speedyguy

Bob Fisher is still around and a frequent user of another speedway history site.

This looks like being a great day. I hope to be there.

1957 - I remember that era of Speedway Star very well! It also covered midget car racing. Your last few words well sum up what was happening. I won't tell you how I know though!

Where does Geoff Pymar fit into this? I can think off-hand of Wimbledon, New Cross, Harringay, Yarmouth, Middlesbrough, Bristol - and I'm certain that he rode for a few more.

Nice to hear from you David. I am familiar with all the names you mention except Jim Rennie. I believe that Matt Hall was another Saints' rider in this period? I believe Bason and Hall went off to race a couple of meetings in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1948, which were organised by the inimitable Jimmy Baxter? Of course I knew your dad Bert - we both played football for the SpeedwayXl in the late 1950s. Hope to see you around in 2008 - despite the loss of Wimbledon, and what others may think, I do get around the tracks a little - but the years are catching up on me!

Yes, George Bason was a wonderful man. He was still riding in meetings in France in the late 1960s. I think he started racing at Longmoor (California-in-England) as far back as 1936.

Ken Vale. That's a 'blast from the past.' I knew him when he ran a taxi business in Wandsworth - must have been about 1955 or 1956. A real 'old-time trier' - think he started speedway "late in life" - riders starting at his age would never get into the Conference League these days.

Southampton Saints: my first memories are of them are from 1947, when they reopened after the war, in Division Three. My early Saints heroes then included George Bason, Alf Kaines and Vic Collins. Does anyone remember them?

I always thought that Leo McAuliffe started on speedway in second-half events at Wimbledon and riding in the SAL for California Poppies, probably around late 1954 or early 1955.

Yes, as a specatcle man his style will never be equalled. I first saw him as a Wimbledon rider in 1946. The Dons have never provided a replacement for him as a sheer and delightful thrillmaker.

My last visit to Waterden Road was about 1982, one Saturday afternoon when I took a team of midget car drivers there for a practice - at Len Silver's invitation. From what I remember, he didn't like them and the way they were tearing up the bends when broadsiding. he abruptly ended their session as a very angry man. And that's how I will now always remember Mr Silver.

While there were some Spanish speedway riders involved with the Ian Hoskins venture in Majorca in 1972, previous to that the most active was Alberto Sirvan. He raced on tracks in France in the late 1950s and early 1960s. His British rivals included George Bason, Stan Tebby, Pete Rogers and Geoff Harris. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway

Speedway has never succeeded in Spain. Either in pre-war days with Spanish riders (they had starters in the 1936 world championship) nor in post-war years, initially in Madrid with both Spanish and British riders. Then there were two attempts with all British riders in 1950 and 1953 in groups led by Ted Gibson. All started well crowdwise, then interest faded. Same in Majorca in the early 1970s with Ian Hoskins as promoter. I'll be surprised if this venture, even if it does get a few meetings underway, proves a long-term success, the Spanish people will soon tire of it. They love circuit motorcycle racing and moto cross, events with lots of riders in action. Four on a track for about 60 seconds won't appeal to them. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway

Not much there since the early part of 2007! http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway

Have there been any further developments in the efforts to get Russell Paine's track in Spain running?

Well what I did read was most interesting. Thanks a lot. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway

There's been some interesting debate and full scorers on the yahoo group http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway

I found the website but could not get any of the 'sidebars' to open. Nor could I see, in case it was needed to do this, an enrolment log-in? http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway

It was Mike Parker and Bill Bridgett. My old pal Jack Winstanley rode for them. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway

I used to be a frequent visitor to Ron How's pub in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Also often popping in were riders like Danny Dunton, Roy Bowers, Stan and Jim Tebby, Ted Spittles, George Bason - and more. Happy memories. I also remember doing a photo feature on Ron - about his involvement with both the pub and the farm. The photographer was John Goldfinch (what happened to him?) who was a cousin of the late Gil Goldfinch. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway

I remember a phone call with Steve Lomas in the late 1980s when he told me he was taking part in winter sand race events on the beach somewhere. So far back, I can't remember anything else about this venture. I beleive the racing was on a beach somewhere in East Anglia. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway

On a historical note, there was some debate on http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway about the New Zealand leagues of the late 1940s and early 1950s. And the site (in its Photo albums) had a query about a Bert Cuthbertson, who is seen on something that looks like a track bike. The photo was taken at Hamilton in 1927!!! http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway

With the all 'return visits' Norwich, Wimbledon, Bradford, West Ham - how many teams did he ride for? Don't forget his brief 1964 Metropolitan League spell! http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway

Wasn't it something with a title like 'Now is the hour to say goodbye.'? This was certainly played when Lionel Van Praag made his last appearance for New Cross in 1947. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway