News and Updates
Future Policy
The Speedway Researcher magazine which can be viewed on the Speedway Researcher web site was set up by Graham Fraser and Jim Henry to promote research into the history of Speedway and Dirt Track Racing. It was intended to help those with an interest in any aspect of the sport and its history to make others aware of what their interests and to encourage others who had similar interests to work together. It provided a vehicle whereby researchers could advise others of what they were doing and make others aware of what they were looking for.
The magazine published articles on a wide range of topics related to speedway and dirt track racing.
The web site came along a good while after the magazine, the idea of the late Ron McNeil who gave us the idea of using this medium to provide a platform for sharing information about speedway meetings held in the UK from 1928 to date. At first the site was funded by income generated by the magazine but since the magazine closed down the funds have become nearly exhausted and it is now largely privately funded. The costs are dictated by the amount space taken to host the information and are currently not unreasonable. The next step up, is, however, a significant leap.
Taking this into account the space available has to be prioritised. The first priority is to ensure the base source of information, meeting details, are fully provided for.
For the foregoing reasons we are going to decline to carry any additional items which are compilations of information drawn from our meeting details. However, in a bid to facilitate networking we intend to continue for the time-
August 4
Steve Wilkes
Steve
My best friend of nearly 50 years, has passed away. and I feel his loss whenever I see a speedway reference. It was due to Steve that I myself started watching The Gunners in the late 70's. His passion for our sport never wavered, and from his first meeting in 1972 till his last earlier this year he loved every second.
To his many friends in the speedway world, we lost a true gentleman, who had time for everybody, and never gave up until he found that error.
Everybody on this site will miss him, and Our love goes out to Lesley, his wife, and his brother Paul.
I myself will never quite be able to forget him whenever I can get myself together, and return to watching.
Au Revior old friend, and continue watching from wherever you are.
Gary Done
Jim, Keith and I would also like to pass on our condolences to Steve’s family and friends and would like to recognise the huge amount of effort and commitment he put into making this site what it is today. Thank you Steve, we will all miss you.
Gary has decided to continue the work on the post 1965 season files in Steve’s honour and has asked if anyone would be willing to contribute by checking future files and looking for any mistakes. If you feel you can help, please contact the site through the home page and we will put you in touch with Gary.
January 26
There a load of updates this week thanks in main to the tireless Graham Glaeave, to whom we are very grateful. There is also a new file for Newcastle from Joe Wake and the 1942 season results and fixtures are now available in the Year by Year section.
Thanks also to Alex Hodgkinson for the information regarding the Leeds programme.
New Files
1942 -
1998 -
Updates
1928 -
1929 -
1930 -
1931 -
1932 -
1934 -
1935 -
1939 -
1947 -
1951 -
1954 -
1956 -
1962 -
1975 -
1981 -
February 18
The 1943 season file and fixture list are now on the site with a few other new files, including a great Wimbledon 1982 file from Robert Browne. Some more good updates as well with thanks to Graham Gleave, Andy Reid, Alex Hodgkinson, Alan Jones, Mick Huggett and Mark Aspinell.
New Files
1943 -
1976 -
1977 -
1979 -
1981 -
1982 -
1983 -
1984 -
Updates
1928 -
1929 -
1930 -
1931 -
1932 -
1934 -
1935 -
1937 -
1938 -
1939 -
1948 -
1949 -
1952 -
1957 -
1960 -
March 8
The results and fixtures for 1944 are now on the site as well as a group of other new team files, including the 1976 and 1977 open licence seasons at Crewe.
There are also some good updates with newly discovered meetings at Newcastle (Gosforth) and Liverpool.
New Files
1944 -
1976 -
1977 -
1979 -
1982 -
1983 -
1984 -
Updates
1928 -
1929 -
1930 -
1933 -
1948 -
1950 -
1957 -
1964 -
March 29
Thanks to Robert Browne for his latest excellent Wimbledon file and Keith Corns has found evidence of a meeting at New Brighton in 1936 which has created a new file. I’m nearly there with the 1945 season file and that will be ready in time for the next update.
New Files
1936 -
1976 -
1977 -
1979 -
1981 -
1982 -
1983 -
1984 -
Updates
1935 -
1936 -