norbold

Now you sound like Boris Johnson!

You scamp, Ian.

Thanks Jim.

Speedway in London? That's a good book.

I've already done that thanks, Sotonian. but his programmes are not filled in.

Good thinking, Gem. Thanks. Yes I would like to contact him.

Yes please, Jim. But I see you've already put Mike on there as a contact for the book. Mind you, there's always "Speedway in East Anglia"... The site's coming along really well, Jim. Well done.

Does anyone have either a filled in programme or know the results of the first meetings at Belle Vue for either the meeting at Kirkmanshulme Lane on 28/7/1928 or Hyde Road on 23/3/1929? I would be very grateful for information on these two meetings. Thank you.

Yes, speedway was taxed at a higher rate than football. I can't recall the exact amounts at the moment but I can find out. The reason speedway was taxed higher was because it was not classed as a sport but a trial of speed!

Yes, I'm sure that's all very true, Ian, but I don't think it answers the question I was answering. The point I was making was why were tracks being forced to close when their attendences were well in excess of 5000 and yet today we have tracks open with attendances in the hundreds? Why did 1950s tracks need so many customers to remain open?

Yes, that's an interesting point, arnie. Speedway was in serious decline in the mid 50s. From three divisions plus open tracks in the late 40s down to just one league of ten teams plus Yarmouth in the Junior League in 1958 (speedway's worst year for numbers of tracks operating) and yet attendances were much higher than now. It makes you wonder why tracks couldn't keep going then but can now with much lower attendances. Was it all down to Entertainment Tax?

Yes, he was a novice. I don't think he ever actually made the team but he did ride in the second half a number of times. He probably didn't make it because he was leg trailing!

That reminds me...Do you remember Nev Slee at West Ham? He used to leg trail.

Good to hear there is going to be a book about Brian Crutcher. A great rider. One of the main candidates for greatest rider never to win the World Championship. Unfortunately I never saw him as he retired the day I went to my first speedway meeting back in 1960. I've always felt somehow responsible for his retirement! Good luck with the book. Over to # Name Removed #....

There is still one mystery regarding Mr Potter. As he appears not to have started riding until after the War why do you think he was leg trailing in your photograph, NOBBY?

Thank you for the vote of confidence, Gem. Unfortunately I don't think I can help very much, other than to say, he definitely did not ride for Norwich. I don't know of him riding for Wimbledon either, but I'm not totally sure about that. p.s., just found this in the 1954 Stenner's under the report on Stoke: "One man deserved a medal for his constant trying, Don Potter. Model of a good teamster, Potter whipped life into the Sun Street side at the end to see the season out with at least a moderate amount of home success."

I have a number of photos of Eric Chitty. I can scan them in and e-mail them if you let me know where...

Well done, mate. And don't forget the Old Comrades March...

www.clactonhistory.com/history_of_norwich_speedway.htm is an old site of mine that never really got going! Jim is creating a new site.

Apparently it was the Old Comrades march.

See King's Oak thread under Speedway general Discussions...

I'm up there quite frequently. Next time...

I have Simmo's address, but I'm not sure he wants it made public knowledge. Perhaps I could pass on a message for you?

So, anyway, I was at the Newspaper Library at Colindale today doing a bit of research when I came across two interesting snippets. Well, I thought they were anyway.... 1. At 7.25 p.m. on 5 May 1928, the BBC broadcast "An eye-witness account of a motor cycle dirt track race meeting." Is this the earliest speedway related broadcast? 2. On the day I was born Wimbledon beat Belle Vue and Norman Parker scored a maximum for the Dons. Some of you will understand the significance of this for me!

You only have to say them to hear which sounds right.