BL65

I would gladly buy you a drink Bob, but I am certain that in all my visits to Dudley Wood I was never bought a drink in the bar. In any event it would have been dereliction of duty to have been distracted from following the action on track. The only time I did receive a free drink was when I was a guest of the Rowley Regis Building Society in their 'sponsor's tent' at a Golden Hammer meeting - I didn't even know anyone from the Building Society.

There is some information at: http://www.greyhoundderby.com/tamworth_hounds.htm Tamworth Road and the nearest part of Watling Street are about half a mile apart, linked by Atherstone Road. If the pre and post war track was one and the same maybe there was a different access route from the main road into the site, which might have been necessary as the area became more developed. Edit - see later post about the site of the post-war track.

The Highfield Road Sports Ground, Blackpool, was listed for sale by auction at the Royal Hotel on 2nd October 1929. The grounds were described as being laid out at enormous expense and forming one of the finest Dirt Tracks in the country, suitable in every way for Motor Cycle Racing and other Sports, the ground having been passed by the A.C.U. The grounds were also indicated to be suitable for building purposes, possibly for redevelopment as a garden city. Perhaps the Manchester syndicate who proposed to re-open the track in 1930 had purchased at the auction.

I remember that meeting well. Fred managed a second place in the Rosewood Stakes in the second half, ahead of Ivor Hughes and Dave Schofield, before going on to win the final by beating Derek Timms, Ron Cooper and Errol Brook, who fell. Fred's winning time was only 9 seconds outside the track record. In the next meeting, two days later, he won the Triers Stakes in a time that was more than another 10 seconds slower, beating Errol Brook, the only other finisher.

The Speedway Researcher site indicates meetings were also held in 1932 at Catford and Dagenham.

Yes, he did have a few second half outings at Brandon in 1961. I am sure I saw him spectating there in later years.

Errol Brook appeared in several matches for Wolverhampton in 1961 and 1962, with just one appearance in 1963. I believe his first meeting for Wolves was at Cradley Heath in a Northern League match, inflicting Harry Bastable's only defeat in a race when he finished second, also ahead of Tommy Sweetman. Two other highlights that season were teaming up with young Terry Betts for a 5-1 over Ronnie Rolfe at Sheffield and being undefeated in a second half junior match against Cradley at Monmore Green. In 1962, despite having earlier qualified for two second half scratch race finals, Errol didn't get a chance in the Wolves team until mid-July. He had a good run of success, with paid 5 from two rides at Stoke, which included two defeats of Ray Harris, followed by paid 4 from two rides at home to Sheffield and a paid win at home to Plymouth before a crash in his second ride. He did not maintain that form but in his time with Wolves he achieved an average of around three and a half points per match in the league.

The finishing order in that second half race was Brook, Cooper, Evans, Priest. Just a couple of days ago an acquaintance related a story to me about the time he accompanied Fred Priest to Norwich to collect a speedway machine he had purchased. So the story goes, Fred was impatient to test the machine and on the way back, in the early hours of the morning, he unloaded it from the back of the car and rode it along the deserted Halesowen by-pass. Apparently not long after that Fred decided he was never going to make the grade and retired.

With reference to the 'conquered' element of the title of this thread, the way Peter Vandenberg started his Wasps career in 1964 it seemed as though he was all-conquering. First meeting, away at Cradley Heath, he scored a 12 point maximum and recorded the three fastest times of the match, inflicting Ivor Brown's only defeat in the process. Second meeting, away at Poole, another 12 point maximum and the four fastest times of the match. Peter had ridden for Poole in their first three meetings that season, including scoring a paid maximum at Wolverhampton, which was to be his future home on leaving the Wasps in 1966. His run of success in Newport colours in 1964 came to and end in his third meeting for them when, having scored three race wins, he was excluded following a fall in his final race. Peter recorded the fastest time of the match when beating Ivor Brown. I saw Peter ride many times and he was always a dependable team man, as well as a very good captain during his time with Wolves.

Birmingham's Graham Warren was unbeaten in his one meeting at Walthamstow, a challenge match on 22nd May 1950, scoring 12 points. Although also very successful in a series of second half match races at the track he was not undefeated in them. Middlesbrough took part in the Northern Cup competition in 1966, using a variety of guest riders, with Barry Briggs recording a 12 point maximum on what appears to have been his only appearances at the track on 28th June. Ron Mountford recorded a paid maximum (11+1) on his single visit on 2nd June. Chapelizod in Dublin had two unbeaten one-time visitors, Cyril Roger winning 4 heats, semi-final and final in the Whitsun Cup on 14th May 1951 and Peter Williams scoring a 12 point maximum for Belle Vue in a challenge match on 24th April earlier in the same year. Three riders scored paid maximums (all 11+1) in their single visit to the track for challenge matches, Bryce Subritzky for Liverpool on 20th June 1954, Mike Wood and Bob Aldrige both for a Speedway World team on 10th August 1951. In the early post-war years three riders made single visits to Cradley Heath in challenge matches and left unbeaten. George Wilks scored 12 for Wembley on 22nd May 1950 and Bill Longley did likewise for London Select on 12th June in the same year. Bradford's Ernie Price recorded 11 plus a bonus point on 20th May 1949. Tony Robinson recorded a 12 point maximum for Sheffield at the Odsal (Bradford) track on 16th July 1960 on what appears to have been his only visit.

