These riders invariably participated in both disciplines, as well as road-racing. I remember going to a British Final and we were season ticket holders and had to stand in front of the Main Stand. Even getting there was an adventure, with Coventry Transport providing a fleet of buses from Wheatley Street, and charging 1s 4 1/2d RETURN - no half fares - because, I believe, the stadium was outside the city boundary and they couldn't charge to come back, starting outside the city. These were the days of black cinders. The home ground is Brandon Stadium in Warwickshire. What this means is that the very best riders are stealing the places of other, lesser riders, and this cascades right down the system. This is a tribute to those heroes of speedway, long-track, grass-track, and ice speedway, who are no longer with us.The following list includes not only those who paid the ultimate price for their love of speed, but many who lost their livesaway from the track, but during their racing careers. We chatted about this incident after the race with another spectator who said" Ah well that's Olle Nygren for you, he would chop up his own grandmother if necessary!" Between 1973 and 1984 I lived in Coventry, not far from Brandon stadium, the home of Coventry "Bees". I worked there as a track raker for ten shillings a night about 1952 but I'm afraid the only names I can recall are Bob Fletcher (captain) and Pete Reason, but the smell of methanol and "Castrol R" will linger forever. Exeter Falcons V Kings Lynn Heat 4. BISHOP, Phil (England)Jul 14, 1970..Lokeren, Belgium (R/A) Although long retired from racing, Phil (nicknamed "The King of Crash") lost his life in the Lokeren tragedy along with several active riders. I had thought they were doing OK at Perry Barr. At 23 I was earning more money out of speedway and I enjoyed the glamour that went with it, but I had a dictum from my future father-in-law, Harry Partridge, who ran Bantam Coaches, that if I wanted to get married to his daughter then I had to get a job. ), sadly left the sport way too soon Category:Coventry Bees riders - Wikipedia Dalley was one of six spectators who were killed in the crash that claimed the lives ofriders Eddie HASHA and John ALBRIGHT. I went to see banger racing there in the early 70's and it was tarmac that long ago! VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. Pratt became co-promoter at the Rye House Rockets with former boss Len Silver in 1979. without leaving my armchair here in Australia. He also qualified for the final of the Speedway World Championship in 1967. VARMUZA, J (Czech Republic).July 18, 1937..Olomouc, Czech Republic Another 14-year old, Varmuza was killed when rider Palousek crashed into spectators. Lowering was one of six spectators who were killed in the crash that claimed the lives of riders Eddie HASHA and John ALBRIGHT. I now live near Poole stadium and watch the Bees when they are the opposition. How can playing Call of Duty or Battlefield 1942 possibly compare to a night of Speedway. BUKAT, Herbert (Germany)..Aug 1, 1933.Grunewald Stadion, Berlin, Germany. Having had a successful career in the haulage business, running his own company, John joined the board of directors in December 1985 and was on the board at the time of the Sky Blues FA Cup victory and the clubs time in the Premier League. BARNETT, William (USA).Sep 8, 1912Vailsburg Motordrome, Newark, NJ, USA (B-R). That is now just a shopping centre. Fellow former Coventry City director Joe Elliott led tributes to Mr Reason saying: He was a great guy. Its a sad loss but I think myself and many others can look back at the great times we shared with John.. I started a Saturday job with a greengrocer at age fourteen, which meant that I often missed the start and sometimes the whole meetings. These riders invariably participated in both disciplines, as well as road-racing. The Falcons roll of honour included cup and league triumphs in in every decade from the 1940s to 2004. It was a nickname coined when he was once caught eating a cream bun in a cafe by his speedway pals at the height of his success, and one which stuck. I was already hooked on Speedway, from the age of 8 years old, (See my article on Ove Fundin, "When Ian met Ove"), so it was only natural that my wife and I should become regulars at Brandon. Ole said if he couldn't ride for Coventry he wouldn't ride anywhere in the UK. At the beginning of every meeting Starting Marshalls, officials, St John's Ambulance people, riders, all marched in step out onto the track to military style music, followed by presentations and then "The Flight of the Bumble Bee" by Rimsky-Korsakov. I had