norbold

There is no doubt that, for me, the best last-heat decider came on 14 August 1965. It is a match that, even after nearly 40 years, I can still vividly remember. It was the third round of the Knock-Out Cup. West Ham had been very lucky to draw at home to Wimbledon the previous Tuesday when Wimbledon's Reg Luckhurst's bike blew up in the last heat. If that hadn't have happened the Dons would have won. So, Wimbledon were favourites for the replay on their own track. But there was even worse news for West Ham supporters when we arrived at Plough Lane. Two of our heat leaders were out. Sverre Harrfeldt had been injured the night before and Norman Hunter had a long standing engagement to be at his friend's wedding. There were no guests. Tony Clarke was thrown in for his first-ever match and Dons' junior Geoff Hughes was recruited as reserve. After the first six heats, the Dons were winning 21-15. Ken McKinlay was brought in as tactical substitute with Malcolm Simmons and the Hammers fought back with a 5-1. After that there was no stopping Simmons. At that time, it must be remembered he was just a young fairly average second string with an average of round about 5 points per match. But he then went on to beat Dons' skipper, Olle Nygen twice and Reg Luckhurst once. With one heat to go the score was 45-45. The atmosphere between these two local rivals was electric. The Dons had Keith Whipp and Reg Luckhurst out, while the Hammers tracked Ken McKinlay and Malcolm Simmons. Once again it was Simmons who shot away from Luckhurst and with McKinlay taking third place, the Hammers had pulled off the impossible and won by 49 points to 47. For good measure Simmons went on to win the second half final from Olle Nygren and then, in a special race in which Simmons was handicapped 10 yards behind Nygren, he won again! From that meeting on, West Ham did not lose another official fixture all season and went on to take the treble of Cup, League and London Cup and Simmons went on to be a star. As I said, it is a meeting I shall never forget.

Yes, you're right, you're completely wrong. Ron Johnson was one of the Aussie pioneers, came to this country in 1928 with Johnnie Hoskins. Although, he was actually born in Edinburgh, his family emigrated when he was 3. So it has nothing to do with the other Ron Johnston, who was a post war rider. Now, you're going to ask me why he changed his name.....The problem is I can't remember off hand!!! I'll look it up in his autobiography when I get home...the only problem is I won't be going home until next Thursday (22 January) as I'm off to Lanzarote later. I hope you can wait!

Actually Ron Johnson's real name was Ron Johnston...but let's not get in to that one.

Those were the days, though you are right in principle that I'm not THAT old. Actually I did see Ron Johnson ride in 1960 in a second half race at New Cross when he was over 50. I don't think he would have made any World Final that year!

It's taken me some time to get round to this but I'll go for two riders who, in my opinion, are the best never to have appeared in a World Final since it started in 1936: Max Grosskreutz Ron Johnson

Cripes! Was he alright?

That's nice to know. I've got one of those. If the 1937 final sold for £183 anyone hazard a guess at how much a 1936 (the first) one might be worth. I haven't got one of those!

Wouldn't have thought it was Ove. Mauger wasn't in his class in 1964. Ivor Brown sounds more likely but I don't know.

Walthamstow is still there. Now a greyhound track. Nice to have that back - another London track. But can't see it really.

I'll go for Gote Nordin on that one We've already established it was Terry Betts!

Although I am normally such a modest chap, I think I should explain how Tempus first got interested in publishing speedway books and hence the phenomenal rise in speedway literature over the last two or three years. I have had a number of books on local history published. In 2000 I wrote one for Tempus, who are a well-known local history publisher. I took my manuscript to their office in Stroud. While I was there I noticed that they had published a number of sports books, mainly football (of course) but also a few cricket and rugby league books. I asked how sports fitted in to their local history publishing and their sports editor, James Howarth, told me it had started off as a bit of a sideline as they saw the history of small football clubs, e.g. Scunthorpe, Rochdale and the like, as a part of the social history of a town, but the sports section had expanded and they were now publishing sports books as sports books in their own right. I asked him if they had ever thought of publishing a book about speedway and James said they hadn't because they didn't think it would sell. We discussed the possibility a bit further. I told him I thought there was a big enough following in areas like East Anglia where there were still four tracks operating to make it viable. He said he didn't think they would be able to publish a book on the history of one track but thought that maybe a regional book might just break even, though he doubted it. He asked me if I knew anyone who could write a book on speedway in East Anglia. So I coughed and looked suitably modest and he gave me a contract, much against his better judgement. They printed 1200 copies and it sold out in less than a month. James told me it was their fastest selling sports title and outsold their football and cricket books. After that he couldn't get enough of speedway books. He signed me up again to do my London book (which, you may remember, reached number three in the Sunday Times national sports book charts) and asked me if I knew anyone else who could write speedway books about different regions. I suggested Ian Moultray and Jim Henry for Scotland and Robert Bamford for the Thames Valley area. And that folks is how it all started.

