norbold

er...sorry...never heard of Bill Savage. I'll see what I can find out though, unless anyone else knows.

According to Stenner's 1948 Annual. Wigan's opening meeting on 4 April 1947 (Good Friday) was the Easter Cup and was won by Clarke. Ron presumably.

There's a recent photo of Edgar Stangeland here taken at the 2004 VSRA dinner.

I can't remember the whole story off hand, but it was about race fixing as Grachan says and was in the Sunday People. Simon Wigg had apparently, naively, spoken to a stranger who turned out to be an undercover People reporter and told him how some races were "fixed". Wigg was suspended. I can't remember who else was involved. Perhaps it's all in Gareth Rogers new book. Tony?

Yes, I noticed that.

Well they weren't allowed to put their foot down and they did have brakes...

That's amazing Grachan. Thanks for finding that!

Co-author to the rescue, falcace... Alan Mogridge had signed for Canterbury at the beginning of 1986 but had asked for a transfer to Rye House. As a result of this Canterbury were given dispensation to use rider replacement. When Canterbury raced against Rye House, Mogridge was riding for Rye House while Canterbury were using r/r for him, so effectively he was riding for both teams.

By the way, it's Vic Gooden on the right and Archie Windmill in the centre...

Who could?

He lives in Newmarket. He told me he hasn't been to any speedway meeting, reunion or anything to do with speedway for about 20 years, but, apparently, he ran in to Pam and Trevor Hedge at a race meeting in Newmarket and they invited him to the dinner on Sunday.

I'm just trying to get rid of them. No correct guesses for the other two behind Stan Stevens so far; though Albert Steptoe is close. P.s. At the "do" on Sunday, Les Beaumont showed me a programme of the meeting at Norwich when he equalled the track record. Strangely enough it was during the George Formby Trophy meeting which we've discussed on here. With one ride each to go, Les and Arthur Forrest were unbeaten. In the race where they met, Les unfortunately "conked" as it says in his programme, leaving the Black Prince to win with a maximum.

Give that man a coconut! Correct. I sincerely hope not...

Not Len Read or Harry Bastable. But, it is Olle Nygren to the left of Stan.

No. Not John anything! Try going back a bit in time as well.

No. While you're thinking about that one, here's another question. Also in my VSRA Eastern Region Gatherings Webshots Album is a photograph of Stan Stevens. Here Behind him are three former riders. Can you name them? I'll admit the middle one is a bit difficult!

OK, time for some clues... He was also captain of Cradley Heath and rode for Birmingham. He hasn't been to any reunions in the last 20 years!

Yesterday I went to the VSRA Norwich Dinner and I met a former Leicester rider. The question is, Gem, who is he: See here And what can you remember about him?

I can't believe this thread has been going for two days now and Shazzy is nowhere in sight!

I saw Trevor at the VSRA Norwich dinner yesterday and told him about this thread. He seemed quite chuffed that people remembered him enough to still be talking about him! He sends his best wishes to all his fans out there.

Skid Skinner was certainly a speedway rider. I shall have to look in to the Butlin's connection....

I'm glad you mentioned this Hazzman! Publication is due for the first week in November. The book is called "Speedway's Classic Meetings" and is by Norman Jacobs and Chris Broadbent, better known as norbold and falcace. There are twenty chapters featuring two meetings from each decade from the 20s to the 00s plus two 'wild cards'. The book is dedicated to Phil and all the members of the British Speedway Forum for all the help given to us in the early stages of the book with suggestions and memories. It will indeed make a great Christmas present!

Will anyone (apart from me) be going to the Norwich VSRA Dinner next Sunday? If they do they will be able to meet Trevor there as he and Pam organise it.

I have some great memories of Leicester too. When I first started going to New Cross in 1960, New Cross were losing everything. Bottom of the League, kncoked out the National Trophy in the first round etc. But then on 8 June, we met Leicester and won 53-37. The sweet smell of success for a change. Yes, I have a lot to thank Leicester for..... Now then, back to leathers....

Talking of Briggo, there was the time he wore no leathers at all...or anything else for that matter.