Ross Garrigan

Bat Byrnes was indeed a handy road racer. He contested one road race in Australia in which a very handy English speedway rider also rode - Bill Kitchen. The "Bat" came about as a result of his road racing - it was said he rode like a "bat out of hell".

Yes.

What I should have added is that there were also two occasions that 1923-24 season that programmes were staged on the Maitland Showground at which motorcycle racing wasn't included.

Jim, One can go around in circles when trying to define when "speedway" actually started. It is not until someone comes up with the definition of what "speedway" actually is that the question of when it commenced can be addressed. When writing of the early two-wheeled motorised racing in Australia, I never use the word "speedway" but use terms such as "motorcycle racing". Johnnie Hoskins deserves credit (along with A.J. Hunting, and to a lesser extent Keith McKay) for their contributions to the advancement of the sport of speedway in Australia and overseas. Re the first Maitland season: - All bar one of the meetings staged at Maitland during the first season featured motorcycle racing as just one part of the attractions on offer. It is a misconception that Hoskins staged all the meetings at Maitland that season. There was only one meeting that first season which featured only motorcycles - Hoskins had nothing to do with it at all.

For those interested in Jack Young, two items about him have been added to the Australian Speedway History Page on Craig Fordham's website. http://www.ausm.info/aus_history/past_era/jyoung.htm http://www.ausm.info/aus_history/jack_young/jyoung1.htm

Just a couple of observations about two items in the latest VSM:- Re the Grosskreutz story:- An inspection of Max's birth certificate doesn't reveal the regal name of "Maximilian" Octavius Grosskreutz - just plain old "Max". Exactly where the "Maximilian" came from, I've never been able to find out. Re the Hoskins' letter:- In the introduction to the letter, Moss Williamson is referred to as being "one of the early greats at Maitland and Newcastle Speedways in Australia". I have researched the racing at those two tracks (as well as at Cessnock) and Williamson wasn't in the same class as the Datson brothers, Billy Galloway, Billy Lamont and Spencer Stratton. In fact, Williamson did very little racing at Maitland at all.