Ommer Um!

The first live speedway I ever saw was in about 1975 at Dudley Wood stadium, home to the Cradley Heathens from 1947 till 1995.

Cradley was a great team operating in the heart of England's Black Country, an area to the west and north of Birmingham so-named because of its long tradition in the relatively mucky industries of iron, steel and coal mining. The town itself is called Cradley Heath (not to be confused with nearby Cradley, the towns having a decided but 'amicable' rivalry) and was especially famous for chain and nail-making, much of which was carried out into the early 20th century by women in their own back yards. This history of forge-work in the area inspired the team's oft-used hammer logo and the war cry 'Ommer Um' (hammer them).

The Heathens were hugely successful and had ardent supporters who'd turn out to what was a pretty basic stadium to cheer on superstars such as Billy Hamill, Greg Hancock, Jan O Perdersen, Erik Gundersen, Anders Michanek and Californian glamour boy Bruce Penhall (see Sideburn #4). The list could go on...

However, at the end of the 1995 season the Heathens were forced to leave their home of almost 50 years thanks to the owners wanting to sell the land for housing. They struggled on for a year as an itinerant club, but it had to end. The good news is that this season the club has been revived under the name Dudley Heathens who entered the National League, where they're currently sitting in second place. It's great news, but the fight goes on to find a new home and in the meantime, 'home' fixtures are run alternately at Wolverhampton and Birmingham. Not ideal, but a start.

The club deserves all the support it can get and I'd love to see the Heathens racing again back where they belong. It's a team with a great history in an area of the country that truly loves its speedway. MP

Spanner Doily

The consequences of not having an on-site shed, means our kitchen table is taking a battering every time I get my tools out for any DIY or motorcycle maintenance. A handy doily like this crocheted by Nathan Vincent could save me a lot of French polish and domestic agro. BP

Tiddler

According to (my ignorance) Wikipedia:
The Hummer was a motorcycle model manufactured by Harley-Davidson from 1955 to 1959. However, the name 'Hummer' is now used generically to refer to all American-made single-cylinder two-stroke Harley-Davidson motorcycles manufactured from 1948 to 1966. These motorcycles were based on the DKW RT125 [DKW was the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer in the 1930s], the drawings for which were taken from east Germany as war reparations after World War II. RT125 drawings were also given to Britain and the Soviet Union as war reparations, resulting in the BSA Bantam and the MMZ M-1A Moskva, later known as the Minsk.

This cheeky tiddler is a 1954 Model 165(cc). BP

Beezumph snaps 2)

Here's Gary Nixon, Grand National Champion in '67 and '68 and all round flattrack and roadrace legend at this year's TR3OC Beezumph. The 'bike is Steve Cook's Redline T140. The frame and motor may have history with Mike Kidd. The period style paint scheme is Steve's own. I particularly like the joke shop eyeball used as the tank mount bung.Redline Engineering were an offshoot and competitor of Trackmaster, set-up by Lynn Kastan who used to weld for them. He went on to achieve fame and fortune making BMX bicycle frames. On Trackmaster oilers, the top tube oil tank runs from the steering head to the swingarm pivot. On the Redline frame, the tank tube runs from the steering head to the seat rails. The Redline has a rectangular section swingarm whereas Trackmaster used round tube.
Gary didn't ride due to the impact of advancing years upon his old injuries. However, he aided Don Emde to give a fascinating talk, illustrated by some great period photos, about the Trident / Rocket triples raced on the dirt (I'll try and persuade him to contribute the material to a Sideburn article).Don took to the Anglesey track riding Rob North's ex-Dick Mann North "Lowboy" framed '72 Daytona bike which Rob brought with him from the US for the event. The photos show Rob examining it after an outing in Don's hands. It's original even down to dirty marks, a cracked windshield and fairing damage, done when Dick came unstuck on some oil. Rob's afraid to loan it to the AMA museum in case they clean it!!!!Bye for now Alastair McQ

Beezumph snaps 1)

Thanks to Captain Simon for these snaps from Beezumph 19. BP

Buxton

Let's be honest, some of the UK's speedway tracks are shit 'oles
- or they are built near existing shit 'oles. But Buxton is different. It wouldn't be any greener if it was ploinked in the middle of a golf course. Set in the heart of the rolling Derbyshire Peak District, on Sunday 1st August High Edge Raceway hosts round 5 of the UK short track championship. Practice stars at 11am, racing starts 1pm.
What's more the local delicacy of Bakewell Tart will be served in between each heat race. BP

The Legendary John Noble

Most people who've worked in the motorcycle press in Britain over the past 30 years will have had the pleasure of either working with John Noble, or will have been regaled with yarns about his occasionally (!) eccentric behaviour. Anyone who's read the press will have enjoyed some of the best motorcycling photography out there.

This clip perfectly captures John, to many still known by the nickname 'Selwyn', after the TV character Selwyn Froggitt. The waving arms, impossibly high and exasperated voice, choice language and repeated hitching-up of ever-falling trousers are classic ingredients of any John Noble road test photo shoot. Like all photographers, John is obsessed with the light and, this being Britain, you often have to grab opportunities between banks of heavy cloud. Off-camera is a bunch of road testers failing to act on John's crystal clear signage. Keep your eye on the mobile phone. MP

Black Is Beautiful

Our FT500 is not black; or pink; or purple, but thanks to DSC it is beautiful. Paul Bryant who does a lot of shit hot action photography for Performance Bikes magazine, has now shot the SB#6 cover and feature story of our project bike.

Thanks to Troy Critchlow for the Chains and Black Exhaust prologue. BP

Teeny Wee

Corlew Triumph Cub. BP

Mefo Round 5

Round 5 of the International Mefo Sport Flattrack Cup 8 August has been relocated to Slany in Czechoslovakia.

Last Saturday night Marco Belli won the third and last round in Terenzano to become new Italian flat track champion. Massimiliano Andreotti came 2nd, Jan-Willem Jansen 3rd, Armando Castagna 4th.