I’m working on a T&D story about the links between road transport and speedway. If you know of any drivers or their firms who are involved, whether as riders, team members or sponsors, could you get in touch with me at TDreaders@gmail.com .
Thanks
Colin Barnett:
I’m working on a T&D story about the links between road transport and speedway. If you know of any drivers or their firms who are involved, whether as riders, team members or sponsors, could you get in touch with me at TDreaders@gmail.com .Thanks
At last an interesting storyline. If you can do a search for speedway on here, there is much mention and a few photos. One quite spurious link we do have is Simon Steads uncle is coca cola kid who also rode speedway and drove a truck to Poland where some of the greatest speedway takes place.
When I get a little time tonight or tomorrow I shall dig out what we already have, but it will make a fascinating story and you owe me a free T&D in the post.
Nick and Steve Mallett ran Newport Wasps until recently and a transport company supported it.
Roger Warnes Transport sponsors King Lynn Stars
Wheel Nut:
BigG-Unit:
A little off topic I know but there seems to have been a few Speedway riders gone into the transport industry over the years. Jimmy Squibb (Southampton) and Bob Kilby (Swindon) have already been mentioned in other threads on here but also Johnny Reason (Cov.) Ray Wilson (Leics.) Jack Kitchen (Yorks.) Wayne Briggs (Edinburgh) Dave Parry (Coaches, West Mids.) Ashley Pullen (Oxford) and Ove Fundin (somewhere in Sweden!) are just a few more. Not wishing to hi jack this thread but have waited some time in case of replies and as there were none thought it might get it spotted again for comments on topic.It is very interesting to me too that the transport industry supplied so many household names, even the tenuous links on other threads such as Les Pottinger of LP Transport and promotor of Cradley Heath Speedway, and Eric Prime who ran a successful transport business in Hull and was the father of Chris Prime(Newcastle). We even have Coca Cola Kid on here who rode competitive speedway and his nephew is Simon Stead (Swindon).
sheffield-tigers.co.uk/atoz.html#select
A brilliant link to Sheffield Tigers archives shows that Jack Kitchen died in 1990
Nice memories of the Oliver Hart lorries by the way
Click on my link for some grasstrack too
My uncle rode for Nelson, Bradford bought a F88 and my dad drove it for him i,m sure he was pulling a fridge trailer for a company that was based at Safeways site in Warrington i think they were called Temco ■■? the guy moved to North Western may have been called Gary ■■
Used to spanner and drive for W & S Winterburn & Son from Skipton (very well looked after tippers), National solo and sidecar grasstrack champions. 2 words “Screw loose” haha. 
Went on the side of it once, scared me to death, (thanks Rod, still having therapy) never felt acceleration like it. 1000cc R1 engine in it, used to spit flames from the exhaust.
Just had a memory flashback, used to go to Odsal speedway at Bradford when Bradford Dukes were competing, in the years of Kenny Carter I think it was, if I remember he took his own life.
Hi Colin, I rode a bit of speedway started out as my mate’s mechanic, Trevor Stead, I married his sister, and at that time Trevor’s wife had a sister who married Nicky Allott, the son of Guy Allott.
Guy was one of the old school of speedway that was very well known for his engine tuning for many top riders, Nicky’s son Adam Allott I think still at it buxtonhitmen.co/adamallott11 .
Back to the Stead’s, following in the footsteps of Trevor & myself younger brother Ian Stead came along and made some good progress in the sport, Eric Stead Trevor & Ian’s father became joint promoter of Stoke Potters along with John Dews I think when John passed away
Eric took sole control, can’t say for certain as I had parted with my wife by then.
Eric then became promoter at Newcastle Diamonds then he too sadly passed away.
Before Eric got involved with promoting he did sponsor several riders and races at Sheffield
Then along came Simon Stead simon-stead.co.uk/ some would say has been one of the most exciting riders in the last ten years, his list of honours is quite impressive
Arnold Hayley I recall used to do some delivery work for one of his sponsors,
Doug Flyer Wyre used to drive for one of my customers Gloystarne
I I drove for Maurice Ducker A&E Transport Promoter and sponsor at Sheffield speedway also sponsor of Shaun Moran and others
I myself joined the transport industry but instead of carrying dangerous goods all over Europe I went for passengers in executive cars, on my first ever lap around the owlerton track I did actually cross the line before two of the best at that time Peter Collins & Chris Morten, they were sat on the back of my Royce Royce as I drove them around on the parade before the England V America test.
