norbold

I thought you must have done - it was the only way I could see that you would have seen Josef Hofmeister but not Brian Crutcher.

Did you go to the 1960 World Final by any chance?

I've seen 13 of the 18. The five I haven't seen are: Brian Crutcher (who retired the week I first went to speedway), Arthur Payne, Derrick Close, Dan Forsberg and Josef Hofmeister. (At least I don't think I have.)

Thought we were talking about 1965......

I was at the 1965 World Final, BOBBATH. Don't remember seeing you there though! I agree, Sidney. I remember coming away from it quite underwhelmed. It was only afterwards that I realised that everyone else thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. I thought it must be me!

I suppose because it was my first final, one race that does stick out in my mind was Heat 2 of the 1963 final. It always promised to be a cracking heat as it brought together the reigning champion, Peter Craven; former champion Ronnie Moore; future champion, Bjorn Knutson and Peo Soderman. Moore led round the first/second bends from Soderman and Knutson with Craven on the outside last, but as they came out of the bend, Craven switched to the inside and by the end of the straight had passed Soderman and Knutson. He then rode under Moore round bends three and four and finished the first lap in the lead. It was an amazing lap from one of the most spectacular riders of all time. Knutson then did the same on lap two, taking both Soderman and Moore to go from last to second on the second lap. The race between Craven and Knutson was then on but Craven just held on to win. It was to be his only heat win of the night.

Malcolm Simmons was another who had his name spelled wrongly in the early days as Malcolm Simmonds.

And also Mike Broadbank(s).

It is, of course, really impossible to talk about pre-War from a first hand knowledge of having seen the riders and then comparing them with more recent riders and those still around today, but going purely on the record books and discussions I have had in the past with those who were around at that time, I think the two outstanding Aussies from that period were Vic Huxley, the dominant rider (all nationalities) of the late 20s and early 30s and Bluey Wilkinson, the dominant rider (all nationalities) of the late 1930s. In fact, again, just purely from records and talking, I would place them as one and two in the all time Aussie list. I would also certainly put Vic Duggan above Leigh Adams.

I would agree with that. It's a shame Plechanov was unable to ride in the West on a regular basis. Had he done so, I think he would have won at least one World title and we may be talking about a "Big Six".

Two points. 1. If we are considering all Aussies and not just the five Sidney randomly chose in the op, you would certainly have to also include Frank Arthur, Vic Huxley, Max Grosskreutz, Bluey Wilkinson, Lionel Van Praag, Vic Duggan, Graham Warren amongst others. 2. As for Aub Lawson, he would most certainly have to be considered for a top five place. He had an amazing career, being a leading rider from 1939 to 1960. One of the longest careers as a top class rider of anyone in the history of the sport, along with riders like Jack Parker, Ronnie Moore and Greg Hancock and even though his best years were probably just after the War, he was still, towards the end of his career, able to mix it with the likes of the "Big Five". In fact he was one of only three riders to break the World Championship Podium monopoly of the "Big Five" between 1955 and 1963, when he came third in 1958. (The other two by the way were Arthur Forrest and Gote Nordin.)

Do me a favour, Sidney, I'm not as old as Gustix! I did see him at the end of his career at New Cross in 1961when he won two Individual Trophies, the Tom Farndon Memorial Trophy and the King of the South in 1961, beating Ove Fundin, Barry Briggs, Ronnie Moore, Peter Craven and Bjorn Knutson in the process. I felt quite privileged in seeing Youngie at his best and can only imagine what he must have been like in his prime.

Sorry Sidney, I don't know what happened to your quote, but you know the one I mean!!!

I can remember going up to Wembley one year on the Underground and got talking to a Newcastle supporter. He kept calling him Mauger and I kept saying Major. In the end I asked him why he pronounced it Mauger. He said, "It's auger without the M isn't it, so it must be Mauger with an M." Couldn't argue with that logic!

Hmm...difficult one that. Especially deciding between Crump Jnr and Youngie for no. 1. Apart from Fundin, Crump Jnr is the only rider to finish on the podium in ten successive seasons which should make him the no.1. However, I would say that at no time was he clearly the best rider in the world in the same way that Young was. Young dominated the early 1950s in the same way as say Rickardsson did in the 2000s. To offset that however, Youngie was not in or around the elite for as long as Crumpie. My instinct would be that if we are looking at Young just in the first three or four years of the 1950s, then he would be top. If over their whole career, then Crump Jnr. So, having weighed all that up, I would go for 1. Crump Jnr 2. Young 3. Adams 4. Sanders 5. Crump Snr.

My son has just dropped off some vital supplies on my doorstep - a six pack of crumpets!

The reason it stands out for me is because I went to college in Norwich and I persuaded some of my college friends (most of whom had never heard of speedway let alone seen it!) to come and cheer on Ove. I have to say I didn't hold out much hope as he was past his best by then. It served to enhance my reputation as College's speedway expert!

Yes, that was me. You don't happen to have a photo by any chance do you?

I was there as well. Don't remember seeing you though.

I've only seen one abroad - Gothenburg 1971. Wembley finals I saw were 1963, 65, 67, 69, 72, 75, 78 and 81. Three wins for Olsen, two wins for Fundin, two for Mauger, one for Knutson and one for Penhall As I said above, the one that stands out most in my memory is Ove Fundin's win in 1967. Though Knutson's win was very satisfying partly because he had been West Ham's captain the year before and partly because he fully deserved a World Championship as the only one of the "Big Five" not to win one up to that point.

Of those I have actually seen, Ove Fundin's win in 1967 is the one that stands out most for me.

I think the big question following yesterday's announcement is: Do crumpets count as essential supplies?

It's a local shop for local people - we'll have no trouble here.

Tell the corner shop owner not to sell to anyone he knows is not a local.

My food parcel's arrived....no crumpets though!