Poolstock Speedway Track

I am interested in finding out where the speedway track was. I can see St James' Church behind it but i am unsure which direction it is. Can any one help?

If you know where Baker St is, that's about where the dogtrack was & inside the dog track was the dirt track(speedway). It was closed a very long time ago

Used to go to Wigan speedway in the 40s,Dick Geary was one of the star riders,watched great races between Wigan and Belle View..Alas it moved to Fleetwood,the end of an era....happy days..

wasn't it around the Springfield area and towards beech hill or am I on the wrong track

Not only on the wrong track, your chain's come off!

Your thinking of Woodhouse stadium Elizabeth.

I think they did have a short spell of speedway at Woodhouse. They did have stock cars.

The Wigan Panthers rode at Woodhouse Lane Stadium and the Wigan Warriors rode at Poolstock. There is a book all about Speedway in Wigan. If anyone wants a copy? Let me know and I'll enquire what the cost is. I think mine cost about £5.00 plus postage.

never knew Poolstock use to have one

<quote>The Wigan Panthers rode at Woodhouse Lane Stadium </quote>

In 1952 I was "mechanic" (ie:dogsbody) for Andy McKay, filling the tiny dope tank, & rolling his bike off the track when he'd gone over the safety fence, etc. For that I got in free, At the same time a chap called "Bronovski"
From Parbold was racing, can't recall the other names. Later it was turned into a stock car track for a short while, then an athlelics stadium, before the one at Scot lane,which was about where the JJB is now

A bit of speedway history:

Some memories there @art@, used to go 59/60 while still at school,could never afford a programme. Found true love for the first time,in the car park, a Ducati 200ss, first Ducati I ever saw.
I also remember , a bit later, the Grass Track racing at Roocrofts farm down Too Good lane.

Check out .PHOTOS OF WIGAN. ALBUM. ASSORTED. BADGES. Both of the teams badges shown.

TONKer where is the APOLOGY not seen it

Was I wrong about your chain coming off?

It was down the road at the side of the Honey Suckle pub, which is in Pool Street.

Baker Street estate is built on it

Hi used to work on Poolstock Speedway raking on the bends remember Dick Geary also Ron Hart he once came off on the 1st bend and we picked his bike up and thereby disqualified him then the other 3 came off if we had left his bike alone he could have won.The air was blue all water off a ducks back to me could'nt care less those days

I remember Oliver, Ronnie & Margaret Hart racing stock cars. My uncle used to grass track race and my cousins its a pity you never hear of it these days.

Is there any truth in the rumour I heard that Laurel and Hardy once visited a speedway track in Wigan?

Yes! L&H visited Poolstock dog track,it was when the speedway was on.

it was at poolstock that the white ghost used to ride, he/she always had white lethers on.

I heard that drumer. Im a mad L and H fan and heard it somewhere

It's been posted on forums/message boards before about Stan & Ollie being at the Poolstock dirt/dog track.
It was in 1947 when they appeared, & I was there with my brother.
The "Harts" have also been mentioned. I worked, (drove a HGV) for them in the early 60's. Oliver, Ron & Stan, at Blainscough Hall in Coppull

Jack Gordon,Dick Gearey and the Harts have been mentioned,here is another one from Poolstock days,Reg Lambourn.

Jack Gordon was the captain, another name Jack(?)Hargreaves had a broken leg in plaster when Stan & Ollie came to visit (appearing in Bolton at the time) They both autographed the plaster....Wonder where that is now? Must be worth a bob or two, if it still exists..

One of my favorite riders was Jack Parker.

Someone gave my other half a Wigan Panthers speedway badge yesterday.

nyce horse you used to go to Poolstock speedway and Lancashire Grass Track meetings in the 60s I must know you???? especally if you like Ducati's. Do you remember someone from Bryn that had a Ducati elite 200cc, wasn't mine but I had a ride on it.

Was it Joe White from Downall Green?, I remember him buying it from Millers up Scholes, I couldn't afford it and hated him for years
And there was a lad called Sid from Standish, who had a 175 silverstone, that was the quick one, it was good for 95 mph, even way back then. Quick for a 175, even today.

There was speedway at Woodhouse Lane dog track, the Panthers, a couple of Australians rode for them, they lodged with a family just down the road nearer to Beechhill Lane. I was the secretary of the supporter's club, also I led the two teams out onto the track, swinging a drum major mace, to the tune of The Entry of the Gladiators. If I remember correctly the managemet did a bunk and left owing a lot of money, they tried to get money out of me to pay for the supporter's badges. There was a lot of badges left over, I think they are probably buried under the soil at the back of 284 Woodhouse lane, where I kept them in an old shed. It was a woman who led the Management team, can't remember her name. Courtney was the name of one of the riders from Australia. (I think)
FRed

nyce horse! It was Joe White he used to come down to Ashton on it, he said it didn't like going round corners! but I found no problem with it. I also remember someone having a little Bianchi 175, that was very nice but not as nice as the Ducati Elite.

