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-
June 5
The highlight of this update must be the files for Caxton. Not only is there some new information for the 1931 and 1932 seasons, there is evidence of a third season held at the Cambridgeshire track in 1933. No results as yet, but details of fixtures and competitors which may be of interest.
Also this week there are some lovely updates from early programmes and, as ever, thank you to all that contribute to the site.
New File
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Updates
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June 22
There are some more great updates this week with some programmes from the early days helping to discover more and more information. Many of the 1928 programmes had lists of riders included in them and this is proving to be very informative. I keep a database of all known riders to have ridden in the UK and I suspect that there wouldn’t have been any need for doubling up had there been league speedway in 1928 as the number of known riders operating that year is now approaching 1700.
Thanks to Nigel Nicklin, Joe Wake and Graham Gleave for their updates and also Mick Huggett for the 1939 Dagenham programme.
Updates
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July 1
New to the site today is the 1933 season results file which replace several files covering that season. The 1933 fixture list will follow soon.
There are some nice updates as well, including a scan of a Middlesbrough programme from 1928.
New Files
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Updates
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July 15
The 1933 fixture list is now on the site and we have another great batch of updates, helped by some more programme scans which had given us new information for tracks like Swindon (Gorse Hill), and Wombwell.
On the subject of programmes, please have a look at the appeal on the Collectors’ Corner section and see if we can help out Graham Hart in New Zealand who is looking for a very special programme.
New Files
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Updates
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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.
August 4
Updates
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