Yesterday, Sunday the 21st
February 2010, the annual celebration of the start of speedway at high
Beech in 1928 took place at the Speedway Museum in Paradise Wildlife Park
for the second year. The wildlife park is owned by Peter Sampson, ex
speedway rider (Rye House, Hackney, Swindon and Newcastle) The venue was
changed because of the lack of parking space at High Beech and the stalls
were expanding beyond the available space. The top two 'photos above show Jim Gregory, Ian Williams, Freddie Williams with the members who I (Terry Stone) invited to attend the show to add atmosphere and to act as a 'rent a crowd' circa 1930 in the many shots taken. To the right myself (Terry Stone) with Jim Gregory.
The cycle speedway delighted the public, it is appropriate as when speedway first came to High Beech became very popular with those who perhaps could not afford to partake of the motorised version. Many of the earlier motorised speedway riders either also rode push bike speedway or came to speedway proper via the cycle speedway. Our thanks go to the Cycle Speedway Team who are from Ipswich and called The Kesgrave Panthers The Celebrations went with a swing despite the morning rain, there was a good crowd with many riders and fans enjoying, as always, a speedway day out. Shot below shows Freddie and Ian Williams with Jim Gregory with an old Douglas.
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