norbold

Any big track. Hyde Road seems to be popular so I'll go along with that. And then Mauger with Collins, Loram and Jack Young all trying to get past as they will all have gated badly!

I know there were two brothers...I was named after Norman!

Thank you. How could I have forgotten Jack Parker? Doh!

On achievement and skill on a bike it's hard to argue against Craven, Collins and Lee as the best of the post War Brits. But going on from there with Carter, Simmons, Ashby, Wilson, Louis, etc, surely Freddie Williams should rank above all of them and we would also need to include Tommy Price, Brian Crutcher, Split Waterman, Ken McKinlay, Nigel Boocock and Ron How in the mix.

Syd Edmonds rode at high Beech in 1928 and 1929 and was in their league team in 1930 and 1931. He took over as captain on 1 May 1930 following Jack Barnett's crash which put him out for several weeks. He qualified for the final of the 1930 Gold Trophy along with Huxley and Phil Bishop. He also qualified for the final of the Star Riders' Championship in 1931. He was High Beech's no. 2 behind Jack Barnett and was a decent enough rider, not quite the top class but certainly a good heat leader.

Monday: Wimbledon; Tuesday: West Ham; Wednesday: New Cross; Thursday: Wembley; Friday: Hackney; Saturday: Harringay; Sunday: Rye House and then start all over again....

Yes, very sad news. Freddie was always so supportive of speedway right up to his death. He still went to meetings, functions, events etc. R.I.P. Freddie

Yes, very sad news. Freddie was always so supportive of speedway right up to his death. He still went to meetings, functions, events etc. R.I.P. Freddie

Life is full of surprises Mick. I could counter that by saying I cannot believe that anyone picking a Wimbledon team would not include the late and great Vic Huxley, the greatest rider of his era. However, the point I was really making was the idea of naming an All Time Wimbledon 7. Parsloes says, "And with all due respect, great as the likes of Huxley, Kempster, Tauser & Lamoreaux certainly would've been, they are all way before the time of ANY of us on here (well except Bryn of course!!!) so really it's hard to comment on their inclusion." Exactly. No-one here is really in a position to name an "All Time" Wimbledon 7. I could certainly put forward arguments that all the riders I mentioned should be included ahead of Tommy Jansson but really we'll never know. I just think the idea of naming an "All Time 7" is impossible. Vincent, who started the thread and presumably gave it that title, limited his choice to an eight year period, hardly an "all-time" list. Perhaps it would be better as the "best Wimbledon team made up from riders I have seen".

Vic Huxley Jim Kempster Ray Tauser Wilbur Lamoreaux Norman Parker Ronnie Moore Barry Briggs

Vic Duggan Cordy Milne Frank Hodgson Morian Hansen Dick Case Dusty Haigh Wally Lloyd Just saying.....

Yes, if you just take the trouble to look back in the thread you will see that spin king quoted your remark about Ivan Mauger, which said, "Around the same time he struggled without success to break into the Wimbledon side too didn't he..?? Just goes to show that no-one needs to be an overnight success to make it to the very top in the end...." He then added: "Gives hope to the likes of Billy Legg, Nick Simmons and Benji Compton and may others." So I said "Still waiting..." which was a reference to the fact that we are still waiting for Billy Legg, Nick Simmons and Benji Compton making it to the very top. Jeez, this is hard going sometimes.

Still waiting....

The only BLRC final I saw was the first one Barry Briggs didn't win! 1971. He could only manage a poor second that year, behind Ivan Mauger and after a run-off with Jimmy McMillan. On the night Briggo was the most spectacular rider. He was involved in two "photo finishes" and had to come from behind to win two others, including a spectacular win over Mauger.

I think the worst thing about this whole thread is the number of people who have said "Chris Holder should of been excluded". It's Chris Holder should HAVE been excluded!

It is not a precise science - which team is in London and which isn't. In my first book (Speedway in London) I concentrated on those tracks which were sort of recognised "London" tracks and had been in the top flight. As it happens, of course, while they were open, Harringay and Lea Bridge were never in London and tracks like Wembley (as you say) and West Ham were not in London either until their revival, by which time Middlesex and parts of Essex had been incorporated. I think London is more a concept than a precise geographical area.

There's only 11 in Speedway in London. The others are Romford, Dagenham, Greenford, Barnet and Crayford (All in Speedway in the South East - available from all good booksellers )

Thank you, Robin, glad you liked it. The producer said the response they had by phone, text, etc. was one of the biggest ever. Apparently they don't expect much in the 9:00 to 10:00 slot as everyone is watching television by then, but last night they were inundated and could only read out a tiny fraction of the texts they received or talk to a small number of those phoning in. He said they would probably do a similar programme next year.

And MJJ is only what? 20. The point being? As a British fan I have to say that all I get out of seeing Bomber in the GPs is to cringe with embarrassment that he is our best. It seems to me it would be better for GB to have at least a year off and put in place a development plan for our young riders rather than pretend they can mix it with the world's elite, which they quite clearly can't.

Correct. Jason equalled Ove's record.

Next Wednesday from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m., BBC London are to broadcast a programme on the "Lost Sporting Venues of London". A significant part of this programme will be on the lost speedway tracks. I will be the studio guest for the whole hour along with someone talking about the lost greyhound tracks (which for the most part - though not all - will be the same venues). As well as studio discussion the programme will also be a phone/email/tweet/Facebook in so you can all have your say and give your memories. If you wish to contact the programme beforehand please contact Ian Ramsdale on ian.ramsdale@bbc.co.uk Speak to you next Wednesday then....

A great rider and a great guy. I remember him at the WSRA dinner a few years ago. He was the guest speaker. As he spoke, Ove Fundin got up to take a photo of him and Jason stopped in his tracks and said, "I can't believe it. The great Ove Fundin taking a photo of me!"

The History of Crystal Palace is now out. Available from Amazon and all good book sellers: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/178155062X/ref=s9_simh_bw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0SGMGHPM46KQKWGWKVRJ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=288382987&pf_rd_i=266239

The idea of excluding a rider for not racing could, of course, be open to interpretation. Does a rider race to win the race or win the meeting? If by winning a particular race it makes it harder for his team to win the meeting, could it not be argued that, in fact, he is racing to win by losing? Isn't winning the meeting the bigger prize and should it not therefore take precedence? Oh, and by the way, scrap the Joker Rule!!!

That's the sort of thing my five year old grandson says to me when I get the rules of one of his games wrong. "I won't play with you any more, granddad...."