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Post by administrator on Oct 30, 2013 17:35:28 GMT 1
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Post by baldeagle1932 on Nov 21, 2013 20:52:12 GMT 1
I would like to see more analysis of the Belle Vue midget car book. Is there a book review anywhere so that I can get an idea of its content in some depth? From what I have read so far it does look interesting. When did midgets last race at the old Hyde Road track?
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Post by administrator on Dec 1, 2013 15:19:11 GMT 1
MIDGET CAR RACING BELLE VUE 1934-39 By DEREK BRIDGETT Reviewed by John Hyam. THE now demolished Hyde Road track at Belle Vue, Manchester, is famed in motorsport for its Aces motorcycle speedway team and some of the greats in the motorcycle sport who rode for them. Speedway giants like Peter Craven, Peter Collins, Eric Langton, Jack Parker, Max Grosskreutz and Bill Kitchen are just a few of the many star riders who wore the famed Aces rajeket.. A lesser known fact about 1930s motorsport activity at Belle Vue is that between 1934-39 the Manchester Stadium also hosted midget car racing. The sport’s introduction was largely through the enthusiasm of promoter E O Spence. After seeing meetings in the USA, Spence was convinced the sport could become a major UK motor sport attraction. To this end, Spence bought an American Elto midget car claimed to have been raced by American star Ronny Householder and took it back to Manchester. There, Len Hulme built replicas which used by drivers contracted to the Manchester club. The cars were also offered for sale to “approved applicants” for £195, equal in present day terms to £11,235. Belle Vue drivers who raced the stadium-owned cars included Bruce Warburton, Eric Worswick, Frank Marsh and Charlie ‘Ginger’ Pashley. The years between the two world wars were a colorful period for midget car racing. And the coverage of the period is backed in the book my many photos of those who took part in the Belle Vue era in Bridget’s comprehensive research. What it was all about is adequately covered in the publisher’s synopsis on how Bridgett came to write the book. It reads: “It was by chance that the author stumbled across a long lost programme for the opening meeting of Hanley Car Speedway for July 21, 1938. The programme had been hidden away in family papers for almost 60 years and it sparked an enduring interest in midget car speedway. “Motor sport had been the preserve of the rich and glamorous, but now the ordinary man could build a car and race it on a shoestring budget. It was the start of motor racing as we know it today and without the development of midget car racing, we perhaps would not have seen the Formula Three, Formula Ford and other series that we take for granted today. “Although a short-lived craze that hit the UK during the 1930s, the formula was an incredible motor phenomenon with some races and events attracting over 60,000 people from all over the country. “Derek Bridgett's ‘Midget Car Racing’ book chronicles this bizarre but immersive little-known pre-World War Two motorsport. Focusing specifically on the Belle Vue Speedway, this incredible book is profusely illustrated with photographs from the period.” The book is indeed a comprehensive resume of what happened at Belle Vue in the six years leading up to the start of World War Two in September 1939. Extensive research by Bridgett has gone into the publication and the final product makes it an essential addition to the library of those seeking detailed information of an exciting formula that first came to the UK speedway scene 80 years ago. More importantly is the superb photo coverage, much of which was provided from private collections. Many of the photos are being seen for the first time in nearly a century. They include Basil Davenport’s ‘Damper’, the Riley midget favoured by Victor Gillow, the ‘Firefly’ built and raced by Frank Farnel and Tommy Cooper’s ABC Midget which was developed for racing by Len Hulme. Belle Vue’s glory days came when they exclusively used the Len Hulme Elto copies in preference to the Skirrow midget that were favoured by drivers at other tracks. An important year for Belle Vue midgets was probably 1938 when they were members of the National League. Their basic team was Charlie Pashley, Bruce Warburton, Eric Worswick, Jock Ferguson, George Goodley and Billy Murden. It was a team that turned in some determined racing but the talent of their drivers was generally foiled by opponents who favoured the Skirrow. Belle Vue won two and lost six of their eight league matches. Overall, they