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NOAH'S ARKS & SPEEDWAYS

	As a taster for the first For Your Pleasure CD, here is a sample gallery of just a few of the photos from the disk. For more information about ordering a copy of the disk click here or on the image to the left.

	A94 - Some wonderful examples of period mounts on Teddy Andrews' 1931 Orton & Spooner Noah's Ark, Tunbridge Wells, 03/04/83.
A151 - Featuring some wonderful period Hall & Fowle decor, this is Ernest Atha's No 2 Ark - an Orton & Spooner "Super Speedway" dating from 1937 and originally delivered to Charles Evans. Shown here at Hull Fair, 10/10/74.
	A67 - New in 1936, and still with the same family, althlough packed away for many years, Tommy Benson's Lakin Ben Hur Speedway is shown here at Haywards Heath fair on 24/04/81. The shutter decor is a further example of the work of Fred Fowle.
A89 - Noah's Ark & Speedway rides have featured a great diversity of mounts over the years, ranging from the traditional animals of the 1930s to the Easyrider bikes of the 1970s. Here is a view of Botton Bros' 1947 Lakin Rocketdrome taken at Skegness on 18/06/75. This was one of only two Lakin rides to feature a set of Rocket-shaped mounts, the other being W H Marshall's (later Hollands') Rocketdrome (A52).
	A128 - painted in Orton's typically Art Deco style, here are a selection of animals on Cheethams' 42' Noah's Ark, resident for many years at Pickmere Lake in Cheshire, and photographed here on 31/07/79. The ride is now in preservation in Cornwall.
A137 - a Maxwell paybox, characteristic of those fitted into the rides of the 1960's and early 70's. This one was new for John Codona Pleasure Fairs in their 1972 machine (A200), but later sold to Norman Codona, and seen here newly fitted to his famous Rock'n'Roll Speedway, at Carlisle Easter Fair, 03/04/80. This was a rebuilt 1931 Orton 50' machine, cut down from five to four hills, and sadly scrapped a few years ago.
	A177 - another "transplant"; this time the set of mounts. As older rides had more up-to-date mounts such as motorcycles fitted, or were converted to Waltzers, sets of secondhand mounts became readily available and were often re-used. In this photo the original mounts from John Thurston's Lakin Ben Hur can be seen fitted to James Crow & Sons' 1957 Maxwell Ark, including some superb ornate chariots. Whitley Bay, 20/06/75.
A169 - after the Second World War Lakins built two unusual Art Deco styled Arks. Although new to Corrigans' in 1949, this one was famous as Culines' Silver Rodeo, travelling with them from 1951 until scrapped in 1984.
	A240 - one of around twenty German-built arks imported into the UK in the very early 1930's, this example has been with the Sussex-based Harris family since 1933. Amongst the mounts are some unusual foxes and hounds. Seen here at Henfield Fair, Sussex, 16/07/83.
A85 - Fred Fowle at his finest! Victor Manders' Lakin Ark was redecorated and themed Scramble for John Biddall whilst at Battersea Park in the 1960s. Photographed at Swinton, Greater Manchester, 13/10/81.
	A79 - Two very elaborate Coronation Ben Hurs were built by Lakins in 1937, and this one was new to White Bros of Cardiff. Sold to Billy Manning during the Second World War, it was redecorated a couple of times with period scenes. It spent many years at Mannings' Clarence Pier Amusement Park, Southsea, and is seen here on 06/07/76.
A104 - One of the most well-known and best-loved of all arks is Anthony Shaw's 42' Orton machine. New in 1932 to Chris Johnson, it has been with the Shaw family since 1943, and still opens regularly on Wakefield Market Place, totally enclosed by its old Wartime blackout shutters. Seen here at Hull Summer Fair, 05/07/79.
	A195 - in complete contrast is John Walter Shaw's Maxwell Easyrider Speedway which caused quite a stir with its unusual colour scheme when new in 1974. Still travelling as their Razzamataz Waltzer, it is seen here in original condition at Hull Fair on 11/10/80.
A190 - Another Maxwell machine, this time an example from a decade earlier: Michael Wallis's immaculate 1966 Super Disco Speedway at Stockport March Fair, 12/03/83. Now owned by John Armitage, it is primarily used as a Waltzer, but still opens occasionally as an Ark.

These are just a few examples from the new Noah's Ark & Speedways Photo CD, which features over 160 high quality images of these once popular rides. Click here for more details, and how to order.

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