star ghost

Eddie came to ride for the Stars in 73, 74 & 75. I understand a fee of £4 or 5 hundred pounds was paid by Kings Lynn. Wasn't he married to a filmstar or someone like that (Maybe still is). After his time at Lynn there were rumours he was going to ride for Boston but whether he did I do not know. Also rumoured to be riding in the U S A at one time

I think Ray was also involved with midgets at Wimbledon.

Jack Cunningham - New Zealand Earl Farrand - U S A Cecil "Gruff" Garland - Aussie Herman Gunzenhauser - Germany

On Defunct track site there is a photo of Doncaster including Stuart Ulph

yes there were two Try Speedway Researcher "Full Season Listing" section. Details will be on there

I agree with Hellsgranny on this Terry Allen was one of the Norwich Juniors who rode in the Challenge matches they staged against Southern Area League teams of the time. I think he also rode at Yarmouth in second half racing

Can't recall the name. I think Harringay and Wembley were out of Speedway around that time

I seem to recall a notice in a 1938 programme saying riders would be numbered at a Test Match, I suppose England v Australia, one team 1 to 8 and the other 9 to 16. If not then it would have been the Second Division series between England and Dominions, where England picked from Div 2 and Dominions were allowed a couple of Div ! men. There was a post-war season when Harringay dispensed with numbers and used riders initials on the backs of team colours. One rider refused to have his initials on his back - Vic Duggan, who had Vic on his colours. For obvious reasons. At one time Norwich had a Star both back & front also post-war. I suppose other tracks also varied these arrangements.

The alternative was to put money into Milton Keynes City, a non-league Club, bring them through the pyramid into League status. Someone decided too long to go before they would make it I suppose. The F A were at fault anyhow and should take most of, if not all, the blame as they had refused moves elsewhere and then "abdicated their responsibility" by allowing it to happen. A F C have put it all behind them however and I don't suppose they care too much about M K nowadays

So as not to dissapoint "our fans" I saw Don ride for the Edinburgh Monarchs a few times when they came to the Firs here in Norwich. Don was, from memory, a solid second string for his team. From Peter Morrish listings Don scored 6 points in 1948, 173 in 1949, 187 in 1950, 137 in 1951. Of course the Monarchs top man was Jack Young during most of those years. In 1952 Don hit the top spot in the scorers with 336 and again in 1953 with 323.5. For 1954 Don moved to Belle Vue Aces and scored 54 points and rode for them again in 1955 when he scored 20. These figures are League match totals only but the Edinburgh Guru may have Don's full record. The Second Division had numerous riders such as Don. They always gave value for money. (or so it seems at 50+ years distance)

Looking through the Peter Morrish listings Maury was with St Austell in 1950, Harringay 1951, Rayleigh 1952 through to 1957 when he also did some meetings for Oxford. In 1958 he rode for Poole in some matches. Maury resurfaced with Rayleigh in 1963 in the Provincial League when he was the Rockets top scorer in League matches. in 1964 he rode for Rayleigh in the aborted Metropolitan League

The Match Race Maestro - Jack Parker. The only match race rider better than Ove Fundin

Chris also rode a few times at Kings Lynn

I feel sure Maury rode for the Harringay Racers in the mid 50s for a time

We must not forget Olle Nygren in Speedway for the last 60 years A long time servant as rider and running training schools. (Since about 1947)

And I thought the starting gate, like speedway, evolved from something else. There are some who would say Neil Street has caused problems of cost by developing a 4-valve

I hope that doesn't come to pass, another Wimbledon moving to M K would be past a joke. W***erman keep out.

Lew was also rushed into the Norwich team one night at Knowle when 2 riders broke down on the way there. Lew and Graham Hole netted 5 points between them for the Stars that night.

Wimbledon v Stoke in National Trophy 1953

Going purely from Peter Morrish listing in his 1946 - 1964 book George scored 10 for Yarmouth in 1950, 8 in 1951 and 3 in 1952. These are League point totals only. A Yarmouth programme of June 1950 says ................... George hails from East London, was a Carpenter who preferred "track dust to saw dust". He was spotted at High Beech and given a trial. At the time of the programme he was having bike troubles but it was hoped that he would make the grade with Yarmouth

George Flower rode at both Norwich and Yarmouth. He didn't make