iris123

In 1933 it seems Hoskins was selling two books on his tour of Australia with the England/ London/ Wembley team 'Roaring round the Speedways' and ' Crashin' through' Which were described thus 'John deals with the history of the sport in an entertaining manner' https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roarin-Speedways-Hoskins-speedway-racing/dp/B000XIYVH2

Can also add the heat details for the 1939 Derby. Again another change of format and a straight 20 heats, no final Ht 1. Wilkinson, G.Pymar, W.Longley Ht 2. J.Parker, A.Atkinson, C.Milne Ht 3. J.Milne, L.V.Praag, N.Parker Ht 4. A.Statham, W.Lamoreaux, C.Spinks Ht 5. Wilkonson, C.Milne, A.Statham Ht 6.J.Milne + Lammy dead heat !!, G.Pymar Ht 7. A.Atkinson, W.Lloyd, W.Longley Ht 8. R.Harrison, C.Spinks, A.Lawson Ht 9. G.Pymar, C.Milne, N.Parker Ht 10. Wilkinson, J.Parker, W.Lloyd Ht 11. G.Pymar, A.Staham, A.Atkinson Ht 12. W.Lamoreaux, Van Praag, R.Harrison Ht 13. J.Milne, A.Staham, A.Lawson Ht 14. W.Lamoreaux, Wilkinson, N.Parker Ht 15. Van Praag, C.Spinks, J.Parker Ht 16. J.Milne, C.Milne, R.Harrison Ht 17. Van Praag, G.Pymar, W.Lloyd Ht 18. J.Milne, Wilkinson, A.Atkinson, Ht 19. W.Lamoreaux, W.Longley, C.Spinks (ex.tapes) Ht 20. A.Staham, J.Parker, R.Harrison 1. J.Milne 14.5 2. W.Lamoreaux 13.5, 3. Wilkinson 13 Costly point dropped by Lammy to Statham

Seen an interesting photo that was taken in May 1936 at Harringay where the Parker brothers met the Milne's in a duel and supposedly lost 14-11!!! Had a look on speedway researcher and can't see anything. Guess it was part of the Harringay v Hackney meeting as that roughly corresponds to the date given Does anyone have further details of this clash? Not sure how they get to that score... And anyone know of any other clashes between two sets of brothers ? Grahame v Collins maybe ?

You seem to get withdrawal symptoms from here though during you sabbaticals !!!!

At least the guy puts a disclaimer f sorts at the bottom by stating he just saw the results somewhere but couldn't confirm anything. By just copying those results without the disclaimer or putting in an article that someone was the unofficial world champ in 1936 without yourself doing any research is pure rubbish as usual

Oh dear John, you do make a rod for your own back......

In the aftermatch of the 1934 US national championship, the dethroned champ, Wilbur Lamoreaux was upset that new champ, Cordy Milne used what he called a 'trick machine'. It seems Cordy's frame was shorter than the standard frame which according to Lammy gave him an unfair advantage on the turns. The promoter of Emeryville Speedway got wind of this and held a series of conferences to match them up at his track. Through Lammy's manager he heard Wilbur would agree as long as Cordy used a standard bike. It was then that AMA president Hap Alzina stepped in to threaten Cordy with a lifetime ban from all tracks if he didn't agree. In the end Milne had no choice, but requested the track be specially prepared so he could ride 'full throttle'. He then sent a telegram stating he would bring both his short bike and a standard one and said 'understood race to decide best man.Why not trade machines? Will beat him anyway' When told of this Lammy replied 'All I want is a chance to meet him again on even terms.Let me at him'. The race was to be over two laps and a huge cash prize was waiting for the winner to settle the argument. In the end Milne proved yet again he was the better man at that time and not only won the revenge race, but also beat Lammy in the scratch race final that night

In the aftermatch of the 1934 US national championship, the dethroned champ, Wilbur Lamoreaux was upset that new champ, Cordy Milne used what he called a 'trick machine'. It seems Cordy's frame was shorter than the standard frame which according to Lammy gave him an unfair advantage on the turns. The promoter of Emeryville Speedway got wind of this and held a series of conferences to match them up at his track. Through Lammy's manager he heard Wilbur would agree as long as Cordy used a standard bike. It was then that AMA president Hap Alzina stepped in to threaten Cordy with a lifetime ban from all tracks if he didn't agree. In the end Milne had no choice, but requested the track be specially prepared so he could ride 'full throttle'. He then sent a telegram stating he would bring both his short bike and a standard one and said 'understood race to decide best man.Why not trade machines? Will beat him anyway' When told of this Lammy replied 'All I want is a chance to meet him again on even terms.Let me at him'. The race was to be over two laps and a huge cash prize was waiting for the winner to settle the argument. In the end Milne proved yet again he was the better man at that time and not only won the revenge race, but also beat Lammy in the scratch race final that night

