iris123

There was an effort to get the very best riders at the LA Coliseum in 1934. The release of Eastern speedway contracts for Goldie Restall and Palmer Tamburro was sought by the AMA and assurances were given that Son Smith and J.B. Jones of Dallas would also attend There was also a nasty aftermath to the final, where one famous rider was threatened with a life ban !!!

Well he certainly was no promoter nor had a troupe at the time of the 1934 final. At this time he was just a rider. Think he turned up early in 1933 to do some stunts and then started riding as well. But wasn’t a top rider. Neither was Trujillo. He might well have competed in one of the semi finals as may Mossman, but never qualified McKinney and Lisman also competed with Mossmans troupe I think. Possibly Earl Farrand . They were all competing against each other at meetings What is probably more surprising is why Ray Tauser never seemed to be in any meetings as far as I know. He seems to have disappeared, at least he never seemed to compete in California. But his reputation in Australia kept him in the news and there were rumours for a couple of years that he would return or send a group of Americans over to tour and even captain them.....

Absolutely. Wondered about that myself, but race times were always hit and miss and to an extent still are

Ray Grant was also associated with Mossman,.Think he was married to his sister,? I don't think that is the reason. Sure I have seen reports from meetings where they are all riding against each other. Lammy, Milne, McKinney, and Trujillo,Mossman. What makes you think that Mossman had a 'rival speedway faction at the time' ? He was just another rider on the bill, as far as I can see

No doubt about it, but I am trying to fill in the gaps and put out information that I haven't seen elsewhere. I have tried to contact Britmet ( we make on-off contact when either needs a bit of help) over the past couple of weeks with no luck. Hope he is just enjoying a break

The facts of the 1933 season as far as I have gathered from local papers. It seems Dick Case, Max Grosskreutz joined up with A.J.Reynolds, who I have an idea was involved at Wimbledon, so maybe that is where he got familiar with Case ( not sure) started up the track for 1933 and according to the press the first meeting was very well organised and a crowd of 10,000 though not brilliant was a promising start All the Australians won a heat, with Grosskreutz winning all 5 of his and Case winning 4 out of 5. Herbert Drews was the best German on show. Sebastian Rth and Alfred Rumrich having bike trouble A week later and it was a Germany v Australia team match as the highlight, but only 3-4,000 turned up. Who knows what the reason was ? One local journalist was dumbfounded. He was full of praise for the promotion and could only speculate that the entry price was to high. I wonder if the relatively poor performance of the German riders in the opening meeting xomared to the strength of the Australians was too much to bear with the political atmosphere at the time..... Resuts are here http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/gervaus.htm Only to add that Grosskreutz fell on the last bend in ht 8, but was already well beaten by Drews and Germany had a surprise 27: 23 win and collected 2 pts, so it seemed there were a series of internationals planned for the season. The next and last meeting had a Germany v Denmark match, so maybe a 3 way series or maybe one or two others were to be involved ? Evans makes no mention of this. A couple of match races in which Grosskreutz beat Roth and Müller beat Evans. Then a nasty accident when Müller and Ahrens clashed and fell in front of the following Australians, who thanks to skilful riding managed to avoid the fallers. But unluckily Müller broke his leg and Ahrens received internal injuries, which would put them out of the following meeting. Dick Case beat Grosskreutz and Glass in the main final of the night with Sebastian Roth trailing well at the back using somebody else's bike 3rd and last (as far as I know) meeting of the season and ever at Lokstedt A Germany v Denmark match, but strangely a shorter format than the week before again saw a win for the home riders http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/gervden.htm Sebastian Roth broke the week old track record that Grosskreutz had set finishing almost 3 seconds ahead of Drews and Knudsen !!! There followed a handicap trophy, which in the final Case just won on the line overtaking Baltzar Hansen, who had a 20m head start, then Grosskreutz and Drews followed in behind. Then in the final trophy of the night Alfred Rumrich won a great race to beat Grosskreutz, Case and Drews in that order So nothing that really comes close to Grosskreutz and Evans descriptions of events The next meeting was planned for 31.05.1933........if the Aussies went to Sweden + Denmark as stated I am not sure. But it would be great to find out about Sweden at least. Really know nothing about pre-war speedway there

The format was changed for 1938 Ht 1. B.Wilkinson, C.Mitchell, B.Pitcher Ht 2. J.Milne, C.Parkinson, J.Hancock Ht 3 A.Staham, B.Rogers Ht 4. W.Lamoreaux, W.Lloyd, N.Evans Ht 5. C.Mitchell, B.Pitcher, C.Parkinson Ht 6. J.Parker, D.Sulway, B.Longley Ht 7. B.Wilkinson, C.Spinks, S.Shuetrim Ht 8. J.Milne, A.Statham, B.Rogers Ht 9. W.Lamoreaux, B.Pitcher, F.Dolan Ht 10. B.Rogers, C.Parkinson, R.Duggan Ht 11. J.Milne, C.Mitchell, C.Spinks Ht 12. A.Statham, B.Longley, J.Parker Ht 13. B.Wilkinson, B.Rogers Ht 14. J.Milne, W.Lamoreaux, A.Menzies Ht 15. J.Parker, B.Pitcher, N.Evans Ht 16. A.Staham, C.Mitchell, W.Lloyd Ht 17. W.Lamoreaux, C.Spinks, D.Sulway Ht 18. B.Wilkinson, J.Hancock Top 4 scorers Milne + Wilkinson 12pts, Lamoreaux + Staham 11 pts, qualified for final Final J.Milne, Lammy, Bluey, Statham

