Bee

Paul great to hear you are putting this together, best of luck with it, and I hope it's really successful. I will be unable to be there, living in the Philippines now. Although just returned from there after short vacation. Many memories of Waterden Road, all good. Vic Harding lounge nights as well as Speedway itself... Anyhow regards to all 'Skid'

In that case it's definately his. Fred was with Coventry in second halves through most of the 60's He made a few 1st team appearances around the mid 60's Used to live right outside the Stadium on Rugby Rd until a few years ago at least.

Agreed. Nigel Boocock said the reason he didn't always come good in World Finals was that he rode 100% every time he took to the track, and therefore at the big occasions he had nothing extra to give. He told me that Ivan who he lives near in Australia now, told him that he rode at 90% most of the time and on the big night gave that extra 10% and that was the difference. Having watched both through out all of their careers I'd say that was true, Ivan never did seem to be giving it is all unless it was the World Championships. Nigel did roduce the goods at the Wills Internationale once though Other than Nigel being a good tough un....Briggo gets my vote by a mile.

Fred Hodder Coventry arounfd the time period you mention. Check and see if anything is bent on it, as he had habit of falling off

Rudy took a bad knock. I actually bought one of his bikes when he finished.

Long overdue 1st title coming for Crumpy. However, I wonder how much he will be trying before the last GP. He will need to steer clear of any injuries and make sure he gets past the first eliminator races. Congrats Jason you deserve it.

Nigel Boocock and Barry Briggs....As told to me my Nigel. They were both at a World Championship qualifier at Wolverhampton. Briggo had met up with Booey at his home in Rugby and they drove up to the meeting together, leaving Cynthia and June together back home. In the meeting they were both doing well. Then Booey took a spill and was taken to hospital. At the hospital Booey phoned Cynthia and told her they'd be late getting home, as he had dislocated his shoulder. As he was on the phone, Briggo was strechered into the hospital with a hand injury. Broken thumb. Booey tells Cynthis we'll be later still now, tell June Briggo has just joined me in the Accident department. Now tough! A couple of days later they were both at Sheffield in another qualifier. Booey rode with a horse collar around his shoulder. Briggo cut a piece of tyre to fit into the gap between his thumb and first finger then strapped up his hand. The meeting result? Briggo won and Booey was second. Now that is how Speedway was

How about a second halver that your team missed out on? Coventry - Ray Wilson Jr Ended up at Long Eaton 1966 Instead of staying at Brandon.

Bill Andrew was with Poole in the 60's and also at Newport. I think he was also at Hackney as well early on. Bob Andrews was with Cradley for quite a while, and if memory serves me correct his early career was at Wimbledon, before being allocated to Wolverhampton, then Cradley in late 60's and early 70's. He did I believe retire to New Zealand. Bill Andrew was a Kiwi INFO on Bob Andrew here : Bob Andrews Here is a site all about Bob Andrews Bob Andrews

Corrected. Thanks memory isn't what it was.

Thanks for that. Being a National League man in 64 I wasn't aware of all the Provincial teams or going's on. My first trip to Somerton wasn't until the 70's.

