TonyMac

We're trying to organise sales at as many tracks as possible, although with the awful weather of late rain-offs could prevent you picking up a copy. Why not consider a subscription - it costs £16 for six issues, which is a saving of £2 on the price you'd pay if you bought each issue from a track, and you get it mailed direct to your door. For your info, though, we are on sale at Northern tracks - Sheffield, Edinburgh, Berwick and now Newcastle. Scunthorpe? Yes, we'll get around to covering all defunct tracks in time. In issue 4, there will definitely be a feature on the switch from Nelson to Bradford, when the old Odsal track used to pull 11,000 crowds for league racing each week! Those were the days, eh? Cheers, Tony Mac

Steve, I think your memory is playing tricks. The Russians never rode at Brooklands, though the Czechs did in each of the three seasons of operation (69, 70, 71). Tony Mac

The incredible built-in-nine-days Romford story was in fact covered in some depth in issue 1 of Backtrack. What a unique place Brooklands used to be (until it was replaced by a housing estate, which it still is). Apart from the aforementioned Ross G, let me throw some more names into the ring to get those nostagic thoughts whirring even further...Phil Woodcock, Kevin Holden, Brian Foote, Frank Wendon, (the late) Charlie Benham, Colin Sanders, Mike Vernam, Bob Coles, Bruce Edgar, Clark Facey, Ian Gills, Terry Shearer, Ted Spittles (gold leathers & boots), Dene Davies (who has subscribed to Backtrack, top man!). Wasn't Tony Childs (Hull) given a 'warm' reception there! Happy days! Tony Mac

Ashie, Yes, of course, Long Eaton is just one of many sadly defunct tracks that will be covered in future issues of Backtrack. It's obviously not possible to cover every club, past and present, in every issue, but we will soon get round to a decent piece on the former Invaders (or Archers, depending on your age!). Tony Mac

Blimey! Forgot to add that (for all you Scots) we've also got the concluding part of the Colin Caffrey story, recalling his days at Berwick and Glasgow. Hope they'll still let me through at the border! Tony Mac