seen Olle ride for Norwich in the early 60's so that year Olle was already 46 years old. Naturally the Bees went down heavily whilst many fans stayed away in protest at the reduction in quality of the riders on view. I have no details of the accident that claimed the lives of spectators William BELL and George GOLDSMITH. The oval even had its own smell - hot dogs and onions, and the sweet tang of speedway bike exhaust fumes. Correction to my previous entry, it was Johnny Reason not Pete Reason. while not actually racing "true" speedway, are included as 'board-racing" and "Class A racing" (similar to modern flat-tracking) were the forerunners of speedway in the. The Rick Miller testimonial was another favourite, a great day out. John Harrhy got back to riding after a year out, but this accident proved that there are fewer more precarious ways of earning a living than speedway riding. Nigel Boocock - the greatest trier of them all. A local equestrian club that holds shows in La Habra Heights, California. Grace (USA)Jul 6, 1912..Wandamere Motordrome, Slt Lake City, Utah, USA (B-R), A spectator, Cunningham died from injuries sustained in the crash in which Harry DAVIS lost his life (Jul 4), DALLEY, Russell (USA)Sep 8, 1912Vailsburg Motordrome, Newark, NJ, USA (B-R). Born in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, Pratt lived near to Mike Broadbank from whom he bought his first speedway bike at the age of nineteen, and practised at the nearby Rye House track. I'm amazed at the dog track news. We bought programmes and stickers, and clipboards on which to note down the heat and match results. Maybe one day, when the time is right, those wild machines may return to Exeter once again. Mr Reason was synonymous with the city of Coventry on many levels. Jim MASTERS suffered a heart attack and passed away after suffering a massive heart attack on returning to the Costa Mesa pits after a race. SPEEDWAY - 1990 W Whittier Blvd, La Habra, California - Yelp I am sure Nigel Boocock was riding in the mid to late sixties, but I stand to be corrected. Francesca now lives in Worcestershire and competed for the Eastbourne Seagulls last year, Francesca said she had been prompted to try speedway after her sister recommended it. The Bees continued to have success in the 80's so these were great days not only for Coventry but for British speedway in general. Keep up with all of the latest local news with our daily newsletter, John Reason at his Binley Industrial Estate haulage company headquarters when he became a Coventry City FC director in December 1985. After deciding the risk was too great he retired. Read More Alan was our No 2 and he and Ole made umpteen 5-1's so Alan was also one of our best too, It took guts to ride a bike without brakes so Alan well done for all your service to Coventry Bees, The Bees will never be forgotten. One of at least seven spectators burned to death after Odin JOHNSON's fatal accident. 7 Gary Guglielmi - this has to be the young GG who first came to Brandon in 1977, not the later version - watching him try and complete even one lap around Brandon was worth the admission money alone. The week was never complete unless you came away from a meeting with a small piece of shale in the corner of an eye and lungs fighting back the negative effects of burnt Nitro-Methanol. Coventry. He'd invariably get out of the second bend in front slowing down just enough to allow his less able team-mate to come up on the outside whilst at the same time blocking the opposing heat-leader from getting past. We were packed in, you could not move. Post: Send cheque/postal order (payable to Retro Speedway) for 20 (plus 2 P&P in UK) to: Retro Speedway (Memories of Coventry Speedway DVD), 9 Nursery Close, Glossop, SK13 8PQ. Once the clutch was released it was simply a question of who held on to their seething steeds the longest and got around the track first. I got on and found it easy and I suppose I impressed straight away and was in the Bees team within six weeks. Per-Ole Soderman - our biggest loss, who should have done far more. Then 73, Mr Reason told how during his 18-year tenure as a Coventry City director he only missed about a dozen games, home and away. Find nearby businesses, restaurants and hotels. Thanks for the information, MR. Greg Hancock - the nicest guy ever to win championships. . A marshall at a grass-track meeting, Dick was injured on May Bank Holiday Monday, and passed away several days later. Born off the Binley Road, he became a speedway rider for Coventry Bees and also represented England at the sport. The last phase is due to run until Saturday, May 27. We witnessed