speedyguy

May I add this to an interesting debate. Note the reference to Johnnie Hoskins and Maitland 1923: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway/photos/album/2081692094/pic/2046350074/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=21&count=20&dir=asc http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway/photos/album/2081692094/pic/375550573/view?picmode=medium&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=21&dir=asc These two items have been posted in the Early Days Beginnings photo album. Primarily they deal with AJ Hunting at Brisbane in 1927, but of significance there is also mention of Johnnie Hoskins at Maitland in December 1923. Both references mention “the start of speedway.” Here is the text of Tony Webb’s original email to me: On 15 Mar 2012, at 00:42, Tony Webb wrote: There is an interesting article in this new book which credits Johnny Hoskins with Maitland and A J Hunting refining it as a sport and taking it worldwide! `` 150 Stories' to celebrate Brisbane A new book '150 Stories' is being launched to help Brisbane celebrate its 150th birthday with tales of the city's history. This is not just another history book. It’s 150 vivid snapshots of our city across the 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries, ’’ Cr Newman said.``It’s a book dedicated to the people and stories that have made up Brisbane’s history. By focusing on the people, it’s a unique and personal look at our city.’‘ Brisbane 150 Stories covers well-known events such as the Brisbane riot of 1866 and the 1974 floods to obscure tales like the escaped tiger rampage on Queen St in 1888. It traces the rise of popular culture such as the city’s prominence as a music hotbed in the ‘70s and the creation of the Brisbane Lions AFL team. Even long-term Brisbane residents will learn new things about their city through the book - iconic dance venue Cloudland was originally intended as a larger Luna Park attraction. Five writers authored the book, including Council historians Brian Rough, Carmel Black, Frank McBride and the late Helen Taylor with Heather Richardson. Books retail at $44.95 and are available from selected retail outlets, the Museum of Brisbane and Brisbane City Council libraries and service centres. <Hunting AJ.jpg><Hunting aj 1927.jpg> The original source is at - http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway/

Does this help you? It's from oldtimespeedway discussion group a couple of years ago: --- In oldtimespeedway@yahoogroups.com, "raceleader" <raceleader@...> wrote: Its interesting that nobody seems to know how and where from the two-names for Louis Lawson theory started. That name Arthur Woods continues to bug me. I am positive that somewhere I read an article claiming it was his real name and that it was one that he raced under on the grass tracks. It was said he felt that Louis Lawson was more in keeping with speedway racing and so he used it for the more professional sport. Could it be, however, that Louis Lawson may have used the name Arthur Woods to race on grass because, at one-time in the 1940s, speedway promoters put a ban on their riders also competing on grass tracks. Over the years it could be that a distortion of this fact has taken place and created the assumption that Louis Lawson was really Arthur Woods whereas the reverse may be the case. Does anyone have records of immediate post-war grass track results around the Midlands Centre where Arthur Woods may have competed. To discover this name among them might finally settle the mystery over this talented speedway riders real name. > --- In oldtimespeedway@yahoogroups.com, "speedstox12" <speedstox12@> wrote: This evidence from mattjackson looks hard to contradict. I'll accept he was born Louis Lawson. However, who then was Arthur Woods - and where did this theory about the two names originate from I wonder? --- In oldtimespeedway@yahoogroups.com, "mattjackson68" <mattjackson68@> wrote: I'm not sure that is right. I was doing research into the riders who started their careers in the 1940s and was checking the birth dates of riders at the Family Research web site. Louis was born on October 25, 1921 at Southwell, Nottinghamshire and the entry is there in the ledger: Lawson, Louis - born Southwell. I've also read the Arthur Woods story but I think that Louis Lawson was his real name.

Cycle speedway is a great sport. I rode in it in the 1950s for London area tracks Brockley Boomerangs, Welling Wings and Beckton Aces. It was all a memorable experience for me and even after all these years I look back on it fondly. I think the BSF should create a discussion board in this section for it. Have fun with the Birmingham track. And I suggest you do a google search for cycle speedway because there are quite a few sites dealing with the sport's activities which, although low key publicity wise, has an international element about it. Here's a link that may be of use to you: http://www.spokesman-online.co.uk/

I am puzzled as to why anyone should want to be a speedway rider these days. No matter how good you may be, one day because of the average limitations on clubs, there is a god chance that you could be forced out of the sport because your average is too high and replaced by a rider of lesser ability because his average suits what is needed?

Another candidate is Frank Lawrence at New Cross, from post-war reopening for 1946 season until mid-season closure 1953, then on to Harringay and their closure after which Frank retired.

That's the overall problem with speedway these days - the averages. It forces out riders of known ability like Barrie Evans and lets in riders of lesser talent so that a side can comply with averages. This in my opinion is a major reason why speedway declines season-on-season. Teams should be in a free market and sign the best available. It must be the only "major' (?) sport where this does not happen.

'Uncle' Bob Harrison. Spent most of his pre-war career from 1930-39, then from1947 until retirement in the early 1950s as a rider and England international, then became team manager for many years. All for the great Belle Vue Aces. Now I doubt if there's a fan at the Manchester track who has had heard of him!

