star ghost

Well it certainly worked in the old days with the National Trophy. Mind you there wasn't all guest riders and double up and down and joker points then. Quite how it would work when some riders ride in both divisions is a problem. (But then I suppose another guest rider would be used)

I bet Phil Bishop rode in them. The bloke was a real legend for his continental riding for many years I think the Dutch had a league of sorts at one time and I seem to remember "The Windmills" were a top side out there

In the 1930s Jack Parker and Bill Pitcher painted the wheels of the bikes so they could know at a glance where each was when team-riding Up in Scotland there were coloured leathers long ago with Ken le Breton (white), Merv Harding (red), Keith Gurtner (blue) with Willie Ailson wearing his "wasp-striped" jersey. Down in England Malcolm Craven wore Yellow leathers

I remember Nick with Belle Vue. Was it 1964 maybe?

While you are about it Norbold tell him to bring back the 10-a-side National Trophy as well as 18 heat Test Matches. Someone might get a bit hot under the collar then

I think Eric was one of the California Poppies line-up in the Southern Area League days. He also rode for Coventry for a while

These chaps were all British Forces personell as far as I recall. Bas Shepherd did some speedway back in the U K for sure. Someone was working on a book about the Army Speedway riders last year and this may throw some light on these people when printed.

In the old days it was possible to increase crowds by building up a match race during the previous weeks leading up to the event. With the highest scorer due to meet the holder you couldn't do this as the "holder" might have lost the title the night before, then you have no event to run.

Merv was one of the Southern Area League riders with Ringwood Turfs. He may have been team captain there. He rode a season for the Wembley Lions in the National League also. I seem to remember he rode for Southampton at some time.

Ken Adams was a member of Stoke/Hanley in the early 50s. Ken also rode for Oxford and Rayleigh/Poole and Wembley in the old National League days of the 50s. Ken also rode for Kings Lynn when they joined B L in 1965

Captains of the 50s and 60s reminds me of the Norwich Stars skippers of those daya - Phil Clarke, Aub Lawson and Reg Trott.

Sorry to hear the news. Always a 100% trier. Condolences to family and friends Seeme like only yesterday we were posting on here about old timers and his name came up

The real Golden Helmet was one challenge a month. The later effort of top scorer v holder every match was little more than a second-half race added to the normal programme of events, only one heat at that

I recall reading about it happening and also think it was Tomod Langli

That may well have been in the 1959 Reserve League Second Half competition when the racing system was changed half way through the season. Some matches were never run because of this and the competition finished as a shambles.

Norwich Stars, (the greatest ever team) Great Yarmouth Bloaters, (Our Reserves?)

I think his name was Errol Brook and he was associated with the Cradley Heath side at some time

I know of 2 R. Harrisons 1 ...... Bob, who was an old timer with Belle Vue, in the main, both pre & post-war 2 ...... Ray, who was an aussie who came over in 1959 and rode at Belle Vue and Ipswich

Exactly, thats why I said "among others", as I couldn't recall them all.

I think this should be Jimmy Squibb who had a long and illustrious time in Speedway riding for, among others, Exeter Falcons, Ipswich Witches, Poole Pirates and Southampton Saints. I seem to remember him passing away in the not too distant past???? And Ted Pankhurst was a member of California Poppies in the old Southern Area League of the 1950's

Tony Eadon who started, I think, in the old Southern Area League. Tony was a mwember of the "Southern Rovers" together with his briother Eric. Later associated with Cradley Heath in the Provincial League days of the early 60's

"Slant" had a regular place in the Aces line-up along with "Tink" Maynard following early days in the Belle Vue "Bubble Bouncers" second half and training school. Unfortunately he was hit by a number of injuries but was always worth watching. It always was the case that riders who were spectacular had it the hardest though

George rode in the ill-fated, mucked about Britannia Shield Reserve League for Poole when they came to Norwich

This is Johnny Bradford who rode for Plymouth Devils at Pennycross Stadium

Gerry Bridson who rode for Southampton and Poole I think