speedyguy

South African speedway and its stadiums are very low-key affairs. Nothing like the days in the 1950s when Buddy Fuller and Trevor Redmond promoted the sport - and even etsablished a league and international structure. It all went wrong - too much bickering. Keep a watchful eye here in Britain...

Well, let's hope it's better publicised than the last venture. I can still recall two entrances to the track...one if you came "along te back way" from Wokingham, the other if you used the nine-mile ride to get there. Really a wonderful time in speedway for me!

Yes. I remember Ron Walton well. He graduated to California when demobbed from the Army, where he served in Germany. It was there that he took up speedway and grass track racing - proper stuff, not on the army tracks that were around at that time. I also still regularly meet Al Holliday, one of the Cali juniors in 1954 and 1955. He was later a machine examiner at Eastbourne, then mechanic to Maury McDermott. I am certain Al also rode a few times at either Ipswich or Rayleigh (or both) in the early 1960s. Al was one of the starting marshalls at Wimbledon in the late 1950s. He also had a Wembley World Final appearance in the 1950s (true) but only on the starting area!

Saw one of these video things on Canadian speedway and also looked at the one on NZ speedway. In my judgement, the Canadians are way ahead of the kiwis. Kyle Legault and Andrew Bargh are testimony to the big difference.

Must be 1959. That was the only season Antti Pajari raced in Britain.

So it's not spot-the-rider but what the bibs are!

It was certainly in 1959. Third from right is the thrillmaker Finnish rider Antti Pajari - as he rode for Coventry, it could well have been taken at Brandon. Unlikley to be a world championship round because Finland was involved in its own qualifiers from Scandinavia. Also see Tadeus Teodorowicz (Poland) in the group and so many more from the days of 'real speedway' racing.

Would have loved to have seen Buck Blair again.

I see Charlie Venegas was winner of the X-treme Ice Series round at St Charles, Missouri, USA, on Friday February 2.

But does anyone remember Mick Mitchell & Co. at Crayford pre-1939? Or know anything about them?

Go to e-bay for 'Who's Who in Speedway' by Tom Morgan, published in 1949.

What you say is probably correct. There was a 1949 'Who's Who' by the legendary Tom Morgan, then the volume mentioned for 1975. These works are very hard to compile - needs a lot of co-operation from the riders. And good memories on their part! There was also a 'Who's Who' run over some months in the Speedway Star in the late 1950s, probably around 1956 or 1957. Not sure!

I have read another site that there are some errors on it!

I remember George BASON especially well. He was a really lovely guy and away from speedway had a small holding at Marlow, Bucks. Also used to do some speedway engine tuning, car and motorcycle spares. He was also a great supporter of Oxford - where of course he rode in 1939 and 1940. Ronnie and Keith Webb - both proteges of Ted Pankhurst, along with John Lalley, Al Holliday and Johnnie Gronow were also others from 1954. I also remember an Irish rider Mike O'Connor, qho was a protege of Stan Tebby (also a rider) and the dad of Jim Tebby. My youth! seems to be rekindled here. PS: I think the rider 1954 team second from left is another Webb (not related) 'Jumbo' Webb while bottom right kneeling may be George Baker. Not certain. It was 52 years ago and I have seen a lot of riders over the years since then.

Also remember Tommy Sweetman, Eric Hockaday, Gil Goldfinch, Ross Gilbertson, Ron Walton, Ron Sharp, Ted Pankhurst, George Bason, Trevor Davies, Pete Mould, Billy Haynes, George Baker, Tom Albrey...oh happy days.

I wasn't criticising your post in anyway. Just trying to show we now have to places to find out about past Crayford riders.

Mick Mitchell rode in Crystal Palace's last away 1939 National League Division Two match at Norwich where he scored three points. He did exist then!! And had pre-war links at Crayford as well. I read that in a pre-war Speedway News when I was reseraching on the 1938 and 1939 seasons. Still not sure which season it was for Crayford, but that wasn't really my research - just an item that 'jumped out of the page' at me. Reserachers will know what I mean by that phrase?

Why is this running separate to the general Crayford riders' items? Should be linked in surely?

That last line is a shade harsh. But I get the point that you are driving at.

Slight error there: he rode at the Palace in 1939 along with Keith Harvey & Co. When you are old, the memory plays tricks. Surprised you have never heard of Mick Mitchell. Has anyone else - or is he a figment of my imagination as well? Donskings - any news yet on your article on the Palace?

How about the pre-war days? Mick Mitchell, used to live near me at Lee Green in Lewisham, was regular there in 1938 or 1939. He was a good legtrailer and had post-war spells with New Cross, Crystal Palace, Birmingham, Hull and Swindon.

I don't dispute that Fay Taylour had far-right leanings. She did some stupid things, including I believe being involved in the Cable Street riots between right and left-wing groups before the war. However, I am certain that when she was interned in 1940 she had was not privy in anyway to the atrocities committed by the Nazis. Remember, too, she was an Irish citizen - not a British citizen and the Irish were not fighting (nor did they) in World War Two. She was not exactly a traitor to Britain - but cretainly not supporting us in any way and undoubtedly 'biting a hand that fed her.' I don't condone her actions in anyway. But to try and rate her alongside Hitler, Goering, Himmler & Co (they were indeed an evil clique) seems out of perspective to me.

Just what atrocity did Fay Taylour commit other than to mistakenly join the BUF in the 1930s? We are enjoying ourselves in hindsight demonising her.

Didn't Ian Hoskins try there in the 1970s and after the usual Spanish interest it died away. And Brit tourists weren't interested either it seems.

Sadly. from the last post I read on Speedway-Plus (oops!!!) it seems to have ground to a halt. However, the posting was made some months ago so things may have changed.