In a Southern League match at Long Eaton on 26th April 1952 Sid Clarke of Ipswich recorded a 12 point maximum on what appears to have been his only visit. Les Tolley also notched 12 points from a single appearance there when riding for a combined Coventry/Cradley team on 29th May in the same year. Swedish tourist Sune Karlsson was unbeaten on 12 points in a challenge match at Station Road on 26th March 1951. Ivor Brown recorded a paid maximum (10 plus 2 bonus) on his only visit to Neath, in the Provincial League match on 1st June 1962. He clearly enjoyed riding against the Welsh Dragons as he scored two 12 point maximums against them at Dudley Wood and 11 points in a 4-team tournament at Wolverhampton, where Neath's Trevor Redmond finally defeated him in their fourth ride. Wolverhampton's James Bond was the only unbeaten rider at Brafield in the mid-1960s, scoring 15 points in the challenge match on 7th May 1967. Cradley's Alan Grahame was undefeated with 12 points at Ballymena in the only meeting staged there, against an Ivan Mauger Select in 1982.

It is easier if you have been accumulating speedway stats for well over 50 years for the period covering the 1950s and early 1960s, have a good memory, particularly of the meetings attended, have a huge number of completed programmes and collections of the various magazines for that period and the time to look back at the available information. Coventry's Derek Tailby paid one visit to Cardiff, in 1951 when he won a World Championship Qualifying Round with a 15 point maximum.

Newcastle's Jeff Lloyd recorded a 12 point maximum on his single visit to Wigan's Poolstock Stadium in a National League meeting on April 26th 1947. In another season of open meetings at Wigan's Woodhouse Lane track in 1952 Junior Bainbridge recorded a 12 point maximum for Glasgow on 30th May and Ronnie Moore replicated the feat for a New Zealand team on June 20th. Weymouth had two one-time visitors from Coventry in 1955 who were unbeaten by the opposition, Tommy Miller scoring a 15 point maximum in the National League match on April 15th and Bob Mark recording 14 plus a bonus point when second to Miller in the final race. Poole's Ken Middleditch also scored a 15 point maximum in the League meeting at Weymouth on 6th May. On April 29th Bob Roger gained a 15 point maximum for Swindon in the league meeting at Weymouth and was the only rider to finish ahead of team-mate George White who scored 14 plus a bonus. Both Swindon riders had been beaten in a challenge match in September 1954 however. Unbeaten riders at Sunderland were Charlie Monk (12 points for Glasgow on 12th May 1964), George Hunter (12 for Edinburgh on 28th April 1964), Eric Boocock (12 for Middlesbrough on 19th May 1964) and Ivan Mauger (12 for Newcastle on 26th May). Ivan also scored a maximum 12 points in a challenge meeting and in the Cock of the North Trophy. Bluey Scott scored 11 and a bonus point for Middlesbrough, beaten only by team-mate Boocock,

The achievement of Southampton's Alf Bottoms against Wombwell in 1948 is worthy of a mention here. 13th April at Southampton (National Trophy) paid 18 point maximum (17+1) 23rd April at Wombwell (National Trophy) 18 point maximum 22nd June at Southampton (National League) 12 point maximum 9th July at Wombwell (National League) 12 point maximum 24th September at Wombwell (National League) 12 point maximum 12th October at Southampton (National League) 12 point maximum George Bason was the team-mate who finished ahead of him on 13th April, in a meeting which Southampton won 89-19. Harwood Pike took second place in the final heat to prevent a complete whitewash. I have no record of any other appearances by Alf Bottoms at Wombwell.

Derek Close recorded a 12 point maximum for Newcastle at Shelbourne on 10th June 1951. Unfortunately, he fell in the All Star Scratch Race in the second half.

Johnny Hole scored a 12 point maximum for Bristol at Yarmouth on 28th June 1960 on what I believe was his only visit in an official fixture.

Dave Younghusband scored three successive 12 point maximums for Halifax in league matches at Dudley Wood in 1966/7/8, but the 1965 fixture was not staged. In his other appearance at the track in 1966 (World Championship British Semi Final) he was beaten in two of his 5 rides (a last place and a second) and was then last in a third place run-off between 4 riders. We had value for money at that meeting as there was also a run-off between Trevor Hedge and Colin Pratt for first place.

