Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125836
..... • ... SHHH. ~ t .... (lJ ..c E (lJ > o Z The vintage Douglas, a classic speedway rig of yesteryear. being found guilty of using an additive in the. 1971 World Final in Gothenburg. It's tough luck on Louis, who claims that he didn't realize the additive was present in his fuel. But rules are rules. Having banned Gordeev, the FIM had no choice but to act similarly with Louis. When the British authorities failed to take the appropriate action, they put them""lves in line for a rap from the FIM. And that's exactly what they got. The Father of Speedway West Maitland is a town tucked away in Australia. Its name probably means little to the majority of speedway fans round the world. But it was in West Maitland, fifty years ago, that Johnnie Hoskins started what today we know as speedway. Johnnie arrived in West Maitland, back in 1923, purely by chance. Born in New Zealand, this great pioneer had travelled through Indonesia as a journalist before stepping off in Aussie. One day, in Sydney, he went to the central station, plonked some money on the counter, and said: "Gimme a ticket as far as this lot will take me." The ticket took him to West Maitland. He hadn't been there long before he had joined the West Maitland Agricul tural Society as secretary. Johnnie had a motorcycle and suggested that the Society hold meetings at their trotting track. The Committee wasn't keen... until Johnnie went out on Sunday morning and had a spin round the track. The Committee liked what they saw, and speedway was born. The .port has made great strides .ince then, of course. It was Johnnie Ho.kin. who introduced it to England, at High Beach, in 1928. And it has gone from strength to strength. There has From 1m - been significan t changes in machinery and technique...as was illustrated at a "Golden Jubilee" meeting staged at Canterbury in England this month. And who staged the meeting? JH, naturally. He's now 81-years-old but there is still no greater showman in the sport. He put on the Jubilee meeting at the track he now runs in England, and the fans were treated to some "old style" riding by Bert Harkins and yours truly. Johnnie had arranged for a couple of vin tage Douglas machines tl? be brought along. Bert and I soon got to grip.- with them. As you can see by the pictures on this page, it is very different to modern day speedway. But the bikes were terrific to ride. Bert and I, along with Dave Jessup, also put on some exhibition rides. Johnnie had me doing a few "wheelies" for the crowd. Not many riders do this sort of thing over here, but the fans really love them. Johnnie Hoskins doesn't always get the credit he deserves for the time and effort he has put into speedway over the years. The Canterbury meeting did at least give me the opportunity of saying .. thank.... I did ride for Johnnie for a couple of years in the colours of New Cross and I have 'a1ways had a 10 t of time for him. It is unbelievable the effort and energy he still puts in despite his age. He strides about the centre green, bellowing at riders if they are slow getting to the .tart. on time. He chats on and on to the crowd and at the end of a really wonderful evening he was still going strong. He cou,ld - and would - talk all night about speedway. And people listen. He is a marvellous story teller, even if fact and fiction tend to get a little mixed up' at time.. But that's Johnnie. Still top of the pops in speedway. • Dave Jessup, Johnnie Hoskins (age 811. BrilIlIO and Ben Hoskins. The Boot For Boys, Girls,.& Women Sizes 3-7'h $60.00 Value Onlv $34.95 SALES SERVICE Welding Porting _II Order Add $2.00 Plus 5% Calif. sates Tax 1. Double Leather Throughout (Luther lined) 2. Knee High Buckle 3. Heavy Duty Zipper 4. Leather Accessories 'nsot. 5. Heavy Duty Weclgtl Sole For Comb. Enduro or MX. Also•••• Top Gear .•••.. $42.95 Georgia Giant •. $23.95 Hercules 1352 Centin"a, W. Los Angeles Cor,ner of Santa Monica Blvd. & Centinela Open 9 to 6 Tues-Sat 9 to 9 on Thursday SS4.95 VancHirmini .•.• $59.95 P'us - Frye. Carolina. Dingo. OUfanoo, Acme. Chippewa, & Rally Rider, At Discount Prices. D... InQuiries Invltedl urgnt_ Variety Of 800tl At••• 2 ... ~ c . U Loc:at,,~ns Work Shoes UnllmIted 12522 Westminster Ave., santa Ana. CA Btwn. Harbor & FalrvMtw (714) 531--6555 Sonta Monlu BIVCI. ; N .. "W+E i c c is': nta Mona Frwy. And 12086 Brookhurst, Garden Grove. CA Just So. Of Chapman (7141 537-6535 17