Hello all! Thanks for your interest in the next issue. Issue 3 was completed last night and will be back from the printer's tomorrow (Friday), so I'm intending to deliver copies to Oxford first, All other tracks will receive their copies asap, certainly during the course of next week. All subscribers’ copies will be posted this weekend. To whet your appetite... Issue 3 of Backtrack - the new retro speedway magazine - is crammed full of the following... EXCLUSIVE NEW INTERVIEWS PETER COLLINS – Our 'Main Man' this time with a 6-pager (and that's just Part 1), talking to Brian Burford about his early racing days; partnering his great mate Chris Morton to 5-1s in heat 13 at Hyde Road; the agony and the ecstacy of his World Final nights; the 'Sugar in the Tank' episode at the British Final; why he believes the ref was right to exclude Kenny Carter at LA in ’82; and the long wait for his MBE and more. Plus...what our top columnist JOHN BERRY REALLY thinks of PC (they didn't get on very well!). JOE OWEN – talking candidly to Martin Neal about life before and after speedway; how he has coped with his disability, the psychological effects of his cruel 1985 crash at Birmingham that has left him in a wheelchair; and how he has now found true love the second time around. Joey has rebuilt his house himself and is an inspiration to us all. MAJOR FEATURES TOMMY JANSSON - 28 years after he was killed in Stockholm, we salute the super Swedish stylist who was adored at Wimbledon and beyond. We talk to Tommy's former girlfriend who still visits his grave. Read about the moment she had premenition that Tommy was in serious trouble. Darell Mason provides a brilliant insight into the late, great Swede who was tipped as a future World Champion. PRIDE OF THE EAST - We look at King's Lynn's annual major individual meeting, the history behind this once prestige event and also recall all the other 'biggies' staged by BL & NL tracks in the 70s and 80s. WHAT'S UP AT COVENTRY? - John Berry wonders if Coventry will ultimately go the same way as the old Belle Vue, and recalls the night he and his Ipswich riders had to take cover from 'hooligans' throwing missiles at them on the victory parade lap at Brandon. SHAWN MORAN Q&A – 'Shooey' answers our quickfire questions about his time with Hull, Sheffield and Belle Vue. CRUMP'S CROWNING GLORY - Looking back to 1972 when Jason's dad, Phil Crump, romped through the second division with mighty Crewe Kings and then capped a magnificent season by winning the league riders’ championship at Wimbledon. HAPPINESS IS 40-38 – Reliving a classic National League match between title rivals Poole and Middlesbrough at Wimborne Road in June 1985. BILLY HAMILL's 'NO BULL' BOOK - Why the American star was grateful to another former Heathen, Phil CoAnd also... JACK MILLEN – Where are the great characters like 'Crazy Jack' today? MIKE LANHAM – The unsung hero of the successful Ipswich team of the mid-70s. BRIAN WHITE - The new Weymouth promoter on his days as a young fan of the Wizards/Wildcats and Poole in the 70s and 80s. HALIFAX REUNION – Report and pics from the recent EX-Dukes get-together. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - Former Hackney, Rye House, Canterbury and Poole youngster Andy Fines gets in touch from Canada. Plus we talk to former BSPA manager Ann Gillespie. BERRY BITES BACK! – Your questions answered, as only JB can! 1970 IN PICTURES – Alf Weedon's unique look back at the 1970 season, with evocative black & white photos of Young England and Peterborough teams, John Louis & Ron Bagley (Ipswich), Jimmy Ogisu (The Japanese who rode in the Internationale), Graeme Smith (Canterbury), Bernt Persson (Cradley) and Nigel Boocock (Coventry), Christer Lofqvist (West Ham) & Norman Hunter (Wolves), Barry Briggs (Swindon) and footballer David Webb, Sandor Levai (Newport), Ove Fundin & Bengt Jansson, Swedish World Team Cup winners, new World Champion Ivan Mauger. ---------- On sale now at the tracks for £3.00, or to subscribe phone 01708 379 079. Or go online at http://www.retro-speedway.com Now I'd better get in touch with the man who runs this site to sort out some proper, PAID advertising before he bombs me out! Cheers, Tony Mac

Comparisons between the past and present are always tricky...but no one should underestimate how good Phil Crump was. One comparison, though, that it's fair to make is that Jason has fewer rivals of real quality standing in his way of the ultimate prize than the number of really top class riders that the original Crumpie had to try and overcome...Mauger, Olsen, Michanek, Autrey, Plech, Jancarz (the latter two in terms of their threat in Polish-staged world finals) - and they're just the top 'foreigners' of that era. Now consider the English challengers...PC, DJ, Simmo, Bettsy, Lee, Kennett, Wyer - all 10-point plus men in the BL. I don't intend to belittle Jason's talents or achievements, but England doesn't have the same depth of talent today. And as several on here have already said, the tracks and bikes were so much less 'comfortable' to ride in the 70s. As I recall, the Aussies (and Kiwis) didn't exactly have an easy qualifying route either. Some of those Aussie Championship qualifiers were real blood and thunder meetings, with no room for error. Phil's top man for me...but then I would say that! Tony Mac

Thought it stood for JAMES ARTHUR Prestwich? Tony Mac

It's not conclusive evidence, but I hope Bryan is still very much alive and kicking. A Bryan Seery, from Kent, has taken out a subscription to our Backtrack Magazine - can't imagine there are too many Bryan Seerys about with an interest in speedway in the 70s/80s....? Tony Mac Backtrack