Your mate certainly won't get rich on such a book, so it would have to be a labour of love. Even with decent sales, the royalties are next to nothing. As for whether a publisher would be interested or not, it's a matter of luck. You can interest publishers in quite low volume sales provided they get the content for nothing. Alternatively, you can get the book printed (which is not so expensive) and publish it yourself. Thanks for the advice about royalties and finding a publisher Kevin. I would never have known about such things otherwise.

We've been discussing the BBC TV Sports Personality of the Year elsewhere on the Forum. This thread reminded me that Peter Collins came in the first 6 in 1976. The last time a speedway rider made the top 6 I think?

Direct from Tempus or any book shop would be able to order it for you.

John Louis? He came fourth in 1974 and third in 1975. Terry Betts also reached a World Final.

I have a Polish colleague at work who is mad keen on speedway (one of us in fact). He is also considering writing a book (in English) about Polish speedway stars. He is thinking of doing fairly short biographies of Jancarz, Plech, Woryna and Szczakiel to start with (as a single volume). I would be interested to know what you all think about the prospects of such a book. Would you buy it? Even if you wouldn't personally, do you think it would sell well enough in the UK to make it worth a publisher's while? Do you have any better suggestions for a book. He is also considering at some point a complete history of Polish speedway but wants to start with something else first to see what the demand for books about Polish speedway might be. Any views and comments will be gratefully received and passed on. Thank you.

There was a challenge match on 21 August at Cradley, which West Ham won 46 or 47-31. The report in the 7 September West Ham programme says, "At full strength we have been to Cradley, where, under terrible conditions, we agreed to race a challenge fixture...our boys stormed home 46-31 (the back of the programme results list gives the score as 47-31), Sverre and Malcolm riding unbeaten throughout. "With our league championship hopes far from doused, we certainly needed those two League points at Cradley; but we are men of our word. We agreed to race a challenge and we will honour that agreement. "In any case, our lads are confident that they can return to Cradley and win again." Sounds like that was the match.

Don't think it could have been the same match, salty. John Hart took his four programmed rides and took one as a tactical substitute as well in the last heat. He also took part in the second half, although he suffered engine failure.

Mind you, he wasn't as good as Ken! Ken got 9 points from three rides. He had engine failure before his first race. And then, as I have said above, Ken beat Sverre in the second half final. Sorry Heathens fans for completely hi-jacking this thread!

Sverre was brilliant that night as I recall...ooops, sorry, CHK.

47-31 to the Hammers Cradley John Hart 7 Goog Allan 6 Leo Mcauliffe 5 Eric Hockaday 5 Ivor Hughes 4 Chris Julian 4 George Major 0. West Ham Sverre Harrfeldt 12 Ken Mckinlay 9 Malc Simmons 9 Norman Hunter 8 Brian Leonard 5 Tony Clarke 2 Reg Trott 2 That's what my programme says! Ken McKinlay won the second half from Sverre Harrfeldt with Norman Hunter third. Brian Leonard won the reserves second half event. A good night for the Hammers

They certainly sound familiar...especially Leo McAuliffe, who, of course, rode for New Cross. By the way, do you mean Tim Bungay?

How about Ronnie Moore? See Brian Burford's article in last week's Speedway Star.

I only ever went to Cradley once and it was one of the happiest nights of my speedway life as it was the night West Ham completed the treble in 1965 - the first year of the British League. I can't remember any of the Cradley riders I'm sorry to say, but I can remember the West Ham team. (I'll look up the programme tonight and see who was riding for Cradley - unless anyone can tell me in the meantime.)

I still want to know if my answer to Dick Dastardly's question is right! Come back, Jim.... Anyway, where's your question gone?