norbold

I think that's a bit unfair, Nigel. The meeting at High Beech on 19 February IS generally acknowledged to be the first to have taken place in the UK. We know there are a number of rival claims and, as I have said above, I believe the first REAL speedway meeting held in this country was the second meeting at High Beech, but there is no doubt that the 19 February meeting currently holds sway with most people and it was from that meeting that speedway took off in this country. Whenever celebrations are held to mark 50 years, 75 years, or whatever it is, it is always dated from the first High Beech meeting.

There is no late admission ticket. It's the same price whenever you go. I asked this morning.

Yes, I agree with everything said above. The best Russian speedway rider of all time and one of the all time greats of speedway who could, as has already been said, mix it with the likes of Fundin and Briggs as an equal. I loved watching him in World Finals and International events. He was exciting to watch. Very sorry to hear of his passing and sincere condolences to his family.

The fact of the matter is that Johnnie Hoskins did not invent speedway whatever he or his son say. Speedway came about like most sports through a gradual process. Before the First World War Americans were racing on small dirt tracks and broadsiding round corners. This continued in to the early 1920s and there is certainly plenty of evidence of dirt track racing on a regular basis in Australia before Johnnie Hoskins' famous meeting in 1923. There is no doubt that Johnnie Hoskins did a lot for the sport. He was a great showman and publicist, but invent it, no!

Well, we've had our committee meeting and sorted out a few things. We now have a good committee of active members each of whom are prepared to do their bit for the Museum. Hopefully no-one from now on will be overloaded and each person allocated particular areas of responsibility will have some expertise in that area. We are hoping to get more riders and former riders actively involved as well. Hopefully I can let you have some names after our next committee meeting in August after the riders in question have agreed (!) As well as sorting out a number of the administration requirements, there are a number of public interface areas we are hoping to address soon: 1. The display itself and the labelling. We are hoping to make it a bit clearer and to get a more uniform style of labelling and correct the mistakes ( ). 2. Making sure the web site is kept up to date with the latest news. 3. Start cataloguing what we've got properly so the material can be used as a resource for historians and anyone else wishing to find out about some aspect of speedway history. There is a lot of material kept in store and not on display at the moment. 4. Produce a small guide to the Museum with a short history of speedway, mainly for visitors who don't know much about the sport. I shall, of course, keep everyone informed of progress. In the meantime, please go along and visit the Museum, I'm sure you will all find it of great interest and a worthwhile way to spend an hour or so.

I think BOBBATH knows but he won't tell us.

I don't know about that. Try contacting the park: here

The first speedway annual was 1946. The first "Who's Who" as far as I know was 1949.

I'm glad you enjoyed your visit, Bob. But your posting reminds me that I think I should say that George will no longer be at the Museum. As we know George and Linda have put in a tremendous amount of work to get the museum up and running over the last couple of years and have now decided to take a bit of a rest from the day to day running. I think we all owe them a big debt of gratitude for putting their life on hold and creating the Museum speedway supporters have been wanting for years. As Bob says there is a new manager there now, Debbie, who those of you involved at Sittingbourne will probably know. We shall be having a Committee meeting Tuesday week to resolve a few issues about how the museum will be run from now on. No dramatic changes, but we have relied an awful lot on George and Linda, so it's time to take a new look at its running and organisation. I'll let you know what's decided.

I'm surprised you haven't mentioned this on the Who Was The Tallest Ever Rider thread...

Have you ever had that feeling of deja vu?

Not only do I know that but I also know Bob Andrews quite well.

Are you sure you're not thinking of Bob Andrews?

Hi annie Welcome to the Forum. As you will see people are expecting me to answer this because Tom Farndon is my all-time hero. The greatest speedway rider ever in my opinion. He won hundreds of trophies in his time so I am not exactly sure what the trophy is that you have. I'll make some investigations and see if I can find out...unless anyone else knows.

Yes, but the retro-speedway site also covers the VSM as well which goes back to the beginning. Incidentally, I think the site is looking really good now, Tony. And when you do get a bit more of the vintage stuff on it will be even better!

BBC teletext (or whatever the digital equivalent is called) normally only has results and fixtures for speedway, but yesterday they had a report on Chris's win.

Ronnie Moore rode for Australia in Test matches in 1950,51,52 and 53. He then switched to New Zealand and also rode for them in 1953. In 1954 the two countries were combined anyway to form an Australasian team and he rode for that from 1954 to 1960. He turned out again for New Zealand in 1969,70 and 72 and rode for Great Britain in 1969,70 and 71.

He won the London Riders' Championship in 1930. The nearest he came to the Star Riders' Championship was runner-up in 1935. As I explained on another thread I did try to meet him when I was researching my Wembley book but I was unable to. I know some other people who tried to contact him in his last few years but they were unsuccessful as well. I think he had been very ill for some time.

Sad news: I see Jack Ormston died last Friday.

I think he is 97 and Gordon Byers, 96.

Yes and not only that but Jack Ormston also qualified for the 1930 Star Riders' Final (the forerunner of the World Championship) and came second in the 1935 Star Riders' Final. Gordon Byers qualified for the 1932 Star Riders' Final. He is also still alive.

Yes, Louis Lawson and Cyril Roger are still with us. I am almost certain that Cliff Watson isn't, but not 100%. Vic Duggan, who qualified for the 1939 final, is still alive. Though, of course he didn't ride in it because it wasn't held! Also Jack Ormston, who rode in the first-ever final in 1936, is still alive.

The News of the World certainly sponsored the Southern League in the early days but the major cup was the Daily Mail National Trophy...which should give some clue as to who it was sponsored by!

I last saw Norman Hunter at High Beech this year and I didn't recognise him!

They sponsored the News of the World Belt at Crystal Palace in 1928.