Retro Speedway: Backtrack Back Issues (65-80)

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Backtrack Back Issues (65-80)

PLEASE NOTE BACKTRACK ISSUES 1-71 ARE NOW SOLD OUT

ISSUE 65 (November - December 2014)

TONY DAVEY INTERVIEW

Tony Davey burst on to the speedway scene and served his home-town club Ipswich for a decade before one too many serious injuries finally took their toll and he was forced to quit. Respected former Witches boss John Berry, not one for lavishing praise lightly, once described Tony as "the most natural speedway rider I've ever seen' and there can be no doubt that the Framsden Flier would have hit the big-time but for a badly damaged hand on his British League debut in 1972 and a twice broken thigh that ultimately ended his career on the eve of his richly deserved testimonial meeting in August 1980. Tony Mac ventured into sleepy Suffolk to visit the home of the likeable lad they call 'Shrimp' and to find out if he had any cause for regret.

ALAN MOGRIDGE INTERVIEW

Rob Peasley take an in-depth look back at the 25-year racing career of Alan Mogridge, whose honest endeavours benefited no less than 16 different teams and thrilled fans the length and breadth of Britain from second-halving in 1981 until 2006 and his fairytale ending with Workington.

DAVE LANNING INTERVIEW

In part two of our compelling, in-depth interview with the man widely recognised as the 'Voice of Speedway', Dave Lanning explains why speedway has disappeared from terrestrial television and the sports pages of national newspapers, as well as revealing other aspects of his career behind the microphone. He gives his verdict on the epic Penhall-Carter duel of '82, names the man he considers to have been the finest promoter of all, tells us about the most difficult sport he has commentated on, while we also get his take on Sky Sports' coverage of modern speedway and how it could be improved.

KELLY MORAN BOOK EXTRACTS

We present edited extracts from Brian Burford's new Kelly Moran biography, A Hell of a Life - the revealing story of one of the most colourful characters in world speedway. The popular Californian died in April 2010, aged 49, his frail body ravaged by the excesses of alcohol and a hell-raising lifestyle, but he left behind a trail of memories he created on and off the track.

WIMBLEDON: 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

We traces the history of one of the most iconic, glamourous, successful and much-lamented teams in world speedway, including legends Ronnie Moore, Barry Briggs, Ron How, Olle Nygren, Trevor Hedge and the tragic Tommy Jansson, plus Larry Ross, Colin Richardson, Roger Johns, Dave Jessup, Malcolm Simmons, Kelvin Tatum, Andy Grahame, Todd Wiltshire and Buzz Burrows - they all etched their names in Dons folklore before the south London track's sad demise in 2005.

ARTHUR BROWNING INTERVIEW

He's been bikes-mad all his life and even at 70, Arthur Browning is still competing. Andrew Skeels caught up with one of the most versatile motorcyclists Britain has ever produced to find out all about 'Big Arthur', including his stuntman role in the TV commercial for Milk Tray chocolates.

PETER OAKES INTERVIEW

In part two of our interview, Peter Oakes gives an insight into the catalogue of problems that plagued Exeter's disastrous return to the top flight 30 years ago, when Ivan Mauger was allowed to ride only in home matches. The national newspaper journalist also reveals the personal heartache behind his wife Pam's near-death experience and why speedway remains very much an important part of the Oakes family.

GRAHAM DRURY INTERVIEW

The former Hull, Oxford and Long Eaton rider and Birmingham promoter gives Richard Bott the full inside story behind his long legal battle against the Oxford promoters which led to a big pay-out.

OPENING TIMES - Edinburgh 1977

Andrew Skeels turns the clock back 37 years to the night a huge crowd turned out in Edinburgh to see the Monarchs face Berwick in the Powderhall curtain-raiser.

COLLECTING

Former international rider, World Cup-winning team manager and now TV presenter and commentator, Denmark's Jan Staechmann reveals his latest passion and the story behind him setting up Classic Speedway Videos.

FALSE DAWNS

Doug Nicolson recalls the beginning of the Backtrack era in 1970, when hope turned to despair for fans of Belle Vue Colts, Coatbridge, Crayford, Doncaster, King's Lynn Starlets, Nelson, Newcastle and Plymouth.

ISSUE 66 (January - February 2015)

MARTIN ASHBY INTERVIEW

He is a man of few words, but his impressive career records for club and country speak volumes for what a superb rider Martin Ashby was. Tony McDonald visited the former Swindon and Exeter star to find out more about one of the sport's finest and most popular servants.

INTER-CONTINENTAL FINALS (1975-90)

For some riders qualifying from this penultimate round of the World Championship was a career-defining moment, a jubilant time to celebrate reaching their first final. For others, including World Champions Ivan Mauger, Ole Olsen and Anders Michanek, it spelt the end of the line, a champions' graveyard. Rob Peasley looks back at the most dramatic moments of the Inter-Continental Final.

TONY OLSSON INTERVIEW

Tony Olsson recently quit as GP Race Director but what about his own racing days for Reading, Hackney, Belle Vue, Swindon, Exeter and Ipswich in a career spanning some 20 years? Andrew Skeels caught up with the former World Finalist and Swedish international.

MIKE LOHMANN INTERVIEW

A member of Denmark's historic first World Team Cup-winning side in 1978, Mike Lohmann (pictured) invited Backtrack to his home city of Hillerod to look back over a once promising career with Halifax and Belle Vue that ended far too soon and in near disastrous circumstances.

BRIAN FOOTE INTERVIEW

Brian Foote has long since left the speedway limelight behind but his fans at Romford, Rayleigh and Rye House will readily recall the no-nonsense performer who became one of Division Two's biggest characters. Keith McGhie caught up with him down in the West Country.

SHEFFIELD: 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

We trace the history of a club where Wyer and Wilson were the wow factor, the Moran brothers combined skill and fun and Owlerton consistently served up some of the best racing in the land.

TONY COUPLAND - Team Manager's Tales

In this first of a two-part interview, no-nonsense former Middlesbrough team boss Tony Coupland tells it like it was.

OPENING TIMES - Glasgow 1988

How Glasgow Tigers went from near extinction to build one of the National League's crown jewels at Shawfield Stadium in 1988. Co-promoter Dick Barrie and Paul Ackroyd, who officiated at the opening night meeting against Scottish rivals Edinburgh, turn the clock back.

SCOTTISH TOURS

Doug Nicolson looks at the club sides who visited Scotland over the years and also at the limited forays abroad made by Scottish teams.

COLLECTING

Steve Luxton lives with his family in Jupiter, Florida but, as he explains, his memories of supporting Exeter in the 70s remain very close to his heart.

Plus . . .

Your letters and many classic photos from the 70s and 80s that ooze nostalgia.

