norbold

I did quote a number of the top riders in the old Provincial League some pages ago! Well, you know what you have to do!

Geoff Mardon qualified as reserve. Sorry, that was a reply to Rob's question about which 3rd Division rider qualified for the World Final.

Talking of the old National League have we discussed the 1934 National League Second Division yet? Tommy Price, George Wilks, Wal Morton, Alec Statham, Mike Erskine and Acorn Dobson all rode in that one.

But at least that thread kept to the subject.

Darcy who? And what's he got to do with this thread? Did he ever ride in the NL or the PL?

The second tier was quite strong in 1951 when Jack Young won the World Championship. Just saying......

Yes, you're quite right, dave. Er...typo....

Tom Bradbury-Pratt promoted a short season of speedway at Catford Greyhound Stadium in 1934. The 280 yard track was opened on 1 September and several meetings were held. Further attempts to open the track were made in 1938 and 1949, but neither were successful. The sound of speedway bikes was heard in the Greyhound Stadium again however at the beginning of 2000. A film called Honest, set in 1968 and directed by Dave Stewart (of Eurythmics fame), called for a speedway scene. Catford Stadium was chosen as the location because it still looked like a stadium from the 1960s. Amongst the riders taking part were Barry Briggs, Jim McMillan, Nigel Harrhy, Mike Smart and Col Smith. The stunt co-ordinator was former Canterbury rider, Lex Miller. The filming of speedway at the track started rumours that Catford might return to league racing, but, sadly, it never happened.

I think he used to ride in the old National League. He was a bit mediocre I think they used to say.

Now you're confusing the whole thing with facts.

Why are you interrupting this thread by talking about Darcy Ward, mdmc82?

An application to run speedway at Charlton Greyhound Stadium was first proposed in 1938 and again in 1948 but on both occasions applications for a licence were turned down by the ACU. In 1965 another attempt was made by Wally Mawdsley, Pete Lansdale and Len Silver to enter a team in the newly formed British League. Charlton Stadium was owned by London Stadiums Ltd and they were looking for someone to take over the stadium as greyhound racing had just ceased. Silver was confident that a Charlton team would be operating in the 1966 British League on Thursday evenings and even signed up the South African, Denis Newton, for the team as well as making several enquiries for other South African and Australian riders. He said that he intended to go to the BSPA Conference and 'name our team which will substantiate our claim for a place in the British League.' He added that the stadium was one of the finest in the country with seating for 2000 spectators and covered accommodation for a further 4000. The track was 300 yards long with wide well-banked corners and short straights. In the end the application came to nothing as London Stadiums Ltd found another greyhound promoter to take over the stadium instead. In October 1961, the Speedway Star reported that a 'mystery man' with £10,000 backing had offered to promote speedway at Brooklands. The secretary of the football club, Herbert Muskett, said that the 'prospects of speedway racing here are virtually nil. A track would ruin the football pitch. We can never have both at Romford.' When it was pointed out to him by Dave Lanning that football and speedway ran at other stadiums without any problems, Mr Muskett replied, 'My board will improve this stadium when necessary.' The idea was subsequently dropped. An application to run meetings at Brighton (Hove Stadium) was turned down by the local council in 1947 as were further request in 1948, 1965 and 1966. In the summer of 1976, Bob Dugard confirmed that he had opened negotiations with the stadium to bring speedway back to Brighton. The local council gave provisional approval for speedway as long as they could be satisfied that restrictions over noise levels could be met. Dugard asked Sussex University to help him come up with a satisfactory answer to the noise problem but they were unable to and in August 1977, Brighton Council finally refused permission for speedway to take place at the stadium and that was the end of that.

And then of course there was the 2nd tier between 1960 and 1964, the Provincial League, with Ivan Mauger, Charlie Monk, Colin Pratt, Eric Boocock, Dave Younghusband, Ivor Brown, Trevor Redmond, Graham Warren, Maurie Mattingly, George Hunter, Norman Hunter, Ross Gilbertson, Jimmy Squibb, Reg Reeves, Ken Middleditch, Roy Trigg, Ray Wilson, Peter Vandenberg, Dick Bradley, Jack Kitchen, Clive Featherby, Tommy Roper, Jim Airey, Gordon Guasco, Bert Harkins......etc. etc. etc.......

