norbold

Yes, the story is in John Chaplin's "The Story of the World Championship". You've remembered the story well. On Christmas Day the rider went to a workshop where the mechanic (Little Tich) was sitting and he gave him six cylinder heads a couple of cylinder barrels and the innards of a second hand machine and patted Little Tich and said "Clean 'em up son."

In my younger days as a spectator I never came across the riders themselves much. However, I do remember that when Norman Hunter was riding for West Ham he often used to be a spectator at Hackney and I used to stand next to him or near him anyway. He always used to spend the whole match reading the Speedway Star. I don't think he ever actually watched a race. When the match was over he used to ask people around him who'd won.

I'm thinking of Rupert Brooke's soldier.

And don't forget there is some corner of a foreign field that is for ever England.....

Don't forget the Pimlico Grand Prix at...er...er...

You can't keep a good urban myth down!

You're right about what might have been as far as the 80s is concerned. It is interesting that Hans Nielsen is always talked about as one of the greatest ever - 2nd in the Speedway Star Millennium poll - and yet what might have happened if Lee and Penhall had continued, Gundersen hadn't been injured, Carter and Sanders hadn't committed suicide...? Would he still have won as many world titles as he did? It's one of those things we'll never know of course, but great for speculation.

Berwick at war with Russia? Another legend I'm afraid. According to the legend, this began because Berwick, being officially of the kingdom of England, but not in it, was always mentioned separately in laws and proclamations. The Crimean War was declared on behalf of Britain and Berwick, but, so the story still goes, the Peace of Paris in 1856 missed out Berwick. 'Peterborough' in The Daily Telgraph in December 1935 recorded it was in October 1914 that the British Foreign Office hastily signed a peace treaty with Tsarist Russia tidying up this oversight. Unfortunately this was not true, the Foreign Office consulted in the 1930s and in 1965 could find no trace of this 'treaty.' Also, the documents relating to the declaration and peace do not separately mention Berwick, because by the Wales and Berwick Act of 1746 all references to England in Acts of Parliament were deemed to include Berwick, and Wales. But the story still persists, as only a good urban legend can, and Berwickers would not have it any other way.

Thanks for that Ian. I remember the occasion well. I saw it on the front page of the Evening Standard when I went out for a break from work at lunch time. I still have the paper. It was a very sad day of course.

Talking of Terry Stone, and digressing slightly, does anyone know how he is? I know he was unwell a little while ago and he wasn't at the Norwich 'do' at the weekend, something which he normally goes to. I hope he's ok.

Before the Wimbledon/Hackney rivalry there was the Wimbledon/New Cross rivalry. Ronnie Greene and Johnnie Hoskins were not noted for being polite in their opinions about the other team in their programme notes. Even that gentleman of the speedway, Ronnie Moore, joined it at times. I remember he slagged us Rangers' supporters off something rotten once. It's hard to believe now, but after that he became a bit of a hate figure down the Old Kent Road. Of course, being a young teenager in those days I believed it all, but my dad used to laugh at it and say it was just done to get the crowds in and that they were all the best of friends really. I didn't believe him at the time.....

There could be a clue in my posting above, iris!

After doing so well on weirdest too!

Sorry to hear about Don. He rode for West Ham. Started out well but faded after a few meetings. I think it was because his first love was trials.

Edgar for the past two years that I've been, has attended the VSRA in Coventry. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes, and here's a picture of him (on the right) at this year's dinner helping Olle Nygren to read a jolly good book... Edgar

On the other hand there was Alec Slow who rode for Lea Bridge. Unlike Cyril Quick I believe Alec did live up to his name....And no, I don't mean he was smart!

Any chance of redeveloping the Sainsbury's next door in to a speedway track...? Just a thought.

Yes. Both at Bawbrugh Golf Club

I think Peter Collins and Michael Lee (at least) might have something to say about that! But I'm glad to see my campaign to bring back Freddie for the Cardiff G.P. has at least two supporters.....

Will you be going to the Norwich Social and Dinner on 23 and 24 October, Trees, or anyone else? See you there if you are. More information and tickets from Trevor and Pam Hedge.

He took a bit of getting used to when he came to West Ham as he had, of course, ridden for our hated rivals, Wimbledon. But with his all action style and his dashes round the fence, the "'eart throb" quickly won over the Custom House crowd. He could be relied on week in and week out to beat the best the opposition threw at us and that included the likes of Fundin, Briggs, Mauger and anyone else you care to mention. His crash in the 1968 European Final when he broke his leg and pelvis was an absolute tragedy. He was never quite the same again, although as Ian says, he did manage to fight his way back to become a heat leader with Wembley. Without a doubt he was the greatest of all the Norwegians and he came so close to winning the World title in 1966. In the all-important heat 9 he led Briggo for over a lap, but Barry managed to get past and go on to win. Briggs finished on 15 points that night and Sverre, 14. I have seen many riders since I first started going to speedway in 1960, but I don't think I have ever seen anyone as spectacularly good as Sverre. Christer Lofqvist was, of course, another real round-the-boards thrill merchant but he was not as consistently good as Sverre. A great rider who always brings back many happy memories of Custom House. Thanks for bringing up the topic, CHK.

Freddie Williams is still quite fit and active...Mind you he is in his 70s now.

Certainly am interested. Thank you. I'll be in touch.

Thanks for that cyclone. That's a great site. And...as you posted while I was writing, iris...It looks as though the Wembley book might be a bit nearer than I originally thought. Watch this space!

There is still a lot of support in Norwich for speedway, but I think they've all given up hope that's why the supporters' club folded. Supporters in the area do still get together fairly regularly at various events. I don't think it would be too difficult to get them organised in to a formal supporters' organistaion again apart from this feeling of pessimism. I think there have been something like 28 planning applications put in for the return of speedway in and around Norwich since 1965. All of them turned down. Is it any wonder they have given up hope!? If they can have some encouraging news, who knows?