norbold

Of course, no-one can deny that Hancock is a great rider. But the fact he was good enough to win back in 1997, but it then took him until 2011 (when Andreas Jonsson was second incidentally) just does make me wonder about the relative strength of opposition during this whole period.

There was no Vic in the 1929 team; there was no team at all in 1938, but....there was a Vic in the 1939 team, Vic Weir. The rest of the team that year included Bob Lovell, Keith Harvey, Mick Mitchell, Ron Clarke, Les Trim, Ernie Pawson, Charlie Appleby and Charlie Challis if that helps.

Does it all mean though that riders are just not as good today as they were a few years ago? How is it that Hancock is the dominant rider at his age, when in the days he should have been winning agewise, he was definitely behind the likes of Rickardsson, Crump, Pedersen and Gollob. Are today's crop just not that good?

He looked at it when it was shown live!

Do you mean to say that the article I wrote for the Wimbledon Programme back in 2003 was wrong? Some ghost writer you turned out to be. Can I get my money back!?

I must have missed that night....

There wasn't a Crystal Palace team in 1928. There were regular riders there, but there were no teams in 1928.

And West Ham. I have to say he was a bit of a flop at Custom House.

Sorry, didn't mean to post!!!

I agree with much of what has been said above. I think they do bring a bit of enthusiasm and some good banter to their commentary. The only thing I don't like is the continual "Whoooooooo" at a million decibels when one rider passes another. It devalues the "whooo" when there is a really exciting race.

The first letter I ever had published in national newspaper or magazine was back in 1961, when I was 14, in the Speedway Star and News after Eric Linden had suggested more or less the same thing. I wrote in opposition to the idea, basically for the same reasons as Humphrey and marky point out, though in the context of speedway in the 1960s of course. I still think it wouldn't work for the same reasons. Still, plus ca change and all that.....

Exclude the Swede? And what about Doyle?

Yes.

I was indeed, salty. He came third in his first ride behind Ronnie Moore and looked good but nothing special. Then he suddenly came alive in his second with a thrilling outside sweep round Booey to win his next race. Won his next race, beating Martin Ashby and Terry Betts and then, in one of the best races of the night, he went from last to first with another outside sweep, passing Howard Cole, Ray Wilson and Trevor Hedge. And then in another great race, he came second to Ivan Mauger but beat Briggo in his last ride. Finally, he beat Arnold Haley in a run-off for third place. It was a great evening!

Yes, I know Roy Trigg rode in Johnnie Hoskins day. I remember it well and that he went to Wimbledon. After all, he was my protege!

Incidentally, I see that video was posted on YouTube in 2012. This is the first time I have seen it. I never knew it even existed until I saw iris's post.

Never mind the music, it looks like an absolutely brilliant book. I think everyone should buy a copy!

I remember Eddie and Reg Reeves well at New Cross. I also remember seeing Roy Trigg as a young novice in second halves at New Cross. I always thought he would be a good rider and he became my sort of "protege". I followed his career with keen interest and was glad to be proved right. My other "protege" was the 15 year old Dave Jessup at West Ham after seeing his first-ever ride in public. Not sure what happened to him..... I then quit while I was ahead!

Nice bit of dirt on the track!

I'm not sure if "Years Gone By" is the appropriate place for this as it's about something current, but it seems to fit better into the history section! A couple of days ago at Kent Kings, my old friend and chauffeur, Parsloes, announced my uncle's 93rd birthday, whereupon he took a bow to the crowd. My uncle Joe has been going to speedway since he started going to Hackney Wick in 1935. He became an avid supporter, sometimes going to a different track every night in London (as you could in those days). He is now a regular at Kent Kings and sometimes goes to Lakeside as well. I suppose it was probably due to him that, indirectly, I first got interested in speedway as well, as his enthusiasm brushed off on two of his brothers, one of whom was my dad.. Anyway, I was wondering if he is now the oldest regular speedway supporter in the country both in terms of age and longevity of going. Any challengers?

Sigh!

This is why I joined this Forum over 12 years ago. For the intelligent incisive interesting discussions. Disagreements, yes, but always carried out in a friendly respectful manner with a bit of light-hearted banter. No personal insults, no nasty comments. A nice friendly forum where people could express their views and opinions without fear of ridicule. Where you could engage in differences of opinion in an open friendly manner. Where all views were listened to respectfully, even if people didn't agree with them. Where we could engage in good open honest discussion in an adult manner with no name-calling and no attempts to belittle others who held different views. Oh, hang on a minute........

So was it 1956 or 1957?

Yes, that's correct. But I thought BOBBATH meant those who moved from 1964 Provincial League to 1965 British League.

Colin Pratt, Eric Boocock, Dave Younghusband, Jack Kitchen.