Backtrack is the new retro speedway magazine, 40 A4 pages packed with exclusive interviews and features on the 70s & 80s... Issue 2 includes: Kenny Carter, the most controversial rider of the early 80s, is our 'main man'. We talk exclusively to the man who knew him best, Eric Boothroyd, the former Halifax and Bradford promoter who gave the ill fated KC his first speedway rides as a 16-year-old in 1978. Eric talks candidly, like never before, about how he came to regard Carter almost as a son and recounts in depth about his relationship with his former number one rider . . . what Kenny was like to deal with on and off the track; how, as a teenage boy, he had to cope with the tragic deaths of both his elder brother and mother; his battle to overcome a succession of serious injuries; his relentless pursuit of business success away from the track; and, ultimately, the shock and sadness he felt on hearing news of the deaths of Kenny and Pam Carter in 1986. John Berry, who managed Kenny Carter as England boss, also gives his typically forthright views of the rider who dubbed himself England's number one. Regular Backtrack columnist JB explains why he decided not to award Carter the captaincy and recalls Kenny's reaction after being escorted from the Ipswich track by security guards. Peter Collins v Anders Michanek ­ was their KO Cup match race decider in 1973 the greatest race ever seen at the old Belle Vue? Dick Bott, who was at Hyde Road as a radio commentator on that epic night, says he has never seen better than THAT titanic battle between the respective number ones of Belle Vue and Reading. Happiness is 40-38 . . . .our classic meeting this time features a memorable Midlands derby between Coventry and Cradley Heath from 1983, when the Bees managed to inflict a rare defeat on the Heathens as they romped towards the BL title. Denmark dominated the sport in the second half of the 80s and we look back at their finest achievement in that period - their 1985 World Team Cup final victory in California, where they had to overcome their American hosts on and off the track. If the Danes were on the rampage internationally, domestic racing in England was dominated in the mid-80s by Hans Nielsen-led Oxford Cheetahs. Former co-promoter Bernard Crapper gives us the lowdown on the BL team that was unstoppable in both 1985 and 1986. Frank Ebdon was undoubtedly the most talked about, controversial referee in speedway in the 80s. We visited big Frank's Essex home to find out what he is really like away from the track. How did he build up his £1million business empire... Ivan Mauger stunned speedway when he moved from Belle Vue to unfashionable Exeter in 1973. We look back at the momentous day when the six times World Champion drew 10,000 fans to the County Ground to see his debut for the Falcons v Poole. Another Kiwi legend, Ronnie Moore, also talks exclusively about his enduring passion for the sport at the age of 71 and how he is slowly regaining his memory after the 1975 track smash that almost killed the former Wimbledon idol. Arena Essex have now been operating for 20 years, so we talk to the former promoter and team manager Peter Thorogood about the early days at the track with no safety fence. Hackney, Weymouth and Sunderland followers will be keen to read our personal tribute to the late Vic Harding, who died in a track crash 25 years ago. A memorial meeting will be held in his honour at Weymouth on June 11. From East Anglia, we've got a profile on former King's Lynn favourite Terry Betts, we recall the 70s style and professionalism of Rye House and Mildenhall and ask: who was the first-ever foreigner to ride for Ipswich? Fans from the North-East will enjoy a profile of Berwick cult hero Rob Grant and memories of speedway at Middlesbrough's defunct Cleveland Park circuit. While Scottish folk will doubtless enjoy Colin Caffrey recalling his early days as a young rider trying to break into the sport. Fans of Polish riders will enjoy a journey back in time as our two-page picture spread captures images of former BL-based Poles like Zenon Plech, Edward Jancarz, Andrzej Huszcza, Bolek Proch, Marek Cieslak and more... With John Berry answering questions from readers in his own unique style, there is so much for everyone to enjoy in issue 2 of Backtrack Magazine. http:www.retro-speedway.com

It's definitely NOT too late to subscribe - in fact, lost of new readers are subscribing each day. Issue 2 was posted out to subscribers tonight, but we still have copies of issue 1 in stock. A subscription in the UK for the first six issues costs £16. You can subscribe online by filling in the form at http://www.retro-speedway.com Or you can phone 01708 379 079 and pay by credit card. Or send cheque (payable to Backtrack) to us at: Backtrack Magazine (Subs), Unit 4, Ashton Gate, Ashton Road, Harold Hill, Romford, Essex, RM3 8UF. Hope this explains all you need to know. Tony Mac

Good idea and, while it is an enormous undertaking, we are at the starting process of building a gallery of 70s & 80s pics on our Retro-Speedway website. It will take a long time to build up the galleries but we already have a massive archive of old pics and will add to the site on a regular basis. We are sorting and scanning photos now, so leave it a couple of weeks and then take a look on our site for nostalgic action and portrait photos of so many old favourites and also lesser lights... Tony Mac Backtrack Magazine

