Post by mervjankefanclub on Aug 11, 2010 0:25:51 GMT 1
George's thread on his childhood memories of PCs visit to Coatbridge has reminded of the threads we had on the old board where fans told us of their own personal memories of previous Glasgow tracks. These are the kind of threads I love to read as other peoples thoughts and memories can usually rekindle things in your own mind that you had long since forgotten
My own speedway adventure started when the Tigers moved into the first Blantyre track in 1977, so that is where I will start. But I would like to see a thread from all the Tigers' old homes and lets face it there has been a few ;D
So here is a few of my memories of the Blantyre Sports Stadium....
Watching from the old bing at first, with plenty of others, then when we had to pay in I used to sit on the green electrical box(?) at the first bend, a few meetings sitting on the backstraight wall, before we eventually plumped for the bookies stalls against the back of the 'grandstand' ;D
The car park where the bing used to be and auld Jock Forrest the, 'attendant'
Clambering over the old corrugated iron sheets behind the 'grandstand' to go for a pee and I wasnt the only one
The woman in the tea bar calling me hen for ages, until I got my hair cut
Trying to avoid the white dog **** up near the kennels
That smelly old white toilet block at the turnstiles and running around the big mound of earth just outside it pretending to be Merv Janke
Buying old programmes from the Tigers Den.
The riders marching across the centre green to a cracking wee tune (Scotch On The Rocks) for the pre meeting introductions.
Going into the pits after the meeting and picking up the old tear offs and then never using them for anything as they served no purpose.
Rob Grant plunging the place into darkness when his throttle jammed and he bailed out leaving his bike to smash into one of the lamp standards.
Jimmy Beaton chasing Nigel Flatman with a rake after Flatman had put young Jim into the fence after a heat.
Peterborough turning up one Sunday afternoon, minus a couple of riders and their team manager, who happened to have the race jackets, so they rode in a set of Scotland ones.
Red Star coming one Saturday night and the visits of Hull, Belle Vue and Cradley.
Going to watch Berwick use the place as their home base for a month on Saturday nights.
Stevie Lawson taking on Tom Owen, Martin Yeates and Mike Ferreira for the Silver Helmet.
Steve Finch, brilliant around the place.
The Scottish Junior League and the rise of Kenny McKinna.
Dick Barrie and I hate Dick Barrie badges.
.....plenty more to come........
My own speedway adventure started when the Tigers moved into the first Blantyre track in 1977, so that is where I will start. But I would like to see a thread from all the Tigers' old homes and lets face it there has been a few ;D
So here is a few of my memories of the Blantyre Sports Stadium....
Watching from the old bing at first, with plenty of others, then when we had to pay in I used to sit on the green electrical box(?) at the first bend, a few meetings sitting on the backstraight wall, before we eventually plumped for the bookies stalls against the back of the 'grandstand' ;D
The car park where the bing used to be and auld Jock Forrest the, 'attendant'
Clambering over the old corrugated iron sheets behind the 'grandstand' to go for a pee and I wasnt the only one
The woman in the tea bar calling me hen for ages, until I got my hair cut
Trying to avoid the white dog **** up near the kennels
That smelly old white toilet block at the turnstiles and running around the big mound of earth just outside it pretending to be Merv Janke
Buying old programmes from the Tigers Den.
The riders marching across the centre green to a cracking wee tune (Scotch On The Rocks) for the pre meeting introductions.
Going into the pits after the meeting and picking up the old tear offs and then never using them for anything as they served no purpose.
Rob Grant plunging the place into darkness when his throttle jammed and he bailed out leaving his bike to smash into one of the lamp standards.
Jimmy Beaton chasing Nigel Flatman with a rake after Flatman had put young Jim into the fence after a heat.
Peterborough turning up one Sunday afternoon, minus a couple of riders and their team manager, who happened to have the race jackets, so they rode in a set of Scotland ones.
Red Star coming one Saturday night and the visits of Hull, Belle Vue and Cradley.
Going to watch Berwick use the place as their home base for a month on Saturday nights.
Stevie Lawson taking on Tom Owen, Martin Yeates and Mike Ferreira for the Silver Helmet.
Steve Finch, brilliant around the place.
The Scottish Junior League and the rise of Kenny McKinna.
Dick Barrie and I hate Dick Barrie badges.
.....plenty more to come........