One night in 1975 Olle Nygren was riding in his last year for King's Lynn. These riders invariably participated in both disciplines, as well as road-racing. The track still operates at PR1MO International Raceway, prior to that it was Northampton International Raceway, and originally just Brafield Stadium. Greg Downs & Steve Ogrizovic of Coventry celebrate after winning FA cup final against Tottenham Hotspur, John Reason when he became a Coventry City FC director in December 1985, Coventry Lions distributed Christmas cheer and 10 parcels of food throughout Coventry in December 1986. BUKAT, Herbert (Germany)..Aug 1, 1933.Grunewald Stadion, Berlin, Germany. I first went to Brandon in 1952, so next year, it will be exactly sixty years - frightening! He was a great guy and well-known around the city for his hard work and his business as well. [3] He was signed by the Southampton Saints, where he made his National League debut against Oxford. A look around the sparse crowds attending UK speedway meetings will reveal that the average age is relatively high, and new supporters and fans are just not appearing in any sort of numbers. Unsurprisingly the riders wear yellow and black colours. FISCHER, Edward (USA)..Sep 8, 1912Vailsburg Motordrome, Newark, NJ, USA (B-R). Lowering was one of six spectators who were killed in the crash that claimed the lives of riders Eddie HASHA and John ALBRIGHT. The heady days for the sport could not last forever. Remember the chant? Alan. "That spot by the tapes was the spot at which the riders were at their very fastest on the very fastest track in the country. Jim Lightfoot lived in Binley Woods. Olsen was the main man but don't have any memories of the racing itself - just the smell of the fuel and standing near the fence by the track corners in the hope of being covered in shale as the riders went by. I have no details of the accident that claimed the lives of spectators William BELL and George Goldsmith. There then developed an arm-wrestling match between Ole/Ochiltree and the SCB. I worked there as a track raker for ten shillings a night about 1952 but I'm afraid the only names I can recall are Bob Fletcher (captain) and Pete Reason, but the smell of methanol and "Castrol R" will linger forever. This is all super-sad news. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Find nearby businesses, restaurants and hotels. My uncle was a convenor there and pulled a few strings to get me in. I had seen Olle ride for Norwich in the early 60's so that year Olle was already 46 years old. Bleak outlook for British speedway, sad to report, An example of the shambles which is UK speedway is tonight's meeting at Kings Lynn, where the Bees had to track two Premier League riders with averages up to 6 points in place of two heat-leaders who were riding for their Danish League teams An accomplished competitor in bothsolos and sidecars, David tragically lost his life while testing his outfit near his Sussex home. ), sadly left the sport way too soon Easily add multiple stops, see live traffic and road conditions. I didn't know that Coventry had a dog track even. 5 Do Coventry Bees still exist? Complimentary beverage is also offered! In 1984 I moved away from Coventry. 122 of 311 Wed 2nd Jul 2014 9:58pm. Those riders marked "**". Monday was the night to see the Falcons fly, as the TV adverts used to say, Tapes up at 7.30. He was killed on his debutracing on the Isle of Man. They have a rich history of success with 5 British League titles and 3 Elite League titles not to mention cup wins and other glories. I have no details of the accident that claimed the lives of spectators William BELL and George GOLDSMITH. One of at least seven spectators burned to death after Odin JOHNSON's fatal accident. Ron Mountford and Jim Lightfoot were the overtaking stars at Brandon. I told him we had it there, put it in a Tesco bag and brought it down to Highfield Road.. Jim MASTERS suffered a heart attack and passed away after suffering a massive heart attack on returning to the Costa Mesa pits after a race. Pictured on the left is recipient Winnie Hill and in the middle Lions president John Reason, John Reason when he became new Coventry Lions president in June 1986, aboard a carefully kept Triumph road bike that served as a reminder of his sporting past, John Reason in his days as a speedway rider for Coventry Bees, John Reason brushing-up his footballing skills at his Binley Industrial Estate haulage company headquarters when he became a Coventry City FC director in December 1985. I got on and found it easy and I suppose I impressed straight away and was in the Bees team within six weeks. READ MORE: Campaign group signals bid to bring speedway back to Brandon Stadium despite plans for new homes on site. Read about our approach to external linking. 