Coventry Speedway

Just seen the news of the passing of Johnnie Reason, aka The Cream Bun Kid. One of our "Famous Coventrians". RIP Johnnie.

Johnnie Reason, sorry to hear that MR. Whilst he was burning up the track my friend and I were barracking for him at the tops of our voices. Memories are made of this.

Johnnie Reason, local, nice lad, believe his father owned a garage locally. I rode practise alongside him Jan 1950, Bob Fletcher too. The track did not have shower rooms in those days - "ergh", dirty, filthy place in the middle of wasteland, but great fun. He must have made 90 years of age.

Yes, he did, Kaga. John F W REASON "Cream Bun Kid". John passed away peacefully on the 7th June 2021 aged 90 years. John leaves behind wife Joan and children Robert, Alan and Caroline. The funeral will take place at Rainsbrook Crematorium, Rugby at 11:00am on Wednesday 7th July 2021. Due to current restrictions only 40 mourners will be able to attend the service. Family flowers only. Donations in memory of John may be made online to Baby Lifeline at johnfranciswilliam reason.muchloved.com Any enquiries may be made to Heart of England Co-op Funerals, 38 Bilton Road, Rugby, CV22 7AL 01788 576099.

Sad news today of the passing of former Bees team manager and co-promoter Colin Pratt

More sad news today is the passing of former Bees rider Chris Harrison

J Walker, Midland Red, In 1934 for my 7th birthday, two uncles and several of my cousins went by pony and cart to a motor-cycle race meeting. Could this have been Brandon or somewhere close?

Hi Kaga Coventry had a team in the national league in 1933, but not in 1934 - so you might have been taken to a match in Birmingham? (Source: Pre-war League Tables). Or it could have been a non-league meeting. Riders who rode for Coventry in 1934 were: Roy Dook, Bill Pitcher, Stan Dell, George O'Brien, Mike Erskine, Alec Statham, Don Stewart, Les Brooke, Arthur Timms and Jack Parker. On that basis, I'd say Coventry were dropped from the National League that year, and you were taken to a challenge match or an open meeting. 1933 NATIONAL LEAGUE Team Mts Won Drn Lst For Agn Pts 1. BELLE VUE 36 31 0 5 1358½ 889½ 62 2. Wimbledon 'Dons' 36 23 0 13 1213 1027 46 3. West Ham 'Hammers' 36 21 3 12 1196½ 1007½ 45 4. Crystal Palace 'Glaziers' 36 21 0 15 1225 1006 42 5. Clapton 'Saints' 36 19 3 14 1204 1036 41 6. Wembley 'Lions' 36 19 1 16 1184 1057 39 7. Coventry 36 10 2 24 998 1237 22 8. Sheffield 36 11 0 25 961 1282 22 9. Plymouth 'Tigers' 36 11 0 25 922 1323 22 10. Nottingham 'Wasps' 36 9 1 26 898 1295 19 1934 NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 Team Mts Won Drn Lst For Agn Pts 1. BELLE VUE 'Aces' 32 27 0 5 1040 650 54 2. Wembley 'Lions' 32 26 0 6 980 731 52 3. New Cross 'Lambs' 32 21 0 11 935½ 762½ 42 4. West Ham 'Hammers' 32 16 1 15 865 841 33 5. Wimbledon 'Dons' 32 16 0 16 840 863 32 6. Harringay 'Tigers' 32 14 1 17 867½ 837½ 29 7. Birmingham 'Bulldogs' (Hall Green) 32 9 0 23 757 949 18 8. Plymouth 'Tigers' 32 8 2 22 668 1007 18 9. Walthamstow 'Wolves' 32 5 0 27 694 1006 10

Johnnie Walker is correct that there was no league speedway at Brandon in 1934 - they operated that year on an Open Licence. As you were born in July 1927, your seventh birthday would have been close to the only three speedway meetings staged at Brandon in 1934 - 26 July, 2 and 9 August - all challenge matches.

Thank you both. At seven years old It was just an event, that I enjoyed, no matter what sort. J Walker, if you were born in 47, then that was the time of of my near demise, for a suitcase bomb exploded close to me, peppering my face and shoulders with brick and concrete debris. Only a pillar saved my life, three were killed, many injured. Barclays Bank of all places, Haifa. I went to hospital.

Not sure on dates, but could it have been the Lythalls Lane stadium rather than Brandon? Especially if transported by pony & trap from Alderman's Green??

No, OddSock, Lythalls Lane only operated in 1928 and 1930.

Odd Sock - I guess the route to Brandon would have been down Lentons Lane, Woodway Lane, across the Ansty Rd at Walsgrave On Sowe, along what is now Farber Rd and then on lanes across to the back of Coombe Abbey and onwards on the lanes towards Binley Woods and Brandon Stadium. You could still do most of this on foot, on a bike, or on a horse, although getting a pony and trap over the motorway footbridge at Woodway Lane might be a problem.

Midland Red, Not Local, I bow to your knowledge, gentlemen.