norbold

The Preview Dinner was held last night. Against all the odds the Museum was open and ready for viewing. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to George and Linda Barclay for the amount of work they have put in making our dream a reality. There are many others who have helped of course, but without these two and the generosity of Pete Sampson in allocating land and helping to build the actual structure it never would have happened. Any way Here are some photos of the Museum and the dinner.

Yes. This is taken from "Wembley Speedway the Pre-War Years", available from all good book shops, Amazon and the author! "Putt Mossman...put on an interval display. Mossman decided to perform, as his finale, a motor cycle striptease act. Standing on the saddle of his bike he removed his jacket, shirt and trousers. He appeared to be standing on his bike naked, although he was, in fact, wearing a skin coloured pair of briefs. The next day when he went to collect his money, the straight-laced Elvin told him he was banned from ever appearing at Wembley again." The Billie Smith story is also featured in the book.

Actually Sir Arthur wouldn't have though it ok and he once banned Putt Mossman from ever appearing again at the Empire Stadium because he thought he had exposed himself.

I did conduct a long distance interview over the phone with Gordon Byers which was published in VSM, Spring 2006. Vic Duggan was interviewed by John Chaplin and a more in depth article was published in VSM, Winter 2001. I don't think Jack Ormston is well enough to give interviews. But you're right - in depth interviews with tape recorder in hand are what are needed.

I'll pm you his address and yes, they are for sale.

The ban happened after the meeting at Wembley on 22 May 1930. It happened because one of the female riders, Billie Smith, fell during the grand parade before the meeting. Apparently one of the male riders cut in front of her and she had to shut off causing her to fall and break her collarbone. Because of the nature of the injury the St John Ambulance officers attending had to cut her clothes away on the track and expose her upper part. Sir Arthur Elvin felt this was very improper and immediately banned female riders from riding at Wembley. He reported the incident to the ACU who extended the ban to all tracks in this country. I'm not sure but I think the ban was only lifted as a result of Equal Opportunities legislation.

Brian Mike Patrick has agreed to provide photos for the Speedway Museum free of charge as long as they are acknowledged. I suggest you try him.

1998 EL averages: Tony Rickardsson: 10.29 Chris Louis: 9.42 Tomasz Gollob: 9.29 Scott Nicholls: 6.74 Toni Svab: 5.02 Sal Clouting: 4.09

Peter Jackson has done a lot of work on this. He has produced Statistical Surveys covering the National League from 1934 - 1939 and 1946 to 1957 based on a 12 point CMA system.

Yes, his CMA still survives and is how all CMAs are still worked out today.

Pre-War Hackney rider, Jack Tidbury, is still going strong...

You could well be right there, Peter. That's certainly a name from the past all right. Jack Ormston is 97 I think and Gordon Byers 96. Vic Duggan is 91.

In the Archie Windmill thread, Knowle said: "He [Archie Windmill] was also one of the rapidly disappearing band of survivors who raced before the war." It would be interesting to know how many there are and who. I can think of Jack Ormston (winner of the first London Riders' Championship back in 1930 - 77 years ago!), Gordon Byers and Vic Duggan. Any more?

I'm sorry not to have posted this before, but I suppose most of you will know by now that Archie Windmill died last week in his 92nd year. I got to know Archie fairly well over the last few years and always found him to be very helpful and patient with all my enquiries. He had a wonderful memory for things that happened before the War. He was, of course, very active, right up until his death and when he was president of the VSRA a couple of years ago he went all over the country visiting various speedway functions. Funnily enough, although I only got to know him over the last few years, he had been one of my brother's favourite riders when he rode for Wimbledon back in the late 1940s and one of my cousins lived near him and was Archie's son's best friend back in the 50s. So, in some ways, I feel I've known him all my life! Sincere condolences to all his family and friends.

I'd agree with Chris Blewett, BOBBATH. I don't think there's any need to look further!

Thank you, Lt, that's absolutely brilliant. Thank you for supporting the Museum in that way.

It is hoped that the Museum will open to the public on 28 April. There will be no special ceremony on that day. However.... On Friday 20 April there will be a dinner at Paradise Park which will include a tour of the Museum and Park. Tickets cost £45 each. The evening starts at 6:00 p.m. with reception and drinks followed by the tour and dinner at 8.30 p.m. There will also be a memorabilia auction. It will be your chance to get a preview of the Museum before it actually opens. All proceeds go to the Museum Fund and tickets are available from Linda and George Barclay, 41 Lodge Avenue, Dagenham, Essex, RM8 2JD

Thanks Parsloes. I don't know what you mean "nervous". Just because I was under the seat after the fourth or fifth red light you ignored...er...I was looking for a coin I'd dropped... If only...Tom Farndon...sigh...

Indeed he did, sg. He made his debut at Arlington in the Championship of Sussex on 4 August 1957. In his first race he came 3rd behind Leo McAuliffe and Ray Cresp, but he went on to score 7 points, including a heat win over Ross Gilbertson.

Yes. In 1957 he scored five points in three matches and was then dropped.

Yes, you're right, but I was just trying to drum up a bit of interest for my book by mentioning a few names from the distant past who people might not have heard of but would want to find out more about!

Jack Parker - 30s, 40s, 50s Tommy Price - 30s, 40s, 50s Norman Parker qualified as reserve in the 30s and made finals in the 40s and 50s Aub Lawson qualified for the 1939 final which was never held and then rode in the 40s, 50s and 60s (4 decades!) Nigel Boocock qualified as reserve in the 50s and then rode in the 60s and 70s

By the way, I've just remembered (something for old-time Forum members here), I spoke to Mr D at the Fayre....

I'd go for 1. Vic Ridgeon 2. Mike Broadbank 3. Kelvin Mullarkey 4. Tommy Sweetman 5. Clive Hitch 6. Gerry King 7. Dave Slater Well probably not really, but if you want to find out more about the above, "70 Years of Rye House Speedway" will be published on 28 April. First copies will be available at the track that night.

Here's mine: Here Sorry there's so many of me but Mrs norbold was the photographer... Wot! No Shazzy!