GEC Spon Street

There was also another car-park on the slice of land beside Croft Road next to the GEC. Where the Skydome is now - you'll remember that one Rob!

Oh yes, I do remember it, Neil, although I don't think I ever parked there as I used to cycle to work 99% of the time. I did once or twice park nearby in that "bowl" of a carpark beneath the Ring Road, though - between the GEC and the Tam O'Shanter place. That's all gone now, of course - and quite recently too, as they've only just finished straightening the route between the Butts and Croft Road.

Yes we used Moat Street car park as it was known often as my lad Jonny had a few seasons playing Ice Hockey with Coventry Blaze - here you go mate - just as I remember it - just wish I had taken more notice of the buildings around it at the time (70s for me).

Hey, great picture, Neil, like it! The car-park looks bigger than I'd recalled, too. I do remember a tale of carnage from there, though.... one day back in the 80s, when I worked in that factory, someone came running in to tell us about what they'd just witnessed. An automatic car (I think they said it was a Rover SD1) somehow had its accelerator stuck down, and the lady driving it, instead of quickly switching the engine off, panicked instead, and tried to brake and steer it round. Apparently she wrote several other cars off in that car-park before it came to a halt !!

My Dad always had company cars and had a brand new SD1 that was two weeks old. We were driving towards the GEC going past the Tech College when there was a massive bang - the gearbox has literally separated from the engine bell-housing! 70s BL build quality at its best.