Andy Grahame “The
Kingstanding Flyer”
by Nigel Rawlins
Not since the loss of Alan Hunt in 1957 did the Birmingham
Speedway public have a true born and bred Brummie hero of
international and home championship quality, but on the 10th
September 1957 - the same year Hunt lost his life, one
Andrew George Grahame from Kingstanding, Birmingham was born.
Grahame came from a motor cycling family, his father Archie was an
AMCA and IMBA sidecar champion in 1963/64/66/67/68 and 71.
Older brother Alan rode a memorable speedway career with
Birmingham although more successful at Cradley Heath whilst
younger brother John also had stints around various British league
tracks.
It was Brummies boss at the time Joe Thurley who allowed the
established Alan’s younger brother to ride second halves at Perry
Barr for development 1976.
The first time the Birmingham public officially saw the near 19yr old
was a junior second half appearance on 7th July 1976, Grahame did
appear in a Brummies team the following month at Swindon as a
number 9 – though he never rode.
With continued progress in second halves through 1977 it was the
following 1978 season Grahame started to make a mark in the sport.
Milton Keynes in the National League was the next challenge and
Knights Manager Ron Wilson was looking to strengthen his new set
up.
Andy after impressing was allowed to go on loan whilst still riding
second halves at Perry Barr.
After 39 meetings scoring 230 points + 22 bonus points an end of
season average of 6.17 was a good first year return but even more
important the experience gained at the level was invaluable.
1979 saw an even better Grahame, great form with Milton Keynes
was matched with great form in the top flight for the Brummies and
Andy finished the season as heat leader for both teams - in two
different leagues, ending with an end of season average of 7.60 for
Birmingham and a 9.57 average for the Knights and becoming the
first rider to compete in the BLRC Final and the NLRC Final.
Although scoring only one point in the higher grade match up
Grahame got on the rostrum in the second division meeting coming
third after beating Nigel Boocock in a run off.
The lad who used to ride second halves at Perry Barr with an “L”
plate on the back of his race jacket started to make the speedway
world heads turn!
With 1980 on the way it was no surprise to see Grahame go with the
Brummies in the British League full time, again good points
consistency was reached throughout the season plus a debut British
World Championship semi final appearance at Sheffield scoring 3
points. End of season average 7.39.
The 1981 season saw Grahame reach a second British Semi final
scoring 2 points at Poole, again like the previous season he finished
the season as a heat leader for the Brummies with a 8.74 average.
The winter of 81/82 also saw a successful tour with the Young
England team to Australia, scoring 50 points in 6 tests Andy was
part of a 2 – 1 series win which included some memorable racing
nights for the Brummie.
It was in the 1982 season Andy Grahame had a season to remember
and that no Brummies supporter will forget.
A debut British final appearance at Coventry saw a brilliant night
where Andy from nowhere became British Champion losing only one
race to his brother Alan - who actually became runner up on the
night.
Andy beat the best Britain could offer in front of a large crowd and
TV cameras.
On top he attained qualification from the Overseas final finishing 5th
and the Inter Continental Final scoring 6 points- narrowly missing
the 16 for the world final in Los Angeles. Grahame did go to the final
as reserve but never rode, in that very final it would have been
interesting to see what Grahame could have done as two East
European qualifiers mustered 2 points from 10 rides between them
whereby Andy never got a chance to race on the night.
Along the way that season Grahame made his full international
England debut against the USA at Wimbledon scoring 9 points, he
also rode in the series against Denmark scoring 24 points in the 3
match series.
Reaching his 100th meeting for the Brummies in July Grahame
finished the season off with his best ever Brummies average at 9.03
points per meeting.
Third in the British Final in 1983 Grahame’s world championship
aspirations went after scoring 2 points in the Inter Continental final.
Further England call-ups beckoned as an end of season average of
8.29 was achieved.
As racing ended for good at Perry Barr in 1983 new pay structures
were brought in by the then Brummies boss Dan McCormick for the
oncoming 1984 season at the new Bordesley Green track.
Riders futures were left cloudy as transfer requests were put in one
by one – Grahame being one of them, and it was no surprise when it
was announced that the Brummies would not race in 1984.
McCormick had accepted an offer from Exeter for Grahame but this
was turned down on the travelling aspects involved. A rumoured
offer was also said to be on the table to ride in the German League
but on the eve of the season Grahame joined Wolverhampton on
loan.
Birmingam didn’t return to the top flight and closed after two poor
1985 and 86 seasons in the National League.
Grahame joined Oxford in 1985 reuniting with Hans Nielsen, of
course the Cheetahs became champions.
Andy scored 4 pts that season in the British Final. After 3 seasons at
Cowley Grahame rejoined Wolves for a season in 1988 before going
back to Oxford in 1989.
In 1990 Grahame dropped down to the National League with
Wimbledon and won the NLRC Final a championship title that had
evaded him eleven years previous with Milton Keynes.
In 1991 Wimbledon rejoined the British League but after 3 months
of racing closed with financial losses, the whole operation
transferring to Eastbourne, this didn’t last long for Grahame and the
following season joined brother Alan at Cradley for 1992.
After averaging 6.35 points per meeting in and 5.13 in 1993 Andy
Grahame retired from speedway.
He did come out of retirement later to make a couple of appearances
towards the end of the 90’s in testimonial and a golden greats open
meeting.
Andy Grahame was in my era of supporting Birmingham Speedway, and for me
goes down not only as a Brummies Speedway legend but also in the cities
motor sporting history.