Here are some teams and names to bring back the memories... West Ham Hammers - Were very succesful in 65. Remember feeling gutted that in all the moves to balance up the Provincial league teams Coventry lost several riders. None more so than Hurri Ken McKinlay. Sadly no longer with us. The hammers had Svere Harrdfeldt too. A young Malcolm Simmons and Reg Trott - now a ref. Norman Hunter was a rising star as well. The rest of the hammers were made up of promosing Tony Clarke, Brian Lennoard and Trevor Ede Newport Wasps - Can't remember if they moved up from Provincial or were a new track to the new British League racing of course at Somerton Park. Not all that successful. But boy did they have some names... Think they took over the Southampton license... Now here is where another Coventry 64 Bee ended up. Jack Biggs again no longer with us having been killed in a track crash in the 70's in Australia. Was most famed for the man who nearly won the World Final have completed 4 rides unbeaten and needing just 1 pt to take the title in his last ride....Finished last! The late Alby Golden along with Peter Vandenberg (classy South African) that went on to ride at Wolverhampton as well. These two along with Dick Bradley were popular Saints riders now Wasps. Some of the lower end riders I remember well. Vic White who managed the Bees and who's son Keith had a spell with bees as well. Geoff Penniket, Bob Hughes and Jon Erskine made up the Wasps 65 team. Wolverhampton Wolves - Formerly known as the Wasps in the Provincial League. Not very strong in 65. But, again some familiar faces. Pete Jarman, Tommy Sweetman, The classy Aussie Jim Airey....what a rider he was. Bob Andrews, Gordon Gausco sadly departed. Brian Maxted, The great named one.....James Bond! And Cyril Francis who stayed on from Provincial league team, and ended up at Newport at some point, I recall. Halifax Dukes - Bahh Humbug.... This is where the Middlesborough Bears switched too.... And being a big Nigel fan it was always great to see him and brother Eric clash. Along with Eric Boocock another bee was robbed and placed here. Bryan Elliot Hard man Eric Boothroyd Dashing Dave Younghusband, Tommy Roper who moved in from Belle Vue, Aussies, Bert Kingston, and Dennis Gavros to be followed in 66 by Greg Kentwell if I remember right, dukes fans. The emblem of the White Elephant taken from a local military barracks. And finally Clive all elbows Hitch. Better remember by me in his Swindon days and again a brief spell at Coventry late in his career during our bad spell in the 69/70 season. Coventry Bees Of course my beloved bees. Ripped apart! But still a major force. Gone was Big Hurri Ken McKinlay too West Ham. Gone was Bryan Elliot to Halifax, gone to was Jack Biggs to Newport. Les Owen sat on the fence for the first couple of months because he to had been allocated to Newport. He refused saying it was Coventry or no-where. Eventually they let him stay And so he did for 17 years until that fateful May meeting in 73 against Cradley Utd when he classed with team mate John Harrhy and ended up seriously injured. Alas Les is no longer with us either. But, another GREAT bees line up for me. Nigel Boocock, Jim Lightfoot, Ron Mountford, (no longer with us) Rick France, from 64. Les Owen eventually. The rest....? They came up through the second halfs. Colin Cottrell made a brief appearance in 64, now he was full time bee. And Booey coached him on well. Sadly Colin died from Leukemea later. Chris Harrison was another young bee given a chance. Chris