Testing times for auld enemies

There’s something a little bit different happening after the Cab Direct Championship action between the Jewson Bandits, powered by Keenwood Karpets, and Edinburgh Monarchs on Saturday night.

Fifty years to the day since Scotland and England faced each other in a full test match at Shielfield Park supporters can enjoy a little taste – along with the noise and smell – of what speedway was all about in that era.

Blast from the Past describe themselves as a group of eight mature (old) men who should know better but still have a passion for speedway and compete on vintage speedway bikes.

These bikes have that certain sound and smell which he modern-day “rocket ships” just cannot match.

One of their number, Martin Connor, was behind the test match series idea which will continue at Oxford and also take in Glasgow with four races at each venue.

All riders will be wearing a specially designed race jacket which is going to be raffled off – £2 a strip of raffle tickets – with the proceeds going to the Speedway Riders’ Benevolent Fund.