ISSUE 67 (MARCH - APRIL 2015)

CYRIL CRANE INTERVIEW

One of the most controversial and outspoken characters of his time, Cyril Crane built two speedway tracks (and another one that was ruled illegal!) in the east of England with his own hands. In this typically forthright interview with Tony McDonald, the long-serving former King's Lynn and Boston co-promoter, now almost 80, is still calling a spade a spade.

JOHN McNEILL INTERVIEW

One of the best riders and most intriguing characters to emerge from Victoria state in Australia in the mid-70s, guitar-playing John McNeill recalls the night injury denied him a serious crack at the national title. In part one of his revealing interview, he also looks back with Rob Peasley on a British career that spanned eight teams, brought him a league winners' medal with Cradley Heath and a memorable victory over his boyhood idol.

WHO COULD BOOST BRITISH SPEEDWAY?

We invite our readers and supporters everywhere to respond to this question:

Q: If you could bring back one former rider (in his prime) to inject new life into modern speedway, who would it be - and why?

FOOTBALL AND SPEEDWAY

Speedway and football clubs have been uneasy bedfellows through the years when most stadiums were multi-purpose arenas. But the endless links between these two starkly contrasting sports and the people involved in them are undeniable. In this report we examine those connections and interview promoters of Glasgow and Berwick, the only two remaining tracks that share their homes with the No.1 national sport.

GEOFF MALONEY INTERVIEW

A fire fighter who attended some of the nation's biggest disasters, a window cleaner, a chimney sweep and one of the top riders produced by British League Division Two, at the age of 70 former Rayleigh and Hackney favourite Geoff Maloney looks back with Keith McGhie on an interesting career on and off the track.

TONY COUPLAND - Team Manager's Tales

In part two of his interview with Andrew Skeels, straight-talking former Middlesbrough team manager Tony Coupland recalls more tales from the days when he had a hard job taming his Tigers .

BIRMINGHAM BRUMMIES: 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

Looking back on the turbulent history of the Brummies, including past heroes and stars Graham Warren, George Major, Arthur Browning, Phil Herne, Soren Sjosten, Hans Nielsen, Kelly Moran, Andy Grahame, Doug Wyer, etc.

KLAUS LOHMANN INTERVIEW

As a young rider, Klaus Lohmann spent less than three full seasons in England with Halifax and Sheffield. But as the likeable Dane explains, he faced a bigger challenge off the track when struck down by MS in his early twenties.

OPENING TIMES - Mildenhall v Scunthorpe, 1975

As Mildenhall Speedway celebrates its 40th anniversary, we talk to a few of those involved in the first official meeting at the West Row raceway in May, 1975.

ANDRZEJ HUSZCZA INTERVIEW

After riding for Zielona Gora in the Polish league for an unbroken 30 years, Andrej Huszcza fully deserves the title of Mr Loyalty. Vitek Formanek interviews the former Leicester, Hackney and Reading man.

GLASGOW'S 'HAZY HEROES'

Doug Nicolson looks at Glasgow and Coatbridge Tigers' shadowy and at times almost mythical riders who earned their place in local folklore . . .

Plus...

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO . . . DARREN HARTLEY?

WSRA ANNUAL DINNER/DANCE PHOTO COVERAGE

COLLECTING with speedway artist STEVE IRVING

And many classic, evocative photos from the 70s and 80s that simply ooze nostalgia!

ISSUE 68 (MAY - JUNE 2015)

BRITISH SPEEDWAY NEEDS YOU!

Given the current near-terminal state of British speedway, in our last issue we asked readers to name one rider who, if he could be brought back in his racing prime, would give today's sport the biggest possible boost and do more than anyone to reverse what looks like an inevitable downward spiral towards obscurity. Tony McDonald considers the options, while readers also express their views.

PLACES & FACES with MARTIN ROGERS

Introducing a regular new column by former promoter Martin Rogers, one of the sport's most widely respected, go-ahead and astute administrators throughout the Backtrack era. Now happily retired on the Gold Coast in Australia, Martin invites you to join him on a nostalgic tour of the countless tracks he visited, recalling many of the standout characters he met during his working life in the British and National Leagues as boss of Leicester, King's Lynn and Peterborough. Before the journey begins, he reflects upon his speedway roots and introduces us to some early key influences that helped to shape his own philosophy.

FIASCO!

The recent furore in Warsaw, where 53,000 very frustrated fans were left cursing as the world's top riders walked out of the first Grand Prix of the season complaining about dangerous track conditions and a faulty starting gate, was the most high profile embarrassment the sport has endured in modern times.

In the early weeks of the British season, rain hasn't been the only cause of meetings being called off. Dust and bad track preparation on a dry day have also brought a halt to proceedings at different venues amid farcical scenes that have left the long-suffering paying public feeling rightly disgruntled.

But we can't pretend that there weren't a number of shameful cock-ups, poor refereeing decisions and many other bizarre controversies that heaped ridicule on the sport in our era, too.

To prove it, Andrew Skeels and Tony McDonald trawled the dusty archives in the depths of Retro Towers and dug up some particularly ghoulish ghosts from speedway past that may make you wince and were probably best left buried under the carpet.

TRUE BLUE BOOEY - A tribute

Martin Rogers, who covered the golden years of NIGEL BOOCOCK'S illustrious career for club and country, pays tribute to one of England's greatest.

In the second part of this double feature, Backtrack spoke to ERIC BOOCOCK about his on-track battles with his elder brother and their historic World Pairs appearance.

OPENING TIMES - Workington v Berwick, 1970

League speedway came to the remote north-west Cumbrian town of Workington in 1970 without planning permission for a track being granted. We spoke to some of those involved in the opening night meeting against Berwick.

ROCKETS: 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

Looking back on the history of the Rockets, from their former home at Rayleigh Weir to their current base at Rye House in Hoddesdon.

CYRIL CRANE INTERVIEW (Part 2)

In part two of his forthright interview, former King's Lynn and Boston boss Cyril Crane recalls the era of showmanship, knocking Len Silver out cold, tragic accidents, dropping a multi-million pound clanger at Boston and how, at 80, after two marriages and five children, he's found new love in the Philippines.

VIC WHITE - Team Manager's Tales

After spells with Midlands giants Leicester, Coventry and Cradley Heath, it was with unfashionable Long Eaton that Vic White finally achieved his biggest success. We caught up with the former WSRA secretary.

JOHN McNEILL INTERVIEW (Part 2)

In the last issue we focused on John McNeill's time in Britain riding for a number of clubs, including 1981 BL champions Cradley Heath. In part two of our interview, this compelling Aussie character tells Rob Peasley how his boyhood idol helped him to become a successful promoter in his homeland. The born-again Christian also reveals his bid to stage speedway at Wembley, a dream he still hasn't given up on.

