We sponsored the youth team for eight years and spent a lot of time going to youth team matches. It appears that this occurred a split-second before the crash, not only causing the crash, but also claiming his life in the process. He said: Myself and Peter Brough, who was also at Brandon, started training with the football club when Harry Storer was manager and a lot of the old players like Polly Waldock, Ian Jamieson, Harry Barrett, Alf Wood and Peter Hill were there. This list may not reflect recent changes . Moderator, : Joined Apr 2010 Total posts:4157. Tommy Knudsen - perhaps the unluckiest of them all? Colin George Pratt (10 October 1938 2 October 2021)[1][2] was a British motorcycle speedway rider and later promoter of the Coventry Bees who compete in the British Elite League. Jack Young - the man who made winning races look effortless. He rode for the Hawks for six years until the 1970 season when he moved to the Cradley Heathens. Alan. I went to see banger racing there in the early 70's and it was tarmac that long ago! Contrast that with now. 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. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. In recent decades speedway has found it impossible to compete with bigger more glamorous sports and has failed to arrest a long term decline. 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. Correction to my previous entry, it was Johnny Reason not Pete Reason. You need to be signed in to respond to this topic. Greg Downs & Steve Ogrizovic of Coventry celebrate after winning FA cup final against Tottenham Hotspur, John Reason when he became a Coventry City FC director in December 1985, Coventry Lions distributed Christmas cheer and 10 parcels of food throughout Coventry in December 1986. Born off the Binley Road, he became a speedway rider for Coventry Bees and also represented England at the sport. Something went wrong, please try again later. Moderator, : Joined Jan 2010 Total posts:5315. Brandon, England nuneatonspeedwaysupportersclub.co.uk Joined February 2012 549 Following 1,414 Followers Replies Media He has won sixteen major trophies as a manager or promoter. We were packed in, you could not move. ORDER YOUR DVD NOW . I think at least part of the problem for British Speedway is the complete lack of coordination with other European Leagues. He was a great guy and well-known around the city for his hard work and his business as well. Peter. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. Mr Reason died on June 7 and his funeral took place at Rainsbrook Crematorium on July 7. GOLDSMITH, George (Australia)Feb 9, 1929Melbourne Motordrome, VIC, Australia (Z-B). A spectator, I have no details of the accident in which Herbert lost his life. "My family's been going to Brandon for three generations," the 32-year-old said. He also was a great team man. He stayed at Cradley until 1996 where he became co-promoter of the ill-fated London Lions, based at the Hawks' previous stadium, Hackney Wick. Les, also a local lad was extremely popular. 1 Nigel Boocock - who else but Little Boy Blue - no sponsored vehicle or motor home, just load the bike on the back of a Ford Consul and off to the meeting! 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. There's probably no better symbol of Speedway's decline. One night in 1975 Olle Nygren was riding in his last year for King's Lynn. I first went to Coventry Speedway in 1977. Jim Lightfoot lived in Binley Woods. MATT MINSHULL XBB04479_MM_002. 2 Who owns Coventry Speedway stadium? I have been watching The Bees, home & away, continuously since 1971. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. With brakeless abandon the riders threw their machines around the track, striking elegant and contorted poses as they slid around the bend, always on the point of glory or disaster. The then Promoter at Coventry was Charles Ochiltree, a legend in Speedway himself. A motion to refuse plans for 124 homes was agreed unanimously by councillors. Those riders marked "**". Further to what MR said yesterday, I drove past the Perry Barr track yesterday evening and there is a huge sign next to the road where they display the date and opponents of the next meeting. We witnessed Nigel's last ride in Coventry colours before his retirement and emigration to Australia. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk, 'Nightmare' West Midlands millionaire defies court orders to flatten huge man cave, Motorists face disruption as three sets of HS2 roadworks start this week, Coventry Royal Trail created for coronation weekend for people to explore city's rich history, Police release pictures after Coventry city centre robberies, Bodmin: Tributes paid to kindest and most gentle man killed in stabbing frenzy outside UK nightclub, Kenilworth April news roundup: Shops closing, toilet twinning and pub of the year, AI chatbots 'may soon be more intelligent than us', Russia troop deaths hit 20,000 in five months - US, France May Day protests leave dozens of police injured, 'My wife and six children joined Kenya starvation cult', On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. [3] He had only second-half rides for Southampton in 1961, and was loaned to Poole Pirates for whom he rode in three matches, Ipswich Witches (two matches), and then Stoke Potters where he started to score well, with paid 15 points against Wolverhampton and a 12-point maximum against Cradley Heath. However he has done speedway in this country no favours since taking over the GP series & for that reason he is omitted. Eisses was one of two thirteen-year old boys (Gerrit BAKKER was the other) killed when a riderless bike hit a crowd of spectators at a grass-track meeting. And the winners were Ole and Charles Ochiltree. DAVIS, William (USA)..Jul 30, 1913..Lagoon Motordrome, Ludlow, KY, USA (B-R). Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, Photo of Princess Charlotte shared as she turns 8, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests, The 17 most eye-catching looks at the Met Gala. The site is currently derelict and councillors will consider later a planning application. We saw Ole Olsen's van on the way home one night and my dad hammered the car to overtake him and Ole laughed and laughed. He was killed on his debutracing on the Isle of Man. There are some other that have stood out over the years, Les Owen, Gary Guglielmi, Tommy Knudsen, Greg Hancock, Scott Nicholls to name a few. Archie SHELTON was preparing to ride at Rye House when he suffered a brain hemorrhage in the pits. These speedway riders are made of tough stuff. . Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Bleak outlook for British speedway, sad to report, An example of the shambles which is UK speedway is tonight's meeting at Kings Lynn, where the Bees had to track two Premier League riders with averages up to 6 points in place of two heat-leaders who were riding for their Danish League teams They called him the Galloping Mauger. Heat 3. He sustained three broken bones in his neck and was warned by doctors that if he rode again and broke it he would be paralysed. Location: Located on the corner of Beach and Whittier you will find this Speedway gas station. On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. At full speed, the monstrous bikes would roar past an arms length away, flat out as they curved into the first corner. 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). Quite! The Coventry Bees stopped racing at Brandon Stadium, which is currently derelict, in 2016. Scott Nicholls, who captained the Bees to five trophies in three seasons between 2004 and 2007, told BBC CWR the stadium should be retained within the wider redevelopment. Campaigners have won a long-running battle to save a speedway stadium from being turned into housing. On the front was Mighty Mitch and the back window had Super Shirra. Riders were often sent to places they didn't want to go to. My favourite rider of all time is Nigel Boocock. In 1984 I moved away from Coventry. In the early 70's Nigel Boocock ("Little Boy Blue") was still Number One rider at Brandon. Except Nigel didn't retire and came back to ride for another two or three year in British speedway although not with Coventry. For the 2014 Speedway Grand Prix, Batchelor became one of the top 15 Qualified Riders of the series. I knew it was time to call it a day and I did so with a heavy heart.. I told him we had it there, put it in a Tesco bag and brought it down to Highfield Road.. Bleak outlook for British speedway, sad to report Apart from the uncertainty regarding the future of Coventry Stadium and the Buildbase Bees, Birmingham speedway is on the verge of closure, due to mounting debts, and the triumvirate promoting at Eastbourne . He said: I first started going up to the football club with my uncle in 1936.. 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 US. Wembley operated every Wednesday with 90,000 people, so it was a massive sport with tracks all over the country. 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. Death and funeral notices in Coventry - week commencing 28 June, Popular Coventry landlady described as the 'life and soul' of her pub has died, 'Anti-ageing' foods Dr Michael Mosley says to eat daily, The doctor has explained what foods you should be eating for a longer life, Michael Mosley advises dieters to 'cut out' one fruit to aid weight loss, The dieting expert has urged people looking to lose weight to eat less sugary fruits instead, as well as vegetables and nuts, Dr Michael Mosley names three foods that help you sleep, Dr Mosley has named three things you should eat for a good night's rest and explained why they help, Danniella Westbrook rushed to hospital after 'life-changing' Turkish facial surgery, The former EastEnders actress said she was in extreme pain, Local 'cowboy builder' Steven Fidler named on UK most wanted list amid multiple complaints, Steven Fidler is wanted by several police forces, Royal Mail delivery issues in Nuneaton are not down to staff sickness, insider claims, Royal Mail claims issues are due to staff sickness - but the insider said this not the real reason, Multiple arrests after Coventry City v Birmingham City match at CBS Arena, A number of fans were arrested by West Midlands Police, End of an era as cherished Coventry trader closes shop for final time, Arthur Harrison has retired after 54 years of running food and hardware stores, This part of Coventry has some of the UK's worst drivers. 