norbold

Yes, yes, speedyguy. I heard you the first time!

I believe they already have by a well-known Australian historian.

I don't think anyone here is blaming Hoskins over High Beech, just lazy historians who can't be bothered to do the proper research. However, it is the case that Hoskins several times claimed to have "invented" speedway, which is not true either. Though once again the real fault lies with lazy research.

The problem is, Ian, is that it does a real disservice to the people who REALLY brought speedway to this country.

It certainly is one of life's mysteries how this story continues to do the rounds in spite of being completely incorrect.

What things are those then, speedyguy?

Thought I'd quote you Nigel. From the Speedway History Forum today: "FIM magazine Nov-Dec 2009....... has anyone seen the latest history mis-information article in this mag 'How it started' complete fairy tale.. it has Hoskins involved with the High Beech meeting ... how he did this from Australia Ill never know !!!!!!!!! enough to make you weep" And still it goes on....

The yearly Norwich get together is organised under the aegis of the WSRA and is a sit down dinner. A lot of ex-riders attend, though there isn't much in the way of memorabilia or bikes around. I think Jim's idea really was just for a few of us to get together. I can't see anyone really being willing to undertake organising an event of the scale of the Norwich do.

Just got another one for 9 March 2011.

Out of interest, Parsloes, I've just got my first booking for a talk in 2011.

The real question is whether either the red archer or the green archer ever got sent to jail...

Yes.

The 1966 British Speedway Handbook gives Long Eaton's colours as Red Archer on Amber Background.

Speaking as a fellow pedant you are quite correct, Rob. But I gave up the fight on this one a long time ago...well, about ten years ago to be precise as I didn't want to celebrate the real millennium on my own! If only I'd known I could have come to Oxford...

I don't know whether they could cope with dozens of New Cross supporters turning up...well, maybe 4 or 5 anyway. They meet at the Methodist Church Hall, Albion Way, Lewisham. Anyone know how big that is? The other alternative, of course, would be to meet on 11 September to celebrate Tom Farndon's 100th birthday. As luck would have it it is a Saturday.

No. I was very young and lived some distance from New Cross. I'll be there as soon as I've finished looking at the BSF! P.S. You now have three members. Jim beat me to it!

Absolutely correct, Ross. As most of you know I have written a number of books on local history and have done a lot of research in to the history of this area. Some of this is done through oral history, that is talking to people about what they remember, but memories are notoriously unreliable especially when it comes to dates and even places. People will swear that something happened in a given year and that they were there when the newspaper reports of the time or other people's recollections quite clearly show they are mistaken. Oral History is ok as a starting point and to get the general feel of events of the time but they can never be taken as gospel. I also give talks on local history. About 20 years ago I was giving a talk to my own local history society on the history of Clacton when I said a bit about the opening of the swimming pool on Clacton Pier in 1932. A woman interrupted me to tell me I was wrong and that the swimming pool had opened in 1928 and she knew this because she was there. She was absolutely wrong. There are contemporary reports in the local papers of 1932 of the pool being opened. There is no mention of the pool in Clacton Guides before 1932, after which it is mentioned all the time. In addition there are lots of photos of local MP, Sir John Pybus, both in the newspaper and as postcards as well as photos of him performing the opening ceremony in private collections. He didn't become MP until 1929 so this woman couldn't possibly have seen the opening ceremony in 1928 and yet she felt so sure she was right she even interrupted my talk to tell me. People's memories are a minefield for the serious historian, as Billy Galloway's recollections prove.

Thanks Brian. I look forward to seeing you there.

Ah yes, Speedway's Classic Meetings. I happen to have a few copies if anyone would like one. It's a great read.

You win, iris. The filming obviously took place in 1927 before Galloway and McKay's boat docked. Somehow Galloway managed to get to Stamford Bridge and then back on board the boat. Maybe he caught a plane there and back. It's nice to see you can back it all up with so much research. That's the sign of a true historian.

Isn't that the book that's actually dedicated to this Forum and therefore every member should own a copy?

Talking of which...a preview of the cover can be seen Here Looks good to me! Certainly well worth £14.99 of anyone's money!

Keith McKay actually left the ship in London on 19th January 1928. So, iris, not only was McKay probably the first rider to be seen doing proper broadsiding in Great Britain, he must also have been the first rider to use a time machine. A notable double first.

Ross Garrigan emailed me today to say, "Today I found my material on the 1928 sailing of McKay. According to what I had noted the Oronsay docked on Jan 18 at Plymouth and the following day at London. Unless the inbound shipping list notes at which port McKay disembarked, it could have been at either." Not very likely he rode at Stamford Bridge in 1927 then!

McKay was on a mission and had contacts in Britain. All I'm saying is that he didn't arrive until 1928 so he couldn't have ridden at Stamford Bridge in 1927. The fact he met Galloway on board was a bonus and may have led to the changing of his plans, as he now had someone he could race against to demonstrate the art of speedway as understood in Australia. His contact in this country was Jimmy Baxter. No-one did!