LADISLAV HRADECKY & JAN ZABIK INTERVIEWS

In two new interviews, Vitek Formanek tracks down a couple of East European imports, Ladislav Hradecky and Jan Zabik, who spent just the 1980 season in the British League, with Birmingham and Sheffield respectively.

COLLECTING

Exeter Falcons fanatic Robert Doran talking to Tony Lethbridge about his impressive collection preserving the history of their beloved West Country club.

Plus . . .

Remembering FRANK ANDERSEN, your letters, Retro Speedway's move into the eBook market, Bradford museum and lots of evocative pictures from the 70s & 80s that gush with nostalgia!

ISSUE 69 (JULY - AUGUST 2015)

LANCE KING INTERVIEW

When Lance King suffered a neck injury in the same race that ended the career - and almost the life - of his friend and former team-mate, and then had another fortunate escape in Australia a few months later, he knew it was time to quit speedway. The Californian reveals to Rob Peasley the background to all the major moments and decisions that saw him move British League clubs (Cradley Heath, Bradford, King's Lynn) and go so close to fulfilling his World Championship dream.

PLACES & FACES with MARTIN ROGERS

In the first of his series of stopping off points across the landscape of British speedway, our new columnist begins his long tour not too far from his Essex roots, in East Anglia, at Boston, Peterborough and Norwich . . .

BRYAN SEERY INTERVIEW

Bryan Seery managed the BSPA office for four years during the sport's last golden era. Tony McDonald went to rural Kent for a rare interview with the sport's first leading statistician and the man behind one of the most popular, important and enduring columns to feature in Speedway Star.

LOU SANSOM INTERVIEW

Lou Sansom almost ever joined Workington, where he became a legend, and the woman he met my chance in a pub knew nothing about him or speedway. Andrew Skeels reveals how a fateful meeting changed both their lives.

KING'S LYNN: 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

As the Norfolk venue celebrates its 50th season of speedway, we look back at how one of the greatest racetracks in the world evolved from little acorns in a near-deserted field and produced all-time Stars favourites such as Terry Betts, Malcolm Simmons, Ian Turner, Michael Lee and Henka Gustafssson.

STEVE BASTABLE INTERVIEW

Stevie Bastable had his fair share of clubs in a good career that spanned 15 seasons. The 1981 British Champion began and ended his career with Stoke and in between he had spells with five other teams: Cradley Heath, Birmingham, Swindon, Coventry and Bradford. But as Backtrack discovered, 'Stevie B' would happily have spent all his racing days in the green-and-white of the Heathens, where his father Harry had ridden in the 50s and 60s.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO . . . GEOFF CABLE?

Martin Neal tracked down once promising Hackney junior Geoff Cable, who also had loan spells with Rye House and Crayford, but who now teaches photography and numbers calendars for some of the world's most famous classic car marques and being the official snapper on the X Factor Live tour among his high profile commissions.

ON TWO MINUTES WITH . . . JOHN ROBSON

We catch up with former Sunderland and Teesside rider John Robson, who spent eight seasons in the 70s racing for two North-East clubs.

OPENING TIMES - Bristol, 1977

Bristol was all too briefly one of the best supported venues of the sport's last golden era. We recall that eventful first night in 1977 when a huge crowd packed Eastville Stadium and interview former Bulldogs No.1 Phil Crump and Peter Thorogood, who had the unenviable task of preparing the much-maligned racing surface.

STEEN MASTRUP INTERVIEW

Steen Mastrup knows he was not among the most dynamic Danes to grace the BL scene but as Vitek Formanek reports, he still has fond memories of his time in England with Swindon and Leicester.

PETR VANDIREK INTERVIEW

The 1989 Czech champion Petr Vandirek tells VITEK FORMANEK about his acrimonious exit from Red Star Prague and why he loved Exeter.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Doug Nicolson, known as 'Nicky' during his announcing days at Glasgow's Blantyre tracks, looks at riders' nicknames and asks: What's in a name?'

AUSSIE LEGENDS

John Chaplin reviews Peter White's latest book, 100 More Aussie Legends Of the Speedways, featuring former British-based riders Steve Regeling, Troy Butler, Mick McKeon, Dave Mills and Glenn Doyle.

ISSUE 70 (SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015)

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JOHN LOUIS: My Life in Speedway - new book extracts

IF you are thinking about buying the new John Louis autobiography, My Life in Speedway, to be published by Retro Speedway in November, then you might want to take a peek at the edited extracts presented here over six pages.
JL talks about his transition from scrambling to speedway and his early years with the Ipswich Witches.

He reflects on the bitter disappointment of being dropped by England manager Len Silver just moments before a showpiece Wembley occasion.

His greatest individual achievement was winning the 1975 British Championship - and here John reveals the preparations and training it took for him to conquer all at Coventry 40 years ago.

He talks, too, about his moves to Halifax and his relationship with Kenny Carter, and then his twilight seasons captaining the 'old enemy' at King's Lynn.

After he quit as a rider in 1984, JL briefly went into a sales role and also rejoined Ipswich as team manager. He recalls how he struggled to produce a Foxhall track to the standard he'd been used to as the Witches' top rider.

DAVE MORTON: Tapes, Breaks and Heartaches - new book extracts

Our second bunch of extracts comes from Dave Morton's autobiography, Tapes, Breaks and Heartaches, to be published by Retro Speedway at the end of November. Here Dave remembers his schoolboy visits to his local track Belle Vue, where his big mate Peter Collins caused a commotion in the stadium bar.

Mort recalls his early racing days with Crewe, where he wrote himself into the Guinness Book of Records, and the influence of Kings' double-winning skipper Dai Evans.

He looks back on a sensational performance for Hackney when, as a virtual unknown outside the top flight, he twice beat Ole Olsen to notch his first senior league maximum.

The 1975 New Zealand Champion explains his move from Hackney to Wolverhampton, then his delight at finally finding a track much nearer his Manchester home when he joined Sheffield.

But Tapes, Breaks and Heartaches is not just the story of a former Shell fitter who became a speedway star. In these excepts, Dave touches on the break-up of his marriage to the woman who left him for Speedway Star photographer Mike Patrick . . . and then the heartbreak of losing their three-year-old son, Jamie.

PLACES & FACES with Martin Rogers

Our columnist has been in search of capital gains as his tour takes him to Wembley, West Ham, Wimbledon, Hackney and White City.

HAVE BIKES, WILL TRAVEL

While speedway bike technology has evolved through the years, the mode of road transport used by its participants has also changed. With reflections from former riders, Rob Peasley looks at how riders of yesteryear took to the road.

He also interviews former Danish World Team Cup winner Preben Eriksen about THAT van and the trouble it caused.