Issue 2 is being completed this week and will be out, on sale early part of next week. Some of the highlights to look forward to... Kenny Carter is the 'main man' this time, with an exclusive new interview with former Halifax and Bradford promoter Eric Boothroyd, who knew Carter better than anyone outside the immediate family. Eric has some very fascinating views on his former No.1. There will also be an exclusive new interview with Ronnie Moore, one with referee Frank Ebdon, plus features on Terry Betts and Exeter's coup in signing Ivan Mauger in 1973 and we're asking if the 1973 KO Cup match race decider between PC and Mich was the greatest ever race to be seen at Hyde Road? Plus... Middlesbrough, Rob Grant (Berwick), Newcastle, Vic Harding, Colin Caffrey, Arena Essex, Coventry v Cradley Heath is the 'Happiness is 40-38' match from 1983, review of the 1985 World Team Cup final from Long Beach. And there's more... Tony Mac

Gerald 'Jaffa' Purkiss (Canterbury) Rudy Muts (Wimbledon) Arthur Price (King's Lynn/Boston) Ivan Blacka (Edinburgh/Stoke) Karl Fiala (Rye) Robbie Blackadder (Newcastle) Jack Bibby (Crayford) Pete Wigley (Crayford) Les Race (Barrow) Frits Koppe (K. Lynn) Carl Squirrell (Ipswich) Ted Howgego (Ipswich)

Remember when Garry Middleton - Cass the Gas of Hackney fame - (falsely) accused Ivan Mauger of using the banned nitro fuel additive that caused uproar at the 1972 Internationale? This WAS the biggest meeting of the UK year, with a line-up that always surpassed the World Final itself for pure quality from 1-16. When Hedgie won the 1969 Internationale, he drove home with his bike packed into his boot. How times have changed, eh? Don't know about Halifax to Wimbledon, but for us Southerners the Spring Bank Holiday schedule was: Reading (11am), Rye House (3.30 or 4pm), then Plough Lane (7.45). What a day! Tony Mc

Too right, give the man the credit he deserves! Almost 22 years years may have passed since Bruce last rode here, but he remains the ultimate professional. He gave straight, often fascinating, answers to all the questions he faced and it wasn't his fault the mic played up a bit. He showed a lot of humility, too, in recognising that his acting career didn't exactly end at the Oscars, and was very praiseworthy of others who helped him reach the top, like Eddie Bull, his team-mates, the promoters and team managers at Cradley. He signed every autograph request, posed for countless pictures wearing Heathens' t-shirts and an old racejacket and kept smilling all the way through. Even at gone 1am, Bruce was still chatting happily, courteously and patiently to supporters in the hotel and remains a great ambassador for the sport. It's a pity the FIM does make use of his enduring charisma and knowledge of our sport. Everyone who turned up for the forum on Saturday night got great value for their £10 admission. Those who missed it missed a great night. Bruce's blond locks may have faded but he is still a top man. Tony Mc

I am delighted to announce that I am about to launch a brand new retro speedway magazine, called BACKTRACK. It will be published by myself on a bi-monthly basis, with the launch issue set for March 7 at the GB Exhibition Show at Stoneleigh (come and visit us at our stand if you are going!). Backtrack will basically cover the specific era of the 70s and 80s, including the early days of the BL2 and NL, as well as the BL1 stars. It will be packed with exclusive interviews, features and pictures. Issue 1 will be sold for just £1 (plus P&P if ordering via our website), to give everyone a taster of what we;'re all about. Thereafter this very niche magazine will have a usual cover price of £3 per issue, with six issues a year. A subscription for all 6 issues costs £16 in the UK, £22 in Europe and £30 throughout the rest of the world. Please check out more by visiting our website, which is still very much in the construction stages. It's at: http://www.retro-speedway.com This is not just a shameless commercial plug...I would be very pleased to hear your comments and any suggestions for editorial ideas, because I want to hear what real fans think. If you don't wish to go public on here, please feel free to email me in person at editorial@retro-speedway. This is a great site and I also hope to be able to help contribute to its continuation by advertising on here - so please get in touch if you are one of the administrators! I hope you will be keen to try Backtrack - for just a pound, you can't go wrong. And please help me spread the word among all supporters who still look back on the 'older' days with as much affection as I do. Thanks for taking the trouble to read this rather long announcement. All the best! Tony McDonald Backtrack Magazine

