Ton up boys at Plymouth speedway 1962

[Bojan Scores]

link
Lovely footage From the Pennycross Stadium, Plymouth.

[Steve Austin]

Great post Bojan Scores.  Made me laugh this.  First of all, you never see ladies like that now.  They're probably only about 50 if that but back then they looked like old ladies very early on.  They always wore hats too.  Secondly, the lads giving it the big 'un until they get on the bikes and then tip toe around the corners, both feet down.  Love Speedway, used to go every week when I was a kid and go to watch it if it's on when I go back home.

[Bojan Scores]

Yes it amusing seeing how people acted in front of TV cameras. I particularly like the mothers 'telephone voices'. Pennycross is long gone, but the grass banking around bends one and two was there until recently. Plymouth now race on a track on the edge of town. I love my speedway too, so I'm either spectating at Plymouth, or when I'm back home usually Wolves, Stoke or Sheffield.

[Bojan Scores]

This is a clip of a great Dirk Bogarde film 'Once a jolly swagman'. The stadium is New Cross dog track next to Millwall's Den.
Jack Regan preferred to watch his Speedway across town at White City (May, series 3). I always smile when John Thaw shields his eyes from the dust, some things never change :D

[Vienna]

Interesting to see that film, Bojan Scores. The women with the hats seem a bit posh for speedway. 

I'm a fan too, often go to Wolverhampton during the season. Elite League Champions last season, of course 

Vi

[Bojan Scores]

Jan 31, 2017 18:43:55 GMT Vienna said:

Interesting to see that film, Bojan Scores. The women with the hats seem a bit posh for speedway. 

I'm a fan too, often go to Wolverhampton during the season. Elite League Champions last season, of course 

Vi

Wolves speedway is a real pleasure on a Monday night, then the dogs on a Thursday or Saturday evening. Monmore Green stadium is high on my list of favourite places :D

[Arthur Pringle]

I'm imagining the reception those lads might've got if they'd turned up at the Ace Cafe- "ere, 'ave a look, it's them dozy Devon boys off the telly, we saw you with your mums & that wet blanket who called us a menace".

[Sam Tyler]

Great clip BS

The comment about lads getting 1000cc bikes at 16 surprised me. At 16 for me it was the 50cc moped, I could only dream of having a bigger bike at that age. Mind you, we were still at school at 16, those lads had probably been doing apprenticeships and earning money from the age of 14.

I used to enjoy watching speedway on World Of Sport but never managed to get to a meeting to watch live. Been to most other types of bike meets and tried many too, but never speedway. I'll have to get over to Reading or Ryde to watch a meet at some stage.

I do acknowledge the riders' skills as well. I've managed power slides on mud on my motorcross bike years ago but to keep the bikes cranked over and power sliding the entire 180° turns at each end of the oval like they do takes great nerve and skill.

Sam.

[Cartman]

Jan 31, 2017 15:33:39 GMT Steve Austin said:

Great post Bojan Scores.  Made me laugh this.  First of all, you never see ladies like that now.  They're probably only about 50 if that but back then they looked like old ladies very early on.  They always wore hats too.  Secondly, the lads giving it the big 'un until they get on the bikes and then tip toe around the corners, both feet down.  Love Speedway, used to go every week when I was a kid and go to watch it if it's on when I go back home.

True that. When I was growing up, in industrial Lancashire, in the 60s, a woman in her 40s looked quite old, but now there are lots of women that age, and older - think Vorderman! who are outstandingly attractive.

On the topic of hats, yes, I remember ladies at that time wearing them and they were usually oddly shaped - the hats that is! They are not really worn now, apart from at things like wedding receptions and todays hats are quite stylish, quite unlike 60s ones.

[Bojan Scores]

Dedicated to 1960s Mums :D