"The lady living across the road gave me a strange look and her husband wasn't allowed to look out of the front door anymore," says the ex-Wolves star.

ABBEY STADIUM MEMORIES

The bikes have roared for the last time at Swindon's Abbey Stadium and the hope is that they will be back in a newly-built home on the same site next season. In the meantime, Tony McDonald does some Robins reminiscing, we've an interview with Swindon's greatest-ever rider Barry Briggs and Andrew Skeels talks to current promoter Terry Russell about future plans.

MIDDLESBROUGH: 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

Middlesbrough were crowned National League champions and NL Fours winners in the Backtrack era but as Rob Peasley recalls, the club that has also taken the name of Teesside and now Redcar has been around, on and off, from 1929 until the present day.

OPENING TIMES - Paisley, 1975

Andrew Skeels talks to livewire former Paisley boss Neil Macfarlane and ex-Lions riders Mike Fullerton and Chris Roynon about the Scottish track's promising start in 1975, when Birmingham provided the first night opposition at Love Street, as well as problems that caused racing to cease at the Scottish venue after only two years .

We're No Awa' Tae Bide Awa'

As the start of the 70s dawned, Coatbridge riders went their separate ways following the closure of the Old Meadowbank. But as Doug Nicolson recalls, Scotland hadn't seen the last of their former favourites.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO . . .TONY MATTINGLEY?

Martin Neal tracked down the former Exeter and Milton Keynes starlet, the son of former Glasgow star Maury Mattingley, who is now a national service manager in the machine tools industry and a professional photographer, too.

ON TWO MINUTES WITH . . . STEVE WICKS

We catch up with former Felton training track product and ex-Newcastle and Berwick rider who won the 1987 Stars of Tomorrow meeting at Shielfield Park.

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ISSUE 71 (NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015)

BRITISH LIONS TOURS: Ashes to Ashes

Throughout the 70s and early 80s, attention during the British winter would instinctively turn to Australia for news of how the Lions were doing on their annual tour. In this special report, Rob Peasley recalls the infamous scraps between two of the sport's great, old adversaries. England Test star DOUG WYER, a veteran of numerous trips Down Under, gives his take on those occasionally stormy encounters, and we also hear from MICHAEL LEE about the time the Aussies accused him of using an oversized engine.

BRETT SAUNDERS INTERVIEW

In this new five-page interview, one of Edinburgh's most popular and long-serving riders, Australian Brett Saunders looks back with Andrew Skeels on eventful times when he was, in his words, young, mad and everything else!

PLACES & FACES with MARTIN ROGERS

This time our respected and much-travelled columnist heads to the north of England, calling in at a few sadly defunct tracks and starting at one of the sport's most famous racing venues. Belle Vue, Sheffield, Bradford, Halifax and Hull are under the MR spotlight.

MILDENHALL: 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

It's 41 years since Mildenhall Stadium emerged from a potato field in rural Suffolk to host league speedway but the Fen Tigers very quickly established themselves as a respected force to be reckoned with. Rob Peasley looks back at the club's turbulent history in the second and third tiers.

MISSING!

Doug Nicolson used to work as a financial accountant (not something he boasts about!) and missing records were the bane of his life. Here he looks back on more interesting 'blanks' featuring incomplete or un-staged meetings involving Birmingham, Peterborough, Berwick, Boston, Cradley Heath, Oxford, West Ham, Nelson, King's Lynn Starlets, Glasgow, Workington, Scunthorpe. Barrow, Coatbridge, Sheffield, Mildenhall, Milton Keynes, Belle Vue, Swindon and Crewe.

VIOLET LITTLECHILD: Star Lady

Martin Rogers remembers the late Violet Littlechild, who epitomised the family spirit that saw King's Lynn rise from very humble beginnings to become one of the sport's most vibrant and admired venues.

PORT STORMS

In this edited extract from his new book, Tapes, Breaks and Heartaches, Dave Morton recalls 1985, in which he won the National League championship with Ellesmere Port at the end of a season riddled with controversy, drama and tragedy.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO . . . MARK DICKINSON?

Martin Neal tracked down former Workington rider Mark Dickinson, who now drives for a Maryport-based plant hire company.

OPENING TIMES - Newcastle, 1975

Newcastle are now firmly established in the second tier, but Andrew Skeels, Tom Owen, Brian Havelock and announcer Barry Wallace looks back nearly 41 years to the night the bikes returned to Byker, when North-East rivals Teesside were the visitors and the meeting also featured record-breaking Ivan Mauger in match-races against Jimmy McMillan. Dennis McCleary, who was the referee that night, explains why the meeting almost didn't go ahead.

ISSUE 72 (JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2016)

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Issue 72 of Backtrack is out now and here's what you can look forward to in another feast of 70s and 80s nostalgia . . .

BELLE VUE: 60 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

In this extended look at Belle Vue, Rob Peasley recalls the key points in the history of the world famous club and many of the riders who wore the iconic Aces racejacket . . . from Jack Parker and Peter Craven, to Ivan Mauger, Peter Collins, Chris Morton, the Morans, Joe Screen and Jason Crump and many more.

STEVE GRESHAM INTERVIEW

American Steve Gresham was a tough, uncompromising rider who took no prisoners. In this candid interview he defends his 'wild man' reputation, looks back on his 10-year British career with fondness and, firstly, recalls how two very costly exclusions denied him a World Final place.

THAT WAS THE YEAR: 1980

In the first of a regular new series looking at years gone by, we recall the year in which England dominated the three World Championships but lost a thrilling Test series to USA, Reading and Rye House were crowned league champions, Peter Collins (Belle Vue) and Dave Perks (Oxford) topped the respective BL & NL averages, Malcolm Simmons was controversially sacked by Poole, National League KO Cup winners Berwick were given notice to quit Shielfield Park, Pete Adams switched from Coventry to Midland rivals Cradley, Dan McCormick left the Heathens to take over at Birmingham, Sheffield signed 18-year-old Shawn Moran from Hull, Tom Owen put pen to a 10-year contract at Newcastle, Exeter dropped a division, Blondie had three No.1 hits, while John Lennon and J.R. Ewing were both shot.

JIM RYMAN INTERVIEW

Despite suffering some nasty injuries, former Boston star Jim Ryman is still competing on two wheels back in his native Australia. ANDREW SKEELS caught up with the Cudas' 1973 double winner . . .

PLACES & FACES with MARTIN ROGERS

Our roving scribe undertakes his latest trip down memory lane to revisit the scene of many enjoyable outings back in the day when the sport was going through one of its most optimistic periods. In this issue we feature Rayleigh, Rye House, Canterbury, Crayford, Romford and Iwade.

OPENING TIMES

It's almost 46 years since speedway began at the East of England Showground. Andrew Skeels recalls the Panthers' delayed curtain-raiser against Rayleigh with a couple of Panthers who rode on that historic night in June 1970.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO . . . ANDY NIGHTINGALE?

