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Post by Administrator on Sept 16, 2012 15:43:35 GMT
The Seventh California-in-England Reunion This will take place on 7th October 2012 at the Country Park where the speedway took place. The organisers are still looking for any cine film that was taken there especially of the racing. Everone welcome, details from Stuart Towner. Phone 020 8397 6599 or stuart.towner@blueyonder.co.uk
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Post by Administrator on Sept 21, 2012 7:33:01 GMT
PRESS RELEASE That time of the year is fast approaching for the Friends of Speedway organised Seventh California-in-England Speedway Reunion on 7th October 2012. The full address is: California Country Park, Nine Mile Ride, Finchampstead, Wokingham, RG40 4HT. This is situated on the B3430 coming from the A322 junction 3 off the M3. There is a large sign at the entrance to the park and a pay and display car park; then there is a short walk to the display area which will include a selection of machines covering over 80 years of speedway. If you have any memorabilia/memories please make your self known to any of the Friends of Speedway members bearing their name badges. We are still searching for any cine film not only of the racing, but of the park in general that could be loaned to be copied. It is a never-ending search for items of interest of all the different activities that that went on in the park; not only speedway. Also on display will be speedway photographs and team body colours including a reproduction California Poppies one. Here you will be able to talk with riders from the 1950’s California Poppies team. You are invited to ask questions at any time and all officials will be sporting their name badges. Machines will be started at various times during the day; you will smell the intoxicating aroma of Castrol R and Methanol to bring back memories of those earlier un-silenced days of speedway. Also we are hopeful of a celebrity guest of international fame and are keeping our fingers crossed that he will be able to attend. Also attending will be the family of Poppies Captain, Ron Sharp and Neil Roberts junior. At the time of going to press the organisers are waiting confirmation from one or two new personalities whether they can attend or not. Part of the presentation will be a guided walk where you can see the original children’s paddling pool from the holiday camp days which has been cleared by Friends of Speedway personnel and part of the railway track that took clay up to the brickworks which is how the lake was formed. You will be able to stand on the concrete start/finish line with marked out starting boxes (the only surviving one that we know of); where a member of the original track staff will give a short talk of his duties there. For those interested you can walk the racing line (stout footwear recommended) as it is very overgrown. The park offers a wealth of historic interest in itself, plus a cafeteria with toilets including one for the disabled. The display will be open between 11am ‘till 4pm. For further information please call Stuart Towner on 0208-397 6599 or stuart.towner@blueyonder.co.uk
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Post by Administrator on Oct 31, 2012 19:50:34 GMT
I would like to point out that the report on California Reumion 2012 was written by Stuart Towner of The Friends of Speedway, the organisers of the Reunion. ------------------------------------ 2012 - The Seventh California-in-England Speedway Reunion Report
The morning of 7th October dawned dull and stayed that way until it was time to clear up and wish our good byes – then the sun decided to shine! The organisers, Friends of Speedway were worried it may put people off from coming along but glad to report it didn’t. They had organised a line-up of speedway machines to span the over 80 years that the sport has been in existence. The line of machines started with a 1928 Douglas and a Rudge from the same year, next a 1929 Sunbeam, a 1930 Rudge and then through the years with a variety of JAPs, Jawas and Weslakes. Also something different and now a regular feature was a rotary Norton engined grass track machine to compliment the display. Various machines were started during the afternoon so that the assembled throng could savour the different sounds from one era to another and the intoxicating aroma of Methanol and Castrol R.
The Friends of Speedway stall was busy with enthusiasts looking for a bargain amongst their goodies on display. All profits generated go to sponsoring the British Youth Speedway Championship series (formerly the Under 15’s Championship). They also had a 1970s Jawa speedway bike fitted with a reaction tester which was great fun especially for the children attending to be able to sit on a bike and do a dummy start as if at the tapes.
As part of the attractions there was an organised trip up to the old track where Bryan Horsnell, who used to sweep the concrete starting grid (and it’s still there) and he told folk about the days of the Poppies as the team was nicknamed then.
Quite a few riders were in attendance from the 1950s era which included: Jim Gleed, Eric Hockaday, Pete Rogers, Eric Jolly, Jimmy Heard, Bill Williams and Dai Davies. Also in attendance were the family of Poppies Captain, Ron Sharp.
There were one or two surprises during the day; one being that World Speedway Rider’s Association President Colin Pratt had accepted the invitation to attend and was very interested on what went on there and chatted to one and all. Bryan Horsnell had discovered during his research on the Poppies years that there had been a mistake in the old programmes on the lap record holder. It transpired that indeed it was Jimmy Heard so Bryan presented him with a small plaque to officially state that he held the record there. Then Dai Davies, who had some old Eastbourne programmes with him discovered that there were five riders in attendance who all rode in the same meeting together so Jimmy Gleed was enlisted as a guest for a photo shoot of this auspicious occasion.
The organisers wish to thank all those who displayed bikes, some coming considerable distances.
Ends.
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Post by Administrator on Nov 1, 2012 12:24:47 GMT
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