5 Tommy Knudsen - the young Dane who made racing look so stylish and so easy (which it never is! In 1998, the opportunity arose to join the Coventry Bees as promoter and Pratt has been there ever since in promoter/co-promoter and team manager roles. I was already hooked on Speedway, from the age of 8 years old, (See my article on Ove Fundin, "When Ian met Ove"), so it was only natural that my wife and I should become regulars at Brandon. Coventry England 1933 This Rudge speedway motorcycle was built in England in 1933 under licence by Victor Martin for Rudge-Whitworth Ltd of Coventry. [3] A broken wrist sustained at Swindon brought his debut season to an early end. Coventry-kid John was also a legendary rider with the Coventry Bees speedway team and represented England in the sport. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? There are some other that have stood out over the years, Les Owen, Gary Guglielmi, Tommy Knudsen, Greg Hancock, Scott Nicholls to name a few. Cradley Heath fans were a bit 'colourful' though. These speedway riders are made of tough stuff. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but it's the first time I've seen it like that. Read about our approach to external linking. and spoke to the Coventry Telegraph at the time. Odin JOHNSON crashed into a light-pole while Board Racing. My Dad was a HUGE Mitch Shirra fan and our Ford Cortina Estate car was covered in Mitch Shirra stickers. B-R : Board Racing (a forerunner of speedway in the US). Naturally the Bees went down heavily whilst many fans stayed away in protest at the reduction in quality of the riders on view. First of all you have to be a good waiter then have the nuts to ride faster round the outside, sometimes on difficult tracks. ). Richard BARTLETT was an all-round motorcyclist, and was a regular competitor in vintage grass-track events. John Harrhy got back to riding after a year out, but this accident proved that there are fewer more precarious ways of earning a living than speedway riding. Speedway fans urge Coventry Brandon Stadium rethink - BBC News SPEEDWAY RIDERS BENEVOLENT FUNDWhile this siteis a grim reminder of the tragedies that have occurred throughout the history of the sport, there have been countless other riders who have been injured, often very seriously. Arthur Forrest - The most immaculately turned out rider I ever saw (and good with it!). My hero was Graham Warren (later to ride for the Bees). These speedway riders are made of tough stuff. Highland Riders | La Habra Heights CA - Facebook Alan was our No 2 and he and Ole made umpteen 5-1's so Alan was also one of our best too, It took guts to ride a bike without brakes so Alan well done for all your service to Coventry Bees, The Bees will never be forgotten. This is a perennial problem in Speedway. I used to get my overalls on and muck in.. POLUKARD, Mieczyslaw (Bydgoszcz & Poland).October 25, 1985.Bydgoszcz, Poland Long retired from competitive racing, former World Finalist Mieczyslaw was killed in a training accident at his home track. Welcome to the official Facebook page of Coventry Cycle Speedway club. The machines themselves were low-saddled and always seemed on. He looked like a bank-manager but he certainly knew how to run a Speedway track. I remember queuing right round the bakery in the centre to catch the bus. Heat 3. Guy Henderson wrote about his memories of the Falcons for DevonLive after Mauger died at the age of 78 in 2018. They were British League winners in 1974 and Premier League winners in 2000. Also the first German rider (I believe) at Coventry, Fritz Dirtl, a leg trailer, throttle wide open, bouncing off the fence!!!! Colin Pratt - Wikipedia Jacob DEROSIER crashed at the Los Angeles Stadium Motodrome onMarch 12, 1912, but died at home inSpringfield, Massachusetts onFebruary 25, 1913, from complications resulting from continued surgery. Speedway Smog can test any vehicle including diesels.. We provide HONEST services at the lowest prices . Mauger himself rode the final laps as the lights went out for the last time. A 'Save Our Speedway' campaign has been started by supporters of the Coventry Bees speedway team, in the face of news that outline planning permission is. Francesca now lives in Worcestershire and competed for the Eastbourne Seagulls last year, Francesca said she had been prompted to try speedway after her sister recommended it. So thats when I finished with the speedway. 