chunky

Yet again, I will attempt to redirect this thread back the original topic, if nobody has any objections? Although the dates here are not from the 1930's hopefully this will interest both Doug and John... I didn't know too much about Sprouts Elder's exploits on non-speedway tracks, but I was intrigued by this information from Aussie in 1927. On 12th March, 1927, Elder won the Golden Helmet at Maroubra, NSW. He rode a 4-valve Rudge at an average speed of 88 mph. Pretty impressive considering that this was his first ride on a concrete track! He returned on 9th April, and again won the Golden Helmet, this time on an Indian. Here he beat his fellow countryman, Eddie Brinck, with both riders lapping at 97 mph, and the rest of the field were nowhere. On this occasion, there was an additional 5-mile match race between the two Americans. Elder's bike gave up the ghost early on, and Brinck struggled to the finish line with a sick motor. Under the circumstances, Brinck refused to take the win, and suggested a rematch. This time, "Sprouts" won by inches. Eddie Brinck's last outing before heading home was the Golden Helmet on 14th May. Spencer Stratton won the first heat, beating Brinck by half a wheel, while Elder took the second. The final was a tense affair with the lead changing hands several times, but with half a lap to go, it was Brinck who was in front. Then Elder passed him on the outside, and held on to win by a wheel to complete his hat-trick, as they crossed the line at 97 mph.

Okay, a little sketchy, but... Elder's first love was horses, and wanted to be a jockey, but at over 6', that wasn't an option. He started motorcycling, and rode on both dirt and board tracks. With Eddie Brinck and Cecil Brown, he went to Australia in 1925/26, where he made an immediate impact. He met Johnnie Hoskins, which is why he came to the UK.

I haven't found anything yet - certainly not in any detail. Iris123 has done some research of his own on Sprouts, but there really isn't a huge amount of information that is readily available.

Serious question, John; do you REALLY think others are "offended" by Martin's comment?

Do you not know what "whimsical" means? Do you not know what "eccentric" means? I'm not sure you can accurately be described as whimsical, but you are certainly eccentric. No, this is not an insult...

Hey, the OLD BWitcher is back!

Getting back on topic... Here is a preview of the AMA National Championship, from the Los Angeles Times on 1st July, 1934. NATION'S LEADING BIKE STARS COMPETE TODAY IN COLISEUM CLASSIC "Roaring motorbikes will claim speed-hungry fans this afternoon when the first national short-track championship title ever to be awarded by the American Motorcycle Association in open racing will be figuratively hung up in the Coliseum. Twenty of the nation's speedway aces will have their first shot at the title in sixteen events this afternoon. Tomorrow night twenty other flat-track stars will burn gasoline and rubber on the Coliseum oval for championship points. Tuesday night the ten high-point winners in each of the two cards will be matched in the finals. In addition to the championship laurels a gigantic cup posted by the A.M.A. for the champion, and a hefty percentage of a $3000 purse determined by points earned will be the material rewards for risking life and limb in turning up limit speeds four four laps of the track in each event. From the opening flag every speedway dare-devil will turn his motor loose to garner as many points as possible in each race, assuring the fans hair-raising action from the start. Lloyd (Sprouts) Elder, hailed by many as the greatest motorbike pilot who ever lived, will be on hand this afternoon to demonstrate that there is nothing fictional about his English, Australian and American wins that rate him an international champion. On the same card there will be such aces of aces at flat-track sprinting as Al Chasteen of Oakland, "Bo" Lisman and others. With District Inspector W.F. Cannon as director-general, the meet is being staged under A.M.A. sanction by the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, with proceeds to benefit widows and orphans of State traffic officers, and their convention. Official representatives of the A.M.A. in charge include Fred Ludlow, supervisor; Al Koogler, referee; Merrill Anderson, starter. and Charles Moist, head pit steward. A new brand of thrills for those unfamiliar with the sport is guaranteed as the 275-pound bikes are broadsided into turns at a mile-a-minute clip with no clutches or brakes to aid the rider. No other type of racing puts such a test on individual skill and daring every split second the rider is on the track." Lineup 27 - Sid Chambers, 2 - Byrd McKinney, 84 - Eddie Spadafore, 70 - Snooks Blankenburg, 4 - Sprouts Elder, 63 - Cliff Self, 49 - Chico Duarte, 10 - Burton Albrecht, 64 - Lou Casazza, 13 - "Bo" Lisman, 3 - Miny Waln, 19 - Bert Lewis, 65 - Ed Jones, 47 - Pete Coleman, 90 - Ray Holt, 83 - Frank Servetl. Reserves - Bud Johnson, Jack Burris, Manuel Trujillo, Lou Branch.