later did well in the old Second Division with Doncaster and Birmingham. Before injuries and other things saw him retire. Howie Booton was also given a few chances. Maurie Mattingly moved on to Glasgow. Other names that started to appear in the juniors in 65/6/7/8 Roger Hill, Tony Lomas, Tom Thumb Ridley. (What ever did happen to him.? Smashing little rider that I recall was just making an impact in the team 67/8 when he smashed his leg at Coatbridge... Others that I recall were John Harrhy of course but that was 68/9 and the Late Pete Bailey. Killed in a car accident right outside Brandon. There were some smashing days in those second halves....Who remembers Hasty Humpries, Pete Gay, Fred Hodder, Howie Booton, Matt Mattocks. AHHHHHHHHH MEMORIES. When you consider we lost three good riders and nearly a fourth. That in effect the replacements were JUNIORS the BEES were really good. Hackney Hawks - Having spent 11 years in London the Hawks are also a special team too me... But not until the 80's. Barry Thomas being one hell of a top bloke geezer as well. He gave me all his rear tyres for training when I was trying my luck. Smashing guy. And fun. Moved up from Provincial League. Took them a year or two to settle and then they won the League! And outside of Triggy and Pratty I did not think much of their side. Roy Trigg and Colin Pratt led the Hawks in 65 along with Gerald Jackson.The McGillary's, Les and Sandy. Good old Howdy Byford what a character. Malc Brown who went onto Leicester, and finally Bill Davies. Wimbledon Dons. Another of the mighty pack. Ron How gone, Cyril Maidment gone. But they had Olle Nygren. Reg Luckhurst, Trevor Hedge, Jim Tubby - err sorry Tebby, Bob Dugard, Jon Edwards Malc Coomber and Geoff Hughes. Still strong enough to finish 2nd to the hammers. Their top three were good, and Dugard and Tebby had their moments too. Glasgow Tigers - The Scots were always poor travelers I recall. But a force on their own turf. Led by another great Aussie. The quiet man (For an Aussie that is something.) Charlie Monk. Matt Mattingly moved there from the bees. Bill McMillan later joined by brother Jim.Bruce Ovenden, Willie Templeton, with his brother Doug at the old enemy Edinburgh. Bluey Scott coming to the end of his career.Nils Paulsen, and Graham Coombes who eventully went to Cradley. Poole Pirates - What a mix.... Ronnie Genz who went to Oxford later, Geoff Mudge, Pete Smith, the young Bruce Cribb, he moved around a lot in his career. Pete Munday remember him at Swindon too. Mudge Smith and Cribb were still there in 69 when Pirates won the league. Newcastle Diamonds - What a team full of history. Mauger Olsen Michaneck all wore the Diamond race jacket at one time or another. Brian Brett was the quality englishman as well. In this first season of the British League though it was [Mauger and Brett that spearheaded the side. Others who became a tail to long to carry were Brian Craven (Peter's Brother) Russ Dent who was still racing in his 40's at Sunderland and Scunthorpe as I recall. Peter Kelly, Mike Watkin what ever happened to Watkin? I remember him as being a talent. Who can forget Goog Allen, then Ken Sharples and Dave Gifford came on he scene as well. Sheffield Tigers - Now here is some names as well.... They were not world beaters though. Billy Bales....Son Ray rode as well at Boston and Sheffield I believe as well as Mildenhall and Lynn. Billy I remember at Norwich Sheffield and Lynn. Clive Featherby] remember him at Lynn and Cradley as well. Son Craig rode as well before