So the speedway track was not where Coronation Park was? As I recall this was on the other side of Swan Meadow Road, to the left of Corporation Street? I think St Jude's rugby played at Coronation Park for a while.
(There is another Coronation Park in Standish Lower Ground, which is still there).

Didn't they have stock car racing for a while at Woodhouse lane in the 50s????

Paul Carter who had a barbers shop top of Canal St used to look after the track on Woodhouse Lane.
It was used mainly for dog racing then the speedway started followed by stockcars about a year later.
Paul Carter said the stockcars did more damage in one night than the speedway did in a season.
There was also kennels in a field closed to the track where they used to keep some of the Greyhounds they caught fire one night and a lot of dogs perished.

dont remember stockcar or speedway were jjb stadium and sports track is that used to be the water treatment works and rubbish dump

Jackdog, No Coronation park in SLG, it is Christopher Park

In the late 40s I worked for Derrek Glover's bakery in Hindley, his son also called Derek, rode for Wigan speedway team, when they finished he rode for Liverpool, and in the Winter months I went with him to Ainsdale beach where he met other team members and they practiced on their JAP 500s. For transporting his bike he had an ex Wigan Council Ford ambulance van with a big V-8 engine. Can ART show the names of the riders from his programs, Derek Glover may be included. From Liverpool he went to ride for Hull about 1948/9. E.T. (PS to ART I drove for R. Banks and Sons,Standish,1960-77 and W Forshaw's, Westhoughton, 1977-93.)

Can't help you there Eric. What I can do is post a pic of Poolstock Dogtrack.
The speedway track was inside the dogtrack, which was covered in Barrage Baloon skins to protect it from the flying cinders

The greyhound racing and speedway tracks were the same.

Apart from the outside one being grass & the inside one being cinders. Watching the speedway, us kids sat on the dogtrack & pulled the skins up when the cinders flew on the corners.

Wigan speedway song.


Bless em all
Bless em all
Dick Geary and Hargreaves an all
There's Lambourn an Houghton,and Gordon an (Brine)???
An their ridin is all mighty fine
Cyril Cooper is well to the fore
And as you will see there are more
So come all supporters
An come from all quarters
To cheer up the lads
Bless em all.

The boy stood on the burning deck.
The Captain blew his hooter.
Who do you think came round the bend.
Dick Geary on his scooter..

Art,
Sorry to correct you, but there IS a Coronation Park at SLG, as well as a Christopher Park (where Latics train).

Pray tell?...I've lived in SLG for 70+ years. Maybe I've missed summat.......OH, & don't say it's where the school is

OK I won't, but I think it is...
Here's a link: http://www.wlct.org/Leisure/pfmgmt/cor_park.htm

That land was owned by the miners welfare society,donated to Standish Council for recreation of SLG'ers, when the mines were closing in the early 60's, & ALWAYS known as the playground.
Wigan MBC took over in the 70's, and first thing they did, was to plan a school on the playground.(not what the field waas meant for)
It was never known as coronation park, & seeing that no coronation has been celebrated at the time, I don't know where they got the name from.
There's a coronation st in poolstock and a coronation rd in SLG,both commemorating different events in time, but picking a name out of the hat...nope...It's still the playground to the villagers..

I USED TO GO EVERY SATURDAY BE IT DOG RACING OR SPEEDWAY,MY MOTHER USED TO RUN THE CAFE UNDER THE BAR,MY UNCLE & AUNT USED TO RUN THE BAR OVER THE TOP,OLIVER HART COMES TO MIND AS ONE OF THE SPEEDWAY RIDERS RECKON THAT WAS AROUND 1953

That would have been the Woodhouse lane track Geoff. One or two have got that one mixed up with Poolstock. Oliver Hart had finished racing long before Woodhouse lane started up.
His bro' Stan may have had a ride there tho'..

Did one of the Baybutts from Wrightinton ride there or am I getting confused with some where else now dont laugh ==perhaps the T T ???

Elizabeth. They were into grass track motorcycles, (scrambling)

