norbold

There's a picture of him here in Australian colours.

Not really my area. Pre-War and wartime is covered in Trevor James and Barry Stephenson's "Speedway in Manchester 1927 - 1945" book. They might be the people to ask.

I think there was a rider from the era you're talking about called Ted Hubbard at Coventry on Saturday. Did you see him, Shazz?

Johnnie Chamberlain - Australian

I was there for that one, iris. Great meeting, eh?

I've put some of our photos up...Here

I'll be putting some up later...but, no Shazzy. Sorry.

I was on table 24 with Mr Clemens. Great to meet you Mr C. Also good to catch up with Shazzy, Steve, SS, Team Man, tmc, T2T and Tabby again.

Can't help much here, I'm afraid! The only ones I would be almost 100% certain of are 6 - Jack Parker 11 - Split Waterman and 14 - Bjorn Knutson...but Jim's already got those! I'll have to get my magnifying glass out....

It could upset a lot of Norwich supporters though! Seriously, it is a great site for a great team. One that has proved to be the backbone of the sport since the very beginning. Long may it continue and long may the site continue.

It seems to me that most supporters on here are very happy that speedway should continue as a minority sport and that as long as we are happy with our own little world then that's fine. For the already committed, of course Cardiff is a great day out but it's never going to attract the press or TV in a way that holding a GP at Wembley would. Maybe that's what most people want, not to be disturbed by the thousands more supporters we might attract. That's OK. But, let's not see on other threads these same people complaining about the lack of national media coverage of the sport.

Canada Jimmy Gibb Mike Tams Africa Doug Davies Neil Mortimer Trevor Blokdyk Cecil de la Porte (all South Africa)

Check this link to the Vintage Speedway Forum thread about Fay Taylour: Here

Yes, he was.

Norway: Basse Hveem Sverre Harrfeldt Henry Harrfeldt Oyvind Berg Reidar Eide Odd Fossengen Helge Langli Dag Lovaas Ulf Lovaas Jod Odegaard Edgar Stangeland Johnny Faafing (I think - something like that!) Finland Anti Pajari I'll see what else I can dredge up from the dark recesses of my memory....

Sorry I missed you cheetahhawk but it was good to renew a few Forum acquaintances as well as make some new ones. When I got home I received a phone call from Linda Barclay to tell me I had won third prize in the raffle...a signed copy of Chris Morton's book!

Yes, correct. It's 1936. The picture was taken on the Norfolk Broads. The Wembley team went away for a week's get-together on a yacht hired by Alec Jackson. It was no holiday though as the team were put through a vigorous physical training programme by their trainer, Ted Husbands, who I think is the other person in the photograph.

Stenner's to the rescue again, iris... "Speedway will not flourish in Dublin, it seems, until a place can be gained in one of the British Leagues....That is the lesson from season 1952, which was most disappointing to Dublin enthusiasts at Shelbourne, the one track operating, closed down in August, re-opening only to stage the Irish Championship on Oct 5. "Somehow or another last year's programme never seemed to 'click', though it was felt at the outset that the Tigers team in which the promising Irish novices rode with Geoff Mardon, Ronnie Moore, Cyril Brine and the late Ernie Roccio, would prove very popular.... "Fixtures staged were essentially challenge affairs and the absence of competition racing made it difficult to maintain enthusiasm. Again the weak riding of some of the visitors did not help. "A blow too was early injury to Irish hope, Des Monson, which kept him off for the rest of the year. Of the other locals, Don Perry especially, 'Ginger' O'Beirne and Mick Savage improved considerably. "Irish title, won by Ronnie Moore for the third year running drew a huge gate to prove that there is still a big speedway public..."

That's all right, Ian. I won't mention your visit to Canada...

Too late for High Beech, but just to add to my growing round of radio appearances (if that's the right word!) I shall be on BBC Radio London at 8:00 p.m. on 20 February as well talking about my Wembley book. Well, at least speedway is doing well on the radio!

From Stenner's 1952 Annual: "It was a happier story at Shelbourne [happier than Chapelizod]. The club tried the daring experiment of bringing to Dublin a team of riders from California to form the Shelbourne 'Tigers' and the gamble came off. At Dublin those 'Tigers' assisted by Wimbledon American Ernie Roccio and side-kick Jimmy Gibb built up an imposing record, beating Wimbledon (twice), Belle Vue, West Ham, Harringay and Bristol. "The only club loss was to Coventry who were defeated in a subsequent return. England's 'C' team, a Scottish selection and Norway also went down at Shelbourne to the Americans, who, however, could not hold Bruce Abernethy's fiery New Zealanders. "Away the 'Tigers' failed, sometimes miserably, but even so attracted some of the biggest gates of the British Division II season. A trip to Scandinavia brought better results - three wins by 56-28, 43-40, 43-40 over various Swedish combinations and two defeats, by ten points at Malmo and two points at Oslo. "Beside Ernie Roccio the Americans had a stand out in Nick Nicolaides. Johnny Roccio and Royal Carroll improved so much in the autumn that I think a further season here would put them in the top class..."

Just to let you know I shall be on BBC Essex at 3:00 p.m. on February 17th talking about High Beech...oh yes, and my Wembley book!

Yes, you are right. It was briefly known as the Metropolitan League, but changed its name after about 3 or 4 weeks to the Southern Area League. Anyway, I have now mostly sorted out the 1950s statistics, but I am just left with a few matches I need to know the scorers in. So, if anyone can help... 25 July 1954 Brafield 50 Eastbourne 33. 15 August 1954 Eastbourne 41 Ringwood 37 15 May 1955 Eastbourne 33 Rye House 54 28 August 1955 Rye House 23 Eastbourne 61 4 September 1955 Eastbourne 49 Brafield 33 18 September 1955 Eastbourne 36 Brafield 48 6 August 1957 Rye House 66 Eastbourne 17 If anyone has the Eastbourne riders scores for those matches including number of rides and bonus points, I would be eternally grateful. Thank you....

I'm glad now that I gave it a miss last year as well. It wouldn't have been the same without you two there. Looking forward to meeting up again.

I'll be there!