4 Ron Mountford - they say that they had to repaint the kick-boards after each meeting where The Man had left tyre marks in his all-action style How can playing Call of Duty or Battlefield 1942 possibly compare to a night of Speedway. Unsurprisingly the riders wear yellow and black colours. Five-year-old Davis was one of at least seven spectators burned to death after Odin JOHNSON's fatal accident. A motion to refuse plans for 124 homes was agreed unanimously by councillors. He has won sixteen major trophies as a manager or promoter. "To lose a track that I remember going to as a kid, my dad remembers going to as a kid, now being pregnant and knowing I'm not going to be able to have that experience with my own child.". WILLIAM, Charles (USA)Sep 8, 1912..Vailsburg Motordrome, Newark, NJ, USA (B-R). BRAUNER, Rudolf (Germany)Jul 30, 1933.Grunewald Stadion, Berlin, Germany. Tommy Knudsen - perhaps the unluckiest of them all? I was born in Birmingham and the Brummies were my team from 1949. I started a Saturday job with a greengrocer at age fourteen, which meant that I often missed the start and sometimes the whole meetings. Barnett was one of six spectators who were killed in the crash that claimed the lives ofriders Eddie HASHA and John ALBRIGHT. ROBIN ADLINGTON (New Zealand) 1974 GEORGE ALLBROOK (England) 1929-1930 BILL ALLEN (England) 1931 Ole! Coventry Bees - Latest news, reaction, results, pictures, video Step by step directions for your drive or walk. Ole was a great ambassador for this team is his time here. He said: I first started going up to the football club with my uncle in 1936.. ", "I did not realise there was such animosity from Alan. )Jul 14, 1970.. Barnett was one of six spectators who were killed in the crash that claimed the lives of, Dalley was one of six spectators who were killed in the crash that claimed the lives of, Fischer was one of six spectators who were killed in the crash that claimed the lives of, Retired from motorcycle racing, Ralph died in qualifying practice for the 1948. It seems that my concerns were correct. "We went quite a few times back then, joining the big crowds on the back straight to watch the Falcons take on teams including riders such as Peter Collins and Ole Olsen for the Belle Vue Aces, the Coventry Bees and the White City Rebels. Sorry Bakker was one of two thirteen-year old boys (Gerrit Eisses was the other) killed when a riderless bike hit a crowd of spectators at a grass-track meeting. . Dalley was one of six spectators who were killed in the crash that claimed the lives ofriders Eddie HASHA and John ALBRIGHT. Nigel Boocock - the greatest trier of them all. Having retired to Majorca Mr Reason and his wife Joan returned to the Midlands in recent years, living next door to their daughter in Dunchurch. The home ground is Brandon Stadium in Warwickshire. Teams such as Manchester's Belle Vue could attract crowds of 25,000 and in 1976 the Falcons were one of 37 teams in two leagues. These riders invariably participated in both disciplines, as well as road-racing. [3] After his National Service, he returned to the Rye House training track in 1960 and had his first competitive rides, reaching the final of the Whitsun Trophy. There's probably no better symbol of Speedway's decline. Add 4 . There were exceptions, like Nigel at Coventry, Peter Collins at Belle Vue, Terry Betts at King's Lynn etc but they were in the minority. Anybody remember 'Crusty Pye', it was alleged he came off every lap!!! Alan. I do fear for the future of the sport in the area. One of the first meetings of that time was the Brandonapolis, won by the greet Jack Parker, one of the first 'foot forward' riders. Now that's SPEEDWAY!!!! Retired from motorcycle racing, Ralph died in qualifying practice for the 1948 Indianapolis 500. You can only begin to imagine what it was like to ride at speed, in the dark. DATE 10/08/53 Coventry Speedway Midlands Riders Final 1953 Condition V Good,cfld,lcr,sc,very very tiny ni at top edge, Click Abbreviations Key DATE 10/08/53 Coventry Speedway Midlands Riders Final 1953 Condition V Good,cfl. without leaving my armchair here in Australia. 