Me neither. It might be worth scouring local papers of the time.

There's already a thread on Staines. http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=3297&pid=2324564&st=0&&do=findComment&comment=2324564

Should have known Mike would have a photo!

I've just checked my 1947 copies of Speedway News and Speedway World and can't find a single mention of Elstree. Though I did come across this little snippet from Speedway World, 27 August 1947, "Fred Williams, the Wembley lad, made his bow in the team on Thursday, coming in as a reserve, and although not setting the Stadium alight, looks the right type to make the grade." You know, I think they could be right there!

Never seen any. I wonder if they actually had any?

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.

I'll do a deal with you, TWK. You buy a copy and I'll explain the mystery of the hole to you. Can't say fairer than that!

There is a photograph of the 1936 Dagenham team in that excellent book, "Speedway in the South East". From left to right they are Snowy Blackman, Roy Duke, Frank Hodgson, A. Sawdy, Jim Boyd and Fred Quick.

My most "helpful" review on Amazon says, "This book is written with a London emphasis, rightly so. It also extends to other parts of Britain. My experiences as a 50's child in Birmingham take me to similar environments. My Nan had been allocated a two-bedroom pre-fab when WW2 broke out: temporary but permanent as it happened to many. Her Welsh roots were given to her many grandchildren. A cwtch ,(cuddle), came with a story and pie 'n' mash. I never had the chance to ask her the where's and why's it came from. It fitted in with her tales: 11 children and two world wars probably was enough. Her daughter, my 92 year old mother, recollects old tales of London before the Black Country and Birmingham. This book is a marvellous account of those times. Misery and mastery of the culinary arts using whatever was available. The prefab fascinated me. Corrugated iron and plaster, I thought, but within was a home and a welcome. This book captures the times to perfection. Absolutely love it." So, as you can see, it is relevant to everywhere. If I were you I'd buy a copy, TWK, you'll love it!

Yes, I'd say they were all unlucky not to be World Champions. Farndon because he died before the World Championship was instituted and Huxley was past his best. They did both win the Star Riders' Championship which was the equivalent in its day. Duggan was unlucky not to win because when he was at his peak there was no World Championship, but again he won the equivalent of its time, the British Riders' Championship. Duggan also suffered from the fact that what would have undoubtedly been some of his best years were during the War.

I think I may have mentioned before my autograph book story...but, anyway, here it is again for newcomers and those that have forgotten! Some years ago I went to the 40th reunion of my College year. While there, someone I hadn't seen since I left college come up to me and showed me an autograph book he had. He had just retired from being the headteacher at a primary school and said this book was on sale on a jumble stall at his school fete but had not been sold. The people running the stall said they were going to throw it away but he thought it had something to do with speedway, though he knew nothing about speedway himself. He knew that this reunion was coming up and thought it possible I might come along. He had seen some of my speedway books for sale in his local bookshop so knew I was interested in speedway. Anyway, he showed me the book and asked me how much I thought it was worth. Looking through the names I took a wild guess at about £75. He thanked me and took it back. At the end of the reunion, he came up to me and gave me the book, saying, "Here, take it. I could see how much you were drooling over it when I showed it to you." I said, "Well, as I said, it's worth some money." He said, "Just take it. It would have been thrown away anyway and I can see you want it." So he gave it to me for nothing. I subsequently asked a dealer how much he thought it was worth and he offered me £100 on the spot. But I didn't sell it and still have it. Amongst the autographs in the book are Tom Farndon, Sprouts Elder, Lionel Van Praag, Wally Kilmister, Gus Kuhn, Alec Jackson, Norman Evans, George Greenwood, Vic Huxley, Dick Case, Buster Frogley, Bluey Wilkinson and Johnnie Hoskins. There are also a number of well known actors and boxers of the time.

I know you didn't ask me, but I got to know Vic very well in his later days. He sent me some good old photos of Clacton as he used to holiday there in his younger days! He was such a nice man and very forthcoming with information and stories about ye olde days (especially at Rye House) when I was researching for my books.