Memories of West Ham Speedway DVD Trailer

Trailer for our West Ham Speedway DVD, a double disc production spanning four hours. Filmed and audio interviews with former Hammers riders, including Norman Hunter and Malcolm Simmons - both members of the 1965 treble-winning team - plus Olle Nygren, Tony Clarke, Reg Fearman, Terry Stone. Len Silver recalls his first-ever junior rides at Custom House, while Tony Bishop reflects on the Lokeren road disaster in Belgium that claimed the life of his father, Phil, and five others in 1970. If you watched speedway at West Ham any time between the East London track's opening in 1928 and its closure in 1972, then you will enjoy reliving the memories this DVD evokes.

[@grassamupson]

I was taken to the reopening meeting in 1964 by my speedway loving father. Took the next few years for granted until I became an irregular visitor for a while until part way into the 1970 season when I properly fell in love with the sport only for sad and tragic events to happen in the final 2 years. Much missed and not to be forgotten 🥺.

[@Copthis52]

Our late Mum, Elsie (born 1929) was a regular attendee at West Ham Speedway - she told us of her idol Dickie Case.

[@johnpearson6552]

Went Adelaide 1982 and my brother in law rang Jack Young and asked if I could meet him.Spent about 3 hours talking to Jack and his wife in his home splendid my wife reckons it was one of the happiest times in my life.Once a speedway fan always a fan,love every rider that sat on a bike

[@TheWizardOfTheFens]

As a boy I was born and lived across Prince Regent Lane - one street away from the Stadium (Devonshire road) and I never missed a home fixture from the time I was able to go until it closed. We lived speedway. We made speedway tracks on debris that still littered the area with our plastic “hammers” vests. My mum was an avid fan, Dad not at all. When the stadium closed, we as kids used to break in and use the track - often being chased off by night watchmen until it was torn down and built over. It’s sad to see that there isn’t a single memorial to the place in the housing estates that grew up over it all…….and they call it progress 😢

[@retrospeedway]

A number of the streets surrounding the site of the old stadium are named after well-known people associated with West Ham Speedway - ie, Hoskins, Young, Croombs, Atkinson, etc.

[@Geraldo-xr3vz]

I was a massive speedway fan in the late 60’s through to the early 80’s. I supported Canterbury, and was lucky enough to visit West Ham once, probably in the early 70’s. Reg Luckhurst was flying that bank holiday, but from the photo’s at the end, I remember fondly some riders who rode for the hammers, and also the crusaders at Canterbury. Barry Crowson, the great Martyn Piddock, and of course the legend that was Jonnie Hoskins. Great memories for me.....

[@peterlondon6013]

Great times, I lived in Poplar and remember going to a West Ham speedway.

[@spiritoveradversity1]

This brings tears to my eyes, ALL through the 60s from the first night of the re opening until the last night in 1972 I never missed a home meeting, WEST HAM speedway was my life, my farther went to the first ever speedway meeting at the CUSTOM HOUSE stadium just after it was built in the late 20s, I once had KEN McKINLAY and NORMAN HUNTER in my house one Tuesday afternoon before a home match playing with my Scalextric ! ! I still have the green and white stadium flags in my bedroom,

[@donnagibson9613]

In loving memory of howdy byford a man of great strength and courage . Loved and missed to this day. I had the pleasure of meeting this lovely man who was.my next.door neighbour in his older years . Missed and loved always ❤ even to this day I miss him dearly 😔 💔

[@mortonmolyneux4288]

I had a customer when I worked in Toronto. He noticed my CZ 250 on the trailer I had it at work one Friday as I was leaving for a weekends Moto-X. He mentioned he used to race in England before and after the war. Always enjoyed chatting with him when ever he came in to the office. His name was Eric Chitty.

[@jennymitchell6682]

My Dad (Tommy Croombs ) rode for West Ham in the years before the war. Sorry can't remember which ones as I wasn't even born. I have heard other riders from that era speak very highly of him. Where the stadium once stood all the roads are named after the last riders who were in the team before it closed. My son, his grandson, has a photo of CROOMBS road and is very proud of his grandad

[@MrAlbert1944]

I was born in 1944 less than 100 yards from the gates of west ham stadium and grew up watching Jack Young and others but Jack was my favourite. I remember him winning the the world championship. As a local schoolboy with my friends we could get into the stadium without going through the turnstiles so we never missed a meeting. Wonderful memories, pity there isn't more footage of racing there.

[@radosawmorawski6298]

Great soundtrack!Respect to the Hammers.Old school never dies!!

