Richard Tyrrell

As a nation of sports supporters we have a history of hoping. Hope springs eternal and every time the team steps onto the playing area all is forgotten as hope is the reality. Should GB finish hopelessly last on Saturday, do you think it would be too much to hope that the powers that be in this country introduce methods and systems that, in future, benefit speedway and riders in this country, so that we have more than just hope? Anything other than a hopelessly last place will just paper over the gaping holes in the wall!! regards

who, or what countries are riding?

Arne Pander - Oxford's first 'Great Dane'. His first meeting as an unknown -v- Coventry, 27th March 1959, 12 paid 14 points from five rides. Was the Danish Champion at a time when many people didn't know speedway even existed in Denmark. 13 points the next night, paid 14, at Poole, and 13 at Oxford -v- Poole the following week. After a couple of weeks in Denmark for a family bereavement he returned with 12 points against Belle Vue. And so on! Where is he now? Regards

Issue 9 is another great read! You have already mentioned a request in VSM for the whereabouts of Arne Pander but an article on him would be great. He was virtually unknown when he came to England but made big scores right from the beginning. I remember that after two or three weeks he went home to attend to a family matter and we all thought that was the last we would see of him. But he was back and continued where he had left off. A real star at the time, truly Oxford's first 'Great Dane'. (I've still got some photos of him somewhere in the attic!) Regards

Would it not have made even more sense to publicise these lads riding at Cardiff somewhere other than this website, where lots more people might read it and then support the event? Why all the secrecy? Having said that, I expect it will all appear in the Speedway Star this week (won't it?) Better late than never. Regards

Thanks, Bryn, it just begged the question. Regarding Josh Auty, I saw him going round after the meeting at Scunthorpe - what a flyer! Hope he keeps his feet on the ground. Regards

Did they fill the holes in for this meeting? Regards

Star Lady, I agree with you. One of the things about England Rugby playing at Cardiff is to get there early and enjoy the Band and Male Voice Choir. A real piece of local culture which is part what travelling is about, in my view. There used to be a Band playing at Wembley before the old one-off World Finals, so the concept is not new. But somehow I don't think it will happen! Shouldn't detract from a good weekend, though. Regards

Swine Town, Of course not. Just saying that Arne Pander was very highly rated at Oxford in those times as the first 'Great Dane', long before Hans Neilsen came onto the scene. Good luck with the research. Regards

How could any self respecting Oxford supporter not remember the club's first 'Great Dane', Arne Pander? The year of his accident at Coventry was, in fact, 1961, when he sustained a fractured skull in a collision with Les Owen who, it was alleged, cut across the front of him. I would suggest a visit to the local library where you can read newspapers of that time would reveal more about the incident. Regards

Well done, people, that was quick back with the info! Has anybody actually seen the film? Regards

Just as aside, I have been researching in the local local studies library about another subject, and came across the review of a film due to be shown in Oxford in October 1951, in the local newspaper: "Boxing, speedway racing, crime, romance - 'There is another Sun' - tells of a fairground boxer (Lawrence Harvey) whose mistaken loyalty to a Wall of Death rider leads him into trouble with the Police. Susan Shaw provides love interest. A none too convincing film!" I'd never heard of that one before - anybody any knowledge? Regards

Romford Speedway is featured in the 'Pocket Sized History of Defunct Speedway Tracks' series, number 7, probably still available. Gives a brief history of every season, pictures, results etc. Regards

Yes, Dawn, good luck for Tuesday.

Dawn, I can't help you with the music, being from the south I didn't get up to your tracks as often as I would have liked. But the book referred to above was called 'Halifax Speedway 1928-1951' written by a Terry Warren who was the official statitician and historian for the club. From 1978 he was doing facts and figures in the Halifax programme and assisted in presenting a speedway feature on your local radio. Hope this helps. Regards

Tony Mac, Thanks for the reply, I now appreciate and fully understand the reasons for Amazon not making the book available. I will be ordering my copy from the Backtrack website in due course. Regards

Whilst I have no reason to doubt that the book might be 'the best speedway book ever' and do intend getting a copy, I would be interested to know why Amazon have deleted it from their stock orders. Do they think it is not good enough for them to deal with? If so, why? Who do we believe? Regards