scored 243 race points with 325 against for four tables points. How does one summarise the book? Ny opinion is extremely favourable. The boo it gives a clear insight into the structure and attempts of the late 1930s to make midget car racing a major motor sport attraction. It is packed with excellent photos many of which I saw the first time. I just cannot praise it too highly for that aspect. In addition, written content is superb, factual and to the point. It is a graphic work highlighting one of the most important ever in the history of British midget car racing. It is a must for the bookshelf of anyone who claims to have an interest in the most spectacular of all small oval racing car formulas. You can obtain the book, marked price £14.99, through - www.abebooks.co.uk/Midget-Racing-Bridgett-Derek-Fonthill-Media/11359736590/bd or through www.amazon.co.uk/Midget-Car-Racing-Derek-Bridgett/dp/1781552401
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Post by ezwalk43 on Dec 6, 2013 19:25:06 GMT 1
Just received my copy and only had a chance to view the photos so far but fabulous - thought I'd got quite an extensive collection of old photos but so many there that I've never seen. And glad to read that it was me taking the Elto to the opening of Rockingham that spurred Derek on with his research! Set me off googling last time we raced midgets at the current Belle Vue in 2005 - found a great write up of the meeting but unfortunately no photos - someone there that night must have taken some....
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Post by jaykay on Dec 6, 2013 20:47:11 GMT 1
Just received my copy and only had a chance to view the photos so far but fabulous - thought I'd got quite an extensive collection of old photos but so many there that I've never seen. And glad to read that it was me taking the Elto to the opening of Rockingham that spurred Derek on with his research! Set me off googling last time we raced midgets at the current Belle Vue in 2005 - found a great write up of the meeting but unfortunately no photos - someone there that night must have taken some.... I'd like to see more about the 2005 meeting at Belle Vue. Any chance please?
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Post by ayoutubefiend on Dec 7, 2013 17:29:28 GMT 1
Just received my copy and only had a chance to view the photos so far but fabulous - thought I'd got quite an extensive collection of old photos but so many there that I've never seen. And glad to read that it was me taking the Elto to the opening of Rockingham that spurred Derek on with his research! Set me off googling last time we raced midgets at the current Belle Vue in 2005 - found a great write up of the meeting but unfortunately no photos - someone there that night must have taken some.... I'd like to see more about the 2005 meeting at Belle Vue. Any chance please?The details of the 2005 meeting at Belle Vue can be seen on the GP Midget Link which is a follows - www.ovaltrack.co.uk/gpmidgets/tome/2000s/2005/2005_29_aug.htmThis would almost certainly have been the last time that midgets raced in Manchester IMO?
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Post by administrator on Oct 2, 2015 20:43:18 GMT 1
On 2 Oct 2015, at 17:36, Daphne Warburton wrote:
I found details of Derek Bridgett's book "Midget Car Racing" on your site and ordered a copy, which has come. For anyone at all interested in this subject, the book is to be thoroughly recommended. It is full of information and pictures. I'm just sad that my husband, Bruce Warburton, a member if the team at Belle Vue pre-WW2, is no longer with us - how he would have enjoyed the book. From 1939 Bruce served with the Palestine Police and then as an Army corporal in German on special duties, in the Royal Corps of Signals. After the war he worked on oil exploration in the Middle East, where we met. From 1964 he very successfully ran his company Warco, as a drilling engineer and consultant, until he retired aged 70 in 1985. Bruce died in 2004, aged 89..
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Post by administrator on Oct 9, 2015 16:12:02 GMT 1
Forwarded messageL
On 9 Oct 2015, at 16:01, Daphne Warburton wrote:
Thank you John for your message and for posting my message on your website. Best wishes, Daphne. p.s. I've now finished reading "Midget Car Racing". It is even better than I said. It is written in a most interesting (and also fair) way and is brilliantly researched and full of interesting facts. I've today ordered two more copies for Bruce's and my daughter and grandson.
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