chunky

Who was that? Would it have been Rob Pfetzing?

Seems like they were some of the LAST riders you actually "saw" too...

The main reason for me saying what I did was that speedway is "dirt-track" racing, and the sport suffered when we started to lose the dirt. You do make a great point, though. I have often said on here that one thing I miss (in Britain, at least), is the variety of tracks. We used to have tracks of vastly different size, shape, and surface. Now tracks seem to be built to a "standard". What I am trying to work out is that John rattles on about his lifelong "involvement" in speedway, yet basically, it seems that he enjoyed it for about 10 years, and (when it "changed" in the 50's), HASN'T been interested for some 60 years! I don't like to harp on about it (actually, I do), but I am still trying to work out how someone "in" the sport doesn't recognise Plechanov, Moore, or Mauger... You don't have to physically attend speedway and watch racing to be able to identify legends like that. I've never been to an F1 race, but I recognise Jackie Stewart...

Final one of the night... Basil Harris leading team-mate Cyril Brine, from 1946 (I believe).

Here is the New Zealand team (including several Dons) that beat Belle Vue at Hyde Road on June 2nd, 1953 (Coronation Day). The Kiwis won 55-53 thanks to a last heat 4-2 from Geoff Mardon and Ron Johnston against Ken Sharples and Louis Lawson. Mardon (13), and Johnston (12+2) were top scorers for the winning team, while the Aces were led by Sharples (14) and Lawson (11). Back row: Maury Dunn, Geoff Mardon (Wim), Ron Johnston, Barry Briggs (Wim). Front row: Merv Neil, Trevor Redmond, Ronnie Moore (Wim), Peter Clark.

You are of course correct, and I have changed the caption. Thank you.

There are plenty more where they came from! The great thing is that a lot of them aren't that well-known, so it's always nice to see pics for the first time. Unfortunately, the quality isn't always great (being taken from newspapers rather than glossy photos), but at least I have them.

From 11th June 1948, here is a pic as described in the caption. Of course, the two London "Stars" both rode for the Dons. The Kangaroos won 49-35, and Norman Parker top-scored for London with 9+1.

Compared to others on here, you ain't lost nothing, Steve!

Here is Les Wotton inside Lloyd Goffe.

Here a a pair of Dons from 1935 and 36, Eric Collins and Wal Phillips

I realise that I am probably not qualified to make posts on here, but in an effort to show that I do sometimes know what I am talking about, over the next few days, I will be posting a few Wimbledon pics from years gone by. These are not taken from any website, but from some of my old scrapbooks, so they would have originally been published in old magazines. Here is German Alfred Rumrich, who appeared for the Dons in 1937, with a best score of 11 points in a challenge against Bristol. I know my fellow unqualified poster iris123 is very familiar with him.

I figured, but we were talking about most entertaining, that's all...

Just thinking... All of us spending that time as kids recreating speedway at home, it is clear how and why we all lost our marbles...

Kelvin and Jamie were probably my next two in line...

For me, it was a gap on the floor between two rugs!

Speedway was still racing "as it should be raced" in the 60's and 70's at least. Let's not forget that the GP in Wroclaw as last year was perhaps the greatest speedway meeting of all time.

For me (from those I have seen): Buzz Burrows, Roger Johns, Neil Cameron, Brad Oxley, Colin Richardson, Olle Nygren, Alan Mogridge, Terry Mussett, Rodney Payne, Ray Morton.

This is intriguing... Nope, I can't find any trace of anything either! While it looks official, it is odd that an "official souvenir programme" (particularly of a Test Match) would be produced in that fashion. It is also odd that there is no date. I know there were cheap "pirate" progs printed for big meetings, but seeing that we can't find any meeting is worrying. Of course, there was the five-test series against the Aussies in '48, but this wasn't included. The other thing is that I have no idea who Ronnie Smith was. Not a name I'm familiar with at all. I figure he may have been a home-track rider, but even so, to have been anything close to Test standard would indicate that he was decent. I have checked a bunch of other tracks in the southeast, and can't find anything on him. Do you know him, andout?

It was only AFTER he'd gone norf of the river that we started to hate him! Remember, he had previously had some outings for us while he was at Crayford.

My bad, I mean the uncaptioned item. Sorry...

It's Ken Archer, Bob. He was longtime Pit Marshal at Wimbledon, Hackney, and White City, and a great friend. Sadly, he passed away a few months ago, Yes, the other one is Mike.

Here is the pic I was talking about, with my dad (with the beard), Ken Archer (between my dad and Jill), and Ronnie and Jill Moore.

So, you okay with the team pic now everyone has been identified, John?

What a lovely, lovely fella. I have a photo of Ken and my dad (and the rest of the Wimbledon team) with Ronnie and Jill at the 1959/60 London Speedway Supporters Club Dart League presentation.