I now have the January 29 details. I just need an update for Rosebank Sunday January 15 please. I have had these results sent over for Rosebank January 15. Are they correct - can anyone confirm their accuracy please? ESULTS;- Heat 1;- Jason Bunyon (GB) 1, Andrew Aldridge (Chch) 2, Anthony Knowles (Chch) 3. Heat 2;- Hynek Stichauer (Czech Rep.) 1, Sean Mason 2, Ritchie Hawkins (GB) 3. Heat 3;- Jesper Kristiansen (Den) 1, Chris Mills (GB) 2, Jamie Moohan 3. Heat 4;- J. Bunyon 1, H. Stichauer 2, J. Moohan 3. Heat 5;- A. Aldridge 1, S. Mason 2, C. Mills 3. Heat 6;- J. Kristiansen 1, R. Hawkins 2, Dale Finch (Chch) 3. Heat 7;- J. Bunyon 1, C. Mills 2, No Third Heat 8;- J. Kristiansen 1, A. Aldridge 2, Dylan Hancock 3. Heat 9;- S. Mason 1, J. Moohan 2, A. Knowles 3 . Semi-Final 1;- H. Stichauer 1, S. Mason 2, R. Hawkins 3. Semi-Final 2;- C. Mills 1, J. Bunyon 2, J. Moohan 1. B- Final ;- R. Hawkins 1, J. Kristiansen 2, J. Moohan 3. A-Final ;- C. Mills 1, S. Mason 2, R. Hawkins 3. Handicap Final; J. Christiansen 1, R. Hawkins 2, J.Moohan 3.

I especially need the main final results for the Rosebank meetings on Sundays January 15th and 29th. If heat details could be available that would be excellent. Thanks.

I know this is rather belated but is there a complete schedule available for the recent Sunday News Elf Oils International Solo Series? All that is needed is the full itinerary - the date of the meeting and the track. Also, any details of the track and date if a meeting in the series was called off. Thank you for any help that may be forthcoming.

Nice lists; apart from Tom Farndon, I've seen them all.

I think it is impossible to clarify an overall rating list for more than 80 years of speedway. Conditions have much changed since 1928, into the 30s and so progressed over the decades. The obvious thing is to classify for each 10 year decade, then attempt to gauge from that the riders who appear in most of them. How can you rate Tommy Frandon, a legtrailer and racing on deep cinder surfaced against a rider like Peter Craven more than 20 forward using more modern bikes, techniques of racing and riding slick shale-based tracks?

I think the article was written by John Chaplin, who at one-time was on the 'Daily Mail' staff. Probably the same company also has the old 'Sunday Dispatch' world championship trophies. Both papers were in the same group, although the Dispatch was closed years ago - it's nearest successor from the group would be the 'Mail on Sunday'.

Presumably as the 'Daily Mail' presented the trophy, when the competition ended it reverted to them.

I wonder if it was, did it also mention his top-class career in midget car racing. Johny was the top performer in the 1951-52 Midland League, in a team that also included Coventry's Derrick Tailby and two midget car drivers. Ore about this if you care to click on the Midget Car Panorama link in my signature.

It's hardly been mentioned on the international pages of 'Speedway Star.'

When Jason Mckenna started in speedway, his dad kept in touch with the 'South London Press' sports desk for a few weeks, then it all went quiet. At the time, the Mckennas were living n Forest Hill.

Oreti Park at Invercargill and Moore Park in Christchurch appear the only NZ tracks to be getting any regular results published.

It's winter time. That means wheeling out the same old boring topics to make some forum chatter. No matter how much ranting and raving there is on here. it's an FIM sanctioned event. The FIM governs world motorcycle sport and run GPs for other motorcycle formulas. These are accepted by followers of these disciplines but sadly British speedway followers like to live in the past, so they want to revert to something that was born in 1936. Then, the world championship as primarily designed for British supporter consumption and British-based riders. Speedway has come a long way since then. It's worldwide. I doubt if there are many complaints in other countries about the GPs. The present chatter on here about one-off world finals typifies the insular attitude that bedevils not only speedway but most other sports with which this country is linked internationally.

The main thing is to ensure that teams are equally balanced. What points limitations will be placed on participating clubs?

Before I do, where's the likes of Lionel van Praag, Bluey Wilkosn, Lamoreaux, both Milnes and Jack Paerker for example?

It must be Mike Bast (USA). A great in the same mould as Jack and Cordy Milne (he should also have been a world champion) and Wilbur Lamoreaux (another USA great who missed out on the title). Four all-time-greats but only Jack was a world champion.

I have followed speedway since 1946 and seen all the stars from that season onwards. As the years have progressed my opinion of riders has gone beyond believing the best only raced in Britain. Another who I rate on a par as one of speedway's greatest ever, as I do Mike Bast, is the Norwegian ace Leif 'Basse' Hveem yet, apart from a brief early 1950s spell at West Ham, had little experience in British racing. As with Mike Bast, I would place Hveem in a top 20 greatest everlsit. One day I'll put that list on here - but that time has yet to come.

Historians are now beginning to dispute your theory! There is enough record around to justify his inclusion. On his form in both the USA and Australia I rate Mike Bast very highly. Certainly on a par with those American stars like Jack and Cordy Milne, Wilbur Lamoreaux and Bruce Penhall. Probably about 12th-14th in an overall rating list of a Top Twenty of speedway's greatest stars.

I have just received this PM re Waikaraka Park. Any more to add to it - is it correct? "There was no meeting on the 14th and the meeting on the 21st was won by Ritchie Hawkins from S Mason and J Moohan." That tends to contradict message 28 from my old pal kiwi!