Middlesbrough Independent Speedway Supporters Home Page

MIDDLESBROUGH BEARS 2002

L to R: Steve Harland (Press Officer & joint Team Manager), Carl Shield, Matty Swales, Chris Hunter, Henry Atkinson (joint Team Manager), captain Jitendra Duffill (on bike)

WELCOME TO CLEVELAND PARKLIFE - THE HISTORY OF MIDDLESBROUGH SPEEDWAY 1928-1996 'Smarter Than The Average Bear' - Berwick say NO& Glasgow say YES - Sunday, September 22 @3pm after Glasgow v Berwick (Dicko and Banga are riding)- Elite League stars Havvy, Screen and Parker and Premier League Dicko, Wilson, Compton, Bjerre & Grieves definites for Banga's testimonial at Berwick in September - Coming Soon - former Teesside Tiger Nig Close gives his version of events in THAT incident against Berwick in the 1980 Knock Out Cup final staged at Newcastle's Brough Park

RACEJACKET DESIGNS RECEIVED SO FAR

Let us know what you think - your views are very important to us

The winning design will be worn at Glasgow and for next season too.

e-mail:

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CLEVELAND PARKLIFE RIDER OF THE YEAR - 2002

Please take the time to register a vote in the poll on our homepage to find the best former Middlesbrough rider of the 2002 season

We are presenting a small trophy to mark the occasion to the winning rider

You don't have to be a member to vote!

Current leader is Berwick captain PAUL BENTLEY  followed by Peterborough's SHANE PARKER, Poole's GARY HAVELOCK & Eastbourne's TONI SVAB. Please take the time to pick a rider - all of them were good servants to the club when they rode for us

DERWENT PARK STADIUM - WORKINGTON (August 2002)

A view from the first bend terracing

SPONSORED BY HARTBURN GARAGE, DARLINGTON ROAD, STOCKTON-ON-TEES

TEL: 01642 582102

IN THE PITS AT WORKINGTON'S DERWENT PARK - HOME OF THE COMETS

Photos copyright of COLIN GREENWELL& MALLY BEADLE

HEAT 1 - Jitendra (left) and Carl (second right) explode from the tapes

HEAT 2 - Matty (second left) and Chris (right)

CARL celebrates his first victory

If you would like to help sponsor the team give STEVE a ring on his mobile 07730885399

Alternatively you can ring 01642 860692

Or E-Mail:

Sponsorships start from as little as 10 pounds and help pay towards the dope and oil

Tyres cost 25 pounds

Arrangements can be made to sponsor a rider's bike fairing, his leathers or his helmet

We have already ridden at Workington and further matches have been planned with Berwick & Glasgow

SUPPORT A MIDDLESBROUGH TEAM RACING IN MIDDLESBROUGH RACEJACKETS

TOM LEADBITTER (pictured at Buxton Speedway 1995)

THIS photo is thought to be the last one ever taken of 'Tiger Tom' by Alan Chapman of Chesterfield

Tom, originally from Lichfield in Staffordshire, rode for Teesside Teessiders between 1968 - 1970 and then had spells in the British League with Leicester and Wolverhampton which was closer to his Rugeley base.  He returned to Cleveland Park in 1975 and spent another two seasons with us.  He then spent his final year in speedway with British League Bristol Bulldogs but broke his leg during the season.  Tom concentrated on grass tracking after that where he had considerable backing from Strongbow Cider.  Tom reappeared in vintage events and appeared in a local event staged near Great Ayton shortly before his death in May 1995 (Andy Brighty has priceless footage of Tom riding).

Tom was one of our favourite riders from the 1970s.

GLASGOW DEFINITELY BOOKED FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 @3pm - BERWICK SAY NO (we don't why the reasons behind this decision as yet)

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR ANY DEVELOPMENTS

IF YOU ARE ARE A YOUNG RIDER INTERESTED IN RIDING FOR US IN JUNIOR CHALLENGE MATCHES AGAINST OTHER NORTHERN CLUBS THEN PLEASE GET IN TOUCH VIA TELEPHONE OR E-MAIL TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

We can provide sponsorship towards your dope and oil

CHARLIE BARRETT - HARRY WHITFIELD - JACK ORMSTON

VIC WIELAND - FRANK HODGSON - JACK HODGSON

  ERIC BOOTHROYD  - ERIC BOOCOCK

"Dirt-track racing held Middlesbrough in a gasp last night.  The roar of the machines, the high flung curtain of cinders, as riders snaked through corner studs, the thrill of toss and tumble and the flame of exhausts as the evening darkened are all startling memories of a vivid night".

