Coventry Bees were a motorcycle speedway team that existed from 1929 to 2018. I had thought they were doing OK at Perry Barr. The application, which went before Rugby Borough Council, had been recommended for approval and featured a football pitch and clubhouse as well as homes. HEPBURN, Ralph (USA)May 16, 1948..Indianapolis, IN, USA (Car Racing - Indy 500). 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!" DAVIS, William (USA)..Jul 30, 1913..Lagoon Motordrome, Ludlow, KY, USA (B-R). No mention of Ole Olsen is given. He added Brandon's demise had been "another nail in the coffin" of speedway, which has seen other tracks close in recent years. Wembley operated every Wednesday with 90,000 people, so it was a massive sport with tracks all over the country. [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. He has won sixteen major trophies as a manager or promoter. [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. "To lose a track that I remember going to as a kid, my dad remembers going to as a kid, now being pregnant and knowing I'm not going to be able to have that experience with my own child.". 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 used to go to matches on a Saturday and sit on the bench, I didnt sit in the stand, but I never got a game unfortunately. Nigel Boocock - the greatest trier of them all. The 1970's speedway track is probably still there but is buried under a few tons of tarmac because like Brandon the infield grass has been covered in tarmac. Quite! But worse, it meant Clubs and riders couldn't really establish a rapport with their fans. This is your first visit to my website today, thank you! Complimentary beverage is also offered! WILLIAM, Charles (USA)Sep 8, 1912..Vailsburg Motordrome, Newark, NJ, USA (B-R). Exeter Falcons V Kings Lynn Heat 4. He went on to become a director of Coventry City FC, a post he held for 18 years. Mr Reason was synonymous with the city of Coventry on many levels.. We witnessed Nigel's last ride in Coventry colours before his retirement and emigration to Australia. I got on and found it easy and I suppose I impressed straight away and was in the Bees team within six weeks. Barnett was one of six spectators who were killed in the crash that claimed the lives ofriders Eddie HASHA and John ALBRIGHT. HOPE, Dick (England).1980Halfpenny Green, Wolverhampton, W. Midlands, England (G-T). 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. "We went quite a few times back then, joining the big crowds on the back straight to watch the Falcons take on teams including riders such as Peter Collins and Ole Olsen for the Belle Vue Aces, the Coventry Bees and the White City Rebels. Coventry Bees are a motorcycle speedway team that was formed in 1928. John, a farmer, was known for his fence-scraping and swashbuckling style. In cases where the passing occurred at a later date, the date of the original crash is indicated after the location. My favourite rider of all time is Nigel Boocock. Exeter's Falcons have been grounded since 2005 when the rugby club sold the stadium and moved to the newly built Sandy Park. 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. Foehner was one of six spectators who were killed in the crash that claimed the lives ofriders Eddie HASHA and John ALBRIGHT. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For a spell in the mid Seventies Mauger was peerless. I seem to remember a "Bees" rider by the name of Jim Lightfoot, anyone else remember the name ? B-R : Board Racing (a forerunner of speedway in the US). Coventry Bees are a motorcycle speedway team that was formed in 1928. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund exists as a charity in order to assist these individuals in their times of need. Pratt became co-promoter at the Rye House Rockets with former boss Len Silver in 1979. I do fear for the future of the sport in the area. The then Promoter at Coventry was Charles Ochiltree, a legend in Speedway himself. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. and spoke to the Coventry Telegraph at the time. Just as in his riding days Ole's analysis is spot on. Our thoughts and condolences are with Johns family and friends at this sad time.. 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. A marshall at a grass-track meeting, Dick was injured on May Bank Holiday Monday, and passed away several days later. A spectator, I have no details of the accident in which Herbert lost his life. but the one rider of all time I wish I had seen - 75 years this year since he died after a track crash Sherfield English (G-T) (N/C : collapsed after race), Ulster, N. Ireland (R-R in Ulster Grand Prix), Lidcombe Showground, Sydney, NSW, Australia, Sturminster Marshall, Dorset, England (Jun 28) (G-T), Hawthorne Horse Track, Chicago, IL, USA (F-T), Wuppertal - Stadion Zoo (Germany) (Aug 18), Vlodrome de Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva. However he has done speedway in this country no favours since taking over the GP series & for that reason he is omitted. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but it's the first time I've seen it like that. ROBERTS, Ernest (Canada).June 22., 1915Leslieville Motordrome, Toronto, Canada (B-R). The sport boomed in its early days reaching a peak in the 70s and early 80s. We sponsored the youth team for eight years and spent a lot of time going to youth team matches. 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 . Tommy Knudsen - perhaps the unluckiest of them all? LOEFRING, James (USA)..Sep 8, 1912..Vailsburg Motordrome, Newark, NJ, USA (B-R). Something went wrong, please try again later. 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. 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. Retired from motorcycle racing, Ralph died in qualifying practice for the 1948 Indianapolis 500. 3 Can British speedway survive? 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. Mr Reason also had a large haulage business in the city, J&J Reason and Sons, which more recently became Reason Transport. Heat 3. He was killed on his debut, Jacob DEROSIER crashed at the Los Angeles Stadium Motodrome on. I first went to Coventry Speedway in 1977. He said: I first started going up to the football club with my uncle in 1936.. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. We won the FA Youth Cup with the Elliotts name on the shirt in the same year Coventry City won the FA Cup. On the front was Mighty Mitch and the back window had Super Shirra. Pictured on the left is recipient Winnie Hill and in the middle Lions president John Reason, John Reason when he became new Coventry Lions president in June 1986, aboard a carefully kept Triumph road bike that served as a reminder of his sporting past, John Reason in his days as a speedway rider for Coventry Bees, John Reason brushing-up his footballing skills at his Binley Industrial Estate haulage company headquarters when he became a Coventry City FC director in December 1985. ORDER YOUR DVD NOW . Correction to my previous entry, it was Johnny Reason not Pete Reason. When Did Coventry Speedway Close? , from complications resulting from continued surgery. 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 . 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. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. 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 My Dad was a HUGE Mitch Shirra fan and our Ford Cortina Estate car was covered in Mitch Shirra stickers. Perhaps not an entirely fair racing tactic. 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. There then developed an arm-wrestling match between Ole/Ochiltree and the SCB. Cordon remains in place after multiple stabbings that left one dead, No fairytale ending for Exeter Chiefs' departing stalwarts as La Rochelle triumph in Champions Cup semi-final, Exeter Chiefs were beaten 47-28 by La Rochelle in the semi-final of the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup. 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. Lowering was one of six spectators who were killed in the crash that claimed the lives of riders Eddie HASHA and John ALBRIGHT. 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). 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. In one race coming out of the starting gate Olle was determined to hit the first bend in front so he stuck out his left boot in exaggerated fashion to prevent his opponent on his inside from getting into his normal cornering position. Read More He is a national hero in Denmark. Up to six riders would power flat out and anti-clockwise around the track, reaching speeds of up to 70 miles an hour on the straight. A look around the sparse crowds attending UK speedway meetings will reveal that the average age is relatively high, and new supporters and fans are just not appearing in any sort of numbers. One of the first meetings of that time was the Brandonapolis, won by the greet Jack Parker, one of the first 'foot forward' riders. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. For the 2014 Speedway Grand Prix, Batchelor became one of the top 15 Qualified Riders of the series. Explore! Monday was the night to see the Falcons fly, as the TV adverts used to say, Tapes up at 7.30. Its a sad loss but I think myself and many others can look back at the great times we shared with John.. Like Ochiltree he has since shown he has organizational ability, setting up a Speedway Centre, and helping to produce subsequent Danish World Champions like Hans Neilsen. Richard BARTLETT was an all-round motorcyclist, and was a regular competitor in vintage grass-track events. The last phase is due to run until Saturday, May 27. He was killed on his debutracing on the Isle of Man. Ron Mountford and Jim Lightfoot were the overtaking stars at Brandon. SEE BELOW TO LOGIN. 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. So it would be sad to see another speedway venue disappear. Unsurprisingly the riders wear yellow and black colours. I became the youth team director and the club went on to win the FA Youth Cup in 1987 as well as the FA Cup. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. He was a great ambassador not just for Coventry but for Speedway in general. From the left, Richard Wolff, (Y), Kevin Doolan (Exeter guest rider) (B) and Andrew Appleton (G) You pronounced his name Major, by the way, not Maw-gerr as one or two commentators did. Back to the other Ole, Olsen, he stayed with Coventry until his retirement in 1983. 503. "The County Ground was famously quick, with a white solid steel wall all the way round the outside. Skip Navigation. 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. The original stock car track was shale and then concrete before getting a tarmac surface some time in the 1960's. The machines themselves were low-saddled and always seemed on the point of racing away on their own. He looked like a bank-manager but he certainly knew how to run a Speedway track. It was a "Golden Age". ROBIN ADLINGTON (New Zealand) 1974 GEORGE ALLBROOK (England) 1929-1930 BILL ALLEN (England) 1931 This list may not reflect recent changes . Mr Reason also tried out as a footballer. We used to get 20,000 at Coventry and they used to run coaches and double-decker buses to the track.. You need to be signed in to respond to this topic. We bought programmes and stickers, and clipboards on which to note down the heat and match results. There were exceptions, like Nigel at Coventry, Peter Collins at Belle Vue, Terry Betts at King's Lynn etc but they were in the minority. )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. I had seen Olle ride for Norwich in the early 60's so that year Olle was already 46 years old. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. My first memories of the Coventry Bees, was going with my dad during the fifties, with the crawl of traffic through Binley Woods. Coventry-kid John was also a legendary rider with the Coventry Bees speedway team and represented England in the sport. "@Coventry_City director 1985-2003 & @CoventryBees legend, nicknamed The Cream Bun Kid.. Can you imagine Wayne Rooney being allowed to play for Barcelona and Inter Milan - as well as Man U? 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. A spectator Hickman was killed when running on to the track to aid a fallen rider. EISSES, Gerrit (Netherlands)..Oct 11, 1925Sappemeer, Netherlands (G-T). The company has been operating for a number of years and thousands of Coventry people have worked for it over that time. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Read about our approach to external linking. An accomplished competitor in bothsolos and sidecars, David tragically lost his life while testing his outfit near his Sussex home. 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. Unsurprisingly the riders wear yellow and black colours. In recent decades speedway has found it impossible to compete with bigger more glamorous sports and has failed to arrest a long term decline. 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. Speedway riders, history and results. He is still going strong at 90 years old, commuting regularly between the UK and his native Sweden. 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. The former boss of well-known Coventry business Elliotts Car Accessories, he said: Elliotts and myself worked very closely with John. Years of Operation 1929-1933 1948-2016 Nicknames Bees Tracks Brandon Stadium Track Record Chris Harris, 57.60 (22.05.2009) It seems that my concerns were correct. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Sorry 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. [citation needed]. 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. I first went to Brandon in 1952, so next year, it will be exactly sixty years - frightening! It has been said that in those heady days speedway was a shared experience of the working man, the epitome of blue-collar British sport. Coventry England 1933 This Rudge speedway motorcycle was built in England in 1933 under licence by Victor Martin for Rudge-Whitworth Ltd of Coventry. 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. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 6 Les Owen - the late great Muscles, Coventry kid so seriously injured in 1973 in a track-crash from which he never fully recovered, tragically killed on the railway at Canley crossing - RIP Les Something went wrong, please try again later. [3] He moved on to the Swindon Robins before joining the Hackney Hawks in 1964. 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. My relationship with John was long and enjoyable. 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. Jim Lightfoot lived in Binley Woods. coventry speedway past ridersaiken county sc register of deeds coventry speedway past riders 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. But it still has die hard fans who continue to offer support. 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. It must have been infuriating for the away team, although they must have been aware of what was likely to happen. [4] Pratt was riding as a guest for the West Ham Hammers against a Danish select side in the Netherlands (in which he gained a five ride maximum). 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.
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