chunky

I agree. Honestly, I was really no fan of his, but nobody could - or should - argue about his ability. He did suffer from injury and bad luck, but even so, he was an incredible rider. To be fair, I never saw Jason Crump as a World Champion, due to his temperament as a young man. However, he matured, and showed us what he can really do. Sadly, Kenny Carter never gave himself the opportunity to do the same. Steve

Well, I know he was still alive in 2007... Steve

Eddie moved on to Belle Vue, but never developed as he should have done - given his potential at Newcastle - and returned to the US. Steve

If Arthur Payne is still with us (and I haven't been able to find any reports of his passing) he would actually be 86 now, and not 85 (born August 1923). Steve

2009 isn't over yet, Derek... Steve

Well, he wasn't German; he was Austrian. He did ride for Exeter, though. Steve

I was just going to say Vic Duggan and Jack Parker, but I'm too late. Therefore, I will add the name of Vic Huxley to the list. Steve PS Derek, I fully endorse your views regarding Messrs Loram and Havelock.

Okay, we could be heading towards a totally different thread now... How about Henry Long and Gerald Short? Steve

...and I mentioned some of those just a few days ago! Steve

Hmmm... Does that mean they figured the "power" button on the remote could be used to interact with Justin Elkins??? Steve

Don't forget also, that years ago, the Y/B helmet colour was actually yellow with a black hoop, rather than quartered. Don't know when the quarters became standard... Steve

Ettienne Olivier (with a second "I") - and you are correct about him being a South African. Steve

Well, they also loved using nicknames back then, like : Squib Burton Yank Harrison Dusty Haigh Speed Formby Buster Frogley Bunny Wilcox Crazy Hutchins Skid Knock Acorn Dobson Nobby Key Hurricane Hampson Bronco Bianchi Crasher Coxhead Smiler Henstock Smoke Robinson Winks Rice and right up there with the wonderful Stiffy Aston, we have Champ Upham! Of course, there were other great names, such as : Stewie St. George Harrison Gill Hilary Buchanan Chun Moore Norrie Isbister Triss Sharp Jimmy Pink Ralston Dunlop Steve

...and the other Hungarian, Laszlo Munkasci. Steve

I used to do that, even though it was a poxy journey going on the South Circular at that time of night. You say about the 50's? My mum used to do: Monday - Wimbledon Tuesday - West Ham Wednesday - New Cross Thursday - Wembley Friday - Harringay Saturday - Norwich, Belle Vue, or whatever... Steve

Some names I liked - and couldn't possibly forget... Lloyd Goffe Philip Lac-Szyrma (Plough Lane second-halfer a few years back) Anatoli Maximov - great name for a speedway rider! Grieves Davidson Lex Milloy Archie Windmill (ah, when riders' names were masculine...) Norman Nevitt Bryce Subritzky Bruce Abernethy Ray Wickett Lisa Whibberley (wobbly!) Hec Haslinger Mike "Zoomer" Coomber Steve

Again, not speedway, but what about Lew Coffin? Steve

Sorry mate, I have to agree with speedyguy on this one; Jason is Phil's son, but Phil isn't Neil's son. Of course, another "three-generation" family would be the Dugards, but I really don't think anyone was around THAT long! Steve

I never knew Graham Miles was 6'4"!!! Steve

Please don't start Bob off again... Steve

Not that I'd heard any rumours, but that's good to know. Dennis was always one of my favourite Americans. So, has he given up on the speedboating? Steve

...............................M......R......P......CMA 1973 Coatbridge.....2......7.......1......0.57 1976 Hull.................8.....32.....70.....8.75

Me too... I remember the Daily Mirror dropping through the letterbox that morning; I used to read it before I went to school. I picked up the paper and saw the headline, "Speed star killed"... Steve

Neither, Bob. Although Eddie finished 1969 topping the Oxford averages, Colin Gooddy was non-riding reserve for the BLRC. Also, as far as I can see, he never even qualified for a British Semi-Final, let alone the Final itself. Steve

After that great year at Oxford in 1969, he never came close to repeating anything like that form. He actually spent two years at Hackney before joining the Stars, but struggled badly at both tracks. Finally, he made 6 appearances for Boston in 1978, but could only average just over 2 points a meeting. Steve