Ron How (Oxford) made one visit to Somerton Park, Newport, in official matches (i.e. excluding challenge matches), scoring a 15 point maximum on 14th May 1965, although he was beaten in the Kings of Oxford challenge match on July 2nd. He was also heading for a 12 point maximum on his one visit to Cradley Heath on 26th June 1965 when he suffered machine failure in his fourth ride.

In the meeting held on 11th June 1939 Holbeach & Spalding beat Oxford 57-51. Jack Kean scored 7 points for Oxford. Frank Varey beat Geoff Godwin 2-1 in the match races.

I can see that John Keen was third in the Trials Scratch Race on 17th July 1946, won the Novice Race on 24th July, was second in the Novice Race on 7th August, finishing at New Cross with fourth place in the Novice Race on 18th September. I have found some information about Jack Keen in The Lincolnshire Standard newspaper for 20th May 1939, which carried a report from the previous Sunday's meeting at Bell End (grass and cinder circuit) when Holbeach & Spalding beat West Ham Hawks (the name of the 1938 West Ham speedway second team) 79-29. It appears that each rider took 6 rides and Jack Keen top scored for the Hawks with 11 points. The Lincolnshire, Boston and Spalding Free Press newspaper edition for 5th June 1939 carried an advertisement for a meeting at Bell End on Sunday 11th June between Holbeach & Spalding and Oxford, with the Oxford team listed as Jim Boyd, Bill Sims, Arthur Flack, George Bason, Jack Keen, Jim Cashmere, Jack Peck and Tony Gyselynch. Frank Varey was also scheduled to meet Geoff Godwin in a match race. It is possible that this Jack Keen and the post-war John Keen were one and the same.

Guest rider and tactical substitute schemes were introduced by the Speedway Control Board for the 1955 season. The use of guest riders was intended to ease the hardship when a team was weakened by injury to a rider. The original rules were: 1. If any rider in a First Division team team suffered an injury which prevented him from riding for his team then his place could be taken by a guest rider selected from a previously determined list of Second Division riders. 2, If any rider in a Second Division team team suffered an injury which prevented him from riding for his team then his place could be taken by a guest rider selected from a previously determined list of First Division riders. 3. The guest rider would be one whose ability was not greater than that of the replaced rider. 4. The Control Board would publish the pre-determined lists. 5. A promoter requiring the services of a guest rider would obtain the agreement of the rider's promoter. 6. In the event of a dispute between the promoters the matter would be referred to the Control Board for a decision. 7. The Control Board would be advised of all guest replacements, time permitting, in order that the A.C.U Steward could be advised. 8. Where time did not permit prior notification to the Control Board then both of the opposing promoters in the fixture would notify the A.C.U. Steward of their agreement, in order that the Steward could permit the guest rider to substitute for the injured rider. 9. A guest rider could not ride in the same competition within a consecutive period of two weeks against a team for which he had already ridden as a guest rider. 10. If a promoter required the services of a guest rider for more than one meeting he had to engage a different rider from the pre-determined list until the list was exhausted, following which riders may be engaged again but not in successive meetings. 11. Accidents reported by the promoter to his Insurance Company also had to be reported to the Control Board at the same time. This scheme had merit and some safeguards to prevent abuse and manipulation. Unfortunately, over time the scheme was widened to cover riders missing for reasons other than injury. Guest riders were banned at the beginning of the 1957 season, but the scheme was very quickly reinstated with relaxed rules. In any event, the amalgamation to form one league in 1957 meant that guests had to come from rival teams in the same division, which at any time is at the least unfortunate and at worst farcical. The tactical substitute scheme introduced at that time was straightforward. It was described as a challenge to team managers when their team was six or more points in arrears, allowing them to make an 'intelligent switch of riders' aimed at reducing the deficit. The rules were: 1. If after the fourth heat in a National League match a team was 6 or more points in arrears the team manager could substitute a rider in the next or succeeding heats with another rider in his team. 2. All riders in a team could be used as a tactical substitute only once. 3. Substitutions had to cease as soon as the deficit was reduced to less than 6 points. This scheme also had merit and was used to good effect for many years. As for Swindon 's success in 1957, although many thought it surprising there were underlying reasons. Added to their 1956 second division title winning line-up were Ken Middleditch from Poole, Mike Broadbank from Wembley and Neil Streeet, formerly of Exeter. Speedway was affected by petrol rationing at the beginning of 1957 due to the Suez Crisis and this was one of the reasons why Poole dropped out of the league. Wembley, runners-up in 1956, closed for speedway, with the announcement following shortly after the death of Sir Arthur Elvin, the pro-speedway managing director and chairman of the stadium. Wimbledon had been champions in 1956, but for 1957 Ronnie Moore decided not to ride, Peter Moore had moved to Ipswich and although Split Waterman joined from Wembley his stay was very short lived, leaving after a falling out with the promoter Ronnie Greene. Birmingham had finished third in the league in 1956 but their chances for 1957 were ruined by events in South Africa, where Alan Hunt was killed in a track crash. South African Doug Davies did not return to Birmingham and other members of the Brummies team, Ron Mountford and Eric Boothroyd, were eventually suspended for having ridden on blacklisted tracks. This led to Birmingham closing down mid-season and fixtures being completed at Bradford. The success of Halifax in 1966 owed a lot to the signing of Tommy Roper. The previous season's team had a good trio of heat leaders in Eric Boocock, Dave Younghusband and Eric Boothroyd. Their combined scoring power increased in 1966 and the addition of Roper, whose scores effectively made him a fourth heat leader class rider, were a huge factor, in a similar vein to the contribution of Malcom Simmons at West Ham, in support of McKinlay, Harrfeldt and Hunter in the latter part of 1965 and Bob Kilby's back-up to Briggs, Broadbank and Ashby in Swindon's title winning team of 1967.