Another Promoter & one of my favourite clients Lilly & Ray Glover, big thanks to Ray for his help to me in the sport. (Sadly now gone)
Carl & Les Glover for there business to & from Airports, & one of Carls weddings
I also did a wedding for Phil White, who now I believe is an airline pilot, so remember you speedway fans if going on holiday and the plane suddenly banks over it could be Phil at the controls.
also NSG Frieghters for my first HGV job & buying my second bike for me
Good luck & stay safe to all riders & followers for the comming season also stay safe all you truckers Cheers Mel
marsden:
Used to spanner and drive for W & S Winterburn & Son from Skipton (very well looked after tippers), National solo and sidecar grasstrack champions. 2 words “Screw loose” haha.
We have just bought his old van and now Tris is driving a sidecar outfit too. Rod Winterburn / Liam Brown 2011 Masters championship
www.smidgeracing.moonfruit.com
An R1 on Methanol with no brakes
Been meaning to go and have a look for ages, there’s a meeting at 1pm good friday at belle vue stadium so I think I’ll give it a whirl 
Here is Rod and Liam after winning another trophy a couple of weeks ago.
Hopefully they will be over at our meeting in May at Donington Park
The company I work for sponsors a few Speedway riders one of which is Simon Stead as per post above from Coca Cola Kid.
redcare.uk.com/interactive/i … &Itemid=56
Cheers Iain
Where I work we are using the services of agency drivers and one of these gents is Keith Prichard the who rode for Eastbourne eagles for ten years and did at bit for Canterbury and I think else where , he was saying when he worked for Romney marsh potatoe company he would take truck to meeting ,race his races then go and do his deliverys around the London fruit and veg markets . It’s strange because I used to go and watch him as a lad ,he was a great rider to watch and now he is a really great diver to always cracks on never moans what job you give him .
At present Robin of herstmonceux do some sponsoring at Eastbourne and some of the riders and even sponsor Eddie kennett who is a local Sussex lad but rides for Coventry , and I now he has his hgv and in closed session drives for Robin on the 8 wheelers delivering agg and lime supplies .
Kings Lynn’s main sponsor is Roger Warnes (sorry about spelling) transport from kings Lynn
old thread but my dad was ashley pullen (oxford, peterborough, rye house) he had his own transport business in the late 70’s (before my day) but ended up plastering and driving intermittently till his death in 2002 from lung cancer. Although sad, he has created a pretty much carbon copy of himself in me haha! (i’m motorbike mental and drive an artic)
tippermaster:
old thread but my dad was ashley pullen (oxford, peterborough, rye house) he had his own transport business in the late 70’s (before my day) but ended up plastering and driving intermittently till his death in 2002 from lung cancer. Although sad, he has created a pretty much carbon copy of himself in me haha! (i’m motorbike mental and drive an artic)
Welcome tippermaster.
Any pictures you have will be good, either for here or for graastrack.net
will post some pics when i figure out how to, not very clever with these computer things! got a bloody load from the late 70’s early 80’s. also got some from a few years ago when dad did a “golden oldies” reunion meeting at the cheeters (this was probably 15 years ago. not really in touch with the speedway scene anymore although colin ackroyd from eastbourne is my godfather and i spent 6 months in australia back in 06 with wayne muddle and kevin doyle. Wayne was running a freightliner argosy and a bull nose kenworth if i remember pulling tallow in tankers from melbourne to brisbane. he’s got a fantastic old bike collection and is a proper lovely old boy. kevin was big into the harley scene and his son jason is doing really well riding speedway in england but i cant remember the name of the team.
Hi tippermaster, I returned your P.M.
Jason Doyle started his British career on the Isle of Wight in 2005 & 6. I didn’t know his dad was an ex rider, but I didn’t follow it much in the '80s. I think Jason has always been a Poole asset, but is currently riding for Somerset in Premier league & I think, Swindon in the Elite league, so not too far, if you fancy popping along.
there seems to be big link with road transport and brisca f1 was at coventry the other week and noticed a few haulage firms have stock cars.
I watch Workington Comets which is owned by a contruction/ transport company called Thomas Armstrong http://www.thomasarmstrong.co.uk/
Many of the spectators are HGV drivers, they drive for Stobart, Jenkinsons, Dents, Tyson Burridge and Lawsons Haulage.
Lawsons Haulage often sponsor the event and the owner of Lawsons often attends in person.
tippermaster:
old thread but my dad was ashley pullen (oxford, peterborough, rye house) he had his own transport business in the late 70’s (before my day) but ended up plastering and driving intermittently till his death in 2002 from lung cancer. Although sad, he has created a pretty much carbon copy of himself in me haha! (i’m motorbike mental and drive an artic)
I used to work with a plumber called Chris who spannered for your dad when he rode for Reading or Oxford