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Post by rodders on Sept 28, 2021 10:09:24 GMT
Anybody remember the "Track Spare" a fully maintained machine available to any rider whose own bike was unfit to take part in any particular race. Probably easier in those day as equipment was fairly standard , not so expensive and virtually everyone used JAP equipment. As a matter of interest American Steve Bast rode the Wembley Track Spare the entire time he was at Wembley This particular bike was supplied by the Supporters Club.
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Post by admin on Sept 28, 2021 11:10:29 GMT
Anybody remember the "Track Spare" a fully maintained machine available to any rider whose own bike was unfit to take part in any particular race. Probably easier in those day as equipment was fairly standard , not so expensive and virtually everyone used JAP equipment. As a matter of interest American Steve Bast rode the Wembley Track Spare the entire time he was at Wembley This particular bike was supplied by the Supporters Club. Indeed I do. They had one when I first attended, not sure whether it was JAP or Jawa? The latter I suspect. I can't recall how long that provision lasted or when it stopped. Of course it also took on a more schoolboy humour reference and indeed I recall Peterborough had one of those as well, allegedly? |
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Post by rodders on Sept 28, 2021 13:03:07 GMT
Anybody remember the "Track Spare" a fully maintained machine available to any rider whose own bike was unfit to take part in any particular race. Probably easier in those day as equipment was fairly standard , not so expensive and virtually everyone used JAP equipment. As a matter of interest American Steve Bast rode the Wembley Track Spare the entire time he was at Wembley This particular bike was supplied by the Supporters Club. Indeed I do. They had one when I first attended, not sure whether it was JAP or Jawa? The latter I suspect. I can't recall how long that provision lasted or when it stopped. Of course it also took on a more schoolboy humour reference and indeed I recall Peterborough had one of those as well, allegedly? Colin Pratt used to tell stories of how he took his JAP engine from where he then lived in Hoddesden in a holdall by train to Wembley to have it worked on by Wembley chief mechanic Jim Charnock. |
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Post by admin on Sept 28, 2021 14:14:26 GMT
Indeed I do. They had one when I first attended, not sure whether it was JAP or Jawa? The latter I suspect. I can't recall how long that provision lasted or when it stopped. Of course it also took on a more schoolboy humour reference and indeed I recall Peterborough had one of those as well, allegedly? Colin Pratt used to tell stories of how he took his JAP engine from where he then lived in Hoddesden in a holdall by train to Wembley to have it worked on by Wembley chief mechanic Jim Charnock. That reminds me. I saw a post from Bratters the other day moaning (unlike Bratters  ) about stop off charges at an airport. It was about £7 just to stop the car (not park) but he had to do it because his passenger (Hans one assumes) was carrying an engine. Would that class as hand luggage? |
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Post by davet on Sept 28, 2021 15:14:18 GMT
Yes, I remember the track spare at Yarmouth in 1960. Don't remember any such provision at Hackney whom I supported from 1966. I don't recall anybody having much success with the track spare, and that's not really surprising as it was usually a last minute swap with no chance of warming it up or making adjustments to suit the rider. That's probably the reason for its demise. I loved the simplicity of the sport in those days though, and I also loved the sound and smell of those unsilenced JAPs, sadly lacking today.
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Post by admin on Sept 28, 2021 16:12:18 GMT
Yes, I remember the track spare at Yarmouth in 1960. Don't remember any such provision at Hackney whom I supported from 1966. I don't recall anybody having much success with the track spare, and that's not really surprising as it was usually a last minute swap with no chance of warming it up or making adjustments to suit the rider. That's probably the reason for its demise. I loved the simplicity of the sport in those days though, and I also loved the sound and smell of those unsilenced JAPs, sadly lacking today. I had a ride on somebody's 350 JAP grasstracker once, having being mainly a two-stroke man, and the bloody thing rattled and shook me to pieces. Not the smoothest ride I'd had. Lucky to have been a part of the unsilenced sweet smelling era. The one thing that you notice when being away for a while is how tinny modern speedway sounds. There's an engine with a throaty roar in there somewhere trying to get out. |
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Post by davet on Sept 28, 2021 18:51:00 GMT
Yes, I used to look forward to the vintage bikes demo races at the Showground, usually in the second half, but usually disappointing, as they barely opened the throttle so you didn't get the lovely crackle of the motor in full song. I'm not sure whether this speed restriction was due to the vintage status of the machine or the rider!
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Post by admin on Sept 29, 2021 8:23:17 GMT
Yes, I used to look forward to the vintage bikes demo races at the Showground, usually in the second half, but usually disappointing, as they barely opened the throttle so you didn't get the lovely crackle of the motor in full song. I'm not sure whether this speed restriction was due to the vintage status of the machine or the rider! The latter mainly and the engines straining with the excess weight and slowing down of their of the ageing passenger, much like Jason Crump I was very disappointed to read but fortunately not there to see. |
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) about stop off charges at an airport. It was about £7 just to stop the car (not park) but he had to do it because his passenger (Hans one assumes) was carrying an engine.
