Hackney Reunion Website

Although no connection with Hackney I wish well to one of my hero's former Romford Bomber Colin Sanders

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I make no apologies for the following article on one of my first speedway hero’s Romford Speedway's Colin Sanders on the Hackney Reunion website. Colin had a stroke in early June while riding a speedway bike in America where he now lives. It did seem very touch and go if he would survive.

The latest update below is courtesy of Bomber from the speedway-forum website:-

“I have today received [Monday July 9th] this news from Colin's family:
We have phoned Colin's doctor in the states and it is now stated that
Colin suffered a "massive stroke " whilst riding his speedway bike at Dade City
Raceway. This caused his accident and he is not brain injured apart from
the stroke which has affected his speech and right side. The doctor feels
that Colin is making satisfactory progress for someone in his situation."
Whilst this is much more encouraging news, Colin is still very ill - however, the situation does not appear to be quite as bad as first thought.
My thanks to Colin's sister and brother-in-law for keeping me informed about his condition.”

Without Romford Speedway I may never have got the bug that has lasted and lasted. I lived in Brooklands Road, for those who are not aware of Brooklands Road, it led to Romford Speedway, and I lived three doors from the main gates! On a Thursday night it was the highlight of my week, watching the Bombers. The riders would drive past my house, into the stadium with their bikes hanging out of the back of there boot. Funny how you remember things, Ian Gills had a dark blue Ford Consul or Zodiac bit clapped out I recall but he lived in Bristol so it could not have been that bad I guess. Then from about 5.30 the fans would start to walk past my house, just amazing times.

Colin Sanders arrived at Brooklands from Plymouth in 1970, as did several other riders before him namely, Phil Woodcock, Tony George, Bob Coles, Ian Gills and Clark Facey. Wally Mawdsley & Pete Lansdale promoted at Plymouth in 1968 and when they sold out to local businessman Fred Osborne for 1969 several Mawdsley/Lansdale assets eventually ended up at Romford.

Colin never became number one at Romford that he had been at Plymouth. But he was a good second string. He did have some individual glory finishing third in the 1971 Romford Carnival Rose Bowl Trophy, won by Kevin Holden and again came equal third in the same year in the Romford Spring Cup Classic, again won by Kevin Holden. Also on equal third was Tony Childs, boy was he unpopular at Romford!

Colins Averages from 1969/1971

1969
Plymouth 7.17

1970
Romford 6.17

1971
Romford 5.22

Colin went about his business on the speedway track being a good middle order man. He did have a few nasty knocks, especially one coming out of the forth bend in which I believe he broke his leg.

When Romford closed at the end of the 1971 season, I never saw Colin ride again. In fact I’m not sure if he ever rode in the UK again.

Obviously he never lost the bug went he went to the states and still carried on having a ride. I also think I read somewhere he had his own track.

Hopefully Colin you may get to read this and it may just bring a few memories back. Good luck on your road to recovery

Sad to report the death of Hackney pre war favorite Archie Windmill. Archie rode for the Hackney Wick Wolves from 1937 until the outbreak of war in 1939. Archie was still seen around at speedway events until recently. Condolences to his family and friends.

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Taken at the 2005 Hackney reunion Archie Windmill is standing to the left of Len Silver. Also in the picture, L/R meeting compare Gareth Rogers, Banger, and Trevor Banks

Below : Archie in his riding days at The Wick

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Ex Hackney rider Antonin [Toni] Kasper [above] has sadly passed away aged 44. Many fans will remember his father Antonin Kasper riding for East End rivals West Ham. When Toni rode for the Hawks he was a breath of fresh air. Tony made his Hackney debut at Coventry on the 15th May '82 scoring three points from three rides He was in many ways like the great Zenon Plech, a typical Eastern European. He was much under rated as a rider and in later years of course rode in the Speedway Grand Prix’s.

I did try to contact Toni for last year’s reunion. We managed to get a contact number, but where unable to make any contact with Toni. Oh how I wish I had tried just that little bit harder.
A full tribute by Toni's mechanic and friend Chris Callaghan can be found on the Tony Kasper page. Thanks to Chris for writing such a lovely piece and also for the pictures.
Condolences of course to the Kasper family and friends,
from everyone at Hackney.

Toni Kasper RIP
1962 – 2006