Petecc Posted Thursday at 02:10 PM Report Share Posted Thursday at 02:10 PM 47 minutes ago, Wolfie456 said: You obviously never went to a Wolves v Cradley match in the day.Was always a very highly charged and nasty atmosphere which lot of times ended up with fights on the terraces. And that was just the women. 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle77 Posted Thursday at 02:39 PM Report Share Posted Thursday at 02:39 PM I always look back on the 1978 World Final at Wembley with great fondness.. Heat 4... Ivan Mauger... did he fall or was he pushed... Ole Olsen... my favourite rider at the time winning... Gordon Kennett... the captain of my team, White City, finishing 2nd... and on his birthday! The GP's will never be as good as those one-offs... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellevueace Posted Thursday at 02:56 PM Report Share Posted Thursday at 02:56 PM Another thing i always remember is travelling to away matches by coach, i can remember 6 coaches leaving the Belle Vue complex going down to Swindon covered in scarves pictures of the riders/team in the windows. What was great going down to Wembley when we got down to the Midlands we would be travelling along with coaches from Wolves, Cradley, Coventry all decked out had some great banter at the services. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreverblue Posted Thursday at 03:32 PM Report Share Posted Thursday at 03:32 PM As Coventry was mentioned, I remember the Grand Prix at Brandon. The rider I loved to watch who rode for Coventry was Andreas Jonsson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therefused Posted Thursday at 08:25 PM Report Share Posted Thursday at 08:25 PM 7 hours ago, Wolfie456 said: You obviously never went to a Wolves v Cradley match in the day.Was always a very highly charged and nasty atmosphere which lot of times ended up with fights on the terraces. But that’s the complete opposite of what they were insinuating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle77 Posted Friday at 12:55 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 12:55 PM Another happy memory... August Bank Holiday Monday in 1977... White City v Wimbledon home and away double header... Larry Ross rode really well for Wimbledon in the afternoon meeting but a struggling Rebels team managed to get it together and won the meeting 42-36... Then on the coach to Plough Lane for the evening meeting... another close one but Gordon Kennett won a last heat decider with the Rebels winning 40-38... Of course... White City went on to win the league that year... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teromaafan Posted Friday at 05:01 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 05:01 PM On 8/20/2025 at 9:03 PM, therefused said: Is there trouble nowadays? The only trouble with fans these days is getting them through the turnstile! (…..and I don’t mean because they are too fat). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zagarmeister Posted Friday at 05:09 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 05:09 PM As has been mentioned, my overriding memory of Brandon was that of a very slick track that favoured the Scandinavians. Some good nights there though, I was married to a Leicester lass so always incorporated a visit with one to the in-laws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teromaafan Posted Friday at 05:17 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 05:17 PM On 8/20/2025 at 3:28 PM, Fromafar said: While talking of nostalgia ,for me nothing beats the BLRC CHAMPIONSHIP meetings at Belle Vue Hyde Rd. Jam-packed every year+ Fun Fair for after. Only went once with my mate and his dad, pretty sure it was 1975. I was blown away (still a school kid at the time) at the size of the crowd, the biggest I ever saw at a speedway meeting. Remember buying a Belle Vue race jacket (body colour) from the track shop, as Peter Collins was my favourite rider then (could only dream of him riding for the Lions). I think PC won the meeting with a 15 point maximum. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zagarmeister Posted Friday at 05:20 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 05:20 PM Whilst we're on a trip down memory lane I feel the need to share this. It's 1977 and Mum and Dad are still together. Saturday nights we'd travel to Lynn from Aylsham via the B1145 as that was the fastest route. I remember getting fish and chips somewhere in Lynn and the owners had a Boxer dog that we used to have slobbery kisses with being Boxer owners. I was 7 and Sunday mornings were spent with me being Michael Lee whist riding up and down Sir Williams Close in Aylsham on my Raleigh Chipper (the Grifter would come later). I had a red plastic p'ss pot helmet, KL race jacket and wellies. I would do 'gardening' at the pretend tapes and lots of practice starts. Good times! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macky Posted 21 hours ago Report Share Posted 21 hours ago Sometimes you remember the stupid things that happen, as a Canterbury supporter four very stupid memories come back. when the supporters on the coach had a whip round to buy Mike Ferreria from Coatbridge so he could ride that night. The time the coach driver was declared as our number 8 at Berwick so we didn't get a fine for not having enough riders, An injured Bob Spelta shouting abuse at fellow Ausies at Crayford and a Crayford supporter telling him he should try riding if he thought he could do better, with Bob pointing out he got ten points last time he was there. But the highlight must be the time Barry Thomas started his bike in the back of the coach full of supporters while on the motorway on the way to an away match. Frightened the life out of everyone including the driver. Good times. