derek
Junior Member
Posts: 82
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Post by derek on Sept 8, 2011 10:51:39 GMT 1
I came accross this programme cover on the speedway reseacher web site. It tells us that the Barnet track was on the Barnet By-pass road 2 miles North of Mill Hill. Can anyone pinpoint where this was? Another interesting bit on the front (if you can read it!!) says that the Midget car track record over 4 laps was held by Les White in 98.2 sec at an average speed of 36.60 mph which he did on the 28/6/36. I hav'nt a clue how may midget car race were held there, as anyone got any info on Barnet? Attachments:
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Post by administrator on Sept 8, 2011 13:12:54 GMT 1
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Post by haflinger121 on Sept 8, 2011 23:01:21 GMT 1
Aside from the fact that this is clearly in the wrong thread, not much I can add - oh, other than to apologise to our administrator for having to move two posts instead of just the one!
Derek, I'm afraid this is another London area track I've still yet to pin down the precise location of. The latest edition (or at least, the latest I have) of Homes of British Speedway, contains the following information. The track was operated between 1929 and 1936, by the North London Motor Club. It started out as a mere grass track but as the surface wore away, it was replaced with cinders and was generally considered to be a dirt track. It was on a 20-acre site, so it was quite a big venue, even if it was just a couple of large fields, but I have no way of knowing if it was ever more than just a couple of large fields!
In that time it staged 87 meetings but I have no idea how many featured midget racing, or something that we might call midget racing as the photos I've seen have cars in them which are definitely not Skirrows, Gnats or whatever.
The club could not get an extension on their lease in 1937 and so the track closed. HOBS concludes its entry about Barnet thus: "The promotion subsequently moved their operation to High Beech, with the Barnet track site being sold to builders."
So my guess is that the land was earmarked for re-development and that's why their lease wasn't renewed. This also suggests that, today, the site is covered with houses or something.
(Later) Just found this on the London Speedway website:
"Barnet-by-Pass (now covered by Ripon Way and Balmoral Drive area, Borehamwood)"
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Post by haflinger121 on Sept 8, 2011 23:19:43 GMT 1
I know this has appeared on the site somewhere before, but it seems appropriate to add it to this discussion. Sorry John, something else to be moved! Barnet in (I believe) 1936. ::::Thanks Graham. All the Barnet stuff - as can be seen - has been moved from Catford to its own section - thanks for advice from proboards support unit. I was baffled when I first saw the advice but in reality "my technical skills" saw me through when I followed their advice.Attachments:
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Post by tobyhalter on Sept 10, 2011 9:18:21 GMT 1
The midget car photo has been on site before but I cannot find where. However, I think one of the drivers was identified as Ron Wills and the others were also named, I'll have another search and if I get the details I will post them.
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Post by tobyhalter on Sept 10, 2011 9:22:11 GMT 1
I found the photo in Historic Midget Car photos and its says the line-up is Barnet 1936, from left, Vic Patterson, Ron Wills, Les White.
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Post by haflinger121 on Sept 10, 2011 10:10:16 GMT 1
Thanks for sorting that out John. If your "technical skills" are anything like mine, I daresay it caused you a bit of grief!
Thanks also to Toby for finding that image and ID-ing the drivers. I seem to recall we also had a discussion at one time about what those car types were. I know the one at the far right is a Salmson, but can't remember if anyone ID-d the other two.
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