[@thatchersbastardchildmrsco5227]

Used to love going over West ham as a kid in the 60s ,we used to go all over the county following the hammers ,early days in a double adult side car pulled by a old BSA single me sister mum on the back of the bike ,happy days with the happy hammers x

[@claramills104]

thanks for the memories ..i used to live in poplar as a boy and tuesday night we all used to go see the hammers wonderful times.

[@peterdyson9590]

First of all i would like to say i liked the music i will always remember At the shay when the Dukes were against the Hammers Eric Boocock came out of the changing rooms with Ken Mckinley and asked Ken which way did he travel up i remember Tony Clarke also.😊

[@nervo6321]

Never went there...before my time...but it looks great...

[@GrrMeister]

1:18 *Don't forget Norman Hunter a Great Rider and Pal !*

[@GrrMeister]

(Third from the Right)

[@GrrMeister]

*Captured at 3rd from the left at **1:18** Good old Storming Norman !*

[@tileajb1]

Used to go to West Ham speedway. Three of us went every tuesday, myself, Johnnie Butler and his brother in law John. After the meeting we would have a drink in the bar and invariably be joined by Stan Stevens, Stan had a couple of nicknames that I recall and hope he won't mind me sharing them, Bananna Legs and Stan the Man!! One of Stans favourite sayings as I remember was " Ride the line boy, safety fence means hospital". He eat Barry Briggs ( Briggo) once, fans went wild!!

[@jimosullivan7765]

well jamie everyone loved your grandad....and those of us who never missed a meeting since 1964....were grief striken that this had happened and sad beyond words ...it was difficult to believe.....jim

[@j4m1eb]

Looking forward to watching the full DVD. Phil Bishop was my Granddad, although sadly I never met him as the bus accident happened before I was born.

[@BarryAllenMagic]

Never mind - at least from '72 onwards, West Hm fans were able to come over to watch Speedway at Hackney - undoubtedly, the greatest ever track to grace our sport (something that even my parents admitted, even though they'd been Hammers supporters since the 40's). ;-)

[@Roy-rr5ds]

I'd say Belle Vue, West Ham, before Hackney.

[@BarryAllenMagic]

@@Roy-rr5ds I never ever saw a half-decent meeting at Hyde Road, if I'm honest. It was just like a boring longtrack - riders opening full throttle and just tear around the bends (a bit like the NSS now). I truly believe that Hyde Road is famous for its history value - not the racing. I've seen much better meetings on technical tracks over the years; such as Rye House, Mildenhall and Eastbourne.

[@Roy-rr5ds]

@@BarryAllenMagic You lost all credibility Barry when you mentioned Eastbourne as a place to see a decent meeting. I enjoyed my time over Hackney after West Ham packed up but it was never the same after West Ham folded. And the Arena Essex track was just a fraction of what we had.

[@BarryAllenMagic]

@@Roy-rr5ds I've seen some good meetings at Eastbourne Roy; but then I've always preferred the tight, technical tracks; rather than the throttle-open speed shows. Lakeside wasn't a bad track - the place just lacked atmosphere due to the lack of any real stadium. My parents were West Ham Supporters (from the late 40's) - but both enjoyed Hackney more when Custom House closed. West Ham was before my time so I can't comment. However, from footage I've seen, I think I'd have preferred New Cross.

[@R12LA600]

I used to go as a kid up untill it closed was about 12 then and remember Olle Nygren Briggsy the Major Christer lofquist and i think the Boocock brothers My friend used to drive the truck between races from Jessops and we were allways in the pits getting autographs

[@Motocicloman]

Was a Saints supporter until they closed our stadium in Southampton 1963, with a false promise to reopen. Barry, Bjorn, Alby, Peter to name a few who rode for us, you all know their surnames. Then of course the great Ove Fundin, Peter Craven etc , too many to name who came and rode against us, great great times.

[@gregoryseers1222]

My dad,s mates are in amongst the photos Aussies Ray Cresp and Jack Biggs

[@mc.8391]

Howdy Byford ..Pat Clarke...Colin Clarke.... loved them all.....

[@donnagibson9613]

Howdy was my neighbour and a great friend I met him as an elderly gentleman and even today missed so much .he was also a Japanese POW . A man of great strength and courage. Loved always x

[@johndwyer740]

Jack Young best rider ever.

[@gammon1183]

Anyone remember crazy horse(Bart Walker)

[@christineduke6096]

Yes i do,always breaking down.

[@alanpressick8629]

Some names there that will stir the memories of Rayleigh Rockets fans

[@alanbstard4]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Rayleigh_Rockets_riders

[@skabeat69]

what about bob young

[@claramills104]

well thats because its not just me (Clara) who uses this account, my friend Jeff does also and he is 54.....has that cleared that up for ya? p.s, you cant take everything at face value in life...