yesterdaysman

Hope you still got them Brian! You're not a Donnington boy then Brian. Did you know that on the 'rec' behind the row of cottages opposite their house was where the 'Donnington Dons' cycle speedway track used to be. His dad was very supportive of that, helping out wherever he could. George and his brothers all rode there in the mid fifties. Very encouraging was George's dad, and George relates of when they were young boys his dad would ride his bicycle and they would run alongside to grass track and scamble meetings at Stokenchurch and Brill, taking it in turn to ride on the cross bar. Keen or what! Can you imagine that today!!

No George had a pub in Cannock Staffs. in 1982,called the Unicorn. He took it on in the recession with the idea of coming out of the transport buisness but ended up running the two. he was often visited by the Oxford team when returning from their away trips in the vicinity. that was when Bernard Crapper was promoter and Ashley Pullen was one of their top guys. George came out of the pub in '85 but carried on the transport for another nine years. He sold up and moved to the Isle of Wight where his wife had taken up a teaching post. At 55 years old george retired to do a 'John Lennon' and stay at home to bring up his two young children. This did not go quite to plan though for he could not have dreamed that within a year he would be involved with speedway again.

Taken from Jeremy Jackson book St. Austell speedway 1958 - 1963. Ray Wicket however had a few rides for Glasgow before he too linked with Exeter. Ray's best riding years were probably at Exeter and West Ham. His favorite tracks were Owlerton and Old Meadowbank. Ray was indeed another great character who was a test rider for B.S.A. Motor cycles in Birmingham. He also did some amazing stunts on bikes including riding through tunnels of fire. He may not have been a world champion but his life was so much richer for having 'ridden on the shale'. Ray who lived at Stratton remained in touch with many of the old 'Gulls' until his untimely passing after several years of ill health.

Chunky, sorry mate, I could be causing the problem. I have read your original post again and you don't say clubs contracted to, so I might be on the wrong track (no pun intended). The list I posted was taken from material compiled, supplied by George for a possible book, (put on the back burner since his heart attack eighteen months ago). These clubs, except the open licence tracks, were the ones he signed for. Oh and Brian, the California days were only practise sessions when he first bought a bike. His brother Mick also had a few spins but didn't take to it.

Might not have been called "guest" but they were one off rides. George was in the second division by then. these teams were a rider short for some reason and used a div 2 rider. There was some controversy when George wanted to drop down and ride for Doncaster as he was considered to good for the lower league, however no first div club came in for him so eventually he was allowed to go. So he would probably have been considered a good stand in.

I think some records get blurred by adding guest bookings. George Major's teams were as follows : 1959/60 Aldershot. Also open bookings with Yarmouth and St. Austell. 1961 Signed Oxford (Promoter Dicky Worth) Loaned to Newcastle. 1962 Loaned to Neath. 1963 Loaned to St. Austell. 1964 Signed Oxford (Rodney & ?) then to Norwich, swapped for Jimmy Gooch. Cradley Heath ( breakaway league 64/65) 1966/7 Sheffield (rider control) 1968/9 Leicester (transfer request) 1969/70 Oxford (Danny Dunton) 1970 Div 2 Doncaster, 1971/75 Birmingham. So how many teams is that then.