speedyguy

Sid Farndon did ride at New Cross in the mid-1930s, also probably at Bristol. Post-war in the mid-1950s onwards he was heavily involved in stock car racing, both as a driver and promoter. He is also named on the Coventry rider base as a 1936 rider.

Yes, I also rememember Stan and Len Williams. Also that Stan drove a Skirrow midget car for Leicester in the Midland League in their 1951-52 season. He scored 22 points in six matches.

Try this for Southern Riders: I would mention however that I find it difficult to get into: seems to have too many security links, but worth a try? http://southerntrackriders.intheteam.com/m...ge.aspx?pc=home

Just in case you are going to New York, These tracks are not in New York City but in New York State. And areawise, that's bigger than England. So, there is some traveling between the tracks.

The only likely speedway in Florida will be at Daytona next year. Probably organised by the French Canadian rider Marc Gauthier and Brad Amburgey. There was a plan for speedway at Dade City, Florida, in 2008 - with Gauthier and Colin Sanders running things. However, since Colin's accident that plan has probably been shelved. Track owner at Dade City is former flat-track rider Randy Yoho.

Saw a Bil Osborne also named in the list where Scott Autrey is mentioned. Not the former speedway rider, surely? A friend in the USA has given me these two Nascar websites. Seems Autrey's Nascar career was short-lived - probably one meeting. http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/sautrey00/cup/index.html Or http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/sautrey0...1985/index.html

Try a google for the Nascar website. I am certain there must be a contact list on it for finding details of drivers.

I believe that Charlie Oates died some years ago. He is famous, of course, for talent-spotting Peter Craven who was a member of his training school on the Ainsdale Sands, near Liverpool in the late 1940s. Charlie rode for Liverpool pre-war, and at Bradford, Tamworth and Liverpool post-war.

Anyone not read this article? 'Bomber' Harris going on all-out attack <strong>Speedway:</strong> A crowd of around 50,000 devotees ? more than the average weekly attendance at British League meetings ? will be at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff tonight for the British round of the Speedway GP World Championship. Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...in_page_id=1781 30 June 2007 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

Please note: this thread has been transferred to speedway general discussions: please look there:::: As reported in today's Speedway Star (page 33, June 23) old-tme rider Colin Sanders has been seriously injured when he collided with a flat-track rider during pr actice on a track in Florida. Colin was on a speedway bike at the time. A friend in the USA is keen to have more details of Colin's speedway career in the UK to post on a website. Either postings or a PM would be greatly appreciated. All I know about Colin is that he rode for Plymouth and Romford in the later 1960s early 1970s. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

I know that at one time Al Sparrey was working as a car salesman for fromer speedway and stock car driver Allen Briggs in the Walthamstow area of London. However, I also heard - and it is unconfirmed - that Al Sparrey died a couple of years ago.

Agree with your comments about pommyland midgets - they don't create any enthusiasm at all. Real British midgets died out in the late 1950s when the Skirrows packed up. Quite a few speedway riders raced in them especially in Scotland - Johnny Green, Doug and Willie Templeton, Eric Liddell, among them.

I hope you have luck in your search. The first speedway bike I bought in 1954, previosuly owed by Charlie Challis of Norwich, Crystal Palace and Plymouth, had been fitted with a 250cc engine for use on grass. I paid £3.50 for it. I later bought a 500cc engine for £2. The whole lot was eventually sold on by me. I hope that you have luck in finding a fairly reasonable cost 250cc racing engine. They are around...somewhere.

And isn't one of the old JAP's once the property of 1947-49 Southampton rider George Bason. I have read that it is a five-valve engine in a Brine frame - now owned by Pete Seaton (I think) and on loan to the museum.

The old Hedon track was a great venue. Remember especially Mick Mitchell and Alf Webster riding there.

Sorry to read the phrase "his ex wife". In the early 1970s, on an afternoon "record choice" programme there was a request to DJ David Hamilton from Mrs Levai for him to play a rceord for her husband "Sandor Levai the speedway rider." It's sad how times move on and people part - although we obviously don't know the reasons why they split. And it's not really our business anyway. I mention this more as colour to anecdotes about a very fine and entertaining speedway rider.

Yes. Zeke Zoltan did ride second half at Belle Vue. As previously mentioned, I put him and Sandor Levai forward to then promoter Johnnie Hoskins.

I believe that some time in the late 1960s or very early 1970s Sandor Levai also raced a season in Australia. Can anyone confirm this please?

Neil Roberts was 'one of the nice guys' in speedway in the mid-1950s. He was really dedicated to the sport. He always had a friendly word for me!!

Cannot confirm the spelling. Remember a similar name, but not Sandor Levai there? But I do remember Paddy Mills promoting a team there that included Vic Hall and Neil Roberts among others. More about dear old Sandor Levai though, please.

I do remember a Hungarian rider at Brafield, but I don't think it was Sandor Levai. Would have been in the mid-1960s.

I have a hazy recollection that after retirement he owned a garage-car workshop business in Sheffield.

I remember when Sandor Levai and his pal Zeke Zoltan arrived in UYK in 1956, just after the Budapest uprising in Hungary against the Russians. I played a small in hand in initially getting both of them second-half rides at Belle Vue (thanks to my then contacts with Johnnie Hoskins). Apart from that, I had little to do with either of them. Zoltan soon dropped out of British speedway but Levai had quite an impressive career at various tracks over the years. Look forward to reading more about him on the BSF.

Shame no to know. The lady was the lovely Jessica Lamb.

Here's an interesting link, probably known to some people, dealing with the legendary Fay Taylour. It's worth a browse - and so are the other pages on the site. Any opinions on what comes up? http://www.justmidgets.homestead.com/Taylour.html