norbold

I think it is true that speedway was at its lowest ebb in 1957 and 58 after Wembley closed at the end of 1956. The revival began in 1959 and then in 1960 with the return of New Cross to the capital under Johnnie Hoskins and the formation of the Provincial League, thanks mainly to Mike Parker and Reg Fearman. I know TWK won't agree with this but maybe what the sport needs now are characters with the drive and determination like Hoskins and Parker.

Wot! No wrestling?

There again was Lionel Van Praag a worthy winner in 1936? Bluey Wilkinson scored a maximum in the final, with Van Praag only winning because he carried forward more bonus points. Jack Parker was top of the averages that year. (The answer by the way is yes of course he was a worthy world champion because he won it under the rules pertaining at the time - as every other World Champion has, which makes them all worthy winners.)

That Colin Joynson got around a bit.

1. Simmo. Always no.1 for me after seeing the match that turned him into a star in 1965 2. Carter. Never really liked him, but was the best of the rest. 3. Louis. See Wilson 4. Wilson. On another day these two could be the other way round! 5. Morton. Probably for the same reason as grachan.

Les Kellett v. Colin Joynson. It doesn't get much better than that!

I thought you'd read my book, gustix, it's all in there. Available here if not: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crystal-Palace-Speedway-History-Glaziers/dp/178155062X/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Eighty two years ago today, in the scratch race final at New Cross, Ron Johnson ran into the fence on the back straight and fell. With less than two yards separating him and second man, Tom Farndon, the latter had little time to take avoiding action, though those that were there that night say that Tom deliberately tried his best to turn away from his fallen skipper, choosing instead to plough into his machine. Tom and his bike were thrown into the air and flung a considerable distance before Tom landed on his head. Both riders were rushed to hospital. Sadly, Tom never recovered consciousness and died two days later. A sad and tragic end for the rider who, at the age of just 24, had achieved everything there was to achieve in speedway and who seemed unbelievably to be growing in stature and getting even better. Of course, we will never know what the future might have held in store for him - there are those who are certain that the way he was progressing he could well have won all three pre-War World Championships and come back for more afterwards - but already he had achieved enough to be counted amongst those who always find themselves listed amongst "the greatest ever". Was he as good as Vic Duggan, Jack Young, Ronnie Moore, Barry Briggs, Ove Fundin, Peter Craven, Ivan Mauger, Hans Nielsen, Tony Rickardsson, Greg Hancock? We will never know of course and everyone will have their own opinions but to take his place on that list at the age of just 24 is a major achievement in itself. R.I.P., Tom.

The Harringay leg was on 11 July; the return, the following night at Belle Vue on the 12th.

Thank you, r&r, I found that, but that's not the thread I was looking for. It was one where someone pointed out that the Stamford Bridge film couldn't have been responsible for the high attendance at the first High Beech meeting.

I believe that some time ago we had a discussion on here about the first speedway film showing Keith McKay and Billy Galloway racing at Stamford Bridge but can't find it. The reason I was looking for it was because I used to think that this Pathe film was shown in London before the first High Beech meeting and may have been responsible for the higher than expected attendance at that first meeting. However, I think someone cast doubt on that and came up with the dates the film was made and shown, showing that couldn't be correct. Can anyone confirm those dates please?

Terry is always at the Norwich WSRA lunch every year. Get your tickets now and come along and say hello. It's on 29 October this year.

I'm sure that is correct. However, given that, it is interesting that there do not seem to be any fatalities for 1928. Is it just that they weren't recorded?

Great piece of work compost. To make it a more meaningful comparison, it needs to be related to the number of riders and meetings held during those decades. Also 1 in the 90s and 00s is 1 in 20, not 1 in10 or 0.05 per year.

Absolutely BOBBATH. The Defunct Speedway website, Speedway Researcher and the Speedway A-Z site are always the first three to go to for reliable research and information. And just for an enjoyable browse when not looking for anything in particular.

Not sure it worked like that. Not sure it worked like that. Norwich's licence number was R366

The article also mentions that Norwich's licence at The Firs had a prefix R as well. I have looked at some of my National League pre-War programmes from the same era and they don't have an R in front of the Permit no., so perhaps dave's punt is right.

Thanks BL. I didn't see that match, so don't have the programme. Thanks for setting the record straight.

Bjorn was real class at West Ham, sadly only there for one year. Do you remember Bjorn's Bonanza? In the second half, Bjorn used to take on the top scorer from the away team in a match race. I think he won every time including against Ove Fundin and Barry Briggs. I also remember one occasion when he had a special match race against Briggo because Bjorn said the fastest way round Custom House was on the inside, while Briggo maintained it was round the outside. So they lined up with Bjorn off no.1 and Briggo, no.3. Bjorn gated first and promptly went to the outside leaving Briggo on the inside. Bjorn won, thus proving Briggo right! I also remember your text being read out. I was in the studio at the time having to respond to some of these texts!

Yes, I tend to agree, Sid. I guess first impressions always count for a lot and my first impressions were formed through my first two years at speedway in 1960 and 61. Fundin was almost unbeatable round New Cross (apart from the memorabe occasion when Split beat him three times in one night!) whereas Briggs and Craven never seemed to be able to fully get to grips with it. So I've always tended, probably unfairly, to downgrade Briggs and Craven when considering the "greatest ever" as against Fundin, who I still think is the greatest rider in my time. Interestingly, given the discussion above about Jack Young and West Ham, Youngie was another rider who rode New Cross really well and even though he was past his best by 1961, he still had the beating of Craven and Briggo at New Cross in individual meetings. It made me realise just what a good rider he must have been at his peak.

He certainly wasn't as good round small tracks. I think the year he rode for New Cross was just about his worst ever - well, since he had become a top clas rider in the mid 50s.

Yes, John Langfield rode for West Ham in 1969 but didn't return for the 1970 season. Ken McKinlay, for so long the backbone of the team, also left after the 1969 season as did Stan the Man. As has been said, although Sverre returned for 1970, he was just a pale shadow of his former self and then got injured again. Kasper was signed up but went walk about, arriving later in the season. Brian Leonard and Barry Crowson also left.

1971 was the Hammers last year. Clarke and Kasper weren't in the team. Newcomers that year included Preben Rosenkilde, Mick Handley, Allan Belham, Alan Sage and Barry Duke. They finished bottom of the league and then it was all over.

Yes, I seem to remember the story was that Johnnie Hoskins advertised races against cheetahs to bring the crowds in, but, on the night, he announced that the cheetah hadn't turned up. A heckler in the crowd shouted, "Yes he has and we know who the cheater is!" Or something like that.

I suppose it is the track I have visited most. A bit of a toss up between that and Hackney. It was a good track, though generally I preferred smaller tracks like New Cross. However, there was probably no better site in speedway than seeing riders like Sverre Harrfeldt and Christer Lofqvist blasting round the outside at Custom House.I think the problem was that if races got processional there was a long way to go till the end of the race!