14 of 314 Sun 3rd Jul 2011 2:34pm. Ray Taylor's speedway motorcycle "Daisy" by Martin/JAP Mr Reason also tried out as a footballer. Locations are in the UK unless otherwise stated. The one meeting that has stood out from the rest is definetly the Bees v Vikings title showdown, 1981 that was i think. We bought programmes and stickers, and clipboards on which to note down the heat and match results. VARMUZA, J (Czech Republic).July 18, 1937..Olomouc, Czech Republic Another 14-year old, Varmuza was killed when rider Palousek crashed into spectators. Batchelor scored his first podium when he finished second in the Danish Grand Prix at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen. My first memories of the Coventry Bees, was going with my dad during the fifties, with the crawl of traffic through Binley Woods. Sebastian ROTH was practicing for the Motorcycle Grand Prix of Switzerland, when he pulled his machine to the edge of the track, and died from a heart attack. Home Help Search Welcome Guest. Once the clutch was released it was simply a question of who held on to their seething steeds the longest and got around the track first. LOEFRING, James (USA)..Sep 8, 1912..Vailsburg Motordrome, Newark, NJ, USA (B-R). Ole would then shepherd his partner for the rest of the race, taking care to continue blocking the opposition, to pass the tapes first and second for Coventry. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. We chatted about this incident after the race with another spectator who said" Ah well that's Olle Nygren for you, he would chop up his own grandmother if necessary!" Les, also a local lad was extremely popular. Is climate change killing Australian wine? Campaigners have won a long-running battle to save a speedway stadium from being turned into housing. Apologies for any omissions or inaccuracies, but if you have any amendments or additions (including additional information for current listings), please do not hesitate to contact me, Steve Brown,at. My first memories of the Coventry Bees, was going with my dad during the fifties, with the crawl of traffic through Binley Woods. He sustained three broken bones in his neck and was warned by doctors that if he rode again and broke it he would be paralysed. But we have come away with no points and that has been the story., Locked up April: Killers and sex offenders sent to prison in Devon last month, DevonLive looks at the criminals locked up in April 2023, Nude cruise returns to seaside town this summer, The clothes-free evening will see around 100 like minded people dancing, relaxing and catching up with friends, Devon care homes rated from best to worst by CQC, All of the care homes have been rated following inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Nurses strike at Torbay Hospital despite 'guilt' of walking out, "The guilt of walking out hangs heavy on my shoulders", Dog ban at beaches from today - where restrictions apply, Dogs are banned from many of Devons beaches from May 1 to September 30 but some bans last even longer, Impressive cruise liner sails out of Devon port, Expedition-style ship MS Maud can carry 528 passengers and is 446ft long, Three legged dog rescued after slipping down Devon cliff, The 40kg pooch fell 10 metres down a 40 metre cliff, The South West beach and cliff walk that's one of the world's best, The walk from Charmouth beach near Lyme Regis up to the cliffs of Golden Cap along the Jurassic Coast even earned itself a spot on prime time TV, 'Most wanted' fugitives hunted by Devon and Cornwall Police. Attempts to revive the club have so far come to nothing. "The County Ground was famously quick, with a white solid steel wall all the way round the outside. It must have been infuriating for the away team, although they must have been aware of what was likely to happen. Jack Young - the man who made winning races look effortless. We sponsored the youth team for eight years and spent a lot of time going to youth team matches. Date revealed when Nuneaton's desperately-needed new secondary school will open, It has been revealed in a planning application, Huge amounts of fines given by drivers caught out by three speed limits on M6 Junction, data reveals, Drivers on the M6 should be on alert about the variable speed limits that are in place, 'Nightmare' West Midlands millionaire defies court orders to flatten huge man cave, Neighbours say Graham Wildin is causing 'parking mayhem' out of frustration over his legal battle, Three sets of HS2 roadworks starting in Warwickshire this week, A section of the A429 Coventry Road near Kenilworth will close, 60 people forced to wait more than 12 hours in A&E in Coventry in one month, Ambulance