Quote taken from the NORTH EASTERN DAILY GAZETTE, Friday, August 24,1928, on the opening evening that dirt track racing was introduced to Cleveland Park

"It is larger than Harringay, as big as Wimbledon and the White City, London, and only slightly smaller than the White City, Manchester.  In the most important matter, that of surface, it was better than any of them. "

Promoter Johnnie Hoskins speaking to the NORTH EASTERN DAILY GAZETTE, Thursday, 16 August, 1928 regarding the speedway track at Cleveland Park Stadium

                

 

THE HOMEPAGE OF

MIDDLESBROUGH SPEEDWAY 1928-1996 

THE OFFICIAL HISTORY OF MIDDLESBROUGH SPEEDWAY

1955 'Closed to Club' Programme Front Cover, Back Cover & Scorechart

SPECIAL THANKS TO FORMER RIDER MALCOLM McPHIE FOR THE SCAN

A few familiar names: Fred Greenwell & Maurice Tate.  Peter Lloyd rode in the 1940s (still lives in Hutton Rudby). I presume J.Hodgson is Jack and J.Younghusband related to Dave.  Fred Fewsdale raced a few second halves in 1961.  In the sidecars Peter Moon later became the machine examiner at Cleveland Park.

MIDDLESBROUGH & DISTRICT MOTOR CYCLE CLUB

KEEPING SPEEDWAY ALIVE ON TEESSIDE

PETE READING, BRUCE FORRESTER & ALAN EMERSON

MARK COURTNEY 1981

JOIN OUR CLUB - IT COSTS NOTHING (EXCEPT SOME OF

YOUR TIME)

The ID is 'speedwaystar'

The password has been changed due to someone fooling about.  To gain access to the 'Admin' please e-mail this address:

The password will then be sent to you

Scroll down to 'Admin' page and click on 'Members'

You can put as much or as little info you want to

We've been Bears, we've been Tigers and we've been Teessiders

We've been in Yorkshire, Teesside and now Cleveland

We're from up north - and proud of it!

Come on a trip down memory lane when speedway was the MOST popular sport on Teesside

STEVE WILCOCK 1981

Unlike other local history publications we mention Middlesbrough Speedway quite a few times!

We hope you enjoy your visit and leave a message in our guestbook

Both Colin and myself spent some time in Teesside Archives and Middlesbrough Reference Library looking at the pre-war history of the club.  There is an absolute mine of information.  Watch this space for more details!

MIDDLESBROUGH BEARS 1946/47 - Northern League Champions 1946 and National League Division Two Champions 1947

THE PROVINCIAL LEAGUE ERA: MIDDLESBROUGH BEARS 1961 

MIDDLESBROUGH BEARS 1964

TEESSIDE TEESSIDERS 1968

TEESSIDE TEESSIDERS 1971

Ron Wilson (promoter), Terry Lee, Tim Swales, Tony Swales, Dave Durham, Pete Reading, Mick Moore, Frank Auffret, Henry Atkinson, Bruce Forrester (on bike)

TEESSIDE TIGERS 1973

Dave Younghusband, Pete Reading, Tom Black, Roger Wright, Mick Moore, Dave Durham, Frank Auffret, Russ Hodgson, Bruce Forrester (on bike)

TEESSIDE TIGERS 1975

Colin Pestell, Alan Emerson, Dave Levings, Tony Coupland, Doug Underwood, Harry Maclean, Pete Reading, Tom Leadbitter (on bike)

TEESSIDE TIGERS 1978

Tony Coupland, John Robson, Pete Smith, Nigel Close, Martin Cusworth, Wally Martin, Steve Wilcock, Pete Reading (on bike), Dave Gatenby

MIDDLESBROUGH TIGERS 1982

Geoff Pusey, Paul Price, Mike Spink, Tony Coupland, Steve Wilcock (on bike), Martin Dixon, Rob Woffinden, Alan Armstrong