Of course, my mum knew Mrs B, but although I did meet her on occasion, that was much later (and I was a kid). A wonderful and very unique lady, Mrs B... The Speedway Star actually published a photo of my mum with Ronnie Moore.

If I could make some suggestions, Junior... Firstly, it would appear more genuine had you used bold. Secondly, I would suggest using "cannot" as opposed to "don't". Do you have any information about this Jens fellow, as I do not seem to recall him?

The Sydney Showground/Royale (556 yds), Brisbane Ekka (465 yds), and Perth Claremont (640 yds), were all largely circular, but as you can see, none of the fit into the 1/5 or 1/6 mile category! The Sydney Sportsground (418 yds) was closer to the size stated in the article, but it was a conventional oval shape with long straights.

Tthat's one of the reasons I find these cuttings interesting; there seems to be a lot of misleading information. The way the articles read usually, it appears that the journalist isn't totally familiar with the sport, and tends to rely on hearsay. However, some of the writing is poor, and it is difficult to gauge whether the size and shape of the tracks refers to England and Australia, or just Australia. Thing is, we know that British tracks DID vary in length (NOT all one-fifth or one-sixth of a mile) and that the vast majority of them had noticeable straights. We also know that certain Australian tracks WERE more circular, with virtually no straights, but tended to be larger. To me, it comes down to lazy reporting...

Some more Sprouts Elder now. From 1st July, 1934, this was published in the Fresno Bee. One of the main reasons for posting this is another couple of new names. Lamoreaux And Elder To Race Again Thursday "A rematch between Lloyd (Sprouts) Elder and Wilbur (Lammy) Lamoreaux will be offered to Fresno racing fans Thursday night at thecwerkly short track motorcycle races in the state college stadium sponsored by the Night Speedway Association. The return meeting between the two champions, Elder with the distinction of being world's champion and Lamoreaux, the national champion, was arranged after Lamoreaux made the statement that he would have beaten Elder except for bumps throwing him out of line on the finishing stretch. Elder took Lamoreaux's measure in the two-lap match race by a narrow margin, while Lammy came back in the scratch final to beat the former by a scant margin. At any rate, one of the riders promises to bring the national championship honors to the Fresno track with him following that event in Los Angeles. It lasts until Tuesday. Garland Johnson of Pasadena also will step into the limelight at the stadium with a special time trial to determine whether he will be moved into a scratch rider's position. Johnson will be given a flying start for the one-lap time attempt and in the event his time equals that of a scratch rider he will lose the five-yard handicap ordinarily allowed him in handicap races. A host of other riders will back up the list on the program. Putt Mossman, sensational trick rider who gave exhibitions in trick riding last week, will be entered; Mossman won the final handicap rave last week. Other riders included on the program will be Frank Servetl, Lou Casazza, on a new J.A.P. motor; Al Owen, Otto Lauer, Bud Laughlin, Oliver Clow, Wilbur Woldit, Ed Spadafore on a new Crocker Special, Ed Jones, Ray Holt, Leonard Andres and Burton Albrecht. A new loud-speaking system also will be installed for the show."

Also from the Madera Tribune, this time on 26th August, 1936. Motorcycle Races Resumed Thursday "When the weekly short-track motorcycle races are resumed Thursday night on the Fresno State college stadium track, there will be at least four scratch riders in the field. Entries have been received to date from Wilbur (Lammy) Lamoreaux, Flying Frenchman from Sacramento, Ray Tauser, likeable cyclist from Portland, Bo Lisman, Long Beach Terror, and Byrd McKinney, the flashy Pasadena rider. Harry Wilson, sponsor of the races, expects to obtain the entry of Earl Farrand, the Glendale Ghost, and perhaps Miny Waln and Bert Lewis. The latter two are on a pleasure trip east and may return in time to get into action. If they do not get back this week, they surely will be on hand for second race, the following week."

Here's a preview of the first team racing at Fresno. It is from the Madera Tribune on 28th August, 1935. Team Racing Fresno Speedway Thursday "Team racing will be ushered into Fresno Thursday night for the first time on the program of the Fresno Speedway Association's weekly short track motorcycle races in the state college stadium. The team matches this week will be run off in orthodox style. One form of match races with four riders in a heat were exhibited a few weeks ago, but were regarded as test match races between Australian and American riders. The races this week will be between two six-man teams, one from northern California and the other from southern end of the state. It will also mark the opening of sectional rivalry. The teams, captained by Wilbur (Lammy) Lamoreaux of Sacramento, and Bo Lisman of Long Beach, will be divided into three pairs with each pair on each team meeting in a series of nine heats. As a final to the team races, the four high point men in the competition, regardless of their team membership, will go into a four lap final event. Aiding the dashing Frenchman will be Ken Scofield, Sam Owen, Al Chasteen, and the choice between Ray Grant and Lou Casazza. Lisman's team will include Bert Lewis and Manuel Trujillo of the scratch rider's ranks, Tiny Carroll, and two new riders, "Snooks" Blankenburg and Ed Hinkle."

