Coventry Bees Speedway - Brandon Stadium

For STOCK CAR RACING (at Brandon and other places) we have a separate topic. Also of interest might be Lythalls Lane Stadium (Greyhounds and Speedway).

We've had a thread about the Sky Blues, so I thought I'd start one about the Bees Not the best team of all-time, but one to pay money to watch every week 1 Nigel Boocock - who else but Little Boy Blue - no sponsored vehicle or motor home, just load the bike on the back of a Ford Consul and off to the meeting! 2 Col Cottrell - smooth operator who for a short time was quite unbeatable around Brandon and was part of a wonderful opening pair with The Beau - sadly died aged 40 in 1982 3 Tom Farndon - never saw him (obviously!) but the one rider of all time I wish I had seen - 75 years this year since he died after a track crash 4 Ron Mountford - they say that they had to repaint the kick-boards after each meeting where The Man had left tyre marks in his all-action style 5 Tommy Knudsen - the young Dane who made racing look so stylish and so easy (which it never is!), sadly left the sport way too soon 6 Les Owen - the late great Muscles, Coventry kid so seriously injured in 1973 in a track-crash from which he never fully recovered, tragically killed on the railway at Canley crossing - RIP Les 7 Gary Guglielmi - this has to be the young GG who first came to Brandon in 1977, not the later version - watching him try and complete even one lap around Brandon was worth the admission money alone

I worked there as a track raker for ten shillings a night about 1952 but I'm afraid the only names I can recall are Bob Fletcher (captain) and Pete Reason, but the smell of methanol and "Castrol R" will linger forever. Alan.

Correction to my previous entry, it was Johnny Reason not Pete Reason. Sorry Alan

Ole! Ole! Ole! Alan, no place for Ole Olsen?

Pete Reason did ride as well as Johnny (Cream Bun Kid)

Nope! Couldn't stand the bloke and still can't after what he's done with the Grands Prix

Sorry Cliff, I called you Alan there didn't I? Am going senile. Remember my old man taking my brother and I up to Brandon in the 70's. Olsen was the main man but don't have any memories of the racing itself - just the smell of the fuel and standing near the fence by the track corners in the hope of being covered in shale as the riders went by. Went up a couple of times in the mid to late 1980's but not been up since. Very family friendly sport Speedway. Cradley Heath fans were a bit 'colourful' though.

Bees in 1952 would have included, along with Johnny Reason: Lionel Levy Derrick Tailby Charlie New Stan Williams Vic Emms Cyril Cooper Jack Wright Stan Williams Peter Brough John Yates

I think Brandon Speedway opened again just after the war. One of the first meetings of that time was the Brandonapolis, won by the greet Jack Parker, one of the first 'foot forward' riders. I remember queuing right round the bakery in the centre to catch the bus. I later worked as a track scratcher, as being said for about 10/-. These were the days of black cinders. Anybody remember 'Crusty Pye', it was alleged he came off every lap!!! Also the first German rider (I believe) at Coventry, Fritz Dirtl, a leg trailer, throttle wide open, bouncing off the fence!!!! Now that's SPEEDWAY!!!!

I am told that the local firm J & J Reason was started by Johnny Reason. I remember going to the Bees in the 50`s with my father and the highlight was a visit to `the pits`. Happy days

I seem to remember a "Bees" rider by the name of Jim Lightfoot, anyone else remember the name ? Peter.

Cap'n Jim is alive and well and living in Wolston

From my time......

My first memories of the Coventry Bees, was going with my dad during the fifties, with the crawl of traffic through Binley Woods. My first taste of Smiths crisps also comes to mind along with early fireworks at the end of the season. I started a Saturday job with a greengrocer at age fourteen, which meant that I often missed the start and sometimes the whole meetings. I am sure Nigel Boocock was riding in the mid to late sixties, but I stand to be corrected.