norbold

George Major won the Silver Helmet from Taffy Owen and then defeated Phil Pratt and Geoff Bouchard before losing it to Maurie Robinson in 1970. Sorry I don't have the exact dates to hand. There was no silver helmet in 1969.

Sorry, BOBBATH, I've only just seen this...Having said that, I can't help anyway. I'm sure there must have been a number of Jewish riders but apart from guessing by name (Lionel Levy for example) I really don't know....But then I have a Jewish name and I'm not Jewish, so that doesn't really help!

We had that problem at West Ham too....another Tuesday track!

Norwich, Crystal Palace, Lea Bridge, High Beech and Stamford Bridge. But what I would have most wanted to see is Tom Farndon riding...anywhere!

Yes, sorry I haven't updated you on this, but I've only just learnt myself that apparently there is not going to be a temporary site now as it is hoped the proper web site itself will be up and running in December. I will see if I can get more of a definite date for you. I will also mention the fact that it would be good to have something up soon with a view to Christmas sales.

Anyone seen Shazzy?

Buster Frogley, Lionel Van Praag, Frank Charles,Wally Kilmister

As far as I know Derek Timms appeared in just one meeting at New Cross in 1959 as a reserve in the last meeting of the season, the Supporters Trophy.

I think the ? Timms who rode one match for Middlesbrough in 1946 is not Derek. Derek Timms was a Rye House discovery who first rode at Rye House in 1953.

Derek rode for New Cross in 1960.

I thought your teenage idol was Sprouts Elder...

1-2-3-4 5-7-6-8 10-11-9-12 15-14-16-13 13-1-5-9 14-10-2-6 11-15-7-3 4-8-12-16 6-16-1-11 12-5--15-2 8-9-3-14 13-4-10-7 7-12-14-1 2-13-8-11 16-3-10-5 9-6-4-15 1-8-15-10 9-2-7-16 3-12-13-6 5-14-11-4

I guess it depends what you mean by the "best". Certainly in the immediate post-War period, the crowds were enormous and speedway was getting extensive coverage in the press. This is also true for the early days in the late 20s and early 30s. There were at least three sets of speedway rider cigarette cards issued and the top riders also found their way in to sets of "leading sportsmen" and the like. There were also hundreds of postcards of speedway riders. I don't think speedway had that sort of following and publicity even in the 1965-1980 period. Being the age I am I have lots of acquaintances who went to speedway in the 1946 - 52 era, but never went again, not even in the 1965-80 period. When, as I frequently do (!), talk to them about speedway they will remember names like Vic Duggan, Jack Parker, Tommy Price and many others from the immediate post War period. Some will mention hearing of Ivan Mauger and possibly Barry Briggs, but that's about as far as it ever goes. I would say that speedway's greatest era was 1946-52.

1956 was the first Saturday final.

Incidentally, I think Louis Lawson is 86, therby putting him in second place.

I believe Split Waterman was born in 1924 making him 84 and therefore younger than Cyril Roger.

Was he the tallest ever though?

Fred and Cyril were no relation. Fred is a Rogers with an 's', Cyril is a Roger without.

It's true that in general, Cyril outscored his brother, Bert, but Bert's best year was 1952 when he topped the New Cross averages ahead of Cyril. Sadly, this was the year Bert qualified for the World Final but was unable to take part through injury (see star ghost's post above).

One is £28.26; the other £28.29. I bet Parsloes wishes he'd bought one now while he had the chance!

Apparently the price of "Out of the Frying Pan" has actually gone up! Having sold out the first printing, which cost £12.99, in about a month the cheapest you can get it for on Amazon is £28.26. It must be the scarcity value...: See here

Careful, Dave. You don't want me to have to take away your signature, do you?

Do you mean desist rather than persist???

I can't work out whether that's supposed to be an insult or not. You're obviously not as good at that sort of thing as Subedei. He leaves you in no doubt.