norbold

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.

John Poyser is living on Oxfordshire somewhere. I don't know about Norman Storer.

You could also ask what the middle pedal is for on a car....

The worst place for this is Hackney, because you know there could have been - and still could be - a track there...

No. But they don't seem to be asking for teams for a new series yet.

We entered a team consisting of AndyM, Kevin Meynell, Donsking, T.N.T. and me...but we didn't even get to the rehearsal stage...

I saw it as well. Vic did well to get to the final. I hate to mention this but I did get all five of his final questions right myself. Perhaps it's the pressure in the studio. Now to try again for Eggheads!

I believe Ian is still living in Swindon.

That's interesting, BOBBATH as the story I have heard is that Aub Lawson went to the other two (Williams and Waterman) and asked them if Biggs had "said anything to them", meaning had he asked them to stay out of his way as he only needed one point. When they said that he hadn't they decided to "deal" with him for being too arrogant to ask for help. I have never heard that story about Split Waterman before. Of course the fact of the matter was that Biggs had made four lightning starts in his first four races and did not feel the need to ask anyone for help, especially as Lawson and Williams were not having the best of nights. If he'd got the same sort of start that he'd been experiencing all evening it wouldn't have mattered what the others did as Biggs would have been away. Unfortunately, for him, this time he was drawn on the outside and gated slower than Lawson (in no. 3) who took him out wide. Whether the story about the others "fixing" him or not is true, I think nerves had more to do with his defeat that night that anything else. P.S. Even if Lawson and Williams tried to help Waterman by staying out of his way, Biggs only needed one point to win the title, so it wouldn't have mattered if Waterman had won if Biggs had come 2nd or 3rd.

Too right. I still get very queasy at the thought...

Al Sparrey features in a brilliant new book just published called, "70 Years of Rye House" as he rode for Rye House from 1954 to 1956 before moving on to Swindon.

Both...

Yes, 1971. He scored four points and came 11th=

Bryan Elliott actually qualified for the final, he wasn't just a reserve. This was my first year of going to speedway and Bryan's achievement in reaching the final even though he was only the Leicester reserve at the time, is something I always remember. It would be almost impossible for this to happen these days under the grand prix system, which, in that sense, has taken much of the romance out of the World Championship.

He didn't slide off. In 1951, he won his first four races and only needed one point from his last race to win the title. Up against Aub Lawson, Split Waterman and Freddie Williams he was drawn on the outside and was taken out wide by Lawson on the first bend. He never recovered and came in last. He then had another chance in a run-off with Jack Young and Split Waterman. This time he gated first but probably his nerves got the better of him and he was passed by the other two, finishing third. Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory!

National League: 1932 - 1964 Provincial League: 1960 - 1964 British League: 1965 - 1994

As a Norwich supporter of the time I am sure star ghost knows this only too well!

Yes, you're right, frigbo. Bert is still around and living in Watlington, Oxford. Sorry about that. (About the fact I said he wasn't around that is, not the fact he is...er...I'll stop digging now.)

Harry and Bert were brothers. Harry was born in 1923 and was a post War Rye House discovery after spending four years in a Japanese pow camp. He later went on to ride for Walthamstow and Norwich. I don't think either of them are still around, but I'm sure star ghost will know for sure.

Maybe it's because they now have to fill the evening with 15 heats instead of the 20+ we used to get when we got value for money.

Which one is Shazzy?

I believe Jim Lightfoot is still around too and living in Coventry.