l-r Chris Morton, Charlie Gjedde, Lukasz Jankowski, Michal Rajkowski, Joe Screen (c), David Gordon, Billy Forsberg, Jason Crump, Gordon Pairman. Kneeling - Robert Ksiezak & Steve Boxall.
AT first glance, Belle Vue fans might rub their eyes and wonder when in the club's 80-year history was this picture taken.
Who are the guys in the 1920s suits, pencil thin moustaches and trilby hats? Is it a picture found in a private collection after fading away for years?
The answer, of course, is revealed by a closer look at the group gathered round an Excelsior Jap machine with its own special place in the club's rich history. It's the Belle Vue Aces of 2008 as you have never seen them before and will never see them again.
The club have produced this brilliant picture to mark the start of the 80th anniversary season which will culminate in a special night on July 28 when a top field will race for the Peter Craven Trophy.
That night will be 80 years to the day since Belle Vue roared into action at the greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving to Hyde Road, their legendary home until 1987 when they returned to the dog track.
The Aces have raced without a break, even running 176 meetings during the Second World War.
Skipper Joe Screen is sitting on the Excelsior Jap machine belonging to former rider and memorabilia collector Roy Chappell, who also provided the other old equipment on the picture.
In its racing days, the bike belonged to Aces' legend, Oliver Hart, and he was overjoyed to meet up with it again years later when he congratulated Chappell on the way he had restored it.
David Gordon, the One51 Aces' chief, said: "This picture took a lot of time and effort to set up and we are delighted with the outcome. We feel that, in a way, it has caught Belle Vue's history from when it started until today."
The club have more pictures from the shoot which are being kept under wraps for the special anniversary souvenir programme.
Plans are well in hand for the field to ride on July 28 and the Aces intend to have the programme complete and on sale in advance of the meeting.
Pictured (left to right) are: David Gordon (promoter), Steve Boxall, Billy Forsberg, Jason Crump, Joe Screen, Robert Ksiezak, Charlie Gjedde, Lukasz Jankowski, Michal Rajkowski, Chris Morton (operations director and team manager) and finance director Gordon Pairman.