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. [citation needed], Pratt was also a full England international and rode in two World Team Cup finals. In 2004 Mr Reason published an autobiography - Confessions of the Cream Bun Kid - and spoke to the Coventry Telegraph at the time. The Coventry Bees stopped racing at Brandon Stadium, which is currently derelict, in 2016 after failing to reach a deal to race there. 4 Ron Mountford - they say that they had to repaint the kick-boards after each meeting where The Man had left tyre marks in his all-action style Thisa small list of names who, although not listed above,I feel merit inclusion on this site. Alan. Mr Reason was one of the key players in the 2002 boardroom coup that ousted chairman Bryan Richardson. Please consider making a donation to the SRBF via their website : www.srbf.co.uk, LEGENDA-R : Auto Race (Japanese speedway)B-R : Board Racing (a forerunner of speedway in the US)CGH : Czech Golden HelmetF-T : Flat Track RacingG-T : Grass-TrackI-R : Ice RacingL-T : Long-TrackN-C : Natural CausesR-A : Road AccidentR-R : Road RacingZ-B : Zementbahn (similar to Board Racing, but on concrete tracks). I had thought they were doing OK at Perry Barr. If you stood at the top of the banking you could look down into the pits where the riders and mechanics tinkered and swore.". losing his life, seven spectators were killed..Rinat MARDANSHIN died after developing a blood clot during a routine operation to remove a metal plate from an injured collar-bone. But it still has die hard fans who continue to offer support. Add 4 . WILLIAM, Charles (USA)Sep 8, 1912..Vailsburg Motordrome, Newark, NJ, USA (B-R). A spectator Hickman was killed when running on to the track to aid a fallen rider. The Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund exists as a charity in order to assist these individuals in their times of need. Easily add multiple stops, see live traffic and road conditions. Remember the chant? A spectator, I have no details of the accident in which Rudolf lost his life. Contents show 1 Does Coventry still have a speedway team? On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. Please Login or Register. A 'Save Our Speedway' campaign has been started by supporters of the Coventry Bees speedway team, in the face of news that outline planning permission is. BRAUNER, Rudolf (Germany)Jul 30, 1933.Grunewald Stadion, Berlin, Germany. 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. However, speedway rider Francesca Wright said losing the stadium would be "incredibly sad". FOEHNER, Thomas (USA)Sep 8, 1912..Vailsburg Motordrome, Newark, NJ, USA (B-R). Personally, the next time I get to Coventry I'll be going to watch the Storm - local (ish) blokes having a go because they hope one day to make the grade, just like Johnnie Reason, Pete Brough, Jim Lightfoot, etc etc etc and all those other local blokes who DID make the grade. 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. Bakker was one of two thirteen-year old boys (Gerrit Eisses was the other) killed when a riderless bike hit a crowd of spectators at a grass-track meeting. From 1947 to 2005 there was a place in Exeter where you could watch the Falcons fly. But worse, it meant Clubs and riders couldn't really establish a rapport with their fans. We've had a thread about the Sky Blues, so I thought I'd start one about the Bees Exeter Falcons V Kings Lynn Heat 4. 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. Thanks largely to Ole there was a great atmosphere at the Stadium. Read about our approach to external linking. 4 Why did Coventry lose their stadium? What this means is that the very best riders are stealing the places of other, lesser riders, and this cascades right down the system. The original stock car track was shale and then concrete before getting a tarmac surface some time in the 1960's. But I didnt finish the apprenticeship until I was 22 because when I was 18 I started on the speedway which, in those days, was the second biggest spectator sport in England and they used to allow me time off to race. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Plans to redevelop the stadium and the wider area date back several years. I think my dad had forgotten it was there and one day I got a call from him saying weve lost the FA Cup. This article was first published on 5th January 2020, "Re your article on Olsen and his less able team mates, you haven't got a clue what it takes to team ride. Phone: Call Retro Speedway on 01708 734 502. A new map reveals where the worst drivers are across the UK - with more than one in 10 drivers in some areas carrying points on their licence. William was one of six spectators who were killed in the crash that claimed the lives of riders Eddie HASHA and John ALBRIGHT. The last phase is due to run until Saturday, May 27. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. He also qualified for the final of the Speedway World Championship in 1967. I later worked as a track scratcher, as being said for about 10/-. No mention of Ole Olsen is given. Coventry Bees are a motorcycle speedway team that was formed in 1928. Is the old Brafield track still there? IT WILL go down as one of speedway's biggest mysteries of all time. The top riders, including those in the GP, should be shunted off to a sort of European Super League, with one or two teams from each of the speedway countries. He said: I stood down for personal reasons. At its peak, thousands of fans filled the ground to watch the world's top riders race for and against the Coventry Bees before it closed falling into disrepair and becoming the target of acts of vandalism. Coventry City FC also paid tribute to Mr Reason. He was articulate in his second language, more so than many riders were in their first. The sport boomed in its early days reaching a peak in the 70s and early 80s. The reformed Godiva city side, back in the Midland League after four years in the wilderness, have swooped to sign the 27 year old Pietak in the face of stiff competition from rival British clubs. Read More Teams such as Manchester's Belle Vue could attract crowds of 25,000 and in 1976 the Falcons were one of 37 teams in two leagues. My relationship with John was long and enjoyable. I used to go to the old Perry Barr Stadium across the Walsall Road in the 70s when some of the Bees junior riders were on loan at the Brummies, then in the second division. The machines themselves were low-saddled and always seemed on. The company has been operating for a number of years and thousands of Coventry people have worked for it over that time. May they never be forgotten. JIRECEK, Frantisek (Czech Republic)..May 26, 1947..Plzen, Czech Republic A mechanic, Frantisek was helping a fallen rider when he was struck and killed.KRASNOV, Mikhail (Balakovo & Russia)..November 1979.Russia Mikhail was not racing at the time of his death, but his terminal illness had forced his retirement several months earlier. They have a rich history of success with 5 British League titles and 3 Elite League titles not to mention cup wins and other glories. Perhaps not an entirely fair racing tactic. He has served several terms on the British Speedway Promoters' Association management committee. The hare was thought to be steam powered, a Mamod traction engine disguised to look like a rabbit) is only used for training now, apparently. My aunt was the nurse and receptionist for the track doctor (Dr Peter Kenyon Snr) whose practice was in Chace Avenue and we were given complimentary stand tickets, thus starting the addiction which has never gone away. Coventry Devlins Newsagents Cycle Speedway team have completed the signing of star Polish rider Konrad Pietak ahead of the new 2012 season. Riders like Neil Street in the 1950s, triple World Champion Ivan Mauger in the 1970s, and Mark Loram in the 90s thrilled crowds. The promotion closed after one season so Pratt moved to the Bradford Dukes as team manager. Coventry City FC historian and chairman of Coventry City FC Former Players Association, Jim Brown, also mentioned Mr Reasons death on Twitter and expressed his sadness. Then the players would come along and watch us at the speedway in the evenings with their families. It was an arrangement that suited both sports. He added Brandon's demise had been "another nail in the coffin" of speedway, which has seen other tracks close in recent years. ), sadly left the sport way too soon I do fear for the future of the sport in the area. HICKMAN, Samuel (USA)May 30, 1913..Luna Park, Cleveland, OH, USA (B-R). Mr Reason made a meteoric rise to speedway success after his hobby of tinkering with, and riding, old motorbikes made him a natural on the track. How Coventry Bees managed to surrender a 14-point aggregate lead in the final of the 2003 KO Cup will be debated and dissected for decades to come. Monday was the night to see the Falcons fly, as the TV adverts used to say, Tapes up at 7.30. ANDREWS, Henry (USA).Jul 30, 1913..Lagoon Motordrome, Ludlow, KY, USA (B-R). Ms Wright now lives in Worcestershire, but grew up around Coventry and said her introduction to speedway was at Brandon, adding it was amazing to race at a stadium where she had watched riders compete since she was a child. However, he was forced to retire after he was involved in a road crash near Lokeren in Belgium. 2 Col Cottrell - smooth operator who for a short time was quite unbeatable around Brandon and was part of a wonderful opening pair with The Beau - sadly died aged 40 in 1982 Is climate change killing Australian wine? [3] In 1962 he scored 177 points from 34 matches for the Potters, and improved further in 1963, scoring 141 points in his first 12 matches and winning all five races to win the Gerry Hussey Memorial Trophy at Rye House, breaking the track record during the meeting. COVENTRY A TO Z A TO Z OF BEES RIDERS 1929-2016 KEY RIDER'S NAME (Country of birth) Years rode for Bees Some early records are unclear, so some career records for riders who rode in the 1920s and 1930s are incomplete. Mr Elliott said he was most closely involved with Mr Reason in helping the youth team and academy. It was also, as befits a nimble bird of prey, the fastest speedway track in the UK. Mr Reason said: We had been riding on this hill and we loved it when it was wet and slippy and I could ride round there and do exactly what they did on the speedway, so I borrowed some leathers and a crash hat and went and had a go. So thats when I finished with the speedway. I don't know if there was speedway on the original surface because that is well before my time. By now it had been redeveloped and renamed the London Stadium. [3] After his National Service, he returned to the Rye House training track in 1960 and had his first competitive rides, reaching the final of the Whitsun Trophy.