norbold

Aldershot 1950: Trevor Redmond, Basil Harris, Doug Ible, Jack Rodwell, Doug Papworth, Ivor Powell, Bob Harrison, Pat Flanagan, Ken Smith, Bill Grimes, Bob Bunney, Ron Burnett, John Dore, Jack Peck, Allan Briggs, Johnny Guilfoyle. (Sorry, compost, I just happened to have a note of the 1950 Aldershot riders for some reason! I'll leave you to deal with 1951-60!)

Just to be pedantic, Briggs should be 4 not 2.

Hackney were in the BL Div 2 in 1991 but didn't complete the season, closing in July.

If only I had the money. By the way that's Billy Lamont on the left!

Thank you, chr, but I think I should say that Chris Broadbent wrote half the book so I can't claim all the credit for this one. I was at the Wimbledon v. West Ham meeting in 1965 as well. I can still remember it much clearer than any more recent meetings. It was undoubtedly the best meeting I have ever been to. What are your memories of it? (By the way, why didn't I see you there? )

West Ham had closed at the end of the 1971 season, but had a short reprieve in 1972 when Romford moved the Bombers to West ham on the forced closure of their stadium and, yes, they operated in the second division. But they didn't last long at Custom House and moved off to Barrow. The Southern Rovers were originally a team without a home track as the name suggests and in 1956 had operated as a sort of wandering club using different tracks for their "home" matches. It proved to a be a very difficult logistical problem for the team and at the end of the 1956 season, it was hoped that they had found a permanent home at Earl's Barton in Northamptonshire.but when that fell through, Vic Gooden, the Rayleigh promoter, gave them a home as their Southern Area League team, Rayleigh.Rockets, had gone up to the National League. So they then operated as Rayleigh Rovers. After being out of speedway for two years, 1958 and 59, Rayleigh made a triumphant return to speedway, winning the inaugural Provincial Leage with a team consisting of Reg Reeves, Eric Hockaday, Alan Smith, Pete Lansdale, Stan Stevens, Clive Hitch and Roy Craighead. John Leggett and Wally Mawdsley also turned out for them during the season. The 1961 team had Harry Edwards, Reg Reeves, Bob Thomas, Stan Stevens, Roy Craighead, Pete Sampson, Geoff Penniket and Terry Stone.

My prefab had gone by 1970 :(

See my opening post.

Yes, I can certainly agree with Hawk that Ipswich get good coverage on local radio and in the local press. I haven't listened to BBC Essex in some time but they used to give Arena Essex/ Lakeside good coverage, though I don't know what it's like now.

I'm being interviewed live some time between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m. tomorrow (6 October).

Yes, it was a nightmare event for poor old Hedgie. He had engine failure in his first two rides. In his first he pulled up while in the lead at the end of the 2nd lap against Ole Olsen. Then he was knocked flying by Gennady Kurilenko, who was excluded. Hedgie was too injured to take part in the re-run. He turned out for his fourth ride but was too injured to carry on and pulled up after two laps. He didn't come out for his fifth. As you say, I'm sure he would have done much better but for e/fs and his fall.

Roy Trigg was English. It was only after he retired that he emigrated to New Zealand. I remember seeing some of his first rides as a teenager at New Cross in junior second half events. I predicted a great future for him even then. Yes, I think 1970 was the worst year ever for Britain in the World Championship. Only one qualifier and no points.

It would be just nice to know that she knows enough about speedway to remember that!

Thanks, Jim. That's the Ove we all remember and love.

No, sorry, I've re-read my fairly short post several times and can't see anywhere where I said your post has "no real worth". I was merely pointing out that Arena Essex and Lakeside were/are not in London. Neither were/are High Beech nor Rye House of course. Under your criterion, you could also include Rayleigh.

Stretching the meaning of London a bit with Arena Essex and Lakeside........

Very sad news. I remember Johnny well at New Cross in 1961. Of course it is always sad when someone dies, but he does seem to have lived a very full life. RIP John.

There was a good one last night, though I can't remember whether it was Nigel or Kelvin who said it, "Greg would love to win the Grand Prix here in Stockholm." Of course, none of the other riders would.......

Crayford. Yes, of course. I'd forgotten them. Parsloes and Bryn will never forgive me!

As some of you may know BBC London Radio is being relaunched on 6 October as Radio London. The station was originally launched in 1970, so during relaunch day they will be taking a look back at life in London in 1970. One of the subjects they will be covering, believe it or not, is speedway. They will be interviewing me so I can tell them about London speedway then. Remember those days? Wimbledon, West Ham, Hackney, Wembley, Romford...... Anyway, if you have any particular memories of London speedway in 1970, it would be good to hear from you, either on this thread or by pm, so I can make it a bit more than just "facts", but add some personal memories as well. I'm not sure what time the speedway bit will be going out, but will let you know as soon as I'm told.

To be fair, they may not have known. He died on Saturday.

I believe he was 83.

Sad news to report, Reg Trott died a couple of days ago. Reg began his speedway career at Wimbledon in 1949, where he stayed for six years before moving on to Oxford and then Norwich, where he stayed for a further eight years. On Norwich's closure, Reg returned to Wimbledon briefly before moving on to West Ham. He retired in 1967, but was enticed back to the second division with Eastbourne, where he stayed until his final retirement in 1972. He then went on to become a referee. Reg was never a top rider, never even a heat leader, but was one of those vital hard working second strings, without whom speedway could not exist. He was always known as a trier and was very popular wherever he went. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. R.I.P. Reg.

Yes, I'd go along with that. Out of interest, I looked through my 1960 and 1961 programmes (New Cross plus Wembley World Final 1960 and Harringay Internationale Final 1961) and, I have to say, Ove wasn't quite as dominant as I thought. I saw them race eleven times over those two years and Ove won 7-4, though it should also be remembered that New Cross was Briggo's home track in 1960. Thank you, sidney. I was there!

Hmmmm...I must look through my programmes and see how many times I saw Ove "stuff" Briggo.....