norbold

Yes, Knowle is absolutely right regarding their value. I think he has also made a very good suggestion re-their disposal.

You're both right of course. Here's another eight then...: Max Grosskreutz, Aub Lawson, Split Waterman, Tommy Price, Freddie Williams, Anders Michanek, Nicky Pedersen, Tomasz Gollob.....

Top 8 of all time? Impossible...but here goes: Vic Huxley, Tom Farndon, Vic Duggan, Jack Young, Ove Fundin, Barry Briggs, Ivan Mauger, Tony Rickardsson.... Or alternatively: Frank Arthur, Bluey Wilkinson, Jack Parker, Ronnie Moore, Peter Craven, Bjorn Knutson, Ole Olsen, Hans Nielsen Or alternatively: Eric Langton, Cordy Milne, Lionel Van Praag, Jack Milne, Peter Collins, Erik Gundersen, Bruce Penhall, Jason Crump.....

Yes, the one thing we have in common, Tsunami! That was from the Harringay song: "2-4-6-8, Who do we appreciate? Who? The Harringay Racers. 2-4-6-8, Waiting at the starting gate. Who? The Harringay Racers. Come on chaps and turn on the taps Take the right line all along the white line. Who do we want to see, him and you and me? Vic, Vic, Vic for victory!" Vic being a reference to captain, Vic Duggan of course.

Can I just echo what moxey has said. Your dedication and hard work is proving an invaluable source for speedway historians and enthusiasts. Thank you. It is all very much appreciated.

"Cyril would now be 101(born 27.12.1921)" Er......?????

Thank you, that's brilliant. I have always wanted to see the Lea Bridge track. It was actually the nearest track to where I used to live - about equidistant with Hackney, but, of course, it had closed before I was born.

Savalas Clouting

You can find out all you want to know about him from this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Len-Silver-Luck-Would-Cockneys/dp/0955934036/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366718007&sr=1-1&keywords=Len+Silver And it's not even one of mine!

Any big track. Hyde Road seems to be popular so I'll go along with that. And then Mauger with Collins, Loram and Jack Young all trying to get past as they will all have gated badly!

I know there were two brothers...I was named after Norman!

Thank you. How could I have forgotten Jack Parker? Doh!

On achievement and skill on a bike it's hard to argue against Craven, Collins and Lee as the best of the post War Brits. But going on from there with Carter, Simmons, Ashby, Wilson, Louis, etc, surely Freddie Williams should rank above all of them and we would also need to include Tommy Price, Brian Crutcher, Split Waterman, Ken McKinlay, Nigel Boocock and Ron How in the mix.

Syd Edmonds rode at high Beech in 1928 and 1929 and was in their league team in 1930 and 1931. He took over as captain on 1 May 1930 following Jack Barnett's crash which put him out for several weeks. He qualified for the final of the 1930 Gold Trophy along with Huxley and Phil Bishop. He also qualified for the final of the Star Riders' Championship in 1931. He was High Beech's no. 2 behind Jack Barnett and was a decent enough rider, not quite the top class but certainly a good heat leader.

Monday: Wimbledon; Tuesday: West Ham; Wednesday: New Cross; Thursday: Wembley; Friday: Hackney; Saturday: Harringay; Sunday: Rye House and then start all over again....

Yes, very sad news. Freddie was always so supportive of speedway right up to his death. He still went to meetings, functions, events etc. R.I.P. Freddie

Yes, very sad news. Freddie was always so supportive of speedway right up to his death. He still went to meetings, functions, events etc. R.I.P. Freddie

Life is full of surprises Mick. I could counter that by saying I cannot believe that anyone picking a Wimbledon team would not include the late and great Vic Huxley, the greatest rider of his era. However, the point I was really making was the idea of naming an All Time Wimbledon 7. Parsloes says, "And with all due respect, great as the likes of Huxley, Kempster, Tauser & Lamoreaux certainly would've been, they are all way before the time of ANY of us on here (well except Bryn of course!!!) so really it's hard to comment on their inclusion." Exactly. No-one here is really in a position to name an "All Time" Wimbledon 7. I could certainly put forward arguments that all the riders I mentioned should be included ahead of Tommy Jansson but really we'll never know. I just think the idea of naming an "All Time 7" is impossible. Vincent, who started the thread and presumably gave it that title, limited his choice to an eight year period, hardly an "all-time" list. Perhaps it would be better as the "best Wimbledon team made up from riders I have seen".

Vic Huxley Jim Kempster Ray Tauser Wilbur Lamoreaux Norman Parker Ronnie Moore Barry Briggs

Vic Duggan Cordy Milne Frank Hodgson Morian Hansen Dick Case Dusty Haigh Wally Lloyd Just saying.....

Yes, if you just take the trouble to look back in the thread you will see that spin king quoted your remark about Ivan Mauger, which said, "Around the same time he struggled without success to break into the Wimbledon side too didn't he..?? Just goes to show that no-one needs to be an overnight success to make it to the very top in the end...." He then added: "Gives hope to the likes of Billy Legg, Nick Simmons and Benji Compton and may others." So I said "Still waiting..." which was a reference to the fact that we are still waiting for Billy Legg, Nick Simmons and Benji Compton making it to the very top. Jeez, this is hard going sometimes.

Still waiting....

The only BLRC final I saw was the first one Barry Briggs didn't win! 1971. He could only manage a poor second that year, behind Ivan Mauger and after a run-off with Jimmy McMillan. On the night Briggo was the most spectacular rider. He was involved in two "photo finishes" and had to come from behind to win two others, including a spectacular win over Mauger.

I think the worst thing about this whole thread is the number of people who have said "Chris Holder should of been excluded". It's Chris Holder should HAVE been excluded!

It is not a precise science - which team is in London and which isn't. In my first book (Speedway in London) I concentrated on those tracks which were sort of recognised "London" tracks and had been in the top flight. As it happens, of course, while they were open, Harringay and Lea Bridge were never in London and tracks like Wembley (as you say) and West Ham were not in London either until their revival, by which time Middlesex and parts of Essex had been incorporated. I think London is more a concept than a precise geographical area.