Split

Alf Hagon wore glasses. I'm not sure if he wore them when he was riding.

New Cross "B" - 1963. The days of Philp and Coffin?

I believe Adolf's mate, Mussolini was a motor mike fan: http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/mussolini-on-motorbike.html

I think the name of Josef Bössner, probably belongs in that list.

From your (self-appointed) Johannesburg correspondent: Little doubt about 1 & 2 but I think Buddy Fuller is the other automatic choice if only for his services to South African motor sport in later years. We could argue about the other two and whether Zimbabweans (Rhodesians) should be included. Some names that haven’t yet been mentioned are Peter and Deon Prinsloo, Trevor Blokdyk, Howdy Cornell and Neil Mortimer.

The New Cross team of 1961 had 7 world finalists if we include Bengt Brannefors who was reserve in the 1966 final. In fact Brannefors was released by the Rangers early that season so I'm not sure that he qualifies.The others were: Waterman, Luckhurst, Davies, Gooch, McAuliffe and Eric Williams.

Ronnie Moore, Cyril Brine, Ron How, Gerald Jackson, Bob Andrews, Cyril Maidment and Jim Tebby. Look to my avatar for an explanation.

As a New Cross fan now living in South Africa I would loved to have seen Tom Farndon and Henry Long ride. I did see Doug Davies though who was a South African riding for New Cross so he met both criteria.

Look at those handlebars. He would never have managed it on Ken McKinlay's machine.

I believe the last of the leg trailers was Ray Cousins who was still using that style in the 60's. I seem to remember seeing him ride in the second-halves at New Cross but he never made the team.

Sorry to be pedantic but it's Björn (note the umlaut) which I believe means bear in Swedish and not Bjorn .

Don't take anything for granted. You'll recall that Jack Biggs had 12 points from four completed rides in the 1951 final only to finish last in his final race and then third behind Jack Young and Split Waterman in the run-off. I saw all three of them ride in the early 60's. Although like Graham Warren,they were by then all past their best they could produce the occasional magic performance.

I think that Björn Knutson went on to compete in car racing when he retired from speedway but I’m not sure at what level.

A Welshman replaced by a Scot to represent England?

Many people seem to think that Ivan Mauger’s career began when he started riding for Newcastle in 1963. He did of course appear for Wimbledon in 1957-8 but then chose to stay in New Zealand for a number of years. During that time he had some notable successes against visiting overseas riders and his potential was obvious. That potential was realised when he rode regularly against world class opposition in British league racing and six World Championship victories were the result. I ask myself what would have happened of he had chosen to participate in British League racing from 1959 to 1962?

The flag of Vietnam, or "red flag with a gold star", was designed in 1940 and used during an uprising against French rule in Southern Vietnam that year. It was officially adopted on November 30, 1955. Wimbledon speedway operated from Plough Lane from 1929. Can anybody confirm that those famous red and yellow colours were in use in South London long before the Vietnamese adopted the insignia?

Wasn't Ray Cousins the "last of the leg-trailers"? I seem to remember seeing him in a second half at New Cross some time in the early 60's.

I recall seeing a rider named Peter Thompson appearing at Crayford back in the 60's. I honestly can't remember if he was riding for the home or away team. I do remember one of the crowd commenting on the fact that Peter Thompson was wearing number 7 which was the same as the footballer of that name wore when he played on the right wing for Liverpool. Yes, many teams still played with right and left wingers in those days and it took a few managers a while before they followed Alf Ramsey's example of putting out a team of "wingless wonders".

So he would have been alive during the Second Anglo-Boer War (11 October 1899 – 31 May 1902) although I don’t believe there was much action around the Verulam area in what is now KZN/Natal.

I found this on the net which includes a description of "the most colourful team in the league". http://www.world-sra.co.uk/hoskins%20rides%20again.html I seem to recall that part of the friendly rivalry between Harry Bastable and Ivor Brown during their time as Cradley Heath's two star riders, included each of them wearing a white top over their leathers to see who could appear cleanest after the evening's racing.

Ronnie was an integral part of that wonderful Oxford team of the 60’s. My sincere condolences to the family.

Finger trouble!

I always thought that Howard Cole had a riding style very similar to a certain Kid Brodie. Can anybody explain this? P.S. Tongue firmly in cheek

@Norbold. Yes, I also saw Eddie and Reg Reeves ride for New Cross in the days of Provincial League racing down the Old Kent Road but Roy Trigg actually rode there much earlier when Johnny Hoskins was in charge. I don't think Hoskins ever forgave Roy Trigg for moving to bitter rivals Wimbledon. I recall reading his programme notes shortly afterwards comparing Ronnie Greene with a horse thief and accusing him of stealing his young colt, "Trigger" from the Rangers.

Those were the days.