tragically being killed. Jack Kitchen who came in from Belle Vue.John Dews later at Halifax. Cyril's son David Crane Bob Paulson and another ex Halifax man and bee when we were in trouble in 73/74 Alan Jay Exeter Falcons - Ahhh the County Ground. So sad it's going. Jimmy Squibb, Colin Goody and Jack Geran (who nearly was a bee when he arrived with Ronnie Genz - see history of brandon) These were three well known characters. Alan Cowland later at Leicester, Des Luckhurst, Chris (often) Blewitt,Maury MacDermot and Doug Dearden made up the team. Belle Vue Aces - How the mighty did fall. They like Coventry were ripped apart. Kitchen at Sheffield was a loss, Roper another to Halifax. This still left them with Dick Fisher and Cyril Maidment new boy Hungarian Sandor Leavi didn't quite make the heat leader bracket but he did go on to be a star rider mainly at Newport. Jim Yacoby and Norman Nevitt Gordon MacGregor was aging a bit i recall. Bill Powell and Vic White also rode here. Swindon Robins - Briggo'sRobins having moved when Southampton closed. Mike Broadbanks, Martin Ashby, Mike Keen, Bob Kilby, Frank Shuter all support Briggo well, and Ashby Keen and Kilby were BIG names at Swindon foer many a year. But they struggled in this first season.Pete Sampson and Alan Jackson made up the Blunsdon Robins. Cradley Heath Heathens- Chopping blocks.... Were the first visitors to Brandon in March for the first ever BL match. Hammered 52-26 If I remember right, or thereabouts. Still some wonderful names to remember..... Ivor Brown, Ivor Hughes, George Major, John Hart, Eric Hokaday, Chris Julian sadly gone through a girocopter accident. Leo AcAuliffe Harry Bastable and John Debbage. Oxford Cheetahs - They did well. Good solid team. Led by THE GREAT DANE Arne Pander! Ron How allocated from Wimbledon Jimmy Gooch, Jimmy Heard Geoff Chandler, Stan Stevens, with youndters Jon Bishop and Eddie Reeves, son of Reg Reeves. 4th was as good as they could have expected. Long Eaton Archers - Why oh Why did Willie go there! Ray Wilson apart it wasn't until 66/7 that The Archers were a force with Michaneck and Boulger appearing along with Graham Plant. But in 65 Raymond Wilsonarrived in force. Ray Cresp and Norman Storer were support....along with a certain Kid Bodie! (Howard Cole) but out side of these 4 the tail was really long. Ken Adams, Clive Hitch, Ray Sharp, Jon Mills, and Roy Malskaitis were all given chances. Edinburgh Monarchs - Ahhh Meadowbank. The Monarch should have been better than they were. But this was the days before Bernt Persson and Reider Eide. George Hunter was the main man with Doug Templeton Colin McKee, Henry Harrdfeldt, Alf Wells, Bill Landels, Kevin Thorpie good old Haggis Bert Harkins and some Aussie named Nickisson who I never did see. A good time for Speedway at the Dawn of a new era that went through until 1976 with the start of the four valve bikes era. An era where speedway was getting good crowds and growing. In 68 the British League Division Two was formed. Later to get it own identity as the New National League and then just the National League. The likes of PC the Mortons, John Davis, John Louis, Mike the Bike Lee and many more progressed via that era. For the Record British League Table 1 West Ham 47 2 Wimbledon 46 3 COVENTRY 40 4 Oxford 40 5 Halifax 39 6 Newport 38 7 Wolverhampton 37 8 Hackney 37 9 Exeter 36 10 Poole 35 11 Sheffield 34 12 Newcastle 33 13 Glasgow 31 14 Belle Vue 30 15 Swindon 28 16 Cradley 23 17 Edinburgh 22 18 Long Eaton 14 Hope this brings back GOOD memories

