kennylane

I am fairly certain that in his book 'Thrilling the Million' that Tom Stenner credits Johnny Hoskins with the start of speedway at West Maitland in December 1923. It's hard for me to be certain now because it was many, many moons ago that I read the book which was published around 1934. One thing that still stands out in my mind from the book is an amazing crash photo taken at High Beech and featuring, so I recall, Ron Johnson and Bobby Blake. Be that as it may, we still need to trace one of Johnny's early books to see if he has anything to say on this ongoing and engrossing topic.

Not strictly correct. That should read 'Tommy Knudsen - the man who won the first race at Wembley Stadium in September 1981.' The FIRST EVER race was won at the opening meeting at Wembley in 1928. Bill Crampton at Maitland in December 1923 looks to have won the FIRST EVER SPEEDWAY RACE both at the Australian track and in the history of speedway. Nice to be back on track with most of the 'Johnnie Hoskins On Maitland 1923' brought over.

How nice to read Johnnie Hoskins memories of Maitland in December 1923. And we have the confidence of knowing that he was also actually there. It's what they term a primary source of reference on a subject.

It's a shame you have taken that attitude but it's a free world. It means you will now probably never see this item on Brian Darby's excellent Australian speedway site. For those interested - oh, dear another website link - all will be revealed at: http://speedwayarchives.homestead.com/ SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS PHOTO AND CAPTION: Bill Crampton - the man who won the first ever Speedway race at West Maitland Showgrounds in December 1923.

Just a few hours to countdown and all will be revealed.

Yowieee!! A double-whammy. If Johnnie Hoskins is looking down he must be enjoying all this? Support for the Maitland speedway started theory: the recently provided South African site, the NZ Grand Prix programme, and a while back Peter Oakes in 'Speedway Star" are a good enough basis surely?

Nor did they give New Zealand's seven times national champion and wildcard entry Jason Bunyan special recognition?

You're a bit off course. Edinburgh in the early 1960s when Peter Craven tragically died and Maitland in 1923 are a long way apart. I don't quite see what this has to do with the debate on the start of speedway in Australia in December 1923. A rather unusual parallel but I am sure BFD will give his response.

What website are we talking about? You already have two other threads going? Is this a third?

The very latest on an an intriguing matter. And it's all back to square one in Johnnie Hoskins favour by the look of it.

Regarding Rye House and Lakeside I think they like their London area links. Lakeside were involved in reviving the LONDON RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP a few years ago, and there was also around that time of them competing for a revived LONDON CUP (which never came about). Did the London Speedways site call for a London Junior League to be formed? If they did, that is crazy. I have just been on London Speedways and the site does not make any comment about the team locations. That remark as I see it was made by a site member?

The London Speedways discussion site has set up a thread for the Anglia Junior League but it will probably only carry details of Lakeside Hammers and Rye House as they are the only London teams involve in the competition. Take a look here for some details. http://londonspeedwa...o33&thread=1410

This link keeps getting posted on here by various people. Is it co-ordinated or just that previous Posts are not read? I think this one for The Spokesman has been posted three times?

From the Guiness Book of Records 1986: SPEEDWAY ORIGINS: Motorcycle racing on large dirt track surfaces has been traced back to 1902 in the United States. The first organised ‘short track’ races were at the West Maitland (New South Wales Australia) Agricultural Show in November 1923. The sport evolved in Great Britain with small diameter track racing at Droylsden, Greater Manchester on 25 June 1927 and a cinder track event at High Beech, Essex on 19 Feb 1928.

Are you saying that if there was a primary source error in the Maitland papers in December 1923 and their version of events was wrong, there is still a possibility that speedway's origins can be attributed to Johnnie Hoskins after all?