Famous names set for Big Bash (From Bournemouth Echo)

Famous names set for Big Bash

7:00am Friday 11th July 2008 in

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A YOUNG British Lions race jacket with the signature of former Pirates great Brian Crutcher will be up for grabs at The Speedway Big Bash' at New Milton later this month.

The autograph of ex-world champion Freddie Williams and ex-Poole riders Pete Smith and Bobby Croombs is also on the jacket.

George White, Merv Hannam and Ron Walton have also put their mark on the item, alongside current young gun racers Tai Woffinden, Lewis Bridger, Josh Auty and William Lawson.

The Speedway Big Bash' takes place next to the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, July 20 and entry will be free.

Donations will, however, be accepted for the Speedway Riders' Benevolent Fund.

The race jacket, along with an Arai crash helmet donated two months ago and signed by five world champions, will be raffled on the day in aid of the same cause.

Organiser Andy Scorey has confirmed 64 former riders have told him they will be turning up, but said he wouldn't be surprised if 164 attended on the day.

Scorey said: "I spoke to Rick France, the ex-England rider, and he's bringing Dave Younghusband, Halifax's number one in the 1960s and 70s, who is coming from Cumbria.

"It's going to be speedway's equivalent of Goodwood's Festival of Speed, where Stirling Moss and all the Formula 1 World Champions go and you can talk to them and get their autographs.

"The boys are not going to be unapproachable.

"Most of the guys are going to ride their own bikes. We've got an area consisting of a starting gate and a first bend and some of them will be in action.

"Representatives of nearly every team in the country are going to be there and we're expecting a big crowd."

Invitations have gone out to former speedway riders and personalities including Bjorn Knutsson, Barry Briggs, Split Waterman, Dick Bradley, Johnny Hole, Stuart Wallace, and Colin Clarke.

Scorey went on to say: "With ex-Poole riders like Ken Middleditch, Norman Strachan and Jack Duran, and others like Martin Ashby and Don Hardy also expected, it should be a fun day out for everyone.

"There will be video shows, a memorabilia fayre, a demonstration by Southampton cycle speedway team, a live teenage rock band and speedway book signings.

"David Croucher, the son of ex-Southampton team manager Bert, has donated the Young Lions race jacket and got it autographed.

"It was a spare one from the World Under-21 Championship semi-final staged at Rye House and we're extremely grateful David, who is manager of GB's juniors, is allowing us to raffle it off."