News and Updates
Future Policy
The Speedway Researcher magazine which can be viewed on the Speedway Researcher web site was set up by Graham Fraser and Jim Henry to promote research into the history of Speedway and Dirt Track Racing. It was intended to help those with an interest in any aspect of the sport and its history to make others aware of what their interests and to encourage others who had similar interests to work together. It provided a vehicle whereby researchers could advise others of what they were doing and make others aware of what they were looking for.
The magazine published articles on a wide range of topics related to speedway and dirt track racing.
The web site came along a good while after the magazine, the idea of the late Ron McNeil who gave us the idea of using this medium to provide a platform for sharing information about speedway meetings held in the UK from 1928 to date. At first the site was funded by income generated by the magazine but since the magazine closed down the funds have become nearly exhausted and it is now largely privately funded. The costs are dictated by the amount space taken to host the information and are currently not unreasonable. The next step up, is, however, a significant leap.
Taking this into account the space available has to be prioritised. The first priority is to ensure the base source of information, meeting details, are fully provided for.
For the foregoing reasons we are going to decline to carry any additional items which are compilations of information drawn from our meeting details. However, in a bid to facilitate networking we intend to continue for the time-
August 4
Steve Wilkes
Steve
My best friend of nearly 50 years, has passed away. and I feel his loss whenever I see a speedway reference. It was due to Steve that I myself started watching The Gunners in the late 70's. His passion for our sport never wavered, and from his first meeting in 1972 till his last earlier this year he loved every second.
To his many friends in the speedway world, we lost a true gentleman, who had time for everybody, and never gave up until he found that error.
Everybody on this site will miss him, and Our love goes out to Lesley, his wife, and his brother Paul.
I myself will never quite be able to forget him whenever I can get myself together, and return to watching.
Au Revior old friend, and continue watching from wherever you are.
Gary Done
Jim, Keith and I would also like to pass on our condolences to Steve’s family and friends and would like to recognise the huge amount of effort and commitment he put into making this site what it is today. Thank you Steve, we will all miss you.
Gary has decided to continue the work on the post 1965 season files in Steve’s honour and has asked if anyone would be willing to contribute by checking future files and looking for any mistakes. If you feel you can help, please contact the site through the home page and we will put you in touch with Gary.
October 8
A new file from Joe Wake this time around for Newcastle (2000) and also new files for Scunthorpe (1976) and Belle Vue (1979).
There are some great pre war updates as well, largely thanks to Jim inputting a heap of pre-
New Files
1976 -
1979 -
2000 -
Updates
1928 -
1929 -
1930 -
1932 -
1934 -
1936 -
1937 -
1938 -
1978 -
1980 -
1982 -
1984 -
October 28
Just some updated files this week. As the season comes to an end and the clocks go back, if anyone fancies tackling a file, please get in touch with Jim or myself via the email links on the home page. Whether its a whole season, or a look back through some programmes to find some missing pieces of information, any contributions would be gratefully received.
We have decided to remove the links for Ringwood for 1937-
Updates
1928 -
1929 -
1930 -
1933 -
1934 -
1935 -
1937 -
1950 -
November 23
The 1939 season page has been revamped with a season results file replacing the previous files for the competitions held that year. A fixture list will follow next time. Thanks to Joe Wake for his Newcastle contributions and there is the usual collection of interesting updates.
New Files
1939 -
1977 -
1979 -
1981 -
1982 -
1983 -
Updates
1929 -
1930 -
1932 -
1935 -
1938 -
1939 -
1947 -
1948 -
1949 -
1951 -
1952 -
1954 -
1955 -
1965 -
1966 -
1968 -
1969 -
1970 -
1976 -
1977 -
December 6
Not a huge amount to update but I have received Gary Done’s long anticipated 1984 season results file and didn’t want to sit on it for too long. Thanks Gary -
New files
1939 -
1984 -
1986 -
Updates
1930 -
1931 -
1933 -
1934 -
1949 -
1950 -
1954 -
1963 -
1965 -
1975 -
1976 -
1978 -
1982 -