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What's that? Is that the same as flat-track? Steve

...but it nearly is... Thanks to that splendid comment yesterday in response to gustix posting different names in a thread about the same names, it gave me an idea! In addition to the names posted by Mr. Hyam, let's see what other "nearly identical" names (one letter different) we can come up with. Bob / Rob Jones (Swindon / Wimbledon) Kevin Brice / Price (Canterbury / Exeter) Ron Johnson / Johnston (New Cross / Belle Vue) Andy Fines / Hines (Rye House / Peterborough) Steve Naylor / Taylor (Crayford / Ellesmere Port) Ole / Ove Olsen (Coventry / Birmingham) Mark Ferry / Terry (Stoke / Hackney) Garry Hay / May (West Ham / Weymouth) Steve

I'm so glad YOU said that, and not me or iris123... Steve

He wasn't the first to do that! Remember, the 1937 Speedway Riders set of ciggy cards from Players' did the same thing years before... Steve

Damn you! This is one of my favourite categories and you've stolen all these from me! Still, there was : Ian Williams (Swindon / Wimbledon junior) The much-discussed Barry Lee (West Ham junior / Rayleigh). Andy Buck (Eastbourne etc / Middlesbrough) Jack Bibby (Aussie at Sheffield and Hackney / Crayford) Steve

Doing a little research, and it seems Basil quite a name in the National League Division Three. In 1947, he was the backbone of the Eastbourne team, and won both the Supporters Cup and a qualifying round of the British Riders Championship. He then switched to Tamworth, where he was a heat leader, and then moved to Aldershot where he was a star for several years. He won the 1950 Easter Cup at Tongham against the likes of Jack Instead, Pat Flanagan, and Vic Gooden. Steve

As I said, he never really established himself at the higher level, but I think he was decent in the lower leagues. From what I have seen in a very few photos, he seemed a little ungainly, although that wasn't unusual at that time with the foot-forward style. Obviously, you can find info on speedway researcher, although it is fragmented because of the different teams. If you Google his name, there doesn't seem to be any singular concise resource, and being well before my time, I can't really add too much. As far as being a "favourite", there is more to it than simple ability and achievement. For instance, one of the first names on a list of favourites for me would be Jim Tebby. Jim was a good family friend, and we would meet at his house, then go to Ron How's pub and play darts! One of the loveliest guys I ever knew, and that is why he is a personal favourite of mine. Basil could have been the same... I just wish it was easier to find stuff on riders like him. Steve

One of my best memories from Plough Lane was when Roger and Eddie got a last-heat 5-1 (from the back) against Olsen and Shirra to earn us a draw! Brilliant race... Steve

This may surprise you, but he is an ex-Don! Never really established himself there, but was at Plough Lane in the immediate post-war years. Also rode for Aldershot, Eastbourne, and Tamworth. Steve

Please stop getting so butthurt, John. As I said on another thread, I have had conversations with you and explained why some people have a problem with some of the stuff you post. It is not always WHAT you post, but the WAY you post it. You aren't stupid - yes, I believe that - but you often act like you are. Worse than that, you act like everybody else is. Talk about Byrd McKinney, that's fine, but don't make out that we will be clamouring to answer you when we already know what the answers are. Directing people to your own articles is fine - sometimes - but you really don't need to do it as an automatic response to a topic. Just some friendly advice... Steve

Something to do with pots and kettles, I think??? Steve

Look, I've had my issues with iris, but I'm not going to harbour a grudge for ever just because... Not for the first time, his criticism of gustix is justified. Get used to it. You acting all grown-up and saying "f... You" is not justifiable. Let's just put away the handbags and move along... Steve

Quite honestly, that is one of the most ridiculous posts I have seen! Okay, I know iris can be abrasive, and I know you are not a fan of his, but you need to look in the mirror sometimes instead of making comments like "why do you act like this?" This is HIS thread, and he has - as is not uncommon - some fascinating information for us. Like me, he is genuinely interested in the "years gone by". It's not like he is just coming on here to antagonize others - seriously. You can see by comments from others, including myself, that we are perplexed by some of the self-promoting (and often poorly produced) posts by a certain forum member. Even as strongly as we feel about John's posts at times, nobody is "advising" him to stay away from the forum, and there is absolutely no reason for you to make such ridiculous statements about another forum member who provides us with some great stuff. Steve

Funny thing is that over the years, I have had several private conversations (on here and on Facebook) with John about this very topic. With his knowledge and experience, John is - and should be - a valuable member of these forums, but he just doesn't help his cause with some of the things he posts. No John - we don't have a problem with YOU; we welcome your interesting historical posts. We just wish you wouldnt make some of the ridiculous and unnecessary posts you do, and I have said to you before that simply asking for answers to questions to which most of us already know the answers is not advisable. Steve

Well of course... In those days, comedians were able to be suggestive without being crude or tasteless - and nobody was offended. Steve

OMG!!! That is brilliant! When I saw "Sandy Powell", I thought, "I only know one Sandy Powell?" I love old British comedy and music-hall stuff, so that is right up my alley! Steve

Great stuff, Doug; thanks for sharing! Steve

As an addendum, they just sold an old Harley board racer for $45,000. There was actually a board track about a mile from where I am right now in Sharonville, OH. Steve

Here in the US, we obviously don't get much speedway exposure, and most people know little or nothing about the machinery. I work at a local bar a couple of times a week, and when I got in this morning, there was a motorcycle auction being shown on several of our tv's. I wasn't really watching, but I kept an eye out just in case... About 15 minutes ago, they wheeled out a beautiful 1952 Rotrax JAP! Of course, nobody in the bar had a clue what it was, but through all my drooling, I was able to show off my little bit of knowledge. It was sold for $15,000... Actually, that reminds me; a couple of weeks back, a tv show called "American Pickers" (they go round picking up antiques and other stuff they think they can make a profit on), and one guy in California (not anyone I know) had this old GR500 hidden away in his garage. Again, they didn't come up with too much info, but I wonder if it could have belonged to one of the Moran boys? Yep, I'm always on the lookout for things like this... Steve

I'd forgotten about Alan! Yep, born in New Zealand... Steve

Blewett definitely, but I never considered Chris Julian "wild". Spectacular, yes, but that is different to "wild"! Steve

My mum used to tell me about him. Not so much "hard" as "wild"!!! Steve

I wondered if you knew that? Always used to see him outside South Wimbledon station grabbing a kebab after the meetings! His legs made Les McGillivray look like Steve Schofield... Steve

I'm sure you've seen another... The Plough Lane legend, Phil Vance! Steve

Wouldnt that be wonderful? I dream of being able to do that... While some of my earliest memories as a kid are certainly speedway memories (like you, "Olle white-boots" stands out for me), I don't have many really vivid memories until 1969. Ronnie coming back, taking the special from Tooting Broadway, and the World Final were the highlights. That era ended when Ronnie left. I wasn't a regular for the next few seasons, and unlike most, it was Tommy's tragic death that got me going again. From 1976 to 1979 I would class as another great era. Finally, the NL years at Plough Lane seemed special... Steve