|
Post by administrator on Jun 17, 2010 9:22:32 GMT 1
An edited post that may be of interest:: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Richard" <liverpool11@verizon.net> Date: 16 June 2010 01:16:24 BDT To: <john.hyam1@btinternet.com> Subject: Liverpool Pirates
15 June 2010 Hello John, Finally a question about Mike Parker, I met him for a few minutes in 1959, at Stanley, during his presentation bringing speedway back to Liverpool. Parker by all accounts seems to have been quite controversial, according to promoters and riders alike. Parker seems to have been a multi talented individual, a successful businessman, pilot, hot shoe speed car driver, and a skilled sports promoter. Both Parker and partner Fearman where probably responsible in saving speedway back in the early sixties from closing down. I really formed the impression that Parker was more interested in prompting speed car racing (midgets) rather than speedway. Reasons..... Parker ran and promoted speed car racing at Belle Vue in 1958 & 1959. Parker was in contact with Reg Duval, prior to Reg promoting speedway inLiverpool April 1957.Parker wanted to co-promote with Reg combined speedway and speed car racing, Reg was not interested. Prior to opening Liverpool in Provincial League 1960, Parker ran a couple of “open” speedway meetings at Stanley, featuring solos sidecars and speed cars. Interestingly, Parker presented speed car racing (he also competed) on the programme as an inter-city racing event like speedway. Regards.....Richard Austin
|
|
|
Post by kiwikid34 on Jun 17, 2010 9:53:39 GMT 1
I am certain there was some midget car racing at Liverpool Stanley before WW2 but cannot confirm this was so. I would love to see a confirmation and some data on the pre-1939 days it it was so,
|
|
|
Post by ovaltrack on Sept 23, 2011 16:56:51 GMT 1
Some photos of Seaforth Stadium in Bootle have come to light - it was used for Speedway and I wondered if anyone knows if it ever hosted Midgets or other car racing?
|
|
|
Post by tobyhalter on Sept 23, 2011 17:24:54 GMT 1
I am not a northerner but I don't think Seaforth Stadium, Bootle, is the same place as Stanley Stadium, Liverpool? There is a possibility, never been confirmed, that around 1937 the Eltos and Skirrows raced at Stanley. Possibly the Parker midgets in the early 1960s. However, I didn't even know there had been speedway bike racing at Seaforth although Stanley Stadium was quite a well-known venue over the 1930s, 1940, 1950s and 1960s.
|
|
|
Post by tobyhalter on Sept 23, 2011 17:28:05 GMT 1
Some photos of Seaforth Stadium in Bootle have come to light - it was used for Speedway and I wondered if anyone knows if it ever hosted Midgets or other car racing? Any chance of seeing the Seaforth Stadium photos to ascertain if it's the same place as Stanley Stadium? And I now see from the first post in this thread that Mike Parker did run speedcars there in the early 1960s. I also think some stock car meetings were held there 1950s-1960s-ish.
|
|
adeyp
New Member
MotoFreako
Posts: 15
|
Post by adeyp on Sept 23, 2011 21:05:22 GMT 1
Harry Skirrow bought shares in Stanley speedway along with "Pops" Kitchen in the late 30s. According to Harry's letters, he wanted to get back at Eric Spence for turning his cars down at Belle Vue, so went to Liverpool to try and launch his own Midget Car series and get more track time for his Skirrow cars. The track wasn't really suited to the cars though. Even though it was a big track, the bends were very narrow. I don't know if any actual meetings were held at Stanley in the 30s, but Harry and Walter Makereth definitely tested their cars there.
|
|
|
Post by tobyhalter on Sept 23, 2011 21:23:54 GMT 1
|
|
|
Post by rodpashley on Sept 24, 2011 1:33:02 GMT 1
My Dad, Charlie Pashley, raced at Liverpool, dont know which track, I wasn't aware that there were two of them. I think there is some mention of this somewhere on this forum...
|
|
|
Post by rodpashley on Sept 24, 2011 1:35:04 GMT 1
GP Midgets have raced at Liverpool in the neneteen seventies. Dont know any more, but I have a photo somewhere.
|
|
|
Post by ovaltrack on Sept 24, 2011 8:57:12 GMT 1
Some photos of Seaforth Stadium in Bootle have come to light - it was used for Speedway and I wondered if anyone knows if it ever hosted Midgets or other car racing? Any chance of seeing the Seaforth Stadium photos to ascertain if it's the same place as Stanley Stadium? And I now see from the first post in this thread that Mike Parker did run speedcars there in the early 1960s. I also think some stock car meetings were held there 1950s-1960s-ish. From what I can gather Stanley and Bootle are separate entities. Once I get the pictures, assuming the owner is happy, I will share them on here.
