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| Barford Raceway |
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Barford Raceway, Streatlam,
Barnard Castle, DL12 8UD
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Courtesy of Neoms |
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In 2001, Barford staged "noise tests"at Barford Raceway, Barford
Camp, Barnard Castle, Co Durham. The circuit had long been used as a
stock car circuit but Promoter Ken Marshall planned running speedway
inside the stock car track which meant a speedway track of 270 yards.
The Barford Foxes would have entered a team in the 3rd tier Conference
League. The noise tests were successful but the rural venture was
scuppered by the foot and mouth outbreak and council objections to the
plans. Another circuit lost to the sport where a prospective
promoter was hit by spiraling costs of council charges etc.
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Des Penny says: - I noted on your website
that there seems to be some sort of record of speedway taking
place at Barford in 2001. I’ve checked my photographs from 2001
and there are none of any speedway events at Barford that year and
I doubt if the speedway lads appeared there at all at that time.
The farm at the former Barford Camp site was quarantined all year
because of the Foot and Mouth outbreak and no visitors could get
to the track. Cyril Whitfield moved his stock car operations all
the way down to Blyton for the whole of the 2001 season and I
doubt if any motorsports of any kind would have had access to the
track at Barford.
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Courtesy of Neoms |
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| Stocks racing where speedway could take place inside the car circuit.
Is there a future? who knows |
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Barford's Stock-car promoter Cyril Whitfield says: We did run
speedway on the Barford tarmac twice, the first time was 6th August
2006 and then 7th September 2008, we don't have any pictures available
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Has anyone any memorabilia from Barford's speedway ventures of
2006 or 2008 ?
John
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Des Penny's Speedway Photographs |
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Des Penny says: In answer to your request for Barford speedway
memorabilia I enclose the following photos I took of the speedway
visitors to the stockcar venue. |
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Barford Pic1 |
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7th September 2008 |
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Steve Baker says: Scott Courtney |
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Barford Pic 2 |
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7th September 2008 |
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John says: Des' pictures, shown above, did not come with the names
of the riders, so if you can name them, please send me an email
John The
track appears to be tarmac so I assume the speedway surface would
have been laid over the tarmac if the two wheeled sport was given
the go ahead. |
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Steve Baker says: The rider in
second is definitely Gary Flint, his kevlars are the same as the
2006 pics but the bike livery is different. I cannot name the
rider leading the race but I don't think it is one of the above,
so it would appear if the dates are correct then there have been
two demonstrations at the track, two years apart, with the mystery
rider part of the later show. |
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Des Penny has been in touch again with the rest of his images of
speedway at Barford. |
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Des says: Here are my photos. I remember we had to
stand by with buckets of cold water so the riders could plunge
their steel shoes into the water. |
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John says: Yes cornering on tarmac would heat up the riders steel
shoes. A pity that the speedway was in daylight as the steel
shoes would have all been been sparking like fireworks on the
turns after dark but then you need floodlights to run meetings
after dark. Des' Photos continue below: - |
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Barford Programme Cover |
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6th August 2006 |
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Courtesy of Des Penny |
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The programme cover from the meeting when the Speedway bikes were
there for trials. The programme contained the following: - |
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Courtesy of Des Penny |
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John says: The riders in pics 3 to 10 were Gary Flint, Scott
Courtney, David Meldrum and Rob Grant snr but I don't know which
is which, so help me please, by naming the riders.
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Barford Pic 3 |
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6th August 2006 |
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Steve Baker says: Pic
3 Rob Grant.
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Barford Pic 4 |
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6th August 2006 |
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Steve Baker says: Pic 4 & 5 Gary Flint and Rob Grant. |
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Barford Pic 5 |
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6th August 2006 |
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Steve Baker says: Pic 4 & 5 Gary Flint and Rob Grant. |
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Barford Pic 6 |
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6th August 2006 |
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Steve Baker says Pic 6 : Gary Flint and Scott Courtney. |
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Barford Pic 7 |
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6th August 2006 |
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Steve Baker says Pic 7 : David Meldrum and Rob Grant. |
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Barford Pic 8 |
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6th August 2006 |
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Steve Baker says Pic 8 : Scott Courtney. |
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Barford Pic 9 |
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6th August 2006 |
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Steve Baker says Pic 9 : Gary Flint. |
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I know the Barford promoters were very interested in staging
speedway but were faced with difficulties so they reluctantly
pulled out, perhaps Newcastle speedway could have helped them? If you know the details please email me
John |
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The contents of the site are © and should not be
reproduced elsewhere for financial gain. The contributors to this site
gave the pictures and information on that understanding. If anyone has
any issue or objections to any items on the site please
e-mail
and I will amend or remove the item. Where possible credit
has been given to the owner of each item. |
