Genesis

I have the greatest respect for all the riders but have to say Nik Ped is the one rider who strains that view. However, as much as the posing midget with the hairblower lacky gets on my twit, there is no way he should have been excluded!

Crumpy got hard done by in the earlier heats but he can surely gave no griope with the final exclusion, fully deserved in my view. He is a fantastic rider, but he was full of himself and glorying in the publicity when he deservedly won it last year and needs to remember at what level he reprsents the sport when things dont go so well!

If anyone out there has any items or photos, on Eric Chitty that they would be willing to send over a copy of, I am recently in contact with his son in Canada who is researching his career and would be pleased to receive anything on his Dad. Thanks.

Have you tried http://speedwaybikes.fortunecity.net/index.htm ? Might be worth a shot if not!

Sorry, also meant to include : ALAN BELLHAM SPEEDWAY SERVICE LTD 5 MARSHLAND STREET TERRINGTON ST. CLEMENT KING'S LYNN - NORFOLK PE344NE ENGLAND Tel: ++44 1553829197 Fax: ++44 1553827422

http://www.speedwaybikes.com/cody/index.htm

Just another call out to anyone who may have any info or photo's on Bill Matthews please. Cheers!

Cheers Al. I'm trying to get some information together for someone who contacted me about anything I had - or could get - on Bill Matthews as he is being inducted to the Canadian Motor Sport Hall of Fame this year, so any time you may find to look for anything would be ppreciateds and literally anything you have also. Thanks again for you time and interest. Nick

Al, have you had anyluck with anything else on Bill? Be grateful for anything when you get the time, cheers! If anyone else has anything on him would be pleased to get that as well.

Thanks Al, anything you have got would be gratefully received if you have the time.

Al, any chance of getting a copy of the item in Speedway News that you mentioned? Be very grateful if it's possible. Thanks!

First class Al, thanks very much for that!

Anyone got anything on him at all, infos or pictures?

Still ploughing through all the goodies left by our Forest Gate Great Aunts and the latest speedway item to materialise is one of their autograph books from the late 30's. Included that are legible are Arthur Atkinson, Rod Stobart[?], Tommy Croombs, Tiger Stevenson, Mick Murphy, Eric Chitty [signed with Ricky as a middle name], Dick Geary, E Langston[?], Ken Brett, Harry[?] Shepherd, Bluey Wilkinson, Frank Betts[?], Cliff Watson, Eddie Phillips, Phil Bishop, Jack Baker, ? Hewitt. Opening the book for the first time and realising that it was full of signatures from 65 years ago or more was very humbling. If anyone can help with confirming or correcting any of these it would be appreciated. There are more in there which I am unable to read but if anyone wants a crack at them I will be scanning them and putting them on my webshot site as soon as I can get the time. Does anyone know if any of the guys are still alive?

A few more photos added to my Webshot site that may be of interest. Could just do with someone reassuring me that photo 5 is Bluey Wilkinson please! http://community.webshots.com/user/nickwells4156

Hey Jim, only pulling your leg fella, as you well know I am very new to this. I respect the fact that so many people still have an interest in the history of the sport and I am just pleased to see so much of the past freely available to people like me. If anything I come across contributes toward that and at the same time brings pleasure to others, that enough for me. I might have one or two more items of interest as well when I can find the time to deal with them! Cheers all.

Cor blimey, strike a light Jim, I never even got a mention! Very interesting site, enjoyed it!

Can anyone come up with a name for the man with Tiger Stevenson in the photo where they are out of leathers in civvies?

Found a few more West Ham photos from the 30's and they are now added to my webshot page if you want to have a look! http://community.webshots.com/user/nickwells4156

Thanks yet again for all that info, if you get any more Slant it would be gratefull received. Ta! [i think I may have a few more brain teasers for you all in due course as well!]

I just knew someone would get it for me! Thanks a lot. If anyone can get names to faces that would a bonus!

Me again! - Click on newest when you get my webshot page!

Just found a couple of old black and whites which I have put on my webshots page. Can anyone tell me where it may be? http://community.webshots.com/user/nickwells4156 Cheers!

Hi all, as I originated this thread I felt I would like to chip in my own thoughts. My era of regular speedway following was early to mid 70's [Reading, Weymouth, White City] first through watching the Uncle of a good friend who rode [that was Jack Walker] and then meeting my future wife whose family went reguarly. Through other interests developing, having a family and running my business I had not been to a meeting since the final White City one! In the past couple of years my interest had been awakened to a degree by the coverage on Sky and that brought me to follow Poole Pirates, as I spend as much time -in short breaks -as I can manage down there during the good weather. [Next move is to try to move down there lock, stock & boat!] The speedway interst on my wifes family's side came from my Mother-in-Laws Aunts, Eastenders through & through who were avid Hammers fans. As I had been a West Ham United football supporter since I was nine I was a good 'un in their eyes and their tales of 40 & 50000 crowds were unbelievable to hear. Any how, having lost the Mother in Law a year ago tomorrow, going through posessions I came across Speedway memorabilia left to her by the Aunts including a reasonable amount of photographs, supporters badges and programmes. It did not take too long using the internet to track you lot and here we are. I've been able to share some of the photos on the New Cross website and you lot have come up with names to faces I had never seen before. A long winded way of a 'newcomer' saying that it is important that we maintain the history of the sport and anything I have got is freely available to any website or photo site any one creates or runs. Just to finish I have also quickly got hold of Hammerin' Round, Friday at Eight, Speedway in London and Homes of British Speedway all of which have been excellent buys even if they can only convey a fraction of the information and atmosphere that a new boy can comprehend. If there are any others worth getting, please let me know. Didn't mean to make such a speech but cheers for now and thanks again to all for their info!

Good news, many thanks for that Iris! Just found some more as well, so will put them up when I can. Anybody want to chip any more in? Cheers, NIck