Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 22 May 1931
Speedway
Belle Vue Riders Provide Thrills
Wombwell Racing
It may be true to say that to some extent speedway racing is no longer a novelty, but at the same time there are still many people who have yet to make their first acquaintance with a cinder track. Possibly the majority of them keep away because the speed and noise have no attraction for them, but occasionally they turn up “just for curiousity.”
It so happened that the writer fell into conversation with such a person at the Wombwell speedway on Saturday, and naturally was interested to know what he thought about it. The newcomer’s answer surprised the enquirer. “What do I think to speedway racing?’ he repeated. Well racing is alright but I cannot for the life of me understand why people are silly enough to stand up to those railings and let others throw ashes all over them . The newcomer had secured a comfortable seat in the ‘stand and from that point of vantage was able to watch with amusement the frantic but unsuccessful efforts of the crowd to dodge the showers. He added, I can understand them being caught napping once but what gets me guessing is why they keep running back for some more.”
Frankly, he could not understand why the onlookers who had been smutted up to the eyebrows by the contemptuous whiff of a back wheel, didn’t start flinging the stuff back again. He admitted that if there had been no racing at all this spectacle would have been well worth the money. It doesn’t take much, off coarse to amuse some people, but at the same time this comment caused one to wonder. Suppose there was no dirt slinging at all would the racing have the same irresistible appeal? It is doubtful. It may seem childish but people will put up with any amount of discomfort providing they are getting a little excitement. For a practical demonstration of this weakness one need only watch the antics of the day trippers when there is a rough sea at Blackpool. What does it matter if everyone is enjoying it?
Trackside Fun.
A bit of nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest. Bramall Lane is recognised as the home of native wit in these parts, but occasionally one is tempted to think that speedway crowds can give the football fans a good start where spontaneous humour is concerned. At the Wombwell track recently one or two particularly choice flashes of humour have been noted, and the use of the …megaphone in place of the loud speaker on Saturday produced a comedy element that was sustained throughout the meeting. As it happened the announcer wisely entered into the spirit of the occasion and helped to keep the fun going. I imagine there are some people who would be glad if the loud speaker broke down every week.
Broncho Dixon was the victim of a happy shot from the popular end of the stand a few weeks ago. The race was about to start and Broncho, sitting astride his machine, was giving his handlebars that little preliminary twitch which ensures that at any rate his front part is O.K. Broncho grinned broadly when a wit shouted “Break us a bit off, Broncho!” Of course everybody else laughed. The process of parading the trophies is usually responsible for a comic episode.
Those who have taken close note of the riding of Geoff Kilburn of Wombwell, in recent weeks, would not be surprised at his being chosen to ride in league events for Leeds. Kilburn was always recognised as one of the most daring sad skilful of the Wombwell contingent and this year has improved beyond all comparison. In the principal event on Saturday he gained an easy victory over Arthur Moore, the Wombwell skipper, and pressed Max Grosskreutz very hard in the final of the handicap event where the Belle Vue star had to concede him only one second. Wombwell patrons will wish him the best of luck on the Leeds track.
Manchester “Stars.”
The big men at Wombwell on Saturday were the Manchester riders., Groeskreutz and Oliver Langton. Grosskreutz rode remarkably well, but Langton was a little disappointing. Both made attempts on track records but in neither instance did they come anywhere near setting up a new standard.
The Big Six was the tit-bit of the programme, each race producing hard riding. A striking fact was that despite the big noise made about the distinguished visitors, the Wombwell lads made by far the better times. Geoff. Kilburn taking only 87 1-5 seconds for the four laps in beating his captain, Arthur Moore. As expected the final produced a gruelling encounter, Kilburn making Grosskreutz go all the way for the honours in a time of 98 seconds, actually not so good a time as Kilburn had made in the qualifying match. The handicap and scratch events produced some good riding and not a few surprises. It was good to see Billy O’Neill, one of the lower grade lads, come up in the handicap event with a start of four seconds, but there was no mistaking the quality of the riding of Tommy Allott who, after a hard fight, had to be content with second place. Harry Gill, the Barnsley lad, would have come in for recognition had he been able to retain his mount. This rider has any amount of pluck but he lacks in the gift of manipulation. This, of course, will come with practice, and then Gill will make the best of riders earn their prise money. Sheffield riders on the whole did not pull trees up hut Barber saved the ship with a rather lucky win in the final of the scratch race. In the heats Billy Hodnett gave us an amusing demonstration of “skywriting.’ But that his machine failed Grosskrentz would prohibit. have “cake walked” this event. We got only a glimpse of Jimmy Ewing, the so-called Australian “star,” and he didn’t dazzle us.
Article continues