From skipper of the successful Ipswich junior team and reserve for the Witches' BL title-winning side, Andy Nightingale explains to Martin Neal how he went from promising Foxhall hopeful to air conditioning project manager in Queensland, Australia.

ON TWO MINUTES WITH . . . ALAN DIPROSE

A product of the Iwade training track, Alan reflects on his efforts to establish himself with Canterbury and Rye House, his role in the BBC TV series King Cinder and how he's battled back from a stroke and brain tumour.

ALAN GRAHAME'S UNLUCKY BREAK

Many years after calling time on his iong and illustrious career, former England and Cradley Heath star Alan Grahame reveals how and why a recent speedway crash left him nursing a broken thigh.

TIGERS' NEARLY MEN

Each year there are rumours about whom your team is going to sign. Some come off, while others have little basis in fact. It's all part of the annual pre-season ritual. Doug Nicolson takes an alphabetical look at some of the 'might have beens' at Glasgow and Coatbridge.

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ISSUE 73 (MARCH - APRIL 2016)

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JOE SCREEN INTERVIEW

Former British and World Under-21 Champion Joe Screen looks back with Rob Peasley on the early years of his illustrious career that began with Belle Vue at the end of the Backtrack era.

Joe quotes:

"It was 99 per cent sure that I was going to Hackney in 1989. But PC told me he wanted me to ride for Belle Vue. He matched the Hackney deal and then some and said he'd take me under his wing. I realised it was too good to turn down."

â€œShawn went out of his way to help me. I remember going to Swindon for the junior KO Cup final. Shawn lent me everything for that meeting. He lent me his bikes and his mechanic and told me: 'There you go, there's my bikes, go and ride them'."

â€œAllan and Bobby Ham were so professional. I'd been used to dealing with John Perrin in a portakabin while he was effing and jeffing. The Ham brothers would take you out to a restaurant and make sure that you felt comfortable."

THAT WAS THE YEAR: 1973

Continuing our regular new series revisiting years gone by, Andrew Skeels looks back at exciting times when British speedway was back page news for the tabloids and a booming sport found its way into millions of homes. Highlights included the Daily Mirror International Tournament, unforgettable deciding match-races between Peter Collins and Anders Michanek, a first British League title for Reading, KO Cup glory for Belle Vue, Boston's double, Jerzy Szczakiel's sensational World Final victory, Great Britain's third consecutive World Team Cup triumph, Ivan Mauger's transfer to Exeter after another winter Rider Control saga, not to mention Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon!

PLACES & FACES with MARTIN ROGERS

Our intrepid scribe ventures to four former second tier venues and a brief open licence track. Join Martin on his stopping off points at Crewe, Long Eaton, Scunthorpe, Stoke and Castleford.

BOSTON: 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

Rob Peasley recalls how the Barracudas' went from being double-winning big fish in the second tier to extinction in 17 years. Our journey through the New Hammond Beck Road era includes the giant-killing of BL1 Hackney and features old favourites Arthur Price, Jack Bywater, Carl Glover, Russ Osborne, Ray Bales, Tony Featherstone, Rob Hollingworth, David Gagen, Michael Lee, Gary Guglielmi, Steve Lomas, Steve Regeling, Kevin Jolly, Darcy Ward, Cyril Crane and many more .

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO . . . BARRY DUKE

Injury curtailed Barry's career in the mid-70s, so it's ironic that the former Weymouth, Swindon, West Ham and Cradley Heath rider now works in a hospital operating theatre. Martin Neal explains an unlikely career path that also took him to Rhodesia during the British close season . . .

OPENING TIMES - READING 1975

Reading promoter Reg Fearman reveals to Andrew Skeels the background to the opening of speedway's first purpose-built stadium since WW2 . . .

ON TWO MINUTES WITH . . . FRANK SMITH

The former Coventry, Peterborough and Stoke rider looks back with Martin Neal on a career that saw him graduate from local cycle speedway champion to Brandon crowd favourite.

WINTER WARMERS

Close seasons are a time of hibernation for speedway fans. Doug Nicolson recalls 1972, when Motherwell and Edinburgh were the focus of the entire country during one of the darkest winters on record.

FROM CINDER TO SHALE

It's not just the racing at Glasgow, Edinburgh and Berwick that attracts speedway folk to Scotland and The Borders. Tony McDonald visited Ian Paterson's incredible collection of rare bikes and memorabilia.

WSRA DINNER

Retro Speedway's photos from the annual World Speedway Riders' Association Dinner at Leicester's Marriott Hotel, featuring former World Champions Barry Briggs, Peter Collins and the 2016 WSRA president Mark Loram.

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ISSUE 74 (MAY - JUNE 2016)

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TODD WILTSHIRE INTERVIEW

Todd Wiltshire - "the fastest alive over the first 25" - was one of a bunch of exciting young Aussies to emerge onto the international scene in the last 80s. Rob Peasley caught up with the fast-starting former World No.3 who starred for Wimbledon, Reading and Oxford for a compelling, new exclusive . . .

Todd quotes:

â€œAt that time, I understood Barry Briggs and I think I agreed with him. I remember seeing the circus that followed Per as World Champion, all the publicity, and I think the pressure did affect him to begin with. But over the following months and years, my opinion changed. I got to the last 16 on merit and was genuinely a top five rider in the world at that stage, and I do regret not winning it. I don't think it would have been too early."

â€œI was a 19-year-old Australian coming over from the East Coast, where it was pretty sparse, and I was suddenly in the limelight of London. Wimbledon Stadium was magnificent, the pits were in a tunnel and it was a full surround stadium. With the Lanning family promoting all that, it just became something amazing. It turned it into a show, and the riders were all part of that."

â€œThe Reading management gave Wimbledon a call but I think I was only the second option. They were chasing the American Gary Hicks. They'd all but signed him but something went wrong, and they opted for me instead."

â€œAlthough 'Lyonsy' was involved, I didn't consider him solely responsible. It was 50/50, because I should have never given him that opportunity. We never fell out over it. Lots of people thought we did, but we didn't. It was just racing.â€

â€œAll those riders . . . Hamill, Hancock, Gollob, even Tony Rickardsson, I was ahead of them when I got hurt. I remember racing Tony for the first time at Stockholm and, mentally, I was ahead of him at that point. From 1992 to 1997, I missed my prime years, the years in my mid-twenties. Would I have been World Champion? We'll never know."

â€œThe bikes were still red-hot when they took them out of the pits, across the centre green, out of the other side of the stadium and into a waiting van. It was embarrassing, a very sour ending to the year. I just took my Oxford racesuit off and left it on the floor in the pits."