Nigel's last ride in Coventry colours before his retirement and emigration to Australia. Coventry Bees were a motorcycle speedway team that existed from 1929 to 2018. ", "I did not realise there was such animosity from Alan. I first went to Coventry Speedway in 1977. Our thoughts and condolences are with Johns family and friends at this sad time.. Nick VARNER was a noted youth competitor, just eleven years of age, and had been racing in various forms of motorcycle racing for several years.Nigel WASLEY was recuperating well from a broken leg, but died from a pulmonary embolism (blood clot). Step by step directions for your drive or walk. Oakes, Peter (1963) "A Peter Oakes Speedtale on Colin Pratt: Saints Must Regret Their Decision", Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Peterborough Panthers star pays tribute to club promoter Colin Pratt who passed away at the weekend", https://www.worldspeedwayriders.org/rider/40/colin-pratt, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colin_Pratt&oldid=1062499231, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2021, Articles needing additional references from October 2021, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 December 2021, at 21:04. There is also additional informationregarding some of the riders listed. I later worked as a track scratcher, as being said for about 10/-. He was old-fashioned. DevonLive looks back at the speedway riders and the glory days of the Exeter Falcons. I used to spend most of my time down at Highfield Road where I helped redevelop the ground. I remember queuing right round the bakery in the centre to catch the bus. Mr Reasons association with the Sky Blues continued when he joined the forerunner to the vice presidents club, the Pilgrim Club before he was invited onto the board by chairman John Poynton in 1985. He said: They were still struggling to pay the players wages back then. The stadium first hosted speedway in 1928 and was also home to stock car racing from the 1950s. Speaking about his career he said: I left school at 14 and began an apprenticeship as an aero engineer at Whitley aerodrome where the Jaguar is now. Add 4 . ORDER YOUR DVD NOW . William was one of six spectators who were killed in the crash that claimed the lives of riders Eddie HASHA and John ALBRIGHT. The Coventry Bees stopped racing at Brandon Stadium, which is currently derelict, in 2016 after failing to reach a deal to race there. He said: "He had an easy smile and gave good interviews. My hero was Graham Warren (later to ride for the Bees). Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. He also had an eight-year spell as the Great Britain team manager (with Eric Boocock). May they never be forgotten. 1 photo. 503. Having retired to Majorca Mr Reason and his wife Joan returned to the Midlands in recent years, living next door to their daughter in Dunchurch. In 1998, the opportunity arose to join the Coventry Bees as promoter and Pratt has been there ever since in promoter/co-promoter and team manager roles. Campaigners gathered outside Rugby Town Hall ahead of the meeting, Fans outside cheered when they heard the decision at the council meeting, Councillors met on Wednesday where they refused the plans. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. So thats when I finished with the speedway. Apologies for any omissions or inaccuracies, but if you have any amendments or additions (including additional information for current listings), please do not hesitate to contact me, Steve Brown,at bullpointer@yahoo.comFinally, thanks to everyone who has helped me with this project, with a special mention for Jim Henry, Ross Garrigan and Christian Riviere-Ramond. They were British League winners in 1974 and Premier League winners in 2000. Not only was Ole a great individual rider, he was also brilliant tactically. EISSES, Gerrit (Netherlands)..Oct 11, 1925Sappemeer, Netherlands (G-T). This was ominously blank. Ole, the "Great Dane", was a world-class rider who had already won the World Championship twice. , from complications resulting from continued surgery. Clapping and cheering could be heard in the council chamber after the decision to refuse was announced. From the left, Richard Wolff, (Y), Kevin Doolan (Exeter guest rider) (B) and Andrew Appleton (G) La Habra, CA. B-R : Board Racing (a forerunner of speedway in the US). When Did Coventry Speedway Close? Those riders marked "**". A statement on the club website said: Coventry City are saddened to learn of the death of former vice chairman and director John Reason. My first taste of Smiths crisps also comes to mind along with early fireworks at the end of the season. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. If you stood at the top of the banking you could look down into the pits where the riders and mechanics tinkered and swore.". 14 of 314 Sun 3rd Jul 2011 2:34pm. Mr Reasons son Robert told CoventryLive of a comical moment in the wake of that famous FA Cup win. Troy Batchelor Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family )Jul 14, 1970.. Barnett was one of six spectators who were killed in the crash that claimed the lives of, Dalley was one of six spectators who were killed in the crash that claimed the lives of, Fischer was one of six spectators who were killed in the crash that claimed the lives of, Retired from motorcycle racing, Ralph died in qualifying practice for the 1948. One night in 1975 Olle Nygren was riding in his last year for King's Lynn. My first memories of the Coventry Bees, was going with my dad during the fifties, with the crawl of traffic through Binley Woods. 6 talking about this. Continuing the football analogy, could the Bees eventually be moving to Northampton too? Heat 3. Thousands of Coventry people worked for John Reason's haulage firm over the decades, Get Sky Blues transfer latest, team news, match updates and analysis delivered straight to your inbox. Memories of Coventry Speedway Dvd The sport boomed in its early days reaching a peak in the 70s and early 80s. I used to go to a youth club in Wyken Grange Road with a couple of friends, Peter Brough and Roy Whitehouse, and we got very interested in motorbikes and used to go round looking at unused bikes and buying them for very little money. In addition to Johnson. A couple of photos of Exeter and Australia's Roy Eather. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but it's the first time I've seen it like that. POLUKARD, Mieczyslaw (Bydgoszcz & Poland).October 25, 1985.Bydgoszcz, Poland Long retired from competitive racing, former World Finalist Mieczyslaw was killed in a training accident at his home track. In the early 70's Nigel Boocock ("Little Boy Blue") was still Number One rider at Brandon. Sorry Cliff, I called you Alan there didn't I? Mr Reason died on June 7 and his funeral took place at Rainsbrook Crematorium on July 7. Latest News - Coventry Cycle Speedway - Google Sites Speaking in 2017, Ole Olsen said British speedway was going downhill and that he feared for its future, criticizing the lack of investment in the sport. Then there was the rallying Falcon War Cry, 1-3-5-7, hear this roar from Glorious Devon When Mike McGinnity took over the chairmanship he made Mr Reason deputy chairman. It is my go to gas station, and usually has cheap gas (other than Sams, Costco, and Arco). We are an independent speedway supporters club who, with help from; riders, referees, promoters and the media, raise funds to support the GB Young Lions. Finally, thanks to everyone who has helped me with this project, with a special mention for Jim Henry, Ross Garrigan and Christian Riviere-Ramond. He was killed on his debutracing on the Isle of Man. Mr Reason married his sweetheart Joan after taking a job at GEC in the packing department, and soon after spotted a business opportunity to make use of the new M1. My wife was then a medical social worker at Coventry hospital so she got to see the downside of Speedway when riders came in to be treated for their injuries. Guy recalled: "Standing down in the front row of the main grandstand, right next to the tapes, was utterly thrilling and terrifying at the same time. Born at 21 Raleigh Road, off the Binley Road, on October 29, 1930, Mr Reason first went to watch the Sky Blues as a six-year-old. Coventry England 1933 This Rudge speedway motorcycle was built in England in 1933 under licence by Victor Martin for Rudge-Whitworth Ltd of Coventry. For the 2014 Speedway Grand Prix, Batchelor became one of the top 15 Qualified Riders of the series. Coventry Cycle Speedway | Coventry - Facebook HOW TO ORDER. In his first full-time run at the World Championship, he finished in 9th place with 91 points scored. It must have been infuriating for the away team, although they must have been aware of what was likely to happen. ROBERTS, Ernest (Canada).June 22., 1915Leslieville Motordrome, Toronto, Canada (B-R). "Class A racing" is sometimes listed as an unofficial (pre-1930) US National Speedway Championship. Something went wrong, please try again later. He was a great ambassador not just for Coventry but for Speedway in general. In 1983, he spent a season as team manager at King's Lynn Stars before becoming promoter at Cradley Heath in 1984. SpeedwayPlus | Ole Olsen and Coventry Bees : The Glory Days