norbold

When I started going there was no rider control. Wimbledon won the league year after year and everyone expected them to. But they were a great draw as supporters of other teams went to see if their team could possibly beat this powerhouse. From 1954-1961 they won the league every year, expect for 1957 when Swindon topped the league. In 1962 a new powerhouse team, Southampton, took the title. Their top two were Barry Briggs and Bjorn Knutson, both slightly above an eight point average I believe! Funnily enough, Wimbledon had three riders above eight that year - Ronnie Moore, Ron How and Bob Andrews. But people wanted to see all these top riders. They were a great attraction.

Brian Crutcher was born 23/08/1934, so he is one year and three months younger than Ove. I should add that Briggo was born 30 December 1934, so Brian Crutcher will make it to the list before he does!

I'm sure you're right about Brian Crutcher, Wealdstone, But, unfortunately, he's not on the list of oldest finalists - yet.

Iris, Chunky and CHR, may I recommend another good book...."Out of the Frying Pan - The story of New Cross Speedway"

Easy - Halifax. (You are allowed to take Martin Rogers' "The Illustrated History of Speedway" to the famous chair with you, aren't you?)

No idea, Rob, but I didn't say it was my specialist subject! By the way, the answer is Split Waterman.

Who came 12th in the 1952 World Final? (No looking up!)

You didn't get the New Cross answer!!! In answer to Dave's question, I would go for either British Speedway from 1945 - 1965; The History of New Cross or the life of Tom Farndon. It would be interesting to know what reference books they would go to to compile the questions for the last two.......

Yes.

Think you might have missed the point there, TWK! Anyway, I suspect BL65 got more than I did.... I've only been on two. Phil's been on dozens! If only I could have matched him, I'd probably be the Grand Prix race director by now.

Yes, BOBBATH, I think those three are slightly a class above the rest.

Although he was past his best by the time I saw him at New Cross, Split was still a good heat leader, but there was a period of about three or four weeks when he must have been like the Split of old. He seemed to be in a different class - he beat Ove Fundin three times one night during this time - and it was like I did catch a glimpse of him at his best. Sadly, it didn't last long but it was a privilege to see him back to his best. On that form, I think he would definitely have beaten Olle Nygren, both at their best. The only thing I would say about Olle is that he probably maintained a higher standard for longer than Split. He was still a major force to be reckoned with in the late 60s.

Yes, I believe Split would beat Olle more times than he would lose to him.

Yes, that's the date given on Wikipedia. I wonder where the date we have on our list came from?

I agree. Split was good, but not quite that good. After all, he didn't win the World Championship.

So Ronnie Moore is promoted to the top 16, which probably gives us a clear winner when the meeting is held! (Mind you, the meeting had better be held soon, before Ove joins them next!)

I hate to say this, but I got 15.....

Thanks TWK, so the last we had was this: 1. Split Waterman (England) 92 years - born 27/7/23 2. Arthur Payne (Australia) 91 years - born 30/8/24 3. Dick Bradley (England) 91 years - born 28/11/24 4. Fred Brand (England) 91 years - born 3/2/25 5. Chum Taylor (Australia) 89 years - born 4/4/27 6. Eric Boothroyd (England) 89 years tomorrow - born 26/4/27 7. Derick Close (England) 88 years - born 13/5/27 8. Henry Long (South Africa) 88 years - born 26/7/27 9. Billy Bales (England) 86 years - born 6/6/29 10. Olle Nygren (Sweden) - 86 years - born 11/11/29 11. Rune Sormander (Sweden) - 86 years - born 29/11/29 12. Jack Geran (Australia) - 86 years - born 10/12/29 13. George White (England) - 84 years - born 24/5/31 14. Ian Williams (Wales) - 84 years - born 4/8/31 15. Per Tage Svensson (Sweden) - 84 years - born 16/10/31 16. Peo Soedermann (Sweden) - 83 years - born - 29/10/32 17. Ronnie Moore (New Zealand) 83 years - born 8/3/33 18. Ove Fundin (Sweden) - 82 years - born 23/5/33 19. Arthur Wright (England) - 82 years - born 14/10/33 The ages are wrong now though!

As it happens, it's Olle Nygren's 88th birthday today. Ove Fundin is 84. Incidentally, I saw them both a couple of weeks ago at the Norwich WSRA lunch. They both look as fit as the proverbial fiddles.

Ove Fundin and Barry Briggs.

Well, top 9! Mind you, I agree with your general point though.

In that case doesn't that mean that It should count as a meeting for Kenny?

So, in the case Dave stated and in your hypotheticals, can the rider be replaced by a guest or can rider replacement be employed, rather than having to use reserves. (I know the likelihood of getting a guest at that sort of notice is less than minimal, but in theory...?)

I think a non-riding no.8 is also a different issue as he is there just as a name and there is no intention for him to ride. Anyway, it is a fascinating subject for those of us into this sort of thing, and I have enjoyed reading the different opinions on it. Thank you to Dave for raising the subject, I just hope hope has managed to get something out of it!

I think your heat six example is a different thing. Clearly the race did not take place, so cannot be counted as a race; that is different to withdrawing before the race starts and the race then taking place. It is a difference between the meeting starting and a race starting that seems to me to be the crucial issue. And the meeting has to start when the riders are called to the tapes, otherwise you couldn't enforce the 2-minute rule.