Southport Early 80s

[BathJan]

Hi all,

OK I'll be honest, I only signed up here to check out the market for my weird 80s bike (more about that later, site-supporter payment in progress!). But being here's made me all nostalgic. I practically lived at the Southport track from 1981-85 (had no choice: my Dad owned the track) so I'd love to hear anyone else's memories from those days...particularly if you remember a weird girl known as 'double o'.

[NORTY40]

Welcome to RAD  

Your Dad owned the track    ........ that would have been heaven in the 80's to a lot of people on here  

Never went to the southport track BITD but used to catch the train from Parbold with a few others to ride on the street's and the prom    Happy days  

What's this weird bike you have ?

[In2 bmx]

I used to race southport 81- 84  .  I will always remember the black rubber gate.  . If you were in the middle lanes you were a foot in front before you started.  I think my first ever race was on that track. Have you got any photos?
Carl

[BathJan]

Yeah that's right....everyone wanted to draw the 'lane 2' ball out the hat, but if you got lane 1 there was a good chance you'd be driven of the course before the first jump.

Haven't got any photos, but hoping my Mum might dig some out.

[In2 bmx]

Be great to see some photos of that track again .  its kinda where it all started for me .

[mantadave]

Ok mate have you any pics of the track 

[BathJan]

Only this crappy one of it flooded 

[In2 bmx]

Only this crappy one of it flooded 

that couldn't have been the sea . You never saw it at southport .. 

[bof]

I never rode the track but rode the skatepark on my bmx a few times   

[hunterdubber]

I take it you rode a Piranha back then 

They used to hire Piranha's out and didn't there used to be Honda trikes to hire on a little course next to the track 


I did a Piranha this year in  the colour scheme I remember best from then , except I put Acorn mags on instead of the cast banana mags .

[BathJan]

Love the pics  Mine was a Piranha frame with Mongoose bits - probably whatever was lying around my dad's shop  Still remember how it felt, and how I couldn't wait for my dad to get it out of the boot of the car each morning at the track. Yes we did have Honda trikes - with no brakes. Kids used to try to stop using their feet and ragged their legs to bits 

[hunterdubber]

Was you Dad's shop on the road just round the corner from the station going downhill towards Lord street ?

there was a bike shop round there 

[BathJan]

It was indeed just round the corner, but I don't think towards Lord St (I've not been there for years so have forgotten exactly). It was called Leisure Wheels and was quite small - not to be confused with Southport Cycles which was on the same road but much bigger. Didn't last long coz too much stuff used to get robbed. 

[mantadave]

It had mongooses parked at the front i was about 11 at the time the best shop i  had ever seen my mum and would take me southport every week 

[LucyLastic]

I started racing at the Southport track but it was earlier than '81, I think about easter '80.  Alan Woods organised a meet there and some of the lads camped over.  They hit the skate park after the racing, got a few pics but not with me unfortunately.

[meticulous]

wasnt there a wooden quarter pipe there as well, next to the track somewhere, i broke my ankle on that...

think i may have some photos somewhere....

[brass monkey!]

howdy