Split

Found on the Internet: "The stadium was left derelict for several years until it was demolished in 1975 as part of a plan to redevelop the football ground, although those plans fell through. The site is now a public open space called Bridge House Meadows "

And so many wish they had been to New Cross. Maybe we have a lot of members in the London area. I'm happy to say I watched speedway at both venues.

As a fellow Rangers supporter, I'll obviously follow Norbold's lead: New Cross, West Ham. Hackney, Wembley (London), Wembley (Johannesburg).

The Edinburgh team of the 60's had the Templeton's, Jimmy Tannock. and George Hunter who were all Scotsmen and must have been paired together.

Welshmen, Eric Williams and Leo McAuliffe rode at 5 and 6 for New Cross in the early 60’s. Can anybody come up with a pairing from a country other than England, Australia, Sweden, etc. who have appeared together in the National or British League?

Good to see Stefan Kwoczala get a mention. A world class rider whose career was cut short after suffering a fractured skull in a crash at Krakow in 1961. That was after winning the Polish championship in 1959 and finishing 7th at the World final the following year.

Bjorn Knutson, Jimmy Gooch, Göte Nordin, Jim Squibb and Arne Pander.

It was the other way round for Chum Taylor (who rode in a world final in 1960 and subsequently for Poole in the Provincial League) and Ray Cresp (who rode in a world final in 1961 and subsequently for St Austell in the Provincial League). I'm open to correction but I don't believe that either Bryan Elliott or Reg Luckhurst ever rode in the Provincial League.

When I left England back in 1972, I gave all my programmes and Speedway Stars going back about 10 years to a chap named Derek Neave. Derek was well known around the London tracks selling programmes for charity.

I think Jimmy Squibb also rode for Ipswich in the 60's. I didn't miss any of the New Cross home meetings in 1963 and although some visiting riders did get the better of him, Jimmy was generally in a class of his own around the "frying pan".

If it was meant as compensation for Wembley losing the World Final can anybody tell me why the final of the Internationale in 1961 was held at Harringay?

How, Gooch and Goody were the heat leaders and Genz, Pander and Geran were the other heat leaders that season I seem to recall that there were moves to equalise team strengths the following season and the team was torn apart.

Sad news indeed. Jack was one of Oxford speedway's "G men" along with Gooch, Gooddy and Genz in that 1964 team.

We shouldn't forget the dominance that riders like Ivor Brown and Ivan Mauger enjoyed in the old Provincial League. Almost unbeatable at their home tracks of Cradley Heath and Newcastle and we all know what Mauger went on to achieve.

And now there is not one speedway track operating in the whole of London - very sad!

I was there when Craven won his second world title at Wembley in 1962. Fundin was third that year and the two met in that famous heat 6 where four of the big five were involved. As well as being a rider of undoubted world class, Peter was also one of the most spectacular and universally known as "The Wizard of Balance".

"White lining" was the way to win races back in days gone by (riders like Ron How had it down to a fine art) but superior machinery and improved different riding techniques have changed all that. Finding grip on the outside and riding round riders was a rare but exciting event in those days and this is simply an example of a world class rider making best use of the conditions.

P. S. I found this previous thread devoted to the Provincial League’s Silver Sash match race competition: http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/47133-silver-sash-match-race/

The provincial League's equivalent to the Golden Helmet was the Silver Sash. The formula was simple. When the holder of the Sash rode in a meeting the opposing team's top scorer on the night would race him for the Sash after the main event. It added a bit of interest to the second halves which could otherwise be quite tedious.

I should have added "apologies to The Two Ronnies," to my post.

When I saw The big O's as the title of this thread I thought it was about track preparation because that's what is used to prevent the surface becoming too dry.

From your (self appointed) Johannesburg correspondent: Sadly speedway in Southern Africa is not what it was and the days of world class riders such as Henry Long and Doug Davies (not forgetting Buddy Fuller) are long gone. In later years riders like Peter Prinsloo, Denzil Kent and Mike Ferreria emerged but we are unlikely to see their like ever again. This quote from https://www.speedway-sa.com/ says it all: "As of 2019 there is no longer any motorcycle dirt track speedway racing in South Africa." So sad.

I assume the lack of responses to this topic indicate that the forum members who saw handicap racing back in 1963 regard it as a failed experiment that needs no further comment.

I happened to see that in another section of this forum , handicap racing has been suggested to avoid the processional races that we sometimes see. This was of course tried in National League racing back in 1963. The ‘Big Five’ (Fundin, Knutson, Briggs, Moore and Craven) started off a 20 yard handicap with certain other heat leaders (How, McKinlay, Boocock etc.) starting off 10 yards and the second strings starting from scratch. I attended most of Wimbledon’s home meetings that year and recall that Gerald Jackson given a 20 yard start proved a difficult man to pass and there were other second strings who enjoyed similar success. The experiment was abandoned after a revolt by the 20 yard men with Barry Briggs being the most vociferous. I think it very unlikely that reintroducing such a system would ever be seriously considered in the future but would be interested to hear what others think.

So sad to see that one of the all time greats in no longer with us.