Hi.
WIGAN SPEEDWAY
Can anyone help with the following information to fill the gaps in the Wigan Speedway file on www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk please?
Jim Henry jjh1950@blueyonder.co.uk
Friday 4th April 1947 Poolstock Wigan Easter CupDetailsHt1 Times1,3,8,SHFinal
Saturday 12th April 1947 PoolstockWigan Warriors 39 Norwich Stars 40 (NLD2) SHTimes2ndmen
Saturday 19th April 1947 Poolstock Wigan Warriors 32 Sheffield Tigers 51 (NLD2)SH
Saturday 26th April 1947 Poolstock Wigan Warriors 42 Newcastle Diamonds 42 (NLD2) SH
Saturday 3rd May 1947 Poolstock Wigan Warriors 49 Bristol Bulldogs 35 (NLD2) SHTimes2ndMen
Wigan 10th May 1947 Poolstock Wigan Warriors v Norwich Stars (Postponed) Impromptu Racing - Need Details
Saturday 17th May 1947 Poolstock Wigan Warriors 35 Middlesbrough Bears 49 (NLD2) SHTimes2ndMen
Saturday 24th May 1947 Poolstock Wigan Best Pairs DetailsHt1 Time Ht6 SHTimes2ndMen
Monday 26th May 1947 Poolstock Wigan Warriors 54 Birmingham Brummies 41 (BSC) SH
Saturday 31st May 1947 Poolstock Wigan Warriors 41 Newcastle Diamonds 53 (BSC) SHTimes2ndMen
Wednesday 4th June 1947 Poolstock Wigan Warriors 52 Norwich Stars 32 (NLD2) TimeHts9,13,14 SH Times
Saturday 14th June 1947 Poolstock Wigan British Riders’ Championship QR Time Ht9
Saturday 21st June 1947 Poolstock Wigan Warriors 62 Middlesbrough Bears 34 (BSC) SH
Saturday 28th June 1947 Poolstock Wigan Warriors 45 Middlesbrough Bears 63 (NatTr)SH
Saturday 12th July 1947 Poolstock Wigan Warriors 56 Glasgow Tigers 27(NLD2)Time SHHt3
Saturday 19thJuly 1947PoolstockWigan Warriors 52 Bristol Bulldogs42(BSC) TimeNomRace2
Saturday 26th July 1947 Poolstock Wigan Lancs and Yorks 43 The Rest 41 (Fr)TimeSHFin
Saturday 2nd August1947 PoolstockWigan Warriors 41Sheffield Tigers 41 (NLD2)Talent Race
Saturday9th August 1947Poolstock WiganWarriors 53Birmingham Brummies30 (NLD2) SHHT3
Saturday 16th August 1947 PoolstockWigan Warriors 55 Sheffield Tigers 41 (BSC) Det SHFinal
Saturday 30th August 1947 PoolstockWigan Warriors 45 Glasgow Tigers 39 (NLD2) Times1-14 SH
Saturday 6th September 1947 Poolstock Wigan Warriors 43 Middlesbrough Bears 41 (NLD2) SH
Saturday 13th September 1947 Poolsock Wigan North 52 The Rest 26 (Ch) NEED MEETING DETAILS
Saturday 20th September 1947 Poolstock Wigan Warriors 51 Glasgow Tigers 45 (BSC) HTtimes SHTimes
Saturday 27th September 1947 Poolstock Wigan Warriors 47 Newcastle Diamonds 37 (NLD2) SH2ndMenT
Saturday 4th October 1947 Poolstock Wigan Northern Riders’ Trophy Only Details for 15 heats. Any More Information?

Took a long time to pick that post up tom
22nd Apr 2009 at 15:16
What do you know about the subject...Nowt as usual

Better being that than a complete nobody..

Jimmy Baybutt's sons, David & Christopher were both BRITISH GRASS Track Champions, one after the other, and Grass Track racing is not SCRAMBLING. Mr J Baybutt and his sons were members of Hindley Motor -cycle & Light Car Club in the 1950's & 60's and rode for the Club. I was secretary of the Club at various times. In the later years we met at the Platt-Bridge Inn and maybe the Landlord's son Geof' Gaskell may have photo's of these times. E.T.

When the Baybutt bros' were schoolkids, we (my cousin,mate & myself) used to take 'em to St Helens Sub Aqua Club.(Scuba diving)
That was the early 60's..

BAYBUTTs & GRASS TRACKING:
Chris B. was British 500cc Champions in 1974 & ’77; 250cc Champ in ’72, ’74, ’76.
Dave B. was British 250cc Champ in 1969,’73,’79,’81.
You can see details and photo of Chris with his winners laurels in ’76 at www.speedwaychampions.com

wiganyankeeron, ©art©,
QUOTE:The Wigan Panthers rode at Woodhouse Lane Stadium and the Wigan Warriors rode at Poolstock. There is a book all about Speedway in Wigan. If anyone wants a copy? Let me know and I'll enquire what the cost is. I think mine cost about £5.00 plus postage.UNQUOTE.

In that book, does it give the winner of the Northern Riders Trophy held on Oct 4th 1947 ?

Just seen this post, e.mail me ron@wiganworld.co.uk I'll dig the book out and look.

Speedway and Racehorse Dogs!

Top post, tonker

I remember going to the speedway at Woodhouse Lane with my parents in 1952 I can still smell the cinders and the fuel they used. It's a pity there isn't much information about the two tracks in Wigan and the teams Wigan Warriors and Wigan Panthers.
I still have my original 1952 Wigan Panthers badge. I wouldn't part with it for anything. The Warriors one unfortunately is just a copy. There is a picture of both badges on the site.

i have some pics of riders i will upload, they are C.COOPER, R.HART, P.BRINE, D.HOUGHTON, D.GEARY, J.WINSTANLEY, R.LAMBOURNE, Harry. Welch?? NOT SURE IF IT IS WELCH?