Moving ahead four years, this is taken from the Fresno Bee on 13th June, 1937. There are a few new names to note here! Garland Johnson Heads First Entries For Airport Speedway Races "Broadsliding motorcycle riders will revive the spectacular sport in Fresno this week with an eighteen-event program marking the first of a Summer series of races at 8.15 p.m. Thursday on the one-fifth-mile oval of the Airport Speedway on Kearney Boulevard. A field of sixteen riders, all well known through regular appearances in Fresno during the past few years' events on the Fresno State College Stadium track, have been signed to compete in the opening program which is the first to be arranged in California this season. The riders have been idle since foreign competition lured many of the state's top-notchers out of the country and caused curtailment of local races through lack of local talent. Garland Johnson of Pasadena, always a favorite with Fresno motorbike fans; Lou Casazza of San Francisco, Bud Laughlin and Al Lauer of Sacramento and Field Helgason of Stockton heads the invading contingent for the initial race program. Others booked for the event are Otto Lauer, Ewald Schnitzer, Oliver Kalen and Harry Sands of Sacramento, Dick Wulzen of San Francisco, Ernie Criss of Oakland, Angel Alari of Los Angeles, Leonard Andres, Roy Andres and Alvin Thompson of Stockton, and Stanley Bennett of Rio Vista. Johnson and Schnitzer recently returned from Australia. A group of Fresnans headed by J.C. and William Burnett has received official sanction from the American Motorcycle Association at Columbus, Ohio, to promote local races this season. They plan a number of innovations to improve competitive conditions and make the programs more interesting to watch. Chief among the changes is the switch from the college stadium to Airport Speedway track. Observers believe the shortened straightaway and wider curves of the Italian Entertainment Park speedway will enable the riders to "slide" with greater freedom and obviate the necessity for slowing down for hazards such as the bottleneck curves on the stadium track. In England and Australia, where motorcycle races draw tremendous crowds, all tracks are either one-fifth or one-sixth mile affairs with practically no straightaways."

Keeping with the subject of Sprouts Elder - who apparently confuses people (or a person, anyway) - here is an interesting item from the Oakland Tribune, dated 9th July, 1933. Elder Entered In Police Race "Leading motorcycle racers of the Pacific Coast are being signed for the benefit flat track program to be sponsored by the Alameda County members of the California Association of Highway Patrolmen at Emeryville Speedway, Sunday afternoon, July 23. Proceeds from the race schedule will be used to partially defray expenses of the association's three-day convention here late in October. Such riders as "Sprouts" Elder, Bo Lisman, Miny Waln, and Wilbur Lamoureaux already have been obtained for the program, according to Lieut. Charles Hemphill, chairman of publicity for the affair. Lieutenant Hemphill, head of the Oakland traffic division, is a past president of the patrolmen's organization. Inspector Elmer Steinmeyer of the patrol has been named general chairman of race preparations. He is being aided by all members of the county division, which maintains headquarters in Hayward, and local police officials. Rudy Schmoke of Sacramento is association president."

Okay, gustix, why are you confused by the post I made above about Sprouts Elder?

My mum said the same. She was the secretary of the Wimbledon SSC, and was heavily involved in their functions, and she said that Ronnie was a fabulous dancer. She also said he was a real gentleman.

I know that Bob Radford passed away in May 2017, at the age of 70. I haven't looked, but I am absolutely positive that we had a thread on here.

Bill, perhaps. He did make an appearance for Kings Lynn in 1966, but I don't have any details; it may have been a guest outing. Mike Watkin definitely not. He rode for Barrow in 1972.

Five years minimum would seem to be a good starting point...

Bert Kingston is okay, I think, but Bob Jameson rode for Long Eaton, and also spent two years with Middlesbrough.

Mine was 51 years ago, and I remember it like yesterday. 51 years before that, and we were still fighting in WWI. That does make make us feel old, eh?

Steve mentioned Erik in the original post... Thing is, there are MANY riders who rode for only one British club, but only had one or two seasons in the UK. They do fit the criteria, but cannot be classed as "servants". Riders like Kafel, Szczepanik, Olkiewicz, Zabik, Grubmuller, Marzotto etc. Even Brad Oxley...

I never, ever thought I would say this to YOU, but you made a mistake!!! Bernie Leigh rode for Swindon in 1974.