norbold

Droyslden was a cinder track but they were packed down hard, so it wasn't in the sense we really mean it a cinder track. Camberley's surface was sandy but at least it was loose sand. And it wasn't like sand you find on the beach. The soil was a sandy soil, so it was in effect a dirt track, much more so I would say than Droylsden or even the first meeting at High Beech.

Yes, but Rob doesn't think broadsiding is important either. Also, given all the other ingredients you don't feel are important to speedway, Rob, why do you think going anti clockwise is so important? Why would you rule out Camberley as the first meeting? It would seem to me that the direction is far less important than sliding as a definition of speedway.

As I said in the article, Rob, the reason I would discount Droylsden is because the cinders were hard packed; there was no loose dirt and nobody did - or could - broadside.In addition all the bikes had brakes. In my opinion loose dirt, broadsiding and no brakes are essential ingredients of "real" speedway. It's for the same reason that I also commit the heresy of discounting the first High Beech meeting too.

Thanks Cyclone. Very interesting. You may well be right that the first time real speedway was seen in a competitive setting may have been the 7 April, but there is no actual proof. So it's still a matter of maybe it was the 7th, maybe it was the 9th. We know for certain broadsiding took place on the 9th but not for certain that it took pace on the 7th. Given what you have said however, I would not argue with anyone who says that the first speedway meeting in Great Britain may have taken place on the 7th. I think what we can agree on is that it wasn't 19 February!

I haven't, no, Rob. It's not something I've really looked at enough to give a definitive answer. I don't know when the practice started in Australia. The races at High Beech on 19 February were usually with four riders but over three or five laps. If Cyclone has the programme for 7 April he may be able to say what the format was for that meeting. Helmet colours were certainly used at Belle Vue's first meeting on 28 July 1928 with red, white, blue, yellow, pink and green being used in the 6 man races and red, white, blue and yellow in the four man races. Something else to look into.

You may be right and the first competitive speedway may have taken place on 7 April, but I have never seen any evidence of it. There is no doubt the meeting took place, but who took part and did any of the riders broadside like Medcalf, Watson and Pugh were reported to have done at the 9 April meeting? Until I see any evidence that there was REAL speedway at the 7 April event I shall have to go along with 9 April being the first time it was seen. The Motor Cycle magazine says in its report of the 9 April meeting, "For the first time in this country real, honest-to-goodness broadsiding was seen, no fewer than three riders demonstrated their ability to proceed round the track in the approved fashion." Why would The Motor Cycle say this if there had been broadsiding only two days before? If you can point me in the right direction I will be happy to change my view. After all that is why I wrote the article in the first place - to get at the truth of the origins of speedway. As I said at the beginning of the article "All that is certain is that nothing is certain" and my article should not be taken as gospel for all time if other evidence turns up. That would be just as bad as perpetuating the Hoskins myth.

At last! Pages 26-29 of this week's Speedway Star.

I was going to put it in, but falcace wouldn't let me.....

In French? Or will it be enough just to mention Eric French?

Yes, I agree. As you can see by my avatar New Cross is my first love. I did go on to support West Ham and now Ipswich, but I know exactly what you mean.

Is Graham Miles very tall then? Why hasn't this been mentioned before?

I found this very interesting: http://www.inter-bike.co.uk/reviews-motorc...hn-chaplin.html

Thanks for that, Rob. It's certainly good to know Jimmy is still living life to the full. When I started going to speedway in 1960 at New Cross, Jimmy became my first hero.

A most enjoyable day. Photos from the day can be seen here

Thank you, fb. We aim to please!

The bookseller's own answer would seem to indicate you are wrong there, speedyguy, as if it was supposed to be £9.99 he would have to put the price up not down and if he's already sold it at £9.99 he can't go asking for a bit more once he gets his stock in.

A real bargain, fb. I hope you enjoy it.

Me: "Why is the price £99.99?" selinasbooks: "This is temporary while prices are adjusted and new stock gets entered into our system. The item is available to buy but this means that the price is about to be greatly reduced. We suggest that you 'Watch' the item, as we update our prices everyday." So my advice would be not to rush out and buy it from this bookseller just yet!

I look forward to seeing you and your mum on 7 March, annie and your mum on the 6th.

Yes, annie. Will we be seeing you next week at the book launch?

This is an offer no-one can refuse...: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tom-Farndon-by-Norma...223514114163827 Well worth every penny!

Couldn't agree more. Jack Parker, of course, also won the Riders' Championship in 1947.

I don't know where I got Dagenham v Rye House result. I think I may have made a mistake there. I'll have to check further on that one. The match was due to take place on 7 August but I don't think it was ever ridden. Thanks for pointing it out. Rye House 44 Smallford 39 took place on 19 June. The match on Aug 14 definitely wasn't staged. I'm not sure about the other three you mention, but I haven't found any trace of the results either. The date I have for Smallford v Dagenham is 10 July. That may have been the second meeting of course. I need to check my records on all this further. I'll get back to you later.

Just to let everyone know I have now taken receipt of copies of "Tom Farndon The Greatest Speedway Rider of Them All". It is being officially launched at the Celebration of Speedway on 21 February, but if anyone is desperate to have one now please contact me. I'm off to have a good read now!

You won't be disappointed, speedyguy!