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Welcome to my Speedway Museum jottings bringing you news & views from the only National Museum dedicated to our sport of Speedway Racing. Yes, there are many excellent private collections around the UK, but, since the closure of Barry Briggs’ museum at Donington Park, this may be the only one open to the public all year round.

From the early days when Paradise Wildlife Park owner, ex rider, Peter Sampson donated the land to build a Museum and George & Linda Christie and other did such a great job in fundraising to begin the building of our first Museum, it has gone from strength to strength.

Work on the Museum extension will be well underway with the completion hopefully in time for our big, World Speedway Riders’ Association “Celebration of Speedway” on the 17th April 2011.

For anyone who has not yet visited the Museum, it is packed with bikes, trophies, and all sorts of Speedway memorabilia. As you enter, there is a Cycle Speedway display with cycles, photos and an impressive list of every ex-”Skid Kid” who went on from pedals to power and rode motorcycle Speedway.

Next is the “High Beech Display” with Douglas & Rudge machines from Jim Gregory and Terry Stone then onto Japs, Jawas from Eric & Nigel Boocock, Peter Craven and Simon Wigg displays complete with trophies, 2 valve Jawas, Weslakes, modern GMs and even Ice Racing Bikes with their lethal spikes, all of our sport is there. Bikes from World Champions, Ivan Mauger, Peter Craven, Hans Nielson, Sam Ermolenko and World Long Track Champion, Simon Wigg are all on show.

Now we are able to add the extension onto the Museum by moving one wall out into what used to be the ‘Pit Area’ thus giving us more space for the many exhibits. ‘Mac’ McDonald has been responsible for building many of the special features including an Impressive Wembley display complete with the famous Twin Towers of the Empire Stadium and as an added touch, between the ‘Towers’ is a TV screen showing highlights from World Finals and other International Speedway events.

So make sure you come along and support or National Speedway Museum.

Bert Harkins

UPDATE MARCH 2011 - At the World Speedway Riders’ Association A.G.M. it was announced that an Extension to the Museum is in progress due in no small part to the large donation received from Russell Davey in his will which he asked to go towards the museum expenses and upkeep and as the museum was full this was allocated to the museum along with a donation from the Association, the remainder of the costs will be met by the paradise Wildlife Park.

A piece by Bert Harkins about our
National Speedway Museum - early 2011