It will be interesting to read an interview with Dag Lovaas. When he rode at Oxford, albeit for just one season only, he became very popular very quickly. If he missed the gate he seemed to have the knack of making a very quick move round the outside of the third and fourth turns (the pits bend) and not, as most riders seem to do, out of the second bend which fits in with the comment above about riding on the lakes at home. He came across as a very quiet, unassuming type of rider who just got on with his business. He was a member of a team that was gathering momentum but events at Cowley meant the team would move on to White City for the next season and win there the League Chamionship that should have been Oxford's. In that close season there was a threat of closure at Cowley (does that sound familiar?) as the City Council wanted to build houses on the site. Bernard Crapper, the future Promoter, was one who was prominent in an SOS Committee that lead protests and demonstrations against this. Eventually they won the day and saved the stadium. But it was too late for Dag's Rebels. The former Promoters (Dugard and Dunton) had to state their intention of running by a certain date and, by the time the news that the stadium was saved came through, that date had passed by just a few days. The Promoters had upped and gone and we were left with 'The Friendly Promoters', Harry Bastable and Tony Allsop) who ran in the New National League. There was a bitter feeling amongst some who had campaigned hard, who felt that just a little leeway would have kept the Rebels at Cowley. Actually the Friendly Promoters did well and were well appreciated by most Oxford supporters, who supported the team instead of catching the laid on buses to London to watch the Rebels. Some did that, of course, but I didn't. I prefer to think that Dugard and Dunton caught a cold at White City when, with just a little less haste, things could have been great at Cowley! Sorry to go on, but you did ask for replies! My question (at last) to Dag would be: Did his move with the Rebels to White City hasten the premature end to his career? OR Had the Rebels stayed at Cowley, where he was obviously quite happy, would he have prolonged his career in an attempt to achieve more than he did? Please tell Dag that he is fondly remembered by many at Oxford. Regards

Sadly, my one and only visit to New Cross was the last meeting in 1963, a 41-37 win against Poole. The next meeting was billed versus Edinburgh the following week but the track closed in that week. I was in the habit at that time of catching the train to Paddington, after finishing work in Oxford at 4pm, and then getting on the Underground.There was nearly always a bus laid on at the other end to the track. The reverse journey was always a challenge with the train timings but it was good fun cycling home in the early hours with the birds singing. New Cross was the furthest track across London but I'm glad I made that trip. I was able to get to Wimbledon, Hackney, West Ham and Wembley by this method and always kept the programmes. Happy days. Regards

Hardly anybody on this thread has mentioned what a great speedway meeting the World Team Final was. Didn't any of you enjoy the racing just a little bit? And I was only able to watch on the tele! Two things spring to my mind: 1. We lost the Final because our riders were just not good enough to beat the other riders. Had they been good enough on the night we would have been well clear, just like any other sporting contest. 2. The biggest crass decision of the night was the one that allowed an English Referee to referee in England when a GB team was riding in an International Final - especially when it was announced on Sky that he had ridden for Mildenhall. No disrespect there but a lot of neutrals would see that as a Conference ex rider - what a background for the uniniated! Can you imagine the Rugby World Cup Final in Sydney, Australia v England - with an Australian Referee? Finally, why not just chill out. Speedway is entertainment isn't it? It would be a pretty dull old sport with no controversies to talk about, but surely its not life or death, is it? Regards

Spin king, I saw several supporters at Weymouth with Poole boards and hats etc a couple of weeks ago. There are differences, Weymouth is small whilst Poole is much bigger and entry costs reflect the league standings. I guess what Poole are worried about is that their regular supporters are now given a choice, some may go to both and some may choose to go to Weymouth instead of Poole regardless of the fact that I bet some Poole supporters come from Weymouth area and were Weymouth fans before that track closed all those years ago. The quiet realisation is that Conference racing is just as exciting and attractive as Elite, its just that the 'star' names are missing and we all know the problems surrounding them in Elite. We are very lucky at Oxford with our 'go ahead' Promoter giving us both Elite and Conference - those that don't go to watch Conference are the ones who miss out!!! Regards

I remember Brian Seery's stats articles of the time. His was the last word on such things. Stranger things have happened. Some years ago one of our rugby club players went to live in Thailand, and it was later reported that he had died. There was a picture and a report in the local press, and a memorial match and cup was arranged. We were all sat in the changing room waiting to go out when his brother came in told us to cancel the match - he had just found out that it was an insurance scam. We played the match anyway! Regards

Apart from 'The Stadium, Southampton' book by CR Bailey, there is another book which is called 'A Dangerous Life', the speedway life story of Chum Taylor, published in Australia in 1986. I managed to pick up a copy a few years ago at Poole, only because there is a picture on the front cover of Chum in an Oxford race jacket! But, by its very nature, there is much on his years at Southampton and some pictures as well. Ah, memories! My Uncle used to go on about Dick Bradley at Bristol (and Johnnie Hole) and I remember seeing Southampton several times at Oxford. Sadly I never got to either track, they both closed before I was old enough to start getting out and about. I did see DC's team in a second half at Poole one time which brought back some memories. What a boon it would be if a track opened in Southampton again! Regards

Coventry and Brafield - the way things are looking it might turn out that Coventry would welcome Brafield - now that would be a turn-a-round! Regards