norbold

Jack Winstanley

Snowy Beattie was at Hackney. Ron Dyer was West Ham's man. Ernie Hancock at New Cross was a prominent member of speedway society.

I don't think you've quite understood this thread yet!

Ron Hoare was another fine speedway journalist/historian. It was his article, "Undefeated Tom", in the 1961 Speedway Star Digest that first got me interested in Tom Farndon.

Just saw this as the thread has been revived and thought, Blimey, it's just like Nigel Benn v. Steve Collins! Then I saw the date on the post!!!!

Think I'd have to go for Igor Plechanov Josef Hofmeister Boris Somoradov Jerky Szcackiel

It has to be Mike Bast surely....

I think Angus Kix, Danny Carter and James Oldfield come quite close.

Over to you!

Ove Fundin Tom Farndon Ivan Mauger Tony Rickardsson Vic Duggan Next Five Barry Briggs Jack Young Vic Huxley Hans Nielsen Jack Parker

1. Graham Warren er....er.....

I was considering the Welsh Top Five earlier and actually came up with the same five. I checked on Leo and, as you say, discovered he was apparently born in London. However, all the time I followed New Cross in 1960 and 1961, he was described as Welsh. So I'll stick to that five!

Matt le Tissier. Ooops, sorry, wrong sport....

Ken McKinlay George Hunter Tommy Miller Bert Harkins Gordon McGregor

Ronnie Moore was also a born Aussie of course.

Well, we've got a New Zealand Hall of Fame but not a top five. Now then, who is going to dispute the top three? 1. Ivan Mauger 2. Barry Briggs 3. Ronnie Moore 4. Bob Andrews (Does he count???) 5. Ron Johnston

Think I would go with: 1. Igor Plechanov 2. Emil Sayfutdinov 3. Boris Samorodov 4. Vladimir Gordeev 5. Gennady Kurilenko

Ah, right! Got you now.

Vic Huxley Bluey Wilkinson Vic Duggan Jack Young Jason Crump P.S. That's in chronological order, not merit order.

When did you see him then, TWK?

Sprouts Elder Jack Milne Cordy Milne Bruce Penhall Greg Hancock

So how about: 1. Sverre Harrfeldt 2. Rune Holta (unless he's Polish!) 3. Reidar Eide 4. Dag Lovaas 5. Basse Hveem

That's a bit unfair on Morian and Baltzar Hansen as there were no Danish Championships when they were at their peak in the mid to late 1930s. It's like saying Tom Farndon couldn't be included in the greatest ever riders because he never made a World final.

Yes, I agree, that’s why he didn’t actually make it to my top five. But he was one of the top riders in the era of the “Big Five” and averaged 10.15 in 1960, which placed him above Briggo in the averages. In 1961 he had an average of 10.12 until he fractured his skull which put him out for the rest of the season and 1962. It then took him a long time to return to form. It wasn’t until 1965 that he returned to form, recording an average of 10.03. Between 1959 and 1961, he was ranked in the Top 10 in the end of season Speedway Star Rankings, his highest being in 1960, when he was ranked at number four, above Barry Briggs and Bjorn Knutson. If he hadn’t fractured his skull he would probably have made at least two or three World Finals and done well in them. But, of course, we will never know.

What were Morian Hansen and particularly Baltzar Hansen's achievements that you think places them above the Hans Nielsen, Jan O Pedersen and Tommy Knudsen. My own top five I think would be the same as Steve's, though I would like to think there might be a place for Arne Pander....