The Stow was a venue for speedway as well as greyhound racing

3:34pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

MUCH has been said about the chronicle of Walthamstow Stadium.

I appreciate the fact that dog racing was the main feature of this reknowned stadium over the years.

However, I would add that in 1934 speedway racing was introduced to the Chingford Road stadium, on a track which measured 305 yards.

The surface was made up of decomposed granite in preference to the black cinder surface.

It would appear that granite added to the reflection of the floodlighting.

After a somewhat disappointing season, the Walthamstow Wolves club disbanded and moved to Lea Bridge Stadium.

In 1949 speedway took another bite of the cherry and returned to the Stow under their original title Waltham-stow Wolves on a slightly smaller track which measured 282 yards.

To mark the Wolves’ return, the local cycle speedway club, Whipps Cross Comets, presented the team with a cake in the shape of the new Walthamstow track.

When the Comets lost their track at the latter part of 1949, they built a temporary one on the stadium car park which was marked out by loose house bricks.

Speedway remained at The Stow for another two years finally withdrawing their contract at the end of the 1951 season.

It was the enforced entertainment tax that led to the club’s swansong.

Roy Delaney, Chairman, Friends of Speedway.