norbold

Ove 7 no. 1s; 2 no. 2s. Briggo 3 no. 1s; 2 no. 2s

Point 6 is an interesting one. As far as I remember there wasn't a significant drop in crowd numbers for challenge matches and lesser individual trophies. People liked their weekly dose of speedway at the time, so anything was better than nothing. I don't think you'd get away with that these days. People just don't go so regularly, there is more picking and choosing.

Thanks for the contributions everyone. So, it seems Len is the oldest rider in terms of age, but not in terms of when he first started.

You have a short memory, John. From the site you linked to: "As seen on the BSF July 9 2015:: norbold Posted Today, 11:16 AM Nine meetings took place on a track which had been prepared by a local farmer pouring oil on to a grassy field. The only covered accommodation was a canvas marquee which served as a dressing room and everything else. The first meeting was held on 10 August and included Freddie Williams, Bill Kitchen, Cyril Brine, Tiger Hart, Bob Wells and Roy Craighead. All nine meetings were refereed by Arthur Humphries. Although speedway did not return the following season, or ever again come to that, the meetings were well attended and had sideshows such as beauty contests and knobbly knees competitions."

That's about it gustix. The only thing I would disagree with is your saying, "With 2-man match races between star riders often the highlight of any dirt-track race meeting - the top stars were initially excluded from league race towns." I wasn't just 2-man races. There were plenty of normal 4-man races for a number of major trophies run on a sort of grand prix line over the whole season. These were the mainstay of the 1928 season. When team racing was introduced in 1929, the promoters thought that these trophies amongst the star riders were more popular with the punters than team matches and so excluded the star riders from team events to continue with their trophy races. However, they were very quickly proved wrong, and by the end of the 1929 season, the star riders were allowed into the teams.

I am indeed. Thank you for your kind comment. Much appreciated.

Having just reread this thread, I can't believe that no-one (especially me!) has mentioned Ron Johnson. Involved with the Crystal Palace/New Cross set up from its opening meeting in 1928 up to and including its last season in 1963.

I used to walk to Hackney. Twenty minutes across the marshes.

Yes, Rob. 1951 being the famous one of course and one of the meetings featured in Speedway's Classic Meetings.

I hope not as Tich Read died earlier this year.

I'm just back from the Annual Eastern region WSRA dinner at Norwich where I caught up with Len Read once again. At 97, he is still very fit and sprightly. Is he now the oldest former speedway rider still alive? He started riding in 1946. Are there any others still around who started in 1946? Split Waterman? Anyone else? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154351542414129&set=ms.c.eJxljEEOACAIw35kHGwI~%3B~%3B~_YiQcT8dq0xYTogjxDBauBSyqLD6GZvw5ndAeLncTqH2X7GPE5p9o4WSBE.bps.a.10154351538129129.1073741855.620694128&type=3&theater

I was there, Bob. Don't remember seeing you though.

In fairness I should point out that that is an extract from "Speedway's Classic Meetings", which I co-wrote with Chris Broadbent and that particular passage was written by Chris.

Yes, the Prinsloos were definitely from Rhodesia/Zimbabwe. Born in Gwelo.

Zimbabwe: Mike Ferreira

Fiji: Graham Warren & ? Japan: Jimmy Ogisu &?

You can collect your coat on your way out....

Irish rider - Dom Perry Channel Islands - Hugh Saunders.

Presumably that's Freddie Williams in your Wales selection, Joe. I think his brother Eric is by far the obvious choice for no. 2 though. Qualified for four World finals and came fourth once (after a run-off for third place). Morris has nothing like that record. Oh, and South Africa I'd go for Henry Long and Doug Davies, also both World Championship Final qualifiers. Another Czech to throw in - Vaclav Verner.

Doug maybe in with a shout, but not Willie. There's also Tommy Miller of course. Sverre Harrfeldt definitely. Reidar Eide? Runa Holta?- or is he Polish!? Czech. Which Kasper and which Tomicek!!!??? They like it to run in families over there!

We could also split up the constituent parts of GB. England,much the same, except no consideration of Freddie Williams. Wales: Freddie and Eric Williams Scotland: Ken McKinlay and ? George Hunter, ?Jim McMillan, maybe Haggis?

I was thinking about country best pairs when you started this thread, Joe and was going to post something. It's not easy to come up with a definitive best pair for most countries,though funnily enough, probably the best of them all with multiple world champions is the easiest. That is Sweden. Has to be Fundin/Rickardsson. My second would have been New Zealand with Mauger/Briggs, so it's funny that you have said Mauger/Moore. Not so self-evident after all then. I guess Denmark with Nielsen/Gundersen also speaks for itself, though you would have to consider Ole Olsen and Nicki Pedersen....hmmm, maybe it doesn't speak for itself after all! After that it gets more difficult. USA, maybe Penhall/Hancock but what about Jack Milne? Britain - Craven and ? Plenty to choose from, starting with Tom Farndon and working through Eric Langton, Tommy Price, Freddie Williams, Split Waterman, Peter Collins, Michael Lee, Tai Woffinden. Poland? Gollob and ? Again plenty to choose from Woryna, Waloszek, Plech, Jancarz, Hampel. Australia is probably the most difficult of all. No dead cert no. 1 Vic Huxley, Bluey Wilkinson, Vic Duggan, Jack Young, Aub Lawson, Jason Crump. And then there's Russia, Norway, Czechoslovakia (Czech Republic), etc. It's getting late.....

I think they would been too busy trying to knock each other off than concentrating on winning!

When you say "basis of the track", what do you mean? The shape was there, except for the corners, but there was no track laid. Yes, I know.

Not between 1957 and 1969 nor after 1971 it wasn't.