The team that captured your heart from the start.

[Phannan]

The team that started my love of speedway was Bradford Northern at Odsal stadium. My dad used to take me from the age of 6 onwards. We used to stand on the first bend and got splattered by the shale on every lap. And that smell !!! Nothing like it . My team included Alan Knapkin, Dave Baugh , Alf Wells . Robin Adlington , Dave Schofield, Alan Bridgett, Sid Sheldrick ( in his white leathers) as well as others . Also the mercurial and sadly missed Gary Petersen. Wonderful days that started it off. Still love the sport now though that’s tested a lot more these days but that’s a different discussion. 

[YeOldPitGate]

Kings Lynn 1985 was when it all started for me the Martin Rogers days, we were the whipping boys of the league without a recognized heat leader in the whole team but crowds as a whole were okay and the excitement of when we would nearly get a win but get clobbered in the final heat.

We were that bad Colin Pratt wanted us chucked out of the league, then Bill Barker and Simmo took over, the first season we had a powerhouse team King, Peterson, Davis & Knight four Lynn specialists by the end of the season we were dreadful again.

King picked up to many injuries, John Davis was more suited to longtrack than Speedway as he could only ride the boards, Knight did his job and Peterson went from unbeatable round Lynn when he used to visit to terrible when he signed for us.

Bill then went with youth and got Loram and Henka Gustaffson in those were my fave days two of the most incredible racers I have ever seen , Bill and Simmo fell out and Bill carried on alone struggling more each season all ending when someone from memory stole all the gate takings at one meeting which was the end for him.

I would have been late teens and went every week with one of my best friends, stopped going early 90's when I discovered nightclubs and women but hugely fond memories and have followed the sport from afar (like ten's of thousands of others) ever since.

[WookieboyDon]

My profile photo says it all. #ComeOnYouDons 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

I was born in Wolverhampton and have always been a wolves fan and always will be but when I joined Berwick in 1999 and 2000 it became like a second home, I loved it there, the Berwick folk made me feel like one of theirs, often stayed up there with the meldrums and was often in the town or on the beach, loved the place and still do, so it definitely captured my heart 

[piston197]

 I went to a few meetingsand world championship at Wembley ,British riders at Bellvue etc in the 70's and odd meets in the 80's, but it was only when I moved from Somerset to Herefordshire in the 90's that I started to attend every Newport Wasps ( and Mavericks) home meetings and the odd away meeting when they were riding. it was the Watson, Smart, era that really got me hooked, likewise it was the demise of the Wasps which got me to being an occasional speedway attendee once again, plus a few Grasstrack meets, now there is value for money, lots of races, fast programme and few breaks in between.

[The White Knight]

I got hooked in 1964.  

Speedway, of which I new little or nothing, arrived in Sunderland in 1964. The Sunderland 'Saints' were born. I attended the first Meeting not sure what to expect. From the first race I was captured by the noise, the smell (Castrol 'R') the excitement, the thrills and the spills. What a Sport, I thought - this is for me.

Nine weeks later it was all over. Granted the weather was not very kind to us, however we had no rain offs. The 'Saints' closed because of weather and lack of support, so the Promoters  said. However, the Gates were not that bad - I know because I was there at all of the Meetings. The Promoters though had a hidden agenda. Newcastle 'Diamonds'  who were third in the League took our Ken Sharples and the Wolverhampton  ''Wolves' who were bottom of the League acquired Jim Airey, Gordon Guasco, and Colin McKee. That Season, Newcastle finished as League Champions with Sharples scoring well for them and Wolverhampton finished in third place thanks to getting our riders.

Promoters Bridgett and Parker claimed that the crowds were too low. The penultimate Meeting had an attendance of 6,000 (source - Sunderland Echo).

No, it wasn't crowds or weather that closed Sunderland, it was the fact that both Promoters wanted to strengthen, what they regarded as their premier Teams. Sunderland was sacrificed purely in the interests of Newcastle 'Diamonds' and Wolverhampton 'Wolves'.

Am I bitter - well the answer to that is a resounding YES. Even after fifty six years, it still leaves a sour, nasty taste in my mouth.

[berniev123]

Can only be Cradley since late August 1959!

[Phannan]

10 minutes ago, berniev123 said:

Can only be Cradley since late August 1959!

Kenny Carter used to ride Cradley well didn’t he. Bet he got plenty of stick there too because of his clashes with Bruce .