A FORMER Barrow Blackhawks speedway rider rolled back the years with a vintage display 31 years after he represented the team.

Runcorn racer Gary O'Hare has taken delivery of a new version of the race jacket he wore with pride in the 1980s.

It was donated by John Earnshaw, who organised the Barrow Speedway reunion in June.

O'Hare could not attend the night, as he was successfully defending the British Veterans Riders Championship at Lydd Raceway, Kent, for a fifth time.

The experienced rider has already worn the jacket on the track, and looks back on his Barrow days with fondness. He said: “The track at Barrow was, and always will be, one of my favourites, as it suited my racing style to a tee.

“It was also situated in a beautiful location, and I'll never forget the nice sunsets and views across the sea and out to the Lakeland hills.

“It was really sad that the track in Barrow closed after all the hard work that Chris Roynon and his band of helpers put in, and it's also sad the sport couldn't be revived in the town.

“I know John Earnshaw is determined to get me and a few of the other ex-Blackhawks, like Steve Newsham, Scott Cook and Bernie Collier, back out on a track in our race jackets for one last time, so we can relive those nights we all took pride in being part of.”