Trackman

Photos added ... Merv Janke, Kevin Torpie. http://goldcoastspeedway.homestead.com/ Regards.

Former Halifax and Glasgow star of the 1980's, Merv Janke, won the Sel Walton Memorial Shield for Classic Solos on the Queen's Birthday weekend. The event was not the prime reason for Townsville-based Janke's trip south, however he was persuaded to enter, having been offered the loan of a bike and riding gear. And it paid off handsomely, as he sailed through the heats undefeated and then was untroubled in the final. New Zealander Barry Free, who made the long journey just to take part, filled second place from Terry Hentschell and Kevin Beazley. Evolution solos attracted the most entries, with 16 on track, including several inter-staters. Local Scott Fisher topped the points, then shrugged off a full first lap challenge from Rockhampton's Anthony Wright to win the final. Third home was Geoff Tomkins with Danny Regeling fourth. Janke had qualified for the evolution final as well, but chose to opt out. Jack Stevens (NSW) also qualified, but wrecked his bike in a frightening crash in his last heat. Coming in for the chequered flag, Stevens' back wheel hit the fence and he careered infield, narrowly missing the flag marshal and the upright of the starting gate. However, he destroyed the rack of flags, the flour bin and line markers, before smashing through the gates of the junior track and being thrown onto its infield. A veteran of knocks of this nature, Stevens shrugged off medical attention and walked back to the pits. Wayne Munck/ Yolanda Wilken were first away in the Classic Sidecar final, but engine failure forced them out before completing a lap. Ross Brown/ Karac Eden took over and led home from Michael Kent/ Karl England and Bob Skinner/ Craig Mitchell. The Pre 84 Sidecar final lost some of its punch when Ben Cooper/ Ryan Spann broke a chain before reaching the starting line. Peter Wilken/ Kelly Cooper took the win over Ross Brown/ Ricky Tumini, with Craig Shannon/ Darryl Mealey third. Former Australian Test rider Kevin Torpie took to the track after a long absence to put in some demonstration laps. The 70 year-old, who rode for Edinburgh in 1965, added to the nostalgia of the day, along with many other stars of yesteryear including Ivan Mauger, Bluey Scott, Don Lawson, Keith Cox, Trevor (Ghost) Harding, Bill Bryden, Steve Regeling, Mitch Shirra, Jim Airey and Nigel Boocock. Modern speedway was also catered for. Harley Horwood and Darcy Ward were winners in the modern solos, with Jake Moore and Nick Morris best in the junior solos. Rapidly improving Glen Vercoe, with experienced Chris Lewis in the chair, won the modern sidecar final from Kim French/ Steve Kelly and Bob Hill/ Nick Bain. Paul and Daniel Newman withdrew from the final with a cracked fuel tank. From Gavin Elmes . . . . . Regards.

G/Day OP. One way around it .. use the oil catcher as fitted on most Weslakes, modifide to fit a Jawa, dirll a hole 1/3rd of the way up the contaner, place a fitting in, fix a hose running to the oil tank under the seat. Regards. PS. You can also run good motor oil in her too. (;O)) Vegy oil dont like doing 20 laps of any motor. (;o)

World..... Regards.

3 new tracks in SEQ soon ... anyone want a speedway winter, in the sun? Regards.

Your All-time Hero..and Why, Tell us your favourites pre-70s.... sorry Mods.... Regards.

So you concur with ya self then. ... Ya like KevH, been reading too much Trackman, Ya get dizzy if you do as many laps as us Trackmen you know? Regards. PS. Stay Safe 'Paulco'.... you might end up on a bike...

is that a first? Regards. PS. Do you concur KevH, I'm ya most talked about Trackman? .....

Australia V England dirt track test.. http://www.johnlangfield.whlsites.com/ Chris Pusey, Julian Wigg... think Broadbank might of been in the team too .. 74/75? BFD might be able to help? or Rossco G. (;O)) Regards.

Little Boy Blue... Regards.

Halifax Speedway 1965. Regards.

This Kevin McDonald of Bathurst is the Dad of Glenn McDonald, ex Aussie/ Longeaton rider.... Regards.

It wasn't the Start Marshall. .... it was a track raker that dragged Mitch off the track by the scruff of his collar, Mitch had been run wide into the fence by a Poole rider. Mitch was winded at the time the track raker dragged him off the track with Mitch still flat on is back.... Bugger that! Regards.

GG was fun to watch too.... Regards. PS. He could jump a pit gate like a Kangaroo, didn't matter to him if he wasn't in the race, We might lose the match, but we won't lost the $%@&!^) fight, he'd say ......

I'm told that race times were faster than some 500 race time. ... Look out EU, the Aussie Kids are going to kick ya butt.... Regards.

It would be cheaper for us Qld'ers to fly out to Malaysian or a New Zealand GP from ..... http://www.msfa.qld.gov.au/content/venue.a...oldCoastStadium Regards.

Best you get a TinHat. (;O) Regards. PS. Take him wide BFD.

So my TinHat's ok then!..... Regards. ( 8O)

Weymouth's Best Ever.....? Wiggy, Coles,Schofield, Shakespeare...... Yeates who? Regards. PS. Them were the days.

As soon as I read that......... ...... Regards. PS. Don't drop it on him on the first turn BFD, he's only a kid....

(;O) ....& thats a Trackman with his TinHat on. ... But you once said, you didn't like it. Regards. PS. Poor Trackman, never got over that...

I remember it well 5 minutes before the parade, we hooked up the change room pee troff to a "D cell" battry.... Bobby Beaton took it well.... "Never seen it so big" he said.. Ivan heard the odd screem and keeped looking at what Mitch was up to. .... think we did their heads in by Ht1 Regards.

I could wright it slowly for you..... Regards. PS. Dirt track is a track that is Dirt. .. We also put in a right turn. at some meeting MX bikes line up with the boys on the grasstrack bikes... not a good mix at times.

G/Day oddfossengen John is still going sideways today.... http://www.sportfund.com/langy40/default.aspx http://www.johnlangfield.whlsites.com/ Regards.

If the Solo's get in tuch with Kingaroy Speedway, they could ride there too... Regards. PS. What a good idear..... Cars & Bikes on the same program