Smiffy49 590 Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 I have a vague memory from my early days (probably around mid 1950's) of watching speed boat racing on the Trent. This took place along the area adjacent to Victoria Embankment between the foot bridge next to the memorial and Trent bridge. They seemed to be small but very powerful. The course was an oval shape and the boats would race around floating oil drums. Can anyone remember this and advise approx what year it took place, also why did it come to an end? Smiffy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,429 Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Remember seeing it outside the Ferry Boat Inn at Stoke Bardolph. Early fifties. It was a big evening with lots of folks there. At least that's the way it seemed to a little kid. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob.L 1,090 Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Used to see the Trent Powerboat and Sailing Club perform quite regularly near Stoke Bardolph and Gunthorpe, but haven't seen them out and about for a long time. Perhaps the H&S brigade have clamped down on them having a bit of fun. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NewBasfordlad 3,599 Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Speed limit on the river these days. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fch782c 144 Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 I seem to remember Steve Spray using a speed boat and water ski's on the Trent at Gunthorpe a number of years back but I believe they have imposed speed restrictions now Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NewBasfordlad 3,599 Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 If I remember correctly its 6mph over the bed upstream and 8mph over the bed down stream. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trevor S 2,003 Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 In the late 50s, they used to have the powerboats racing on the river downstream from Trent Bridge, after that old steel railway bridge and the mouth of the Grantham Canal; in the vicinity of the old Boots Sport Fields and where the old Co-op Bakery used to be. Visiting my Grans at a weekend and when the races were on, you could hear them quite clearly at her house in Holme Road.....like a swarm of angry bees. Saw the races a couple of times. The time frame is correct as well as I and a mate met a couple of girls from ACHS who lived in WB and were walking across the fields across from Grans house to the river. I could not imagine speedboat racing in front of the Embankment back in those days (unless they closed the river off) as you could hire row boats and on a fine weekend, the boats were out in their scores with families etc being rowed by Dad or young ladies by their hopeful dates. Looking at Google, The Nottinghamshire Sports Club seems to cover most of the ground now along the river bank where I remember the races took place.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OLDACE 196 Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 I remember speed boat races on the Trent, They were held on Sunday afternoons between the sea scouts base and the sailing club. As Trevor says, they could be heard in Lady Bay, and I would suppose in Colwick and Netherfield as well. I would often go down Trent Fields to watch them, they would get within a couple of feet of the bank, although I never saw one crash into it, sometimes one would capsize on the 180 degree turns. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
banjo48 928 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 In the 80's I used to ski regularly at Hazelford up stream of the pub, a mate was a member of the Trent power boat and ski club there. He was really into it in a big way and imported a huge new ski boat from the states at the time, his daughter went on to become very competitive and is now a national and international water skier and wake boarder. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Smiffy49 590 Posted February 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Thanks for all your posts & pictures, wonderful stuff. I can see those little boats now and remember the sound too. Maybe it was the suspension bridge side of the river, near where Rivermead is now? I do remember the rowing boats with their lattice backed seats, also the pleasure cruiser. Passing under the railway bridge near Forest's ground there was always a strange pungent odour of "something" not sure what it was?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,109 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Probably Colwick cheese smiffy, that had rather a strange odour. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Thanks Albert, thats upstream of location in OP, west of 'Spenno' bridge in front of the bandstand. Your pictures are fine already resized by Photobucket. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
piggy and babs 544 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 i too remember watching the speed boat at stoke ferry during the fifties and earlie sixties Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Shureuncle 19 Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 I can remember speed boat races near the racecourse , the used to launch from the slipway next to Colwick hall ,this is also where the timeing Marshalls were ,this was in the late 50's early 60's in those days you could walk from the railway bridge on Colwick Rd on a tarmac road that crossed the racecourse at the time I think it was it was the only way to get to Colwick Hall . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trevor S 2,003 Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 That fits in with my recollections, Bob and would place the course (when I knew it) on that straight stretch of river between Trent Lane and the racecourse - some 600 metres. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Smiffy49 590 Posted February 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Thanks again for all of these posts, it does confirm that all parts of the river were used at sometime for this activity. I thought maybe that my memory had been playing tricks with the location and I had imagined this as being on the embankment, but the first picture in #3 shows the bandstand near the suspension bridge in the background. Mentioning the bandstand I can also now recall watching a variety of live pop groups on the stage there, was it Fridays & Saturdays? Smiffy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Carltonlad 65 Posted February 18, 2014 Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 #13 I think the strong smell you were talking about was from a tannery. I remember that smell and you would often see trucks loaded with cow hides covered in blood in that area. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trevor S 2,003 Posted February 18, 2014 Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 Turney Brothers, the leatherworks on the river immediately downstream from Trent Bridge on the city side.............beautiful aroma Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DJBrenton 738 Posted February 18, 2014 Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 More recently I remember when they started holding World or European Powerboat championship rounds at Holme Pierrepont. They were charging for entry ( a not small sum as I remember) but found they couldn't charge people who were walking along the public right of way along the Trent. All you had to do was declare you were out for a walk rather than going to the event and they let you through. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DJBrenton 738 Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 Turney Brothers, the leatherworks on the river immediately downstream from Trent Bridge on the city side.............beautiful aroma Hence the small estate that was built along the canal there in the early 80's being called Turney's Quay. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
meeowed 314 Posted October 30, 2015 Report Share Posted October 30, 2015 my boss Vernon Hollbrooke used to race outside the ferry boat at stoke in the fifties they were ford 10hp boats with direct drive to the prop The races were handicap races and the chap I was learning the motor trade from also raced them The buoys were inflated sort of balloons chained to the river bed it was ok until one of the large oil tanker barges went past then mayhem with the waves I had to stand on a small side deck take off the cowling and refuel from a conical petrol can couldn't swim a stroke terrifying I don't know when it all finished meeowed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
I Know Nothing 2 Posted November 7, 2015 Report Share Posted November 7, 2015 Thanks for all your posts & pictures, wonderful stuff. I can see those little boats now and remember the sound too. Maybe it was the suspension bridge side of the river, near where Rivermead is now? I do remember the rowing boats with their lattice backed seats, also the pleasure cruiser. Passing under the railway bridge near Forest's ground there was always a strange pungent odour of "something" not sure what it was?? Hi those little boats were called Hydro Foils and yes I remember them around 1954/1955 very fast and great fun to watch. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted July 12, 2016 Report Share Posted July 12, 2016 Speed boat you say? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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