Grachan

1. McConnell 2. Cook 3. Penhall

I remember this meeting. I never went but recall it being a massive attraction. It was a four team tournament but can't remember he exact teams. There's a section on it in the Ivan Mauger's Speedway Extravaganza book. Doesn't give the actual teams, results, scorers etc, but from the pictures etc it looks like Lions (a British team) Scandinavians, Australasians and a Booey Select. Some of the riders involved: Peter Collins, Bernie Persson, Malcolm Simmons, Ray Wilson, Billy Saunders, John Boulger, Bruce Cribb, Mitch Shirra (possibly just in the second half individual meeting as there's a picture of him leading in the second half but not wearing a race jacket), Dave Jessup, Soren Karlsson, Chris Morton and Nigel Boocock himself.

I did start making a record of the 1967 season once in my desperation to see Swindon win a league title, but never did get round to finishing it. Anyway, here's as far as I got with the Silver Sash for that year: Saturday April 1 – Barry Briggs (Swindon - Holder) beat Eric Boocock (Halifax) Thursday April 6 – Barry Briggs beat Trevor Hedge (Wimbledon) Saturday April 8 – Barry Briggs beat Hasse Holmqvist (Wolverhampton) Tuesday April 11 – Barry Briggs beat Sverre Harrfeldt (West Ham) Saturday April 15 – Barry Briggs beat Olle Nygren (Wimbledon) Wednesday April 19 – Barry Briggs beat Gote Nordin (Poole) Saturday April 22 – Barry Briggs beat Nigel Boocock (Coventry) Saturday April 29 – Barry Briggs beat Arne Pander (Oxford) Tuesday May 2 – Ray Wilson (Long Eaton) beat Barry Briggs Thursday May 4 – Arne Pander (Oxford) beat Ray Wilson Thursday May 11 – Mike Broadbanks (Swindon) beat Arne Pander by default Saturday May 20 – Ray Wilson (Long Eaton) beat Mike Broadbanks Tuesday May 30 – Ray Wilson beat Arnold Haley (Sheffield) Saturday June 3 – Ray Wilson beat Ken McKinley (West Ham) Thursday June 8 – Ray Wilson beat Arnold Haley (Sheffield) Tuesday June 13 – Ray Wilson beat Eddie Reeves (Oxford) Monday June 19 – Graham Coombes (Cradley Heath) beat Ray Wilson Friday June 23 – Jim Airey (Wolverhampton) beat Graham Coombes Tuesday June 27 – Jim Airey beat Ivan Mauger (Newcastle) Friday June 30 – Gote Nordin (Poole) beat Jim Airey Wednesday July 5 – Gote Nordin beat Bo Josefsson (Glasgow)

Sunbrite was (is?) a type of smokeless fuel. The company sponsered British Speedway at that time. If the final was in USA that year then it's probably from a qualification round. Can't be more helpful than that I'm afraid. I notice Britain made it to the final, so presumably did it through this round. Jeremy Doncaster and Richard Knight were in the team in the final, so that would give an Ipswich connection.

Get Ray Quinn back, but stick him on an ice rink this time. Much better than his singing.

In 1966 both the Golden Helmet and the Silver Sash were raced for over the season. The Golden Helmet was dropped in 1967 and the Silver Sash became the only Match Race championship in the British League. Not sure when the Golden Helemt returned, but when I started going in 1974 they had the Golden Helmet but not the Silver Sash.

That'll be The Prodigy that were at their peak in the 20th century then.

Can't remember on entrance, but may have been "unofficially" cheaper if you just turned up for the second match. It was one programme for the meeting with two seperate score sheets incorporated. One meeting - interval - other meeting.

I just have a random pile of mags in the bathroom and that happened to be amongst them. I think it stayed because it had Martin Ashby in it. And now it will stay forever - because it has me in it!!

Just had the shock of my life looking at this in the, ahem, "bathroom". I glanced at the crowd picture from the 70s on page 11 and there, staring back at me, was my 15-year-old self! Quite weird. Seen the picture load of times and never noticed before. Three rows back. Two in from the right. Gawky, semi-longg-haired teenager looking at the camera. That's me that is.

What about a park bench? You see them in many parks dedicated to various people.

Interesting. Certainly a bit of a "speedway" shape to it. Thanks for that. Funny how that area was used for houses but the rest remains grassland isn't it.

Reading's Tilehurst site is now Stadium Way Industrial Estate. Click Swindon's first track - from 1928 to 1930 - was at The Autodrome, behind the Duke of Edingburgh pub in Gorse Hill. I assume that would be the piece of grassland in this picture. Click Bristol Knowle Stadium is now houses, as in this picture. Not the defunct track shape a bit lower down but the actual site of the houses. Petherton Road and Ravenhead Drive are built on the former site. Click

Jerzy Szczakiel deserved to be Poland's first World Champ because he was the one who won it. None of the others did, so didn't deserve to - with the possible exception of Plech who seemed to be robbed of a possible place in the 1973 run-off by a bizarre refereeing decision.

I used to love watching Swindon winning at Oxford on Screensport. Presented by Lee Richardson's mum. Those were the days.

Not really. Not for me in 1982 - and I got the house to myself for 2 weeks. Oh yes!!

I know.

It's a fascinating piece of footage isn't it? After seeing the same few stills for many years I couldn't believe it when I came across that on Pathe News. I particularly like the shot where they are on the start line and people are milling about at the side of the track. I think it gives a bit of a taste of the atmosphere. And the bit where some bloke nearly rides off the track and into the crowd! Interesting to see no broadsiding too.

I think to win a World Final twice you have to have more than just home track advantage going your way, so respect to Freddie I say.

I went in 1975, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1983... Start getting a bit confused with the years then. Best take a look at Wiki. 1985 in Bradford. I went to that one. The 1987 one in Amsterdam. Seen more people at Blunsdon on a cold, windy evening. 1988. Vojens. The last one I went to was 1990, when Per Jonsson won it. I think the Wembley ones had a special atmosphere. It was a real treat seeing Peter Collins win in Katowice. And Per's win was a good one too. Also always enjoy the way people get so narked about Egon's win in 1983, so, in its own way, I like that one too. (Edited to remove 1982. Not sure why I put that because I wasn't there. Was at Reading Festival. Watched it on Betamax when I got home)

Didn't Ila Teromaa make the 1978 World final, so 1978 looks a good bet. I recognise everyone except the guy behind Peter Collins. Mike Lohmann perhaps? Or am I just being a bit dim?

I went there a couple or so years ago when I was working nearby and had a look. I took some photos of how it was then, and it was little more than a piece of wasteland. you could still make out the track shape though, and odd traces of fence etc. http://www.geocities.com/gam_noticeboard/cbury

Or, for that matter, pages.

The deaf and dumb bloke selling pens.

Monkey Masks Booing opposition riders without being told they "put their lives on the line for our entertainment" Cheese and onion rolls from the back straight bar at Swindon It being only 10 years since Swindon won the league New Polish riders being guaranteed to be useless.