"I had an ugly divorce and found myself in a very bad place in Australia. I was lost. Mentally, I was hurt, and needed help to stay on this earth. I had suicidal tendencies."

VLADIMIR GORDEEV INTERVIEW

After a long and patient pursuit, Vitek Formanek finally got his man when he caught up with former Russian star Vladimir Gordeev whose best World Final performance was marred by controversy. For the first time, Gordeev talks about the nitro storm that led to a one-year ban from the FIM.

IPSWICH: 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

Rob Peasley traces the history of the Suffolk club who overcame a shaky early period to re-emerge, win all the major silverware going and produce three of the greatest double-winning teams ever to grace British speedway . . .

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO . . . RICHARD PETTMAN?

Martin Neal has the story behind why former Hackney and Canterbury prospect Richard Pettman made a television appearance on BBC1's daytime house renovation series Homes Under The Hammer.

TOMMY JANSSON - Speedway's lost superstar

On the 40th anniversary of Tommy Jansson's death, David Rieuwerts recalls the huge impact the Wimbledon and Sweden star made in his all too brief career and wonders what might have been.

WIMBLEDON REUNION

To mark the 40th anniversary of Tommy Jansson's death, there really could be only man to invite along as the special guest at a Wimbledon Speedway reunion. We've a report and pictures from the event for which Tommy's elder brother Bo Jansson flew in from Sweden to attend in south London on Saturday, May 20 - 40 years to the day since his younger brother lost his life.

THAT WAS THE YEAR: 1985

Continuing our regular series, Andrew Skeels presents his in-depth review of a season that had just about everything . . . Oxford's domination of the British League and a pulsating fight for the National League title, it was also 12 months which featured genuine tragedies, headline-grabbing disputes between some of the sport's biggest names and clubs opening, closing and switching leagues, often in mid-season, amid frequent dire warnings about the financial sustainability of the sport as a whole. For Oxford supporters, however, it was a season to remember.

PLACES & FACES with MARTIN ROGERS

This time our intrepid scribe heads to the six most northern venues: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Berwick, Newcastle, Workington and Middlesbrough.

OPENING TIMES - Rochdale 1970

Eric Broadbelt reflects with Andrew Skeels on Rochdale's brief Second Division stint at the start of the 70s. A crowd of around 6,000 braved the cold to see Hornets take on Crewe in the opening meeting on Sunday, March 29, 1970.

ON TWO MINUTES WITH . . . PETER WÃ¼RTERLE

The German looks back on his brief late season stint with Reading in 1981.

AULD WORTHIES

"Auld Worthies" are respected members of your community and, while never having been leaders, are held in high regard to this day for their earlier service and exploits. Doug Nicolson looks at four of Glasgow's Worthies.

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ISSUE 75 (JULY - AUGUST 2016)

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RONNIE CORREY INTERVIEW

One of the most popular and successful Americans in British League, former USA and Wolverhampton star 'Rocket' Ronnie Correy reflects with Rob Peasley on an illustrious career that brought our cover man two FIM gold medals and a league championship.

Ronnie quotes:

â€œWe all went out the night before and they made sure that I had a few beers and got a bit silly. The next day I was bouncing off the walls and pathetic really."

â€œBetween us all, we built up really good crowds. We always went up to the bar afterwards and we associated with the crowd. We would all go up, sign some autographs and have a drink. I picked up sponsors from doing that."

â€œSam was always very good with his team-mates out on track - he would look out for you. He was also very competitive and wanted to be the best. He wanted to be the No.1 guy and the centre of attention. But if you needed something or something was wrong, he'd been straight in there to help you out."

â€œI was close to fracturing a main artery nerve and had that happened, I would have been paralysed from the waist downwards."

ULTIMATE BRITISH TRACK RECORD HOLDER

Ever wondered which rider has competed in the highest number of official meetings staged on British tracks since the second world war? So did we. Now, with more than a little help from our friends, Tony McDonald can reveal the winner of this distinguished honour and the five riders who were not far behind him . . .

THAT WAS THE YEAR: 1979

Back with another in-depth review of the year, this time Andrew Skeels reflects on the season that resulted in thrilling championship deciders, a sensational World Team Cup victory and tragedies on and off the track.

Plus . . . a New Year's honour for Johnnie, Cradley, Hull and Poole sign American newcomers, a new British speedway engine, ITV's three-year deal with the BSPA and SCB, 11,000 at Hyde Road to honour 'Wilkie', new venue for Scunthorpe but problems ahead, Wimbledon set new BL record, broken legs for Heathens pair Erik Gundersen and Steve Bastable, Carter wins U21 title, PC is British champ, World Pairs controversy, takeover at Poole, shock move by Sanders, three fans taken to hospital after being hit by bike, 50,000 see speedway in Cairo, Boulger quits Britain, Boston eye new venue at Cleethorpes but it's the end of the road for Norwich, speedway goes indoors at Wembley and much more . . .

PLACES & FACES with MARTIN ROGERS

After venturing to the far north in our last issue, our intrepid scribe heads to Wales and the south-west this time, stopping off at Reading, Oxford, Newport, Bristol and Exeter.

HULL: 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

Rob Peasley looks back at the unfashionable East Yorkshire club that attracted multiple world champions, exciting Americans and went close to attaining top flight championship glory. Vikings fans can re-live the Boulevard days of Tony Childs, Dave Mills, Jimmy McMillan, Bobby Beaton, Barry Briggs, Joe Owen, Ivan Mauger, Kelly and Shawn Moran, Dennis Sigalos, etc.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO . . . NEIL COTTON?

Martin Neal catches up with the former Peterborough rider whose racing career ended abruptly and painfully three years later at Rye House.

OPENING TIMES - Scunthorpe 1971

Returning to his home town, Andrew 'Scunny' Skeels recalls Scunthorpe's opener at Quibell Park with former Saints skipper Pete Wrathall, plus Pete Gay and Rod Haynes.

THIS COULD BE THE LAST TIME

As a rider's career winds down, he is faced with the difficult decision of when to retire. Some want to bow out at the top, while others rival Frank Sinatra in their protracted farewells. Doug Nicolson looks at some significant and contrasting curtain calls, including those of Ronnie Moore, Barry Briggs, Ivan Mauger, Eric Boocock, Dave Younghusband, Chris Morton, Charlie Monk, Rob Grant, Steve Lawson, Bruce Penhall, Bill McMillan, Dave Morton, Terry Betts, Chris Pusey, Eric Broadbelt.

ON TWO MINUTES WITH . . . GUY ROBSON

The former Edinburgh rider tells Martin Neal about being 'addicted' to speedway at Belle Vue, his time with highs and lows with the Monarchs and why problems with the Sheffield promoter hampered his progress with the Tigers.

