FOR a while last night, there were doubts about whether Swindon Robins’ 60th anniversary meeting would even start.

As was fitting for such an occasion, a good crowd turned up, but so did a worryingly heavy dose of rain.

The sky was an ugly grey by about 6.30pm when the first drops fell, and an even uglier grey black a short time later when the shower turned into a full-on deluge that threatened to send everybody – teams, officials and fans alike – home disappointed.

The fans, as ever, came from all walks of life, many of them from families in which love of the sport is passed from generation to generation.

Typical among last night’s crowd were Roy Smith, 69, of Thames Avenue in Greenmeadow, who was with grandson Jamie, 16.

Mr Smith, a retired mechanical engineer originally from Kent, said: “I went to my first speedway meeting in 1947, but then I never really got into it until I moved to Swindon.

“Then I started bringing my grandson here.”

Fortunately for Mr Smith, Jamie and everybody else, the rain seemed to stop almost as rapidly as it had started, and fears that the only machines seen on the track would be the tractors pulling the water-clearing gear were dispelled.

Methanol fumes and the roar of engines being warmed up had come from the pits as the anxious wait continued.

Riders paced up and down, stared anxiously at the sky, and chatted and signed autographs for drenched fans.

When the downpour ended, there was even a rainbow.

The tapes finally went up at 8.30pm, an hour behind schedule, but before they did there was a special treat for any speedway lover with a sense of history.

Former Robins star Barry Duke did two laps of the track on a lovingly-restored Jap speedway machine that had first seen action at Blunsdon 60 years ago to the night.

Back then, it was ridden by Tom Wilson against Oxford.

Barry told the crowd in an interview broadcast over the PA system: “The bike is 60, the stadium’s 60 and I’m 60, so it all works out.”

Owned by another Robin, Ian Williams, the machine has been carefully restored with as many of its original parts as possible.

Help with that restoration came from Pete Sole of Swindon Vintage Motorcycle Club, who said: “Fate said it was going to come to Blunsdon on its 60th birthday.”

Barry Duke, in open-faced helmet and trademark black leathers, managed to look like a hero magically sprung from some old copy of the Eagle comic or Boy’s Own as he saluted the cheering, applauding crowd from the saddle during his stately laps.

Earlier, he told the Swindon Advertiser that riding had changed considerably since the old days.

He said: “It was even muddier then – we didn’t have dirt deflectors.”

Also, the engines of the older machines were configured in such a way that the centre of gravity was different to that of modern ones, which have low-slung ‘lay down’ engines.

“It was a bit like riding a bucking bronco,” Barry added. “They were all over the place.

“And when you hit the fence you hit the fence – not like the bouncy castles they have these days!”

Another veteran present was George White, who revealed with disarming modesty that in the early days of his tenure as a Robin, he lived in London and didn’t realise he was a Swindon hero until he happened to stay at a hotel in the town while on his way home from Leicester.

He was surprised to find himself recognised in the streets. “I liked my speedway and I liked Swindon,” he added.

“And I still do.”