1963. Craven killed, Ray Wilson arrives! AT COVENTRY Although Coventry looked to strengthen their squad the S.C.B. blocked attempts to sign someone on a Foreign Permit, instead Jack Biggs joined from Oxford.- But, he struggled. Bees finished 4th behind Belle Vue Norwich and Wimbledon. Lost points at home (30-48)v Belle Vue, with Home draws against both Norwich and Wimbledon) would have been enough to have seen the Bees finish Runners-up. Surprisingly the Bees only success away was at Norwich (Twice!!) and the Stars had finished second in the table...Just about everybody was winning at least one match away at Cowley (Oxford) who finished bottom, so two defeats for the Bees there was disappointing and costly. England’s No1 PETER CRAVEN was killed at Edinburgh in a handicap track crash involving George Hunter. Hunter had fallen and Craven crashed into the fence hitting a lamp standard in an attempt to avoid the stricken Hunter. The Handicap System was blamed. Les Owen returned from the fractured skull but, he was not the force he’d become prior to the injury. Jim Lightfoot again Captained the team and did improve his performances. Ron was off for a few weeks at the beginning of the season, having suffered a nervous breakdown as a result of pressure from work. He then crashed in July and fractured his leg. The S.C.B. refused us a Foreign Permit (Russian Boris Samorodov had been lined up to replace him.) The C.O. switched his attention to the Provincial League offers made for Norman Hunter, Colin Pratt and George Hunter were all declined. We applied for Stan Stevens from defunct New Cross, then Southampton turned up at Brandon with a certain Mr Stevens in the side... A protest resulted in Stan’s points being deducted as the move had not been cleared with the control board. Programmed in the second half in August 1963 was a certain Ron Wilson Jnr.!! Ray Wilson will go down as a NAME that escaped us.... Nigel Boocock and Jim Lightfoot qualified for the World Final, Nigel finished with 7th with 8 points having won his opening heat. Jim struggled in his first appearance finishing 14th with just 4 points. Fundin won the Final with Knutsson 2nd and Briggs 3rd. The 1962 Champion Craven, was only 6th in his last World Final before his tragic accident. Boris Samorodov the Russian the Bees had wanted finished 4th and Ron Mountford the man he would have replaced was at reserve in place of a future Bee, Toni Kasper. The Bees beat Southampton before going out to the old enemy Belle Vue, in the National Trophy. We beat Oxford in the Midland Cup. Coventry Scorer’s 1963. Nigel Boocock 244 (9.96) Ken Mckinlay 212 (9.12) Jim Lightfoot 159 (7.76) Bryan Elliott 105 (5.80) Ron Mountford 77 (5.72) Les Owen 65 (3.92) Jack Biggs 29 (4.24) Peter Brough 12 (2.08) Rick France 6 GUESTS 2 Howie Booton 1 Colin Cotrell 0 National League Table 1963 1. Belle Vue 24 17 0 7 989 875 34 2. Norwich 24 13 2 9 911 879 28 3. Wimbledon 24 12 1 11 934 920 25 4 Coventry 24 11 2 11 912 957 24 5. Swindon 24 10 2 12 907 875 22 6. Southampton 24 11 0 13 933 936 22 7. Oxford 24 6 1 17 861 1005 13 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1964. The end of an era beckons as National league folds The last season of National/ Provincial League Racing with the brand New BRITISH LEAGUE upon the horizon for 1965. Down to just seven teams, Coventry finished Runners-up. One solitary point behind the Champions, Oxford. Again a point easily found when the Bees were held to a draw at home by Wimbledon, although points difference would have seen the Cheetahs still crowned Champions. No changes on the team front, but a great deal of un rest between the two Leagues in a power struggle that almost killed the Sport. The season started in disarray, with the Bees winning the Easter Cup presented by Jack Mine at Wimbledon. This was probably the FIRST time Coventry ever won at Plough Lane against the Powerful ‘till then Dons. Booey scored 11 from No1 but, Ron Mountford scored a 12 point maximum on a track he had never considered a favourite. The Bees won 44-40. Bryan “Chirpy” Elliott was absent as he was seeking to ride in the Provincial League at Long Eaton. Only the threat of being “blacked” in future made him change his mind. In the second leg at Brandon, The Bees beat Wimbledon by six to take the Easter Cup. The Easter Cup and the re-introduction of the Britannia