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norbold

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Everything posted by norbold

  1. In the 50s/60s, the reigning World Champion was seeded direct to the final. In 1959, Barry Briggs, as champion, was seeded to the final without having ridden all season as he had been in dispute with Wimbledon and had remained in New Zealand. He still managed to come third.
  2. I bnelie I believe the FIM are waiting for the green light to give their verdict.
  3. Believe me, phillip, they were all greats of their time. Arthur Forrest came 3rd in the World Championship in 1956 at a time when speedway was dominated by Fundin, Craven, Moore and Briggs. Alan Hunt was the idol of the Birmingham fans, topping their averages every year from 1951 to 1956 and reaching three world finals. After Jack Young’s departure from Edinburgh at the end of 1951, Tommy Miller became the dominant force in second division racing. He was ranked in Stenner’s top 15 three years running and when he did mix with the top division boys showed he had what it took, maintaining a 13.06 average in 16 Test matches for Scotland against full England sides that included Freddie Williams, Split Waterman, Arthur Forrest and Eddie Rigg. Bob Leverenz was instrumental in getting Norwich promoted to Division 1 in 1951. The following year, only he Ronnie Moore and Jack Young finished with a 10 point plus average in the first division. And so on. Oh yes, phillip, they were all great riders of their time.
  4. It doesn't, of course. But the ban he served ruled him out of the GPs and the GP qualifiers. The consequence of which is that he shouldn't be able to qualify for next year's Grand Prix. Perhaps the ban was fixed for that length of time for that reason?
  5. You seem to have gone over to the Darcy side.....I'm sure there's a joke there somewhere. 😉
  6. Do you know anyone who has written for the South London Press by any chance?
  7. Yes, my old friend Mike Kemp was instrumental in getting this done.
  8. Perhaps they could have a team of Mortons....
  9. What about Wal Morton? Who's he riding for this year?
  10. Darcy who? Why don't you find a suitable thread to post that on and not spoil this one!
  11. Yes. Also the 1938 Sunday Amateur Dirt Track League. Because at least they were separate leagues in their own right, not just off-shoots. Would you count the Britannia Shield as a separate league or the old National Association Trophy? Also, what about the London Cup in the late 1960s? That was run on a league basis between three teams, but it was a league nevertheless.
  12. I don't think those mini-leagues really count as separate leagues. It was really the Provinvial League's Southern League.
  13. Three? National League 1st Div, National League 2nd Div, Provincial League. I think......
  14. On 15 September 1974 Iwade Juniors took on a Mildenhall Fen Tigers junior team. The 15 year old Michael Lee, riding for Mildenhall, took a massive 1.5 seconds off the track record in heat 11 He scored 7 paid 9. The speedway Star felt that Michael Lee could be a "name to watch in the future." While Michael said that his dad would prefer him to concentrate on scrambling. Just thought I'd mention it as it's before 1975....
  15. 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!
  16. Geoff Mardon qualified as reserve. Sorry, that was a reply to Rob's question about which 3rd Division rider qualified for the World Final.
  17. 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.
  18. But at least that thread kept to the subject.
  19. Darcy who? And what's he got to do with this thread? Did he ever ride in the NL or the PL?
  20. The second tier was quite strong in 1951 when Jack Young won the World Championship. Just saying......
  21. Yes, you're quite right, dave. Er...typo....
  22. 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.
  23. I think he used to ride in the old National League. He was a bit mediocre I think they used to say.
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