MALCOLMThomas Holloway was born in Stratton St. Margaret, Wiltshire on 22 December 1956.
After initially straddling a speedway machine in 1972, Malc took up training under the guidance of Lew Coffin at Weymouth the following year, before first appearing on the Blunsdon circuit in post-match practice sessions in 1975.
The following season, he graduated to the old second-half events and the enthusiastic youngster with a wicked sense of humour soon developed a reputation for demolishing the flowerbeds that adorned the centre-green in those days.
It wasn’t until 1977 that he first donned the famous Robins race-jacket though, when he lined up at number seven in a British League match at White City on 19 July.
Three non-scoring rides followed, but no matter, he had achieved his ambition to ride for his local track. Holloway went on to complete seven league matches that year for Swindon, while gaining further experience in the National League with Oxford.
In 1978, Malc joined National League Milton Keynes and it was then that he acquired the nickname ‘Mad Wellie’. This came about because he used to be a farmhand in Swindon and would dash off for meetings at Milton Keynes in his work clothes, including his wellington boots! He also doubled-up for Swindon in fifteen league matches that year as and when required.
Holloway continued to ride for both Milton Keynes and Swindon the following year, but his big breakthrough came in 1980, when he was handed a full-time team berth with the Robins. Obviously the going was tough, but Wellie acquitted himself well and a 4.93 average from thirty league matches was very satisfactory indeed.
Always a good starter, Malc rode brilliantly at times in 1981 and upped his league average to 6.83. However, that year he was probably best remembered for organizing a train, which took the Robins to Edinburgh for a Knock-Out Cup match on 12 June. Dubbed the ‘Mad Wellie Express’, it was an extremely enjoyable trip, which saw the riders mixing with the fans on the journey.
Malc maintained his six-point average in 1982, but the following season saw Swindon slump to the foot of the British League table. In what was a difficult term, Holloway’s league average dropped to 5.39 and he subsequently linked with Reading at the start of 1984. He soon became a firm favourite at Smallmead and found it much less pressurized than riding for his local track.
He was to enjoy six years with the Berkshire club, but unfortunately, his career with the Racers was brought to an abrupt halt by a terrible crash at Bradford on 5 October 1989. Malc had begun the 1989 campaign at National League Mildenhall, before being recalled to the Reading septet, but following the crash at Bradford, it seemed he would be lost to the sport.
However, in 1995, Wellie returned to Swindon as team manager and the following season, he was unable to resist the temptation to ride for the Sprockets side in the Conference League. Many folk thought that would be the end of Malc’s riding career, but after missing three full seasons of action, he was tempted to ride yet again and joined Somerset Rebels at their Highbridge home in 2000. Continuing on with the Rebels in 2001, Holloway helped them to complete a fabulous Knock-Out Cup and Conference Trophy double.
Of course, Somerset moved into the Premier League in 2002, and Wellie was keen to return to the higher level of racing, but despite riding with great zest and holding a league average of 3.57, he was surprisingly released.
Not wishing to retire at the tender age of 45, Malc was quick to again link with Swindon Sprockets in Conference Trophy action, as well as joining Mildenhall for a couple Conference League matches. He did well too, netting 60 points from six matches in the Sprockets colours for an average of 9.10, while for the Fen Tigers, he made just two appearances, scoring 15 points.
In 2003, the bubbly rider began the year with the Sprockets, but ended up taking an extended run in the Premier League with Trelawny when Simon Phillips suffered an injury. He did well too, achieving a 4.16 average for the Tigers, while also making several guest appearances for the Swindon senior side.
Keen as ever, Holloway again led the Sprockets’ charge in 2004, but his season ended prematurely at Newport on 26 September, when he suffered several fractures to the vertebrae, two broken ribs and a broken thumb. He hadn’t ridden since then, so his farewell meeting at Blunsdon on 9 October 2005 was the last time he took to the track.
Following his final retirement from racing, Wellie managed the Swindon Sprockets side, but gave up the post to become promoter of Reading Speedway in June 2007.
MALCOLM HOLLOWAY’S SPEEDWAY STORY by ROBERT BAMFORD
MALCOLM Thomas Holloway was born in Stratton St. Margaret, Wiltshire on 22 December 1956.
