Coventry Speedway

Watching last Saturday's Swedish Grand Prix on BT Sport, I heard mention that former Bees rider Rick Miller was at the meeting. I've come across this photo of Rick with fellow ex-Bee Kelvin Tatum, taken at the track at Hallstavik. Rick now has a career as a stunt man - Wikipedia

One of Coventry Bees former riders, Andreas Jonsson, has announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 38. The Swedish star had two spells with the Brandon club, in 1998-1999 and 2001-2005.

Hi MR Dr Phil here. I have been reading the Coventry Speedway thread and this brings me back memories I had forgotten, I used to attend the Brandon Stadium in the 50's but I am not sure exactly of the date. My school friend Malcolm Simpson persuaded me to join him and two girls he knew (striking good looking blondes Ann Wilks and Judy Clinch) who lived near us and who we regularly met on our games in the Rifle Fields not far from Allesley Old Rd. Malcolm was very struck with Ann and me with Judy. We all started going to the Bees matches where the girls thought Jim Lightfoot a very good looking man indeed! I enjoyed the racing and was impressed with the skill of the riders. Funnily enough one of my main memories was the rushing through the convoluted passages of fenced off entrances for the bus home so designed that gigantic queues did not form. I think! The romances for us did not work out and we lost touch with the girls. I did hear later that Judy did marry a lad who become quite a famous butterfly stroke swimmer but I can't remember his name. Incidentally at the risk of combining two threads I vaguely remember a physics teacher who was rumoured to be a Bees rider at our school?

Dr Phil, Yes, well I actually rode round the track with Johnnie Reason, a couple of laps in a trial (you remember him), but I had an almighty row with Bob Fletcher and that was the end of me. My brother's name was Malcolm but very young then. The row was, they had filthy showers that you could not possibly use. Black from the track to go home was no joke. Yes, February 1950. We trialled first on the uneven ground behind the buildings, before moving onto the track.

Memories from 1966 Peter Arnold previews the speedway season from Brandon Stadium for ATV

From BringBeesBackToCoventry on Twitter: We are very sorry to learn of the passing of former Bees rider Roman Matousek at the age of 55. He rode for us from 1989 to 1991, and what a character he was. Thoughts with his family. #RIPRoman

16 years ago today, Les Owen died on the level crossing at Canley. RIP Muscles.

10 years ago today

Men of Steel I would say with nerves to match. Glad I did not witness anything like that in the 50's.

Jason Garrity jailed

In Post 74 I added a black and white photo of the 1964 Brandon Track Staff. Thanks to a very clever Facebook supporter who coloured it in, and others who have added names to the photo, I can update it here..... Can anyone here on HCF add to the names (or correct ones I've got wrong!)? Edited by member, 13th Nov 2020 10:58 pm