norbold

It's a strange thing, but it's probably because I did see Peter Craven on a number of occasions that I don't rate him as highly as some of the others here. He was, of course, a spectacular rider, there's no denying that, but I saw him mostly at New Cross and he never really seemed to be able to get to grips with the track like some others. I'd say he certainly wasn't as good as Ove Fundin or Ronnie Moore at the Frying Pan. Strangely, as well, although Briggo rode for New Cross in 1960, he too never really got the hang of it. I think 1960 was probably his worst season. Of course, experience of a rider is coloured by one's own experience, and that's probably why I have always rated Ove Fundin as the outstanding rider of his era. He was almost unbeatable at New Cross (apart from the memorable night when Split Waterman beat him three times!)

This thread does make me feel old. I've seen most of these riders that others are too young to have seen.....

Need you ask!?

I agree with your order for those five, Sid. Eight British champions: Craven, Collins, Price, Lee, Woffinden, Williams, Loram, Havelock. Now throw in Tom Farndon, Jack Parker, Eric Langton and Split Waterman.....

Ipswich 1998 wasn't bad with Tomasz Gollob, Tony Rickardsson, Chris Louis, Scott Nicholls, Toni Svab (2 Grand Prix) and the great Savalas Clouting.

What Happened To Norman In 1937 ? Sorry, I wasn't alive then.

I believe there is an excellent book all about the history of Crystal Palace speedway, which can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crystal-Palace-Speedway-History-Glaziers-ebook/dp/B009BCWUY2/ref=la_B001KIKM18_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1496578952&sr=1-7

Fundin 63, 67 Knutson 65 Olsen 71, 75, 78 Mauger 72 Penhall 81

My list of unseen World Champions would beLionel Van Praag Bluey Wilkinson Jack Milne Freddie Williams Tommy Price I have met Tommy Price and Freddie Williams - though they weren't riding at the time!

Back in the day, the Evening News and the Evening Standard used to print a write up and the full heat by heat programme for that night's racing at Wimbldeon and New Cross. It was seeing this that prompted me to ask my dad if we could go to New Cross one night. The rest, as they say, is history!

One of the things I remember most about New Cross is the family we used to sit near in the stand on the home straight. They were all great characters. I'm not sure what relationship they were to each other, but our favourite was a young man, probably in his early 20s, who we called Fuzz because he had fuzzy hair. He spoke very slowly and seemed to be generally very sloth like in everything he did. He was also quite slow on the uptake and often puzzled for some time over anything said to him before responding. We think that one of the others was his best friend, El, who was the complete opposite. He spoke at a million miles an hour and got very excitable. He was a complete ball of nervous energy, always fidgeting and unable to keep still. Before practically every race Barry Briggs appeared in he would announce, "Watch Briggs rear at the start" to everyone around him. We think the older woman who was with them was probably Fuzz's grandmother. Her mission in life seemed to be to provide the others with cups of tea. She was up and down so often going to get the tea that we dubbed her, "Mrs Cups of Tea". I'm not sure if she ever actually saw any racing. Finally there was a middle age man, who we took to be Fuzz's father and Mrs Cups of Tea's son. He was an authority on anything to do with speedway, whether historical or mechanical or anything else. Throughout the evening there would be a constant stream of people coming up to him asking him questions or for his advice. He never let them down. He was known to us as "The Authority". Any other New Cross regulars here remember them?

There was an annual Eddie James Trophy raced for in the 70s. I don't know who Eddie James was but maybe he is the Eddie you mention, MLB.

No-one who was at the Wimbledon/West Ham Knock Out Cup Quarter Final Replay on 14 August 1965 could ever mention Simmo in this context. I still say it was the greatest performance of all time.

I fully sympathise with you, Split!

Colin Watson, Wally Kilmister, Cordy Milne, Arthur Atkinson, Joe Abbott, Eric Chitty , Alec Statham at first glance. Billy Lamont, Jim Kempster.

Mine would be in more or less chronological order rather than merit order: 1. Frank Arthur 2. Vic Huxley 3. Ron Johnson 4. Max Grosskreutz 5. Lionel Van Praag 6. Bluey Wilkinson 7. Vic Duggan 8. Aub Lawson 9. Jack Young 10. Jason Crump

Sounds like a good thread, Sidney. Who were the Aussie top 10 of all time?

Nothing wrong with you, TWK. It's all a matter of opinion and personal preferences.

I think I wrote that!

Although he rode for West Ham and was undoubtedly a great rider, for some reason the rider I never really took to was Bengt Jansson. He always seemed such a boring rider to me. There! I've said it!

Yes, I think it was probably the second meeting at High Beech. The ACU had revoked its ruling that bikes had to have brakes by then and, as you say, Rob, the Aussies had turned up, in particular A J Hunting who wxplained how it should be done!

There's no answer to that!

In the same vein, of course, although it was more palpable with Cordy Milne, the War also put paid to a number of other deserving riders chances of winning the World Title, most notably Vic Duggan, but also maybe Jack Parker, Eric Langton, Wilbur Lamoreaux, Bill Kitchen and Eric Chitty.

Arguably the unluckiest rider never to win the World Championship was Cordy Milne. Hot favourite to win the 1939 championship and leading on bonus points, the final was cancelled just four days before it was due to take place owing to the outbreak of War.

Graham Warren certainly had the potential and may well have been World Champion eventually but for his serious injury. I think all through the different eras you can find riders who could have been World Champion but for injury, e/f, sheer unluck and so on or others who were good enough but just didn't make it, riders like Split Waterman for example. Though this is probably not so true in eras when there were outstanding riders who had a stranglehold on the title, e.g 1954-1967 when the Big Five ruled.