|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monday, October 10th, 2005, and as it had done so many times before since those early days back in 1929, Exeter's County Ground prepared itself for an evening of speedway. But unlike any other meeting it had hosted before, this was to be the night it said farewell to speedway, farewell to the countless fans for whom Mondays had become a ritual and farewell to all those riders who had raced the track.
As Peter Oakes had reported in the Speedway Star, "this was a night for the fans", and that's exactly what it was. They began queing early, long before the meeting was due to start in fact in scenes that were a reminder of those Glory days at Exeter as the line of fans stretched down adjacent roads. There were of course the Falcons supporters young and old, but also fans from tracks around the country who had all come to say farewell to what must surely be the oldest surviving track in the land.
Time had finally caught up with the County Ground, after all, it had changed very little since the re-opening after the Second World war, and not that much since it's begining in 1929. But although lacking in facilities, the County Ground was something special in the World of Speedway, and thousands came to say their goodbyes.
With a packed house, the "End of an Era" Individual meeting, with a prize reported to be at £7,000, boasted some of the Worlds leading riders as well as some of the up and coming stars and promised to be an interesting meeting.
But for many, like myself, it wasn't the outcome of the racing that mattered, it was simply being there. And then of course there were the added attractions of former riders who had once been "Kings" of the County Ground and who had also come to say their farewells. Former stars in their time such as Scott Autrey, Richard Green, Neil Street, Edgar Stangeland, Jack Geran, Lawrence Hare, Mark Simmonds, Bob Coles, Vaclav Verner amongst others - and then of course there was Ivan Mauger.
Pictured left, and still easily recognisable is former Falcon Scott Autrey who recieved a heartwarming welcome from the fans. Always an Exeter favourite, Scott mounted a machine for the first time in over 20 years to ride the County Ground one final time.
As racing prepared to get under way, the atmosphere amongst the packed crowd was something you could not forget if you were there on the night, it was excitement, sadness and nostalgia all rolled into one. When Scott Autrey rode a lap of honour, he was met with a heartwarming, deafening applause as the years rolled back. Not since he last appeared here in 1982 had Scott ridden a bike, and having spoken with him prior to the meeting, Scott was sincerely overwhelmed by the esteem in which he was still held at Exeter. He summed it up so well when he was reported to have said "The night wasn't a closing chapter - it was the end of the book".
The meeting itself was eventually won by Australian Leigh Adams who had the honour of winning the Final and what was to be the last ever race staged at the County Ground Stadium. Ironically, it was at the County Ground where Leigh had won his first British Trophy back in 1988 and was to be the last rider to take the cheqeured flag at Exeter - well almost the last. Adam Shields was runner up and Lee Richardson took third spot, whilst former falcon Chris Harris won the most exciting rider award.
Pictured Right is the eventual winner Leigh Adams. All riders taking part in the farewell meeting wore a Falcon's vest, a fitting gesture on such an occasion.
It was at the end of the racing and when the farewell announcements were made that the realisation sank in, it was an emotional time for Exeter supporters. The crowning moment was yet to come as six times World Champion and former Falcon Ivan Mauger prepared to complete the Final four laps around the County Ground.
Back in the begining in 1929, it was Freddie Hore and Bert ("Baby Cyclone") Spencer who had got the whole thing under way during a presentation prior to the opening meeting, and here we were now some 76 years later preparing to see the end. Being the true proffessional he is, and despite being in his sixties, Ivan bid farewell to the County Ground and its supporters with a "Racey" four laps that brought a tear to many a hardened supporter.
Pictured Left, Ivan prepares to go out onto the track to complete his four laps in an emotional farewell to Exeter. It brought back memories of the "Glory" days at the County Ground when Ivan led the Falcons to their one and only First Division title.
As he returned to the pits, the lights in the Stadium went out, and a spectacular firework display brought the proceedings to a close. Then there was the rallying Falcon War cry, "1-3-5-7, hear this roar from Glorious Devon.....", but even that could not put off the inevitable. It was at that point you realised that you had just listened to the last bike roar around the County Ground and that the end had finally come.
All the photographs in the above article were kindly donated by Ian Hitchock
and are just a few from the many he has on display at The Farewll Meeting Photo Page.
Below, more photographs of the Farewell meeting
as seen by Mike patrick, who in turn also has more pictures on his Website.