|
|
|
Post by tobyhalter on Sept 24, 2011 16:43:17 GMT 1
Harry Skirrow bought shares in Stanley speedway along with "Pops" Kitchen in the late 30s. According to Harry's letters, he wanted to get back at Eric Spence for turning his cars down at Belle Vue, so went to Liverpool to try and launch his own Midget Car series and get more track time for his Skirrow cars. The track wasn't really suited to the cars though. Even though it was a big track, the bends were very narrow. I don't know if any actual meetings were held at Stanley in the 30s, but Harry and Walter Makereth definitely tested their cars there. Harry Skirrow couldn't have been too surprised surely that E O Spence at Belle Vue declined giving the Skirrow track race time? After all, at the end of 1935 EOS bought American star Ronny Househoder's race-winning Elto and imported it to England. There it was the template for the Elto's built by Les Hulme to race at Belle Vue - with drivers buying the copy Elto's off EOS & Co.? Actionwise, time has shown the Skirrow was the better car for English tracks conditions - apart it would appear for the Liverpool Stanley track. I have also looked on a site called Defunct Speedways and it only seems to feature Stanley Stadium for Liverpool, nothing comes up for Seaforth, Bootle. I think there's a stock site listing all small oval car raceways but I can't get a link to see if Seaforth is detailed there. I hope Oval Track gets permission to put up the photos he has for Seaforth. I'm really keen to see them. Maybe another member has a source for these photos and more facts about this mystery Seaforth track.
|
|
|
Post by tobyhalter on Sept 24, 2011 16:44:46 GMT 1
Any chance of seeing the Seaforth Stadium photos to ascertain if it's the same place as Stanley Stadium? And I now see from the first post in this thread that Mike Parker did run speedcars there in the early 1960s. I also think some stock car meetings were held there 1950s-1960s-ish. From what I can gather Stanley and Bootle are separate entities. Once I get the pictures, assuming the owner is happy, I will share them on here. If Seaforth and Bootle are separate venues as stated, added to Stanley Stadium (and New Brighton) that makes four potential tracks for the Liverpool area by any calculation?
|
|
adeyp
New Member
MotoFreako
Posts: 15
|
Post by adeyp on Sept 24, 2011 21:50:33 GMT 1
From my records and notes... Liverpool Speedway, Stanley Stadium, Prescot Road; Operated as a speedway track in 1928, 29 and 30, 1936-37, 1949- 53, 1957, 1959 and 1960. Various lengths over the years from 432 yds to 446 yds. Mike Parker was the promoter during 1959 and 1960, stadium closed for good in 1961 and is now a fruit n veg market.
Seaforth Greyhound Stadium, Crosby Road, Seaforth, Liverpool; Operated as a speedway track in 1934 and 1935. The stadium closed down in 1965 and is now just a grassed open space. The track was 330 yars and had very tight bends. Speedway closed at the end of the 1935 season and moved to the vacant Stanley Speedway for 1936 season.
New Brighton - The Tower Ground, Speedway held there 1933-35. Tarmac laid in 1960s and used for stock cars until end of 1970s.
No mention of any other stadium being used for speedway in the area, other than the sands at Ainsdale and grass track racing at Aintree 1928-1930.
|
|
|
Post by haflinger121 on Sept 25, 2011 14:21:38 GMT 1
Sorry guys, this discussion seems to have escaped my notice until just now, so I'm coming late on the scene here. With regard to Toby's comment about four potential tracks, I'm assuming you are including Breck Park and White City (yet another one!?) Liverpool? To my knowledge, neither ever ran cars, or bikes for that matter, although speedway is not my area of expertise. Stanley and Seaforth are not the same place. Interestingly, Seaforth was almost directly opposite the site of New Brighton on the other bank of the Mersey. Adey's description of Seaforth matches the one I have in Homes of British Speedway. Importantly, my copies state that: " the turns were acute and it was a case of just rolling around them, as the slightest opening of the throttle would send a rider into the safety fence". Given that description, I think it unlikely it would have been remotely tempting to try cars on it. I have spoken about this venue to the local stock car historian George Rimmer, who thinks it very unlikely cars ever raced there. He has visited and photographed the site and confirms that, today, it is mostly just grass, although some housing has been constructed on part of it. We do not need to debate further, whether or not Stanley Stadium ever ran midgets pre-war; I have a programme, part of which I've reproduced here. It is dated June 14th 1937 and, amid the dirt, grime and creases, clearly shows that your dad actually raced, Rod. Although one programme is all I've ever laid my hands on, I seriously doubt this was the only outing for midgets at this venue. This 14/6/37 event was promoted by none other than E.O. Spence, so we can guess what type of cars were involved. As for later forays by midgets into Liverpool, I think there were just two meetings held by the MARC at the Tower Grounds, New Brighton in the 1970's, although Richard will be able to confirm that. He may also know (although I don't) whether they may have raced at another nearby venue not yet mentioned here, at Kirkby. Promoted by Mick Smith's Trackstar (the same promotion as at New Brighton) it is possible that they employed midgets there as well as Stock cars, Hot Rods etc, but I don't think so. Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by rodpashley on Sept 25, 2011 22:16:52 GMT 1
MARC, Brian Spicer, New Brighton, 1970 Attachments:
|
|