Sean, I'm sorry, you're right - that was an epic Hawks recovery at The Shay and I wished I'd have been there to witness it. We always got hammered there when I saw us, so I possibly decided to give that one a miss. Fool, because you should never have underestimated Zenon and Thommo. Norbold, that sounds like another unmissable night. Super Simmo in the making... Hackney, West Ham.. I've gotta sign off now, this is too much to bear... C'mon Northampton! Tony Mc

Top man, Roman Chyla! How are you keeping? It's good to see you are still keeping the Polish flag flying, my old friend! Zyto never rode for a BL club, though, did he? When the Poles were crushed in the 1973 World Series match by England at Hackney, for once the track didn't procide any good racing because it was very wet. A regular league meeting would have been rained off. Tony Mc

Sandman, you've drifted off the subject a bit there...but I can confirm that JD didn't succeed with any jokes at my expense, thankyou! Never chew gum anyway -horrible habit! Now what about those Poles...

Boley Proch at Reading was 'Yogi' - so called because of the Yogi Bear emblem on the front of his Polish club, Zielona Gora's racejacket. I'd love to know what some of these characters are doing now...

You just knew that Mort, PC, the Morans would be among the usual last-heat suspects. I'm sure Cradley Heath fans will havd fond memories, too, of the exploits of Phil Collins, Erik and Jan Oswald... Tony McDonald

The thing to bear in mind when trying to compare Plech with Gollob is that Zenon usually rode on compratively sub-standard machinery - he certainly didn't have the quality engines and bikes the top riders from western Europe had at the time. At Hackney, he would not hesitate to ride on the 'track spare' - a pool bike that was supposed to be back-up for all the team's riders. He only ever thought of the team and the fans, not himself or his average. Whereas there were riders who would not go near the spare when their own bike was playing up. With Plechie, he just pointed the bike - any one - in the right direction and grabbed a handful of throttle! Great days at The Wick. All the ability, skill and courage in the world, ZP only lacked top equipment and, it must be said, the level of supreme professionalism and dedication that took the likes of Mauger and Olsen to the very top. Blimey, I'd forgotten about Zabik and Blasczak! Tony McDonald

Great memories, Sandman. I remember being lucky enough to cadge a lift to Belle Vue with Plechie and Ivan 'Jacko' Jackson, who prepared the Hackney track then. It was mid-summer 1976. Talk about laid-back. Just a couple of hours before the match, Zenon was having a whale of a time in the BV amusement park, riding on the dodgems and giant rollercoaster! Probably just practicing for the BL match to follow, eh? Has therever been a more electrifying entertainer at Hackney than Zenon? You just never knew what was going to happen next, especially in his earlier days as a Hawk. And what a bloody nice bloke, too. No matter how badly hurt he was, he just wouldn't accept an ambulance ride to hospital. Tony McDonald

If 'Happiness really is 40-38', what were the best-ever last-race deciders in team meetings over the years? Not run-offs, but heat 13s, when the match was decided with a last gasp 5-1, 4-2 or even a 3-3? At Hackney, who could forget Thommo going round both Mauger/Autrey against Exeter to win the last heat of a BL crunch match in ’77? Didn't that hand the title to White City? Some of those Mildenhall/Rye House battles in 1979 were classics, too. No doubt there were some equally memorable and titanic last-heat deciders in matches involves the arch rivals in the Midlands/North/West/East & Scotland...Ipswich/Lynn; Glasgow/Edinburgh; Cradley/Wolves/Cov/Leicester; Peterborough/Mildenhall; Halifax/Sheffield; Berwick/Newcastle; Swindon/Exeter, etc, etc....