This film contains footage of motorbike races which took place in 1947 at Odsal Stadium, Bradford. This film is part of the C.H. Wood collection which spans the period from 1920 until 2009. The collection includes films with many different topics including industrial documentaries, local events, educational and amateur titles and some of the Wood family home movies. The majority of the films were made by Harold Wood and his son David Wood who were both involved in the running of the film and...

This film contains footage of motorbike races which took place in 1947 at Odsal Stadium, Bradford. This film is part of the C.H. Wood collection which spans the period from 1920 until 2009. The collection includes films with many different topics including industrial documentaries, local events, educational and amateur titles and some of the Wood family home movies. The majority of the films were made by Harold Wood and his son David Wood who were both involved in the running of the film and photography company C.H. Wood. Title-Oct 18th 1947, the British Experts Comes to Yorkshire Title-And is won by Bradford's own L.A. Ratcliffe. The film opens with shots taken from a height looking down onto a village centre where there is a large gathering of men, cars and bikes. They wander around talking to each other and filling out forms for the competition and fixing their bikes. The riders are wrapped up in heavy coats, scarves and gloves and most of them are smoking. Some of the men get on their bikes and drive off away from the crowds. Title-At Robin Hood near Keighley. Some riders cycle up steep, bumpy and rocky tracks while the judges stand along the course watching. Some of the men get stuck, fall off their bikes or go along the course in a very wobbly manner. There is a sign which reads `High Tension 2 Sections'. This is followed by a crowd of spectators standing at the edge of the track watching the riders as they make their way along the rough track. Many of the riders make their way along the same route surrounded by spectators. Many of the riders have cigarettes in their mouths! Title-Then came the `chairs' and chaos! A man sits on a motor bike and talks to another man who is pointing out a route off past the camera. A woman sits in the side car attached to the motor bike; she is wearing a long coat, a hat and goggles. As the bike makes its way up the steep hill the woman leans in different directions to help the bike get up the hill. A male couple with a side car get stuck at a corner and the passenger almost falls off the back. There are many other couples and most of them get stuck with one bike tipping over and the driver falling out. Some of the spectators help the riders to get going again. The next scene is back at the bike trials and some of the riders go along a rocky route beside a stone wall. Again crowds of people have gathered to watch as many riders battle along the route. There are shots of the spectators which include lots of women. At the end of the track is an open field where there are bikes strewn all over the place and a handwritten sign reads `finish'. Title-And by way of contrast, let's look at that queer development of motor sport- Title- At Odsal Speedway. The shots are taken from the centre of the track looking out at the riders as they speed around the track, putting their feet on the ground in order to slow around bends. They send sprays of cinders up in the air behind them. The stadium is packed with spectators and most of the ones at the front cover their faces with their coats so that they don't get covered in dirt. Title-And in slow motion- Some of the riders have their bikes tipped over so far that their knees are resting on the cinders helping to slow the bike around the bend. Some St. John's Ambulance medics are standing on the grass in the centre of the track watching. There is a long panning shot taking in the huge crowd in the stadium. Another race is about to start and the bikes are lined up at the starting posts and then off. The spectators at the front cover themselves with their coats. There are some long shots of the entire stadium showing the rugby pitch. There are also shots taken from up in the stands looking down at the track.