Rye House is a track, North of London, that the
DTRA regularly race at and rent for practices. To learn it has such history is great.
We race there on Sunday 21 September.
I find it interesting, that while US servicemen went back to California and set down the ground rules of what it is to be a motorcycle (and hot rod) rebel - rules still being mirrored by real and wannabe outlaws 70 years later - the British returned home and raced. Many of them raced on makeshift ovals on the latter years of the war.
We have a feature on 1939-45 warzone speedway in
Sideburn 8. G
Great film. It's interesting to see Rye House how has changed over the years. The track was bigger and a different shape in those days. So many riders who went on to have great speedway careers started off there. It was the premier training track in the south of England for many years. It's also worth mentioning that after the war speedway was potentially a good way to make money as the best speedway riders could earn a lot more than professional footballers back then as football had a maximum wage but the very best riders could earn big money footballers could only dream of. How times have changed!
ReplyDeleteThis has some great footage of West Ham's enormous Custom House Stadium and it's riders in 1947.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.britishpathe.com/video/tony-croombs-speedway-rider/query/speedway
Great footage, thanks
ReplyDeleteFantastic, could almost smell it!!!.
ReplyDeleteA case study in how to low side with style at about half way through - great stuff!
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, there was a lot more US servicemen who returned home and raced compared to the ones that formed outlaw motorcycle clubs in California.
ReplyDeleteMr Adams, I totally believe it and you're right. There were some great clubs. G
ReplyDeleteI think we missed an important point, HE didn't look that alright to me.....get up man, you're British, carry on old chap......
ReplyDelete