It is interesting that I came across a piece by 'Sprouts' Elder where he states the San Diego speedway was the first purpose built track for the sport and that it was V.A Seward and W.A. Seward who got it up and running. Must be the same two guys who were with the riders in Mexico

Came across this film a drama based around speedway from Glasgow in 1980 including Stevie Lawson and Bobby Beaton. Can't say I recall hearing about it before. Anyone seen it? https://movingimage.nls.uk/film/4927?search_term=speedway&search_join_type=AND&search_fuzzy=yes

Weather playing havoc again St. Johann and Weissenbach been cancelled/postponed

Looks like a Monarchs v Motherwell meeting, but part the way through it seems a couple of rider are wearing Ashfield Giants colours. Recognise Jack Young ,and some kids copying their heroes at the end. Great film https://movingimage.nls.uk/film/5853

Including Basse Hveem, Dan Forsberg , Olle Nygren, Peter Craven, Barry Briggs, Ronnie Moore and Neil Street Olle Nygren seems to have won a Victor Ludorum type race with Briggo finishing second. Not great quality, but worth a look https://tv.nrk.no/serie/filmavisen/1955/FMAA55004355/avspiller

http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/144660 can also be seen in action in Ipswich v Norwich meeting http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/212340

In quite an extraordinary coincidence I have just come across a spectacular photo of Peewee 'Cullen' in mid air after a crash at Yankee Stadium, New York in 1937 !!! I kid you not. Must have had auto correct problems even in those days

Auto correction on my phone . Just typed it again and it changed it once more to Cullen . No idea why. It doesn’t change anything

This is the trouble with some who spread this stuff . Historic facts aren’t a matter of ‘ make your own choice’ and it isn’t a matter of ‘lots of sites state such and such ‘ or ‘ why has nobody ever questioned this before ? ‘ One such article stating Cullum was unofficial world champ by gustix http://www.speedwaymuseumonline.co.uk/puttmossman.html

Also a piece I put on another thread about Sprouts Elder coming to Hamburg at the start of the 1930 season and being billed as 'World Champion' Can also confirm that on a number of occasions in the US during 1932,33 and 34 he was named not only international champion, but also world champion

Yes. As I stated before, it is a well researched site. Sadly a lot of poor information floats around the internet Could you post the line up for that final by any chance ?

Not sure norbold. Think though I have seen two versions from him on that first trial. One was with a single rider and the committee heard the bikes and came out. The other version was with a group of riders, who blasted past him and the committee heard and came out to see what was going on Didn’t he have a book out in those early days ?

Maybe it was harder to sell that story to people who were there and knew better ?

That was in 1938 Just found a report from April 1904 Automobile Club of Victoria held recent motor races at Sandown Racecourse Mr J.R. Crook of Aspendale holds place of honour having won the first Motor-Car race held by the club and the first contest of the kind in the State Mr C.Mayman received the prize for the motorcycle competition A few weeks later they were to hold a sports meeting for members only at Maribyrnong Racecourse including a Roadster Motorcycle handicap of 2 miles and a Motorcycle handicap also of 2 miles

Further to our research into the beginnings of the sport I came across an interesting item which attempted to explain It states that the sport developed from road racing, but the sport was generally out in the sticks. In Sydney they wanted to bring it closer to the public because at the time few people had transport and public transport was also not good to take spectators to the 'venue'. Applications were made time and again to have roads closed off near Sydney but were always refused by the council. So they asked Victoria Park racecourse if they could use their track and permission was given as long as a share of the proceeds was given to charity. This meeting proved such a success that a second was held. After each meeting the sale of motorcycles increased tremendously. This led to the construction of a dirt track at Penrith on land owned by the railway. It was also a success and on the back of this US riders including Paul Anderson,Paul Remali, etc were invited over. The invitations were made possible by the number of sales by local dealerships. The supply of motorcycles couldn't keep up with demand. The concrete track at Marouba was built and a cinder track at Royal Agricultutal Showground and other tracks followed such as Wentworth Oval, Pratten Park,Newcastle and Maitland. Mentions a number of early riders including Tommy Benstead and Billy Conaulty who have previously been mentioned, but not a word about Hoskins !!! Not done an extensive search, but found a meeting at Victoria Park from 1910.....

Wasn't Barry Briggs, who at the time I think was world champion, threatened with a ban from the world championship if he didn't ride for Wimbledon by Ronnie Greene ?

The Paris championships are always a bit of a quandary. Seems little information about them and differences of opinion Speedway Champions give the following winners from 1931-1935 Lamont,Wilkinson,Meynier, Rye and again Rye which differs from the above Something I would love to clarify, but although I have found a few short reports from Paris meetings, never got to the bottom of this puzzle so far