It was indeed Dick Bradley guesting for the Hunters. Leicester used several guests in the 1957 season, with others including Barry Briggs, Jack Biggs, Peo Soederman, Ian Williams and Ron How. Bradley also rode for Leicester against Belle Vue in the Britannia Cup and against Rayleigh in the National League, both meetings at Blackbird Road.

Speedway Star published an interesting article headed 'THE BEST FIVE EVER!' on December 23rd 1961. The top riders in speedway up to that time were nominated by John Hyam, editor of the Star. The achievements of the five nominated riders ,Vic Huxley, Vic Duggan, Jack Parker, Ove Fundin and Basse Hveem, were described. Highlights referred to included Huxley winning 9 individual meetings each carrying a £100 prize in 1930, Parker being a top rider for over 20 years, Fundin likely to be voted top world ranking rider for the 5th time in 6 years in a forthcoming World Ratings Chart and Duggan's phenomenal early post war form. Vic Duggan's record in 1947 was quoted from the 1948 Stenners Annual, when in league, cup, London Cup, National Trophy, British Riders' Championship, match races, tests and other races he won 297 out of 348, with 39 second places, 3 third places and 1 fourth place, failing to finish the other 8 races. This record excluded any bonus points. Vic scored 3 bonus points, the first when guiding the previously point-less Buck Whitby to a last heat 5-1 to secure a draw against Wimbledon, the next when also finishing second to Whitby in another meeting against the Dons and the third in the last meeting of the season at Bradford, when finishing third behind Jack Biggs. Including bonus points, from those records Vic accumulated 975 points in the season at a CMA of 11.21. The impressive exploits of Basse Hveem were also referred to, although John Hyam acknowledged that his inclusion would be bound to arouse a certain amount of controversy, mainly due to his limited number of appearances in Britain, which included a few meetings for West Ham in 1953, World Championship meetings and representative matches. Some of Basse's achievements elsewhere were covered in the article, including his winning of the 1937 Norwegian Championship when he was 15 years old, 6 other Norwegian titles, 'many Scandinavian and European titles', as well as rave reviews from Dutch and South African correspondents. In one of his few meetings for West Ham Basse top scored at Norwich, when as reserve he recorded 5 race wins and set the fastest time of the meeting before suffering machine failure in the nominated riders race. Bryan Tungate, the Norwich historian, described the performance as 'magic'. He also showed a liking for the Poole track, winning a World Championship qualifying round and scoring 17 points from 6 rides for Overseas against Britain in an international match. Records now show that Basse actually won at least 8 Norwegian titles, the first in 1938 (350cc), the next in 1940 (500cc) and then 6 more between 1947 and 1953, missing out in 1950. Records for 1946 are unclear, one source shows that the Norwegian title was won by Hveem and another indicates that the champion was Leif Samsing. Basse was Nordic (also referred to as Scandinavian) champion for 5 successive years between 1948 and 1952, as well as being crowned European Champion in 1953, beating Olle Nygren into second place at Kumla. He won 8 Norwegian long track titles between 1947 and 1957 and 8 Nordic (Scandinavian) long track championships between 1946 and 1957. A crash in South Arica in 1955 virtually ended his speedway career and he took up car racing in 1958. 'Basse' was actually a nickname, his real name being Leif Ole Hveem. His record was certainly impressive, but when people are considering whether a rider from that era can be judged as one of the greatest they tend to be overlooked unless they have had a prolonged run of success on British tracks or in the World Championship.

The Poole-Bradford meeting was not staged and Bradford forfeited the 2 match points. There was no 'awarded' score.

According to my programme, the result was McKinlay, Forrest, Bradley, Allott, giving Leicester a 4-2 heat win.