It also gets a bit confusing if say one or two riders as I was told by a Russian friend are ethnic Ukrainian etc...and as I was surprised to see when looking at 1930s US newspapers even Wilbur Lamoreaux was refered to as the Frenchman or flying Frenchman !!!! But I was just asking about Russian riders in particular because I didn't think any USSR riders rode for a British club

With speedway anything is possible. Didn’t Ken McKinlay represent England more than once ? But I agree with your point Aas was never Russian. Darkin I think it has been pointed out before is from Uzbekistan, but at least represented Russia

One thing to remember in this is that Grant had a serious injury in July 1933 that put him out of the sport until April 1934. I think it would have been almost impossible to have accumulated enough points to cover his absence from July to November and still take the title. Even given that Lammy spent some time along with the Milne brothers I guess ( Cordy at least won the championship) in Mexico

See that a Mexican rider was riding in California from 1933-35 and getting some decent results. Chico(Frank) Duarte at least was listed as Mexican, but then again Lammy was often refered to as the Frenchman or flying frenchman

Rene Aas was Estonian by the time he rode for Sheffield in 1993. Estonia getting independence in 1990

Found a site about Rosario with some interesting stuff on it, although my Spanish isn't up to much https://osvaldonale.jimdofree.com/speedway/ Some photos etc from 1929 http://www.chethams.org.uk/bellevue/items/browse?tags=Bob+Harrison

Actually found something earlier involving E.Odlum. In fact I might have found a couple of bits involving him In 1910 an Ernest Odlum was jailed for 3 months for embezzling 10 pounds from Canada Cycling Co. Then an E. Odlum was years later involved with T Cycles, who sponsored a motorcycle meeting in which he competed Jan 1916(Darling Downs Gazette 27.01.1916), which indicates an earlier meeting at least had taken place as the lap record was broken. E.Odlum won the Flying Mile.....then years later I guess it was the same rider who was involved in the Riders assoc. along with Frank Pearce

After the strike in December 1926 things rumbled on into the new year, despite the apology from Pearce. The management elected Yenson to be spokesman for the riders. But it seems the money promised the riders after the strike wasn't paid and so a Union was formed. The Racing Motorcycle Rider's Association of Queensland' and Frank Pearce was elected chairman. Pearce said that after the dispute the officials had submitted a schedule of prize money. The riders hadn't asked for it, but the company had presented it of its own free will. On the next Saturday night Mr Hunting came to them a few minutes before the meeting was to start and asked if they were willing to be paid in bonus money. Pearce said it was all done in a rush and without knowing what it meant the riders said 'yes', but after thinking it over and realising what it meant didn't agree to it. The Dick Smythe had a problem with his money for winning the handicap, seemingly getting less than agreed and one of the officials said 'We don't want men who win by half a mile. If you want the money you must ride to suit the public ' When it was heard the riders were holding a meeting the officials gave Smythe the correct money. This was thought to be good justification of having an association. When officials got wind of the meeting to form the association they sent letters to all the riders requesting them to attend a meeting with officlas the night before the association meeting. They were all advised not to attend and seems they stuck together. There was also a rumour put into the press that Pearce would be leaving to ride in the south, which Pearce strongly denied and called it foul play from the management, who of course denied this Hunting also tried to call their bluff by saying riders from the south would be willing to ride instead, but Pearce had received a letter from the President of the N.S.W riders assoc. saying they were behind them and he would advise his riders not to 'scab' Mr Ernie Odlum (the rider Norbold pointed to as riding in a 1916 motorcycle meeting I think) advised the riders not to sign any contracts with the management without representation as some f the clauses were trying to tie them up and also stop them being members of the riders assoc. Including 'I agree to give my entire services to your company for a period of 6 calendar months from even date as a motorcycle racing rider, and to compete when, and if called upon, so to do' A motion was then carried giving the committee authority to negoiate

Just seen a list with some riders set for the GP's and 6 to qualify and further wild cards!!! Ivanov,Koltakov,Khomisevitsch,Valeev,H.Weber, S+ N.Svensson all into the GP's

I saw that earlier and was going to ask about it. Plus think there were two riders for Austria( one Zorn) but two different federations listed. Zorn obviously with the Austrian one....the other for the French, was it?

Another interesting comment I saw from a journalist around 1926 describing the cornering technique as the 'American skid', which with the piece I posted earlier describing the technique and crediting it to the US cracks, is fairly emphatic

Must say what a comprehensive and well researched site it is . I have come across a number of track tragedies and thought ‘ doubt he has this one on there’ and when I have looked it is there !!!!

Just sort of getting back a bit to the original theme. How many Russians have ridden British League ? I know Emil of course, but although there weren’t many there must have been a couple more . Darkin? Gafurov ?

That could be right. I got the impression it only applied in that State and not others. But it could well be specific to that track. I tried looking on Brian Collins international site , but saw no mention of this and there weren’t many race times to see if there was a sudden jump in the times

Thanks arnieg. New one on me. Also note other famous surnames among past ‘winners’ Venegas, Hamill and a Brit Hagon, I think

An interesting compilation of speedway riders who have tackled the Wall of Death http://www.vintagewallofdeath.co.uk/Vintage_Wall_of_Death/Speedway_riders.html

Good question which I really don't know the answer to in Test matches, but at least in the Australian Solo Championship there was a 3 lap champion into the 1950's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Solo_Championship

I see there is an AMA/FIM Youth Silver Cup championship planned in the US for August. Any info on what this will be ? Riders from other countries competing or just national ? A qualifier for something else ?