miro

page 9 unknown @West Ham Cec Platt

Oxford 1 Jim Gregory Oxford 2 John Hook unknown Oxford Promoter Dickie Worth

riders with facial hair, sideboards and weird haircuts in general leathers with big stars up the sleeve and the widespread use of sticky tape on riders kit mysterious riders from mysterious Communist countries bikes covered in stickers big time international Grasstrack racing the fun of start line disputes, rolling and pushing the tapes in general riders and officials hitting each other occasionally and nobody minding too much supporters shouting at each other and nobody minding too much angry team managers protesting to the ref on the start line phone booing angry team managers protesting to the ref on the start line phone and nobody minding too much homemade programme boards meetings of two halves meetings called meetings not matches and the proper use of proper speedway terms in general listening to radio Luxemburg in the car park at Tilehurst waiting to leave

As Steve says we managed to identify them all last time if you have a look...

I'm sure I read in a Speedway Argus from 1968 that Coventry objected to an application form Brafield to join Div II that year. Anyone else recall?

Yes I agree, Midddleton was a larger than life character and if he's chosen to leave us with a mystery then so be it

He kept 'spare' trophies in the glove compartment of his car didn't he

The story went around of Middletons suicide in 2001, though an Australian rider at the time said it wasn't his style. I always thought it would have been typical of him to have faked a suicide or to have put the story around himself, remembering what an odd character he was in general. Many of us would like confirmation either way, and its been mentioned on here several times - Garry was never replaced as my favourite rider.

I didn't notioce him above so lets have Conny Samuelsson, 1964-1999 without a break in the Swedish leagues. Conny is sadly overlooked though I seem to mention him on here every few months.

Jim Tebby also for Oxford in 1956

11 for Colin Gooddy Brafield Southern Rovers Eastbourne Rayleigh Rovers Yarmouth Ipswich Exeter Oxford Cradley Poole Crayford

Thats right and he had a spell at Hackney after Oxford too, and returned to ride for the Rebels very briefly. I can't remember the name of the actress he married now but he was in California in the 1970s and may have ridden there - anybody confirm? Eddie was a real lost talent I thought - 'the youngest captain in the British League' as he was known at Oxford at the end of the 1960s - its forgotten now that he was a proper heat leader and number one for the Cheetahs. Norbold will remember him riding with his father Reg at New Cross.

indeed! have we had these? Plymouth Panthers 1936 Plymouth Devils 1947-54/1961/1968-1969/200?+ Plymouth Drakes 1960 Plymouth Bulldogs 1961 Wolverhampton and Long Eaton has a combined junior team called something to do with dogs and outer space - anybody?

BL Div 2 1969 - Rochester raced away fixtures as Rochester Bombers before Romford opened

Rochester Bombers 1969 Romford Bombers 1969-1971

I believe it was Barrow Happy Faces in 1972 thanks to Duckhams sponsorship and Ivan Mauger

Oxford were the Cheetahs in 1985 not the Rebels

No. Oxford Cheetahs 1949-1971, 1976-2002, 2006-7 BL/NL/Premier/Elite/CL Oxford Cheetah Cubs 1997 Amateur League Oxford Rebels 1972-75 BL Oxford Silver Machine 2003-2005 Elite Oxford Silver Machine Academy 2003-2005 CL Oxford Lions 2007 CL

Oxford Cheetahs 1949-1971, 1976-2002, 2006-7 BL/NL/Premier/Elite/CL Oxford Cheetah Cubs 1997 Amateur League Oxford Rebels 1972-75 BL Oxford Silver Machine 2003-2005 Elite Oxford Silver Machine Academy 2003-2005 CL Oxford Lions 2007 CL

As Norbold says above Fred Mockford - alongside Hoskins as a pioneer and model promoter, most of all for inventing the starting gate with Harry Shepherd and co promoter Cecil Smith - an announcer and influence with the ACU from the start. Wal Phillips - rider and engineer who put the JAP parts together to perfect the one true Speedway motor.

I thought it was Coventry and Les Owen but later, must be another of his many other injuries. Didn't he miss a whole season because of injury and run a Petrol station on the Cowley Road or am I completely wrong on that? also didn't he nearly blow himself up once in a workshop accident?

Brian I think the chap who lost his life in that car crash was Terry Courtnell, other passengers alongside Genno I believe were Howdy Byford and Dennis Newton who were on tour together. Arne Pander had some terrible knocks and had his skull fractured too which really did for his career - in 1966 v Coventry? Pip Lamb and John Hack were promising young Oxford riders who both suffered terrible injuries.