MIDDLESBROUGH TIGERS 1985

Jim Burdfield, Roland Tebbs, Steve Wilcock, Martin Dixon, Mark Fiora, Geoff Pusey (on bike), Gary Havelock

MIDDLESBROUGH TIGERS 1986

Brian Havelock, Steve Wilcock, Gary Havelock, Jim Burdfield, Paul Heyes, Mark Courtney, Tim Swales, Glen Hornby, Martin Dixon (on bike)

MIDDLESBROUGH BEARS 1990

Daz Sumner, Tim Swales, Steve Wilcock, Dave Edwards, Paul Smith, Rod Hunter, Ken Knott, Jamie Luckhurst, Dave Cheshire, Paul Bentley, Jamie Luckhurst (on bike), Duncan Chapman

MIDDLESBROUGH TIGERS 1996 (pic taken at Sheffield)

David Walsh, Martin Dixon, Antonin Svab, Scott Robson, Wayne Carter (front left), Shane Parker (on bike), Martin Vinther (front right)

'Where Speedway Racing Is A Way Of Life'

WONDERLAND - HOME OF THE BEARS

MIDDLESBROUGH BEARS - TEESSIDE TEESSIDERS - TEESSIDE TIGERS - MIDDLESBROUGH TIGERS - CLEVELAND BAYS

AERIAL SHOT OF WHAT USED TO BE CLEVELAND PARK STADIUM

17,000 visitors can't be wrong!

(Are you listening Middlesbrough Borough Council?)

Recent visitors have included former riders:

Jim Burdfield, Dave Cheshire, Nigel Close, Martin Dixon,

Bruce Forrester, Kevin Keay, Mark Harrison,

Terry Lee, Harry Maclean, Malcolm McPhie,

Shane Parker, Steve Regeling & Mike Spink

Relatives and friends of Fred 'Kid' Curtis, Paul O'Neil, Maurice 'Slant' Payling & Colin Pestell

Former Pits Marshal & Team Manager - Henry Atkinson (who is involved with Ripon & District Motorcycle Club)

So we must be doing something right!

 

Are you a former Middlesbrough rider/trackstaff/supporter/sponsor?

What are your favourite memories of Middlesbrough Speedway?

The Provincial League years with Boothroyd, Boocock, Hitch and Younghusband

The harem scarem days when second division racing was introduced to Teesside in 1968

Maybe it was the local derbies against Berwick, Newcastle and Sunderland?

Or perhaps it was an individual like Jack Millen, Kelvin Mullarkey or Ted Hubbard?

Maybe you just enjoyed the atmosphere, the racing, the friendliness, the banter?

Please feel free to leave us a message in our guestbook

MIDDLESBROUGH SPEEDWAY MEMORABILIA WANTED

Especially pre-war and immediate post war items (photocopies will suffice)

Will pay top prices for any 1940s Middlesbrough Programmes particularly those against Newcastle

CONTACT: Steve Harland 01642 860692 or e-mail:

COMING SOON

AN INTERVIEW WITH FORMER MIDDLESBROUGH PROMOTER REG FEARMAN 1961-1965

(It's on its way!)

Reg Fearman and Fred 'Kid' Curtis pictured in their West Ham days in the late 1940s

A LOOK AT GARY HAVELOCK'S CAREER AT MIDDLESBROUGH 1985-1986

THE CLEVELAND BAYS 1994-1995

(Middlesbrough's junior team)

MIDDLESBROUGH TIGERS 1986

MIDDLESBROUGH SPEEDWAY REUNION MAY 1987

MIDDLESBROUGH V STOKE 1987

MIDDLESBROUGH v NEWCASTLE & VINTAGE SPEEDWAY BIKES 1987

MIDDLESBROUGH v BERWICK V EDINBURGH v GLASGOW 1988

MIDDLESBROUGH BEARS 1989

MIDDLESBROUGH BEARS 1990

(Unpublished photos never seen before from the camera of Trevor Swan!)

   STEVE HARLAND (Les Collins lookalike) & COLIN GREENWELL (Jim Tebby lookalike)

(Website editors of Cleveland Parklife - The History of Middlesbrough Speedway)

Thanks to DAWN GARDNER for the website logo