services locally also missed their targets, Nuneaton's new Liverpool GPO-style Food Hall set for green light, So are proposals for new apartments on the Larry Grayson development, Fillongley witches festival returning on coronation weekend with celebration of King Charles, Organisers are planning a special ritual of friendship and family in a nod to the coronation of the new monarch, Michelin star chef Glynn Purnell tells us what to expect from his new caf & bistro in Coventry, Glynn also hopes to open a fine-dining restaurant at Charterhouse within the next 18 months. The Coventry Bees stopped racing at Brandon Stadium, which is currently derelict, in 2016 after failing to reach a deal to race there. It is, of course, primarily a greyhound venue, and a thriving one as far as I know. A statement on the club website said: Coventry City are saddened to learn of the death of former vice chairman and director John Reason. Court reporter for DevonLive and SomersetLive, Exeter Falcons V Reading Racers. Troy Batchelor Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family Whilst great riders like Barry Briggs, Peter Craven, Ronnie Moore, Bruce Penhall, Erik Gundersen, Tony Rickardsson and others, could always, we believed be beaten, but over certain periods there were riders who were very special. BAKKER, Gerrit (Netherlands)Oct 11, 1925..Sappemeer, Netherlands (G-T). As always you can unsubscribe at any time. He said: Myself and Peter Brough, who was also at Brandon, started training with the football club when Harry Storer was manager and a lot of the old players like Polly Waldock, Ian Jamieson, Harry Barrett, Alf Wood and Peter Hill were there. At its peak, thousands of fans filled the ground to watch the world's top riders race for and against the Coventry Bees before it closed falling into disrepair and becoming the target of acts of vandalism. I had thought they were doing OK at Perry Barr. losing his life, seven spectators were killed..Rinat MARDANSHIN died after developing a blood clot during a routine operation to remove a metal plate from an injured collar-bone. From 1947 to 2005 there was a place in Exeter where you could watch the Falcons fly. FOEHNER, Thomas (USA)Sep 8, 1912..Vailsburg Motordrome, Newark, NJ, USA (B-R). Brafield track was still there a few years ago, but unfortunately it has been tarmac rather than shale for many years now. Back to the other Ole, Olsen, he stayed with Coventry until his retirement in 1983. If both Coventry and Birmingham lose their speedway teams then the nearest alternative tracks are Leicester and Wolverhampton. Cordon remains in place after multiple stabbings that left one dead, No fairytale ending for Exeter Chiefs' departing stalwarts as La Rochelle triumph in Champions Cup semi-final, Exeter Chiefs were beaten 47-28 by La Rochelle in the semi-final of the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup. It was extraordinary just to watch and listen after sunset, when the match result hung on the result of the final heat and the crowd went bonkers. BOTTOMS, Alf (England).May 3, 1951Luxembourg (Car Racing - Luxembourg GP), Retired from speedway, former Wembley star Alf died while practicing for the Luxembourg GP). The Coventry Bees stopped racing at Brandon Stadium in 2016 after failing to reach a deal to race there. A Oliver Allen (speedway rider) Hans Andersen (speedway rider) B Henning Bager David Bargh Ben Barker (speedway rider) Ian Barney Steve Bastable Josh Bates (speedway rider) Mick Bell He went to Stoke School in Briton Road, which is no longer there, and progressed to John Gulson School, which became Caludon Castle School. A spectator, I have no details of the accident in which Herbert lost his life. Clapping and cheering could be heard in the council chamber after the decision to refuse was announced. BELL, William (Australia)Feb 9, 1929Melbourne Motordrome, VIC, Australia (Z-B). Speedway fans are urging councillors in Rugby to reject plans to turn a stadium into a housing estate. In Memoriam - Yola Apologies for any omissions or inaccuracies, but if you have any amendments or additions (including additional information for current listings), please do not hesitate to contact me, Steve Brown,at bullpointer@yahoo.comFinally, thanks to everyone who has helped me with this project, with a special mention for Jim Henry, Ross Garrigan and Christian Riviere-Ramond. He was a great ambassador not just for Coventry but for Speedway in general.
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