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ISSUE 76 (SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2016)

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PETER COLLINS INTERVIEW

Forty years on from his greatest track triumph, winning the 1976 World Final at Katowice, Poland, Peter Collins met up with his former business manager Richard Bott in Manchester to recall a very special shared experience.
PC quotes:

"I had wanted to be World Champion since I was eight-years-old and to fulfil my dream at 22, in front of 130,000 fans - the biggest-ever crowd for a speedway meeting - was fantastic. Today's Grand Prix riders can't imagine what it was like to race in a one-off World Final in an atmosphere like that."

"Poland was a frightening place to go under the old communist regime. I had ridden there before and remember when a soldier with a rifle sat at the end of every row but the Poles loved their speedway and in '76, when there were no Scandinavian riders in the final, thousands of Swedes and Danes sang my name when I won."

Plus, how PC conquered the world - a race-by-race review of the thrilling Katowice final.

ANOTHER WORLD

One of 800 fans who travelled by train to Poland for the 1976 World Final, Tony McDonald recalls the trip of a lifetime behind the Iron Curtain.

THAT WAS THE YEAR: 1976

Apart from the heroics of Peter Collins, there were plenty of other hot topics throughout that sizzling summer. Andrew Skeels recalls the Ole Olsen saga, sparkling Diamonds, a new top flight league venue, the four-valve revolution, track tragedy, a very rare England defeat and much more.

HACKNEY: 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

Rob Peasley traces the turbulent history of the East End club that, like the cast of the local long-running TV soap series, experienced drama, delight, triumph and tragedy, and earned a reputation for producing fine racing. Among those who made their mark for the Hawks and Kestrels were: Colin Pratt, Bengt Jansson, Garry Middleton, Barry Thomas, Dag Lovaas, Dave Morton, Keith White, Finn Thomsen, Bo Petersen, Malcolm Simmons, Andy Galvin, Mark Loram, Chris Louis and Steve Schofield.

PLACES & FACES with MARTIN ROGERS

This time our man is roaming the south, visiting Arena-Essex, Swindon, Poole and Eastbourne, and taking a quick peep at what might have been in Rochester.

ROBERT HOLLINGWORTH INTERVIEW

No-one knows the British speedway landscape better than Robert Hollingworth. Rob Peasley caught up with the Boston legend who, as we revealed in our previous issue, is the most travelled rider of the Backtrack era.
Holly quotes:

â€œThere weren't any tracks I wouldn't go to. I loved my speedway and I was devoted to it. It would break my heart if I couldn't go to it. When riders cry off meetings and don't turn up, I think 'how could they do that?' I'd think I should be there - I wanted to be there."

â€œIt was the second Blantyre that I didn't like much. I wasn't a major fan of the first one, which was a funny shape and had tight turns, but it didn't ride as heavy as the second one."

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO . . . RUSSELL ETHERINGTON

Martin Neal catches up with the former Arena-Essex junior who quit the shale and took up rallycross.

RONNIE GENZ TRIBUTE

Remembering the former Oxford and Newport star who died of Parkinson's Disease in August 2016, at the age of 86.

OPENING TIMES - Rye House 1974

Andrew Skeels with the background story of how defunct Rayleigh Rockets relaunched at Rye House in the spring of 1974 with a challenge match against Canterbury. Ted Hubbard and Pete Wigley, who were on opposign sides on that Sunday afternoon, and Rockets' general manager Peter Thorogood recall the day second division league racing was first staged at the 'garden of speedway'.

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ISSUE 77 (NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016)

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THINGS AIN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BE

Grumpy Old Man Doug Nicolson reminisces about things that he misses in modern day speedway. "They say that you can't halt progress but I'd certainly like to try and reinstate things that I really miss as part of a night at the speedway."

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

World Champion Greg Hancock was slated in many quarters for allegedly 'throwing' a race in the last Grand Prix of 2016. But, as Tony McDonald reminds us, he certainly isn't the first to be accused of 'doing favours' for a fellow rider in more urgent need of points.

LEICESTER: 50 Memorable Moments

Rob Peasley traces the history of highs and lows at the East Midlands club, where Ray Wilson, John Boulger, Dave Jessup, Ila Teromaa, John Titman and Les Collins were leading performers for the Lions.

PAUL WHITTAKER INTERVIEW

Former Hackney star Paul Whittaker tells Rob Peasley what it was like being part of the high-flying Kestrels and how serious injury at Newcastle brought him crashing down to earth just when he'd reached No.1 status.

THAT WAS THE YEAR: 1989

Oxford and Poole were crowned league champions, Hans Nielsen won his third individual world title and England (yes, ENGLAND!) were World Team Cup winners. But as Andrew Skeels recalls, the '89 season is often remembered for much less happier reasons. The great Erik Gundersen suffered a career-ending injury, while young Paul Muchene was killed in a track crash at Hackney.

DAVE LANNING TRIBUTE

Speedway has lost its voice. Presenter, promoter, team manager, national newspaper journalist, magazine features writer, book author and the sport's best and most charismatic TV commentator . . . Dave Lanning was a very talented many of many parts. Tony McDonald pays tribute to arguably the sport's greatest non-riding legend.

ON TWO MINUTES WITH . . . MICK FLETCHER

The former Weymouth and Oxford National Leaguer and junior with Mildenhall and Rye House looks back on his time in the sport and reveals what he's doing now.

PLACES & FACES with MARTIN ROGERS

Our intrepid scribe returns to his East Anglian roots to recall great days for the region's foremost clubs, King's Lynn and Ipswich.

OPENING TIMES - Berwick 1982

Andrew Skeels and three involved in the reincarnation of Berwick in 1982, including Mike Caroline, Steve McDermott, Dennis McCleary and Dick Barrie, recall the amazing story of how Bandits bounced back from eviction at Shielfield Park to flourish in a new home in the 'middle of nowhere'.

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ISSUE 78 (JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017)

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GUES(T) WHO'S RIDING FOR US TONIGHT?
How the sport's biggest problem got out of control

Guest riders are the bane of speedway, they continue to seriously damage the sport's credibility and are one of the biggest factors behind supporters' growing unrest.

And yet their widespread use, with riders appearing for different teams on almost a nightly basis, continues to spiral out of control.

In the top two divisions, and to the utter bewilderment of fans and outsiders who cannot comprehend the excessive use of the guest system, they have steadily become the norm rather than the exception.

But as Doug Nicolson discovered from his exhaustive research, this wasn't always the case.

Our seven-page feature includes comparison charts and statistics to support our analysis, including the top tier teams who used the most and least guests at five-yearly intervals from 1965 to 2015. The second tier used only four guests in 1990 compared to 277 15 years later.