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralMelchett Posted 18 hours ago Report Share Posted 18 hours ago On 8/21/2025 at 2:22 PM, Wolfie456 said: You obviously never went to a Wolves v Cradley match in the day.Was always a very highly charged and nasty atmosphere which lot of times ended up with fights on the terraces. One of the best meetings I ever went to was Wolves v Cradley either 1988 or 1989 - was a 45-45 draw - Wolves we’re patched up somewhat as Sam and Ronnie C were injured and has Kelvin Tatum and Andrew Silver guesting - we were on holiday in Shropshire that year and drove across for it - as a kid seeing the top riders on show was a thrill as Arena were firmly a NL mid to lower table outfit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE DEAN MACHINE Posted 17 hours ago Report Share Posted 17 hours ago (edited) On 8/21/2025 at 2:22 PM, Wolfie456 said: You obviously never went to a Wolves v Cradley match in the day.Was always a very highly charged and nasty atmosphere which lot of times ended up with fights on the terraces. I raced in a Dudley-wolves trophy meeting and it was war, i think it was 93 I scored 1 point beating Scott smith,as a fan I disliked everything cradley and in particular had a disliking for Scott Smith , 7 or so years later I rode in the same team as Scott at Berwick and he is actually a great guy and we got on really well and we often talked about the wolves cradley matches, my good friend Jan staechmann nearly signed for cradley when he first came over and I joke with him that if he had I wouldn’t be his friend 😂 Edited 17 hours ago by THE DEAN MACHINE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelvinht Posted 14 hours ago Report Share Posted 14 hours ago Delivering newspapers as a kid a sliding round pavement corners whilst braking and singing there was only one michael lee. My dad wasn't best pleased when I wore my tyre out! And those bank holidays double headers, 11am at Saddlebow Road then all pile down to foxhall for the return in the afternoon. Happy days... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racin Jason 72 Posted 4 hours ago Report Share Posted 4 hours ago 9 hours ago, kelvinht said: Delivering newspapers as a kid a sliding round pavement corners whilst braking and singing there was only one michael lee. My dad wasn't best pleased when I wore my tyre out! And those bank holidays double headers, 11am at Saddlebow Road then all pile down to foxhall for the return in the afternoon. Happy days... The Good Friday double header was always was always my favourite day to look forward to in the fixture list. my first away derby meeting was in 1986 and Michael Lee was making yet another comeback. Witches won 50-28. Happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeOldPitGate Posted 2 hours ago Report Share Posted 2 hours ago 11 hours ago, kelvinht said: Delivering newspapers as a kid a sliding round pavement corners whilst braking and singing there was only one michael lee. My dad wasn't best pleased when I wore my tyre out! And those bank holidays double headers, 11am at Saddlebow Road then all pile down to foxhall for the return in the afternoon. Happy days... Brilliant times I can remember heading down to Foxhole one bank hol mon afternoon early nineties for the derby was over five thousand their. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawk127 Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago Bank holiday Monday meetings were always packed Rayleigh with speedway in the morning and Stock cars in the afternoon where Chick Woodroff was the promoter. One particular speedway meeting always sticks and it was Rayleigh versus Boston. I cannot remember which race but the Boston heat leader Arthur Price was out and Rayleigh had one Ivan Miller who I believe started off on grass track. On the final lap Miller who had come from the back passed Price to win. Price was not a happy chap. Some of the best meetings involved the local derbies with the likes of Romford, Crayford, Canterbury Eastbourne and Ipswich. Packed stadia and leaping uncle Len and terrific rivalry and atmosphere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singy13 Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago Ian Thomas was a top promoter of speedway. And presentation was a strong point of his. I'll always recall the 1970 season when packed crowds at Derwent Park saw and heard the Comets (and away 7) march from the pits to starting area with the track staff to the Radetzky March by Strauss...that tune is still my fave classical piece. The sometimes downside was when you only counted 6 Comets - Ian would explain Bob took a fall last night, at Sheffield, so R/R will operate (naff to hear this about Bob Valentine). Although sometimes riders had just arrived and missed the aforementioned march however made their heats. But most certainly great days to live on in the memory bank. UTC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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