Philip Dalling Knihy

The post-war era marked a peak for British speedway, drawing ten million spectators and showcasing league gates of up to 80,000. With a family-friendly atmosphere free from betting and rivalries, it provided a vibrant escape from the era's austerity. Despite challenges like heavy taxation and threats of closure, the sport flourished, featuring a three-division National League and international matches. However, as the 1950s approached and television gained popularity, speedway's appeal waned. Today, it is experiencing a resurgence through Sky Sports coverage of the Elite League.

Saving Speedway tells how the road to recovery began when a small group of men of vision re-opened long-closed venues and then, in 1960, formed a new competition, the Provincial League, which doubled the number of speedway venues overnight and eventually led to a new Golden Age for the sport.

Philip Dalling's 'Speedway' covers the sport's first four decades, starting with its early mushroom growth and the subsequent development of league racing, a World Championship, and test matches pitting England against Australia.

Television dramatisation of the events which led to the downfall of the charismaticand flamboyant Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe has restored his name tothe media headlines from which it was rarely absent in his political prime.Despite being acquitted on charges of conspiracy and incitement to murderduring a sensational trial at the Old Bailey in 1979, Thorpe was subsequentlyexcluded from all political and public life - a fate described by one politicalcommentator as 'infamous and unfair."The consequences of an alleged homosexual affair (at a time when such actswere illegal) has coloured and distorted perceptions of a man described as astylish, progressive and popular politician, with a deep lifetime commitment toclassic liberal principles. His leadership of the Liberals laid the foundation for therevival of a party which was on the verge of extinction when he first enteredpolitical life.Philip Dalling explores the life of a man respected and admired by friend andopponent alike, whose name is still revered in the West Country constituency ofNorth Devon (which he placed firmly on the political map), and whose name stillresonates in national politics to this day.

An updated edition of this popular book exploring more than 50 highly individual homes of speedway throughout the UK