. Newcastle, Wolves, Coventry, world finals, Danish team manager, Pete Adams, helping Erik Gundersen, his 'feud' with Hans Nielsen, Ivan Mauger, his rivalry with Michanek, how British promoters should handle riders in wet track disputes, his future plans for the SGP, how he 'escapes' speedway...all this and much, more. So if you haven't renewed your Backtrack subscription yet, or have been thinking about subscribing, then I'd urge you to do so now. This one is a biggie... http://www.retro-speedway.com

OK, now you're all warming to the theme, how about helping me with some pointers for our feature... Which individual visiting riders were regarded, by home fans, as the 'enemy' at The Weir? And I don't just mean the whole Romford team. Which visiting rider would have hated Rayleigh the most (serious injury, etc)? Who were the home riders who struggled most to make their mark at The Weir? Who was the biggest Rockets hero in the Div 2 (1968-73) era? - Maloney? Saunders? Young? Peter Claridge?! Greatest achievement by the Rockets there, in terms of team performance/result? Cheers!

Rob, General consensus on the second pic (71-1) is that it's Bob Young, which I've gone with now on the basis that the style is very similar to the other one from the 1971 season (71-2). I did originally have the man in the black leathers (70-1) down as Rackett but now I'm not convinced. Could he be Roger Wright? That action shot was definitely taken at Reading in the 1970 season, so can anyone shed any further light on his identity? Freebie? Much as I'd like to do it for old time's sake and your toil for the Mail, three pages on your beloved Rockets has to be worth 16 quid of anybody's subscription money! There you go... http://www.retro-speedway.com/page.php?11

Rayleigh will be the subject ol our regular 3-page Defunct Tracks feature in issue 24 of Backtrack - on sale Feb 9. Meanwhile, pse enjoy these nostalgic pics of former Rockets... Perhaps someone can help identify the 'unknown' riders on the second page? http://www.retro-speedway.com/extras/autog...ders%2FRayleigh

Bryn, get back to work old son! I don't do West Ham aways, only homes - prefer the real ale at the O's to the motorway grind.

Think you'll find a new stadium, and the area around it, is going to be used for some kind of athletics thingy (which has already cost the government and, us, the tax payers, too many millions - no, make that billions) around 2012! After that, Leyton Orient FC reckon they'll most likely be moving into a scaled-down version of the new Olympic Stadium. While O's chairman and owner Barry Hearn, being the multi-sports entrepreneur that he is, might be persuaded to operate alongside speedway, where will the fans come from to support a shale revival? The demographics and culture of that part of East London have changed beyond all recognition since speedway closed at The Wick, although, as I cynically suggested to Uncle Len last year, if he reopened at Hackney with a team of Polish riders (instead of Plech-Jankowski-Huszcza), he might run to sell-out crowds. Always said Len was ahead of his time! (Before the PC brigade get all touchy, that's not racist, just an observation on how the 'local community' has alterered in those parts, from someone who regularly alights at Leyton tube for Orient home games!)

The best, and fairest, racetrack in the south of Britain (Hyde Road, Belle Vue was best of all)... ...The Magnificent Seven march-out tune... Plechy with his back wheel pinned to the safety fence for four laps on his arrival at the end of '75...in fact, not much changed with him after that either! ...Thommo blazing round a helpless Mauger AND Autrey to win the final heat v Exeter - and hand the league title to White City in '77. ...Banger feigning to go round his opponent on the pits bend, only to totally bamboozle them by chopping back to the line in the race to the flag... Dave Morton, only ever starting off gate 4 or 1, and then heading straight for the boards before surging past with his handlebars touching the wire fence... Chalky White holding the team together throughout an injury-ravaged '77... ...Big Dave Erskine... The Flying Cucumber, Steve Lomas, hugging the white line...and beating Anders Michanek in the end-of-season Champions Chase KO... ...Requring at least six biros to get through the Champions Chase programme... ...Ken Archer in the pits...'Jack' Jackson on the track...Bert Busch in the workshop...dapper Alf Weedon on the centre green...Rose making the tea in the pits... Hawkeye digging out Wimbledon (The 'Fickles') in his programme notes... ...waiting for Miroslav Verner to arrive at the start of '71...and I'm still waiting! ...Len explaining why the PZM had caused Zenon to miss another meeting... ...Dave Kennett locking up hard on the slick... Snoopy's/Cherry's nightclub... The steep steps between the pits and the terracing on the 4th bend, where the souvenir kiosk at the top... ...Snowy doing the interval draw with Len and a rider... The main stand bar(s) and watered down lager... A flooded track on Good Friday '77 for the return home clash with Ippo...even though it hadn't rained in East London all day! We still got stuffed, as usual. The stench from the nearby Oxo factory... The gipoe's who moved in (early 80s) down Waterden Road to test the security of parked cars... ...Garry Middleton testing the starting gate elastic... The dulcet tones of Ted Sear... ...Big Fred on the coach to away matches...and the Sampson coach breaking down at Cradley one night in '76... Must go ... got work to do! But feast your eyes on these pics by clicking the link below...there's hundreds more to be added yet... http://www.retro-speedway.com/extras/autog...iders%2FHackney