CAN YOU HELP ?

I have 22 photos on the 'Unidentified Teams & Riders' page. Can anyone identify these for me so that they can be inserted within the correct team page. Thanks.  Dave H.

Site Opened Friday 13th May 2011.

'Cycle Speedway Teams Down The Ages' is an attempt to record and display not only every Cycle Speedway team that ever existed, but also to include the riders who rode for these, plus any interesting facts and photo's. It will be continually updated, and with your help, will become a scource of historical information for the future.

The sport of Motor Cycle Speedway was allegedly introduced to this Country in 1928, and it is from these humble beginnings that the sport of Cycle Speedway emerged, with a form of racing taking place before the second World War. However, it was not until the end of this war that the sport emerged in a controlled and recorded manner, and the "Skid Kids" were truly born. 

In 1946 Control Boards and Local Leagues were formed throughout the Country, these being run by interested adults, many of whom had their own sons and daughters in the teams. The tracks themselves were built on cleared bomb sites, where previous devastation and despair were replaced by the sounds of enjoyment and laughter. Bricks and timber from the bombed houses were used to mark the inner and outer perimeter of the tracks, whilst mother's knicker elastic was used as the starting tape, this being pulled across the start line to the outside of the track, so as not to give the inner gates that extra advantage. 

Once the sport got on it's feet, a number of go-ahead Councils began to donate corners of recreation grounds on which tracks could be built, some even financing this venture, from the building of the track, to the supply of all the equipment required.

One of the early Cycle Speedway Control Boards was that of London, and when the National Association of Boys Clubs joined forces, their numbers topped the three thousand mark.

A very early magazine for the sport was called "Cycle Speedway Monthly", which covered the whole Country, and sold well over 4,000 copies per edition.

An Association was formed on 14th January 1950 at the offices of the News Chronicle, Bouverie Street, London, this being the "National Amateur Cycle Speedway Association"(NACSA). This Association encouraged the boys to take an active part in the sports organisation, and provided the means to unite the sport across the Country, thus enabling for National Competitions to take place.

The "British Cycle Speedway Federation"(BCSF), was formed in London in 1958 by two go-ahead names in the sport, namely Derek Bacon and Vic Cowell, who between them raised the profile and presentation of Cycle Speedway to a new level. Eventually, after many disagreements over a period of twelve years, the two controlling bodies merged in 1971, forming the 'Cycle Speedway Council'.

Many of these Cycle Speedway Riders made the grade into the Motorised side of the sport, non more successful than Ivan Mauger, who went on to win the World Individual Championship no less than six times, and I shall endeavour to highlight these riders within these pages.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have helped me in my task, and in particular Rod Witham, who so kindly let me carry on the good work of the "50 Years of Cycle Speedway", which was first published in 1997, and must be acknowledged as the "bible" of Cycle Speedway.

Dave Hunting.