WOLVERHAMPTON: 50 Memorable Moments

Rob Peasley traces the long and illustrious history of the Black Country club where Ole Olsen and Sam Ermolenko rocketed to superstar status, while among Wolves' other top-liners who feature here are Jim Airey, Jimmy McMillan, Hans Nielsen, Dennis Sigalos, Ronnie Correy and Peter Karlsson.

THAT WAS THE YEAR: 1974

Amid a gloomy backdrop of industrial strife, British speedway faced one of its most challenging seasons on and off the track. Andrew Skeels reflects on a year that saw England reign supreme, Exeter and Birmingham crowned league champions and Anders Michanek win the world title (and share the World Pairs with Soren Sjosten) despite the BSPA's ban on commuting Swedes.

TWO TOUGH FOUR MANY

What was the most difficult riding position in the team during the Backtrack era? ROB Peasley spoke to former riders Brian Collins, Brian Leonard and Mike Caroline, who explain the pros and cons of wearing No.2 or No.4.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO . . . KEVIN PITTS?

Martin Neal tracked down flame-haired Kevin Pitts, who hung up his speedway leathers at the age of just 21 due to a combination of factors that meant he simply couldn't carry on racing. But the former Eastbourne, Oxford and Swindon rider, who played his part in first and second tier title wins during his short career, is very much involved in the sport today.

PLACES & FACES with Martin Rogers

After spending a couple of decades of speedway involvement largely based in East Anglia and the south-east, our columnist became an honorary midlander in 1980 as promoter of Leicester, and insists he wouldn't have missed the experience. Here he looks back at Lions' local rivals, Coventry, Birmingham, Cradley Heath and Wolverhampton.

OPENING TIMES - Arena-Essex 1984

Andrew Skeels recalls speedway's return to Essex at a fenceless track in 1984 with Hammers' promoter Peter Thorogood, first meeting winner Bob Garrad and referee Graham Brodie.

Plus . . . Tony McDonald's personal tribute to the late and multi-faceted BRYN WILLIAMS.

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ISSUE 79 (MARCH - APRIL 2017)

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COVENTRY: THE GLORY YEARS

Brandon Stadium, where speedway was first staged on September 29, 1928, may have closed its doors to the sport for ever. But no matter what the future holds for Coventry Bees, no-one can deny their reputation as one of the most formidable teams of the late 70s and 80s under promoting supremo Charles Ochiltree. Rob Peasley turns back the clock to recall much happier times with Mick Bell, the only Coventry man who won league titles as both rider and team manager.

LEICESTER & COVENTRY SHARE ISSUES

Shortly before being withdrawn from the 2017 Premiership, Coventry had been granted BSPA permission to stage eight 'home' matches at their great Midland rivals Leicester. Some 34 years ago it was the Lions, then under the promotion of Martin Rogers, who suddenly found themselves evicted from Blackbird Road. Tony McDonald wondered if a similar track-sharing arrangement between these great, old local adversaries could have kept the Leicester name alive back then? Now our regular columnist, Martin has some answers . . .

THAT WAS THE YEAR: 1982

Has British speedway ever recovered from the departure of charismatic superstar Bruce Penhall, who confirmed he had quit racing on the rostrum just moments after retaining his world crown in Los Angeles? Andrew Skeels looks back on a mixed season dominated at top level by the USA, while there were both British and National League titles for Ian Thomas in a year marred by tragedies and growing concerns for rider safety.

LADIES, START YOUR ENGINES!

Speedway can be a very tough, at times dirty sport, but that hasn't stopped a number of women from playing a significant, if often overlooked, role in the smooth running of numerous tracks. No-one knows this better than Martin Rogers, who recalls some of the females who played their part behind the scenes.

POOLE: 50 Memorable Moments

Although one of the most successful teams in the modern era and now the best supported, Poole previously had their share of lean years and tragedy. Rob Peasley traces the chequered history of the Dorset club graced by Pete Smith, Malcolm Simmons, Michael Lee and many others.

WILD WEST (OF SCOTLAND)

Doug Nicolson recalls some of the memorable goings on in the West of Scotland, most of which he witnessed and all of which he believes to be true.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO . . . PHIL RANSON?

The former Hackney, Rye House and Reading junior tells Martin Neal why he didn't quite make the grade and what he's doing now.

OPENING TIMES - Barrow 1972

With recollections from co-promoter Peter Oakes and Australian team manager Peter White, Andrew Skeels, reviews a challenging start that almost never happened at Barrow in 1972.

Plus . . . Photo spread from the 2017 Celebration of Speedway event and lots of great pictures that simply ooze nostalgia.

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ISSUE 80 (MAY - JUNE 2017)

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PHIL CRUMP - Prince of Wales

Very few riders in the history of top flight British speedway have achieved the phenomenal level of success Phil Crump did in 1975. TONY McDONALD talks to the four times Australian Champion and World No.3 about his remarkable long unbeaten run at Newport, being at the forefront of the four-valve revolution and, to coin a well-used Crumpie phrase, reflects on an all-round "bloody good" year. This interview is supplemented by a full statistical analysis of Phil's incredible 1975 race-by-race record.

THAT WAS THE YEAR: 1977

Ivan Mauger denied the unlucky Peter Collins and England a grand slam of world titles, White City won the BL championship despite being a rider short, Eastbourne dominated the National League and the sport returned to Bristol. ANDREW SKEELS turns the clock back 40 years.

Here come the . . . DANES

In the first of a new series on foreign riders who came to Britain in search of fame and fortune, MARTIN ROGERS recalls how Ole Olsen inspired a generation of fellow Danes to follow in his tyre tracks and elevate Denmark to a speedway super power in the 80s. Also, how readers remember their Danish favourites.

HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS

Which British League teams had the best away records and who suffered from travel sickness? DOUG NICOLSON has the answer to these and many other questions in this in-depth analysis of away team performances in the senior division spanning two decades.

GORDON WHITAKER - exclusive interview

Few recall Glasgow's spell in exile at Workington with any affection, but as ROB PEASLEY discovered, a former Bradford prospect certainly prospered from it.

OPENING TIMES - Barrow 1977

In our last issue we covered Barrow's opening night at Holker Street in 1972. This time promoter Cliff Hindle tells ANDREW SKEELS about the club's relocation to Park Road in 1977.

ROCKETS REMEMBERED

MARTIN NEAL joined ex-Rockets riders, management and as Rayleigh Town Museum celebrated its first anniversary by staging a celebration of Rayleigh Speedway in the grounds of the adjacent Spread Eagle pub.

ELLESMERE PORT: 50 Memorable Moments

ROB PEASLEY recalls the key men and moments that ultimately fired Gunners to the top of the National League just before the promotion decided to bite the bullet.

BOB RADFORD OBIT

We remember the former team manager and announcer who had spells with Newport, Reading and Swindon.

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