Shield started the season off, with the troubled National League not starting it’s matches until JULY!! The troubles flared again in May, when the Dons arrived at Brandon for a Shield Match. Bob Andrews had ridden the night before in a “blacked” Provincial League Match at Wolverhampton. Both Promoters agreed to let him ride at Brandon and settle this issue later with the Control Board. But No.!! The riders themselves said if he rode-they didn’t !! and the meeting was delayed further. Andrews was eventually left out. By this time Bryan Elliott had changed his mind and stayed with the Bees rather than risk similar occurrences to that of Andrews. But, Ron Wilson Jnr (Ray) decided otherwise and he signed for Long Eaton in the Provincial League which is why Willie became a big rival of Coventry’s instead of a Bee himself.... Big problems at Norwich, when in a crucial Shield Match The Bees trailed by 2 points going into heat 13. Booey and Biggs stormed away on a rain soaked track, Billy Bales retired and Fundin was just cruising around at the back...On the third lap the Red Lights came on..!! The race was stopped and a re-run ordered ?? The Bees of course objected but the Ref was not moved and The Bees then refused to go out in the re-run. The Stars then coasted round for two un-challenged 5-0’s to win the match. Bees lodged a Protest. The crucial dropped point at home too Wimbledon was mainly down to Ron Mountford being out with a shoulder injury, and we went into the match without the option of a guest. Nigel Boocock faced Ove Fundin in the Match Race Championship. He lost at Norwich, but won at Brandon. Having led the Britannia Shield Table from the Start of the season, Oxford pipped us at the death by one point....The Norwich result was that crucial. Having finished Runners-up to Oxford in the Shield, we also finished Runners-up in the Easter Cup and The National League, all to OXFORD. In the National Trophy we were beaten by West Ham in the first Round. Fundin won the Match Race decider at Oxford in July. Brandon staged a Test Match against the Russians Great Britain winning a thriller 56-52. Ten days later Swedish tourist Vargarna, visited Brandon with the Bees winning in the last heat 40-38 In the World Championships Les Owen won a qualifier at Rye House, whilst Jack Biggs also qualified. In the second round of qualifiers, Booey scored 13 at West Ham (3rd) behind Briggs and Brett. Rick France scored 7 Ken McKinlay got 8 and Jim Lightfoot got 12. At Brandon Les only scored 4 and Jack was unable to ride, But “Chirpy” Elliott scored 14 and tied with Mike Broadbank At Norwich, Nigel got 13, Jim 12 Ron 9 and Les 1 Les having fallen on three occasions. Booey (39) third highest, Ken (32) Jim (31) Ron (30) and “Chirpy” (30) all qualified only Les and Jack missed out Fred Hodder joined the second half brigade. In the U.K. Final at Wembley, Barry Briggs took the title with Ken McKinlay finishing Runner up. Nigel qualified in 7th with 8 points with Jim on 6 as reserve. Ron managed 5 and Bryan 4 The Midland Riders at Oxford was won by Briggo with Arne Pander 2nd and Ron How beat Nigel in a run off for third. With the close of 1964 came the end of an era, and the winter was a time of uncertainty with eventually a new era dawning at Brandon in March when Coventry opened the new BRITISH LEAGUE against Cradley where Nigel scored a paid maximum and RICK FRANCE scored the first BRITISH LEAGUE MAXIMUM. Nigel Boocock won the first ever British League race as well. Coventry Scorer’s 1964. 1. Nigel Boocock 129.5 (10.12) 2. Ken McKinlay 109 (9.80) 3. Jim Lightfoot 79 (7.12) 4. Ron Mountford 54 (8.12) 5. Rick France 38 (4.92) 6. Jack Biggs 37 (5.04) 7. Les Owen 35 (4.84) 8. Bryan Elliott 31 (5.36) 9. Colin Cottrell 16 (4.64) * This team was my own personal all time GREAT TEAM OF ANY ONE SEASON * National League Table 1964. 1. Oxford 12 9 0 3 545 461 18 2. Coventry 12 8 1 3 528.5 479.5 17 3. Norwich 12 6 0 6 490.5 517.5 12 4. Belle Vue 12 5 1 6 496 511 11 5. Swindon 12 4 1 7 509 496 9 6. Wimbledon 12 4 1 7 475 532 9 7. West Ham 12 4 0 8 479 526 8 That controversial defeat at Norwich cost bees the title. That's all I have I'm afraid the rest was lost... But I remember 65/69 being good seasons and among my favourite all time bees teams. Injuries struck in the early 70's and we plummeted down the table until Olsen arrived in 76.

I think I lost track of these...I can find upto 1960 posted. I have up until 64. So here is the 1961 and 62 season at Brandon. 1961. Les Owen appears on the scene...Booey tops the averages! BOB MARK took over from Vic Emms as Team Manager. He had a hard baptism as the Bees lost at Belle Vue scoring just 21 and worse at Oxford where we only managed 19... It looked gloomy. But unlike 1960 when we had a good start and faded, 1961 saw the Bees start slowly then finish on a high. Henryk Zyto didn’t come back from Poland, but we were allocated Kazim Bentke. He was not in the same class as Zyto though. Six of the Bees were ever present in 1961 and Bentke only missed two. The injury free run contributed to a final placing of 3rd. Jim Lightfoot struggled all season and retired again.!! It was Young and Boocock who led the way with “little boy blue” coming out on top as No1 a position he was to keep for most of his career at Coventry. Les Owen finally arrived, and was on the verge of a international place by the end of the season averaging 7.80 in 35 matches. We dropped just one point at home, when Southampton got a draw at Brandon. We picked up two wins on our travels, they were at Leicester and Norwich. Wimbledon won the League for the third consecutive season. Coventry won the East Midland Bowl against Leicester. In the National Trophy we went out to Ipswich, which was a major surprise as we lost at home having already drawn in the first leg at Foxhall Heath. Coventry scorer’s 1961. 1. Nigel Boocock 136 2. Jack Young 135 3. Les Owen 123 4. Nick Nicholls 88 5. Ron Mountford 85 6. Kazim Bentke 55 7. Jim Lightfoot 50 8. Maurie Mattingly 4 NATIONAL LEAGUE TABLE Division One 1961 1. Wimbledon 18 15 0 3 830 573 30 2. Southampton 18 13 2 3 788 613 28 3. Coventry 18 10 1 7 676 728 21 4. Belle Vue 18 10 0 8 761 642 20 5. Swindon 18 8 0 10 683 719 16 6. Ipswich 18 7 1 10 681.5 720.5 15 7. Norwich 18 7 0 11 691.5 700.5 14 8. New Cross 18 7 0 11 626 774 14 9. Oxford 18 6 1 11 665 727 13 10. Leicester 18 4 1 13 599 804 9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1962. Teams dwindle, handicap racing, Foreigners banned! Big Mac at Brandon along with Chippy (Elliot) The numbers in the League was reduced again Leicester joined the provincial league, and New Cross closed. By July we lost Ipswich as they folded. Handicap racing was introduced to the National League. Foreign riders were banned. But after fierce objections, from Norwich who didn’t relish the thought of Speedway at the Firs without Fundin. That particular winter conference decision was over ruled. The handicap racing was here to stay. But that too added to the discontent of supporters. Initially the grading system was to be reviewed monthly by the SCB under the Chairmanship of W Fearnley. That caused problems and the SRA objected there were three grades of handicap. They wanted two. It was confusing to everyone, especially as riders had different handicaps at home and away. Amendments were made with alarming regularity, until CHARLES OCHILTREE steeped in with some sound common sense advice and guidelines. That only the reserve and supplementary reserve should start from scratch.. All other started 10 yds back, with the exception of Briggs, Craven, Fundin, Knutsson, and Ronnie Moore. They had to start 20 yds behind. These star some became known as the “Big Five” even then more amendments were forthcoming when a Supplementary reserve being used to replace a reserve would start from 10 yds back, and the reserve only started from scratch if his average was below 4.00.!! Southampton with two “back markers” (Briggs and Knutsson ) won the title which finally gave Charles Knott his realised ambition of leading a team to a major prize. Kazim Bentke returned to Poland as had Zyto in 1960, never to return. Coventry signed KEN McKINLAY and BRIAN ELLIOT from Leicester when they switched to the Provincial League. Jack Young never returned. Peter Brough made a comeback. Les Owen crashed in July and suffered head injuries which curtailed his season. LES McGILLIVARY signed from Ipswich when they closed in July. Reg Duval and Col Smith (Bradford) Nick Nicholls (Cradley) Rick France Eric Hockaday Col Smith and Trevor Eadon (Leicester) Maurie Mattingly (Plymouth) Eric Hockaday (Stoke) and Graham Warren and Eric Eadon (Wolverhampton) were all ex, or contracted Bees on loan in the booming Provincial League during 1962. Nigel Boocock introduced those famous “blue leathers”. Actually they were initially black but he painted them blue and painted his boots white, before later having those sky blue leathers made especially. Coventry again finished 3rd behind Southampton and Wimbledon. Our only home defeat came when Southampton took the points at Brandon. Away from the Hive, wins at BELLE VUE our first there..our second wasn’t to happen until the mid seventies. Norwich and Ipswich were the other two away wins, although the Ipswich one was deleted later when they closed. Jim Lightfoot again returned to act as Captain and we opened with a 59-18 win over Belle Vue to avenge the thrashing they gave us the previous season. Noticeable we got that match in first in ‘62 as opposed to two visits to Hyde Rd in ’61... Nick Nicholls was actually in the Aces line up for that match. New faces in the second half were HOWIE BOOTON, MATT MATTOCKS and COLIN COTTRELL. Nigel Boocock won the Midland Riders Championship. Ron Mountford and Ken McKinlay finished 2nd and 3rd. Coventry scorer’s 1962 1. Ron Mountford 194.5 2. Ken McKinlay 194 3. Nigel Boocock 182 4. Jim Lightfoot 136 5. Brian Elliot 121 6. Les Owen 89 7. Peter Brough 38 8. Les McGillivary 23 9. Rick France 14 10.Colin Cottrell 1 NATIONAL LEAGUE TABLE Division One 1962 1. Southampton 24 18 0 6 1084 785 36 2. Wimbledon 24 14 1 9 1034 836 29 3. Coventry 24 13 0 11 992.5 875.5 26 4. Belle Vue 24 12 1 11 886 984 25 5. Norwich 24 12 0 12 909 962 24 6. Swindon 24 9 2 13 869 997 20 7. Oxford 24 4 0 20 767.5 1102.5 8 Ipswich 15 4 0 11 480 690 8 record deleted.

Like I said many of them have/did

Poole, Wembley, Exeter had a rugby pitch. Same with Hull at the Boulevard really there are/were heaps.

May 1973 Coventry v Cradley Utd. Les Owen and John Harrhy. Les was very badly injured and on life support, ended up never riding again. John broke a bone in his neck, and was never the same on track again. Booey took a few knocks in some spectacular crashes too... Recall fracturing his skull at Leicester in a smash with John Boulger and Roger Hill. The last really bad smash I recall was Erik Gundersens at Bradford.

Your absolutely correct. Mitch Shirra first came over here when he was 15! Doing second halfs. Then rode the following year at Coventry before being loaned out to Coatbridge. Guglielmi was a good friend of Mitch's but he was of age when he arrived. By a few years.

Gote also took to the track as a Bee in the late 60's maybe 69 or 70. Was still stylish then. Also saw him at Brandon fora Golden Greats meeting about 7 years ago.

Coventry and Coventry Stadium of course since my first meeting there in 1960. Others I enjoyed for one reason or another. Leicester Wembley Hackney Halifax and Exeter those banked bends The old Belle Vue (Hyde Rd) Cradley but only for the pork sandwiches Peterborough Kings Lynn But hell there were a lot of others I enjoyed visiting for one reason or another and a few of what I would call trick tracks like Rye House, Bristol (Great crowds) There is a few I didn't like as well the old Somerton Park, The last Milton Keynes track, The Boulevard. OK That'll do for now. Quibell Park was something else as well

Everybody forget Tyburn Gallows? Can't remember his full real name but wasn't it ???? Humphreys ?

Damn now you got mer thinking. Yes I went to it. Can't say I enjoyed it that much. Remember at the time wishing I'd brought a set of Binoculars with me... Who won... I can't remember maybe Shawn Moran. Olsen was in it I think as well. Trotting track is right and deep.

Yes I do and very good they were too. Even featured my antics of Skidding round the marshes right Bryn?

As a Bees fan since 1960, I remember Halifax well visiting there on many occasions throughout the time the Shay was running, having moved from Middlesborough. Being a Boocock fan these were always fixtures we looked forward too. The two Brothers clashing. Great Days. The Stadium was never brilliant, but the track was good for good racing. The Shay Hotel was a good meeting place. I recall the days of Eric and the other Eric Mr Boothroyd, Dave Younghusband, Dennis Gavros, Bryan Elliot who you got from us! Greg Kentwell and a few others. I remember Henny Kroeze 21pt score, and other hero's there in the 70's as well like King Kenny, and Langli, Louis with his spell there. Ian Cartwright etc. Yes great days, sadly gone forever.

Ivan Mauger was right. 100%. Smashing rider and very talented at second division level, ala the Owen Bros. But that riding style! At Rye it was tremendous and he was almost totally unbeatable. The tight track suited that bending over backwards full lock cornering technique. But trouble was, he rode the same on the big open tracks like Swindon. Where full lockers actually lose you a lot of ground. He was never going to change his style, and therefore Mauger was right in reflecting he would never be top class. Still good at his best though. But overall my opinion was the same as Ivan's. A real waste of a great talent never really fully forfilled.