norbold

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!

Absolutely right, Ian. When I complained to the Speedway Star about Brian Burford's statement that Johnnie Hoskins had introduced speedway to Britain, the editor asked me if I would like to write an article about the origins of speedway in this country. I wrote the article which also included my thoughts on how/where/why speedway started worldwide as well. This article has been in his in-tray for several weeks now. I am ever hopeful that it will see the light of day soon! I hope it will move the discussion forward and once and for all dispel the myth that Johnnie Hoskins both "invented" speedway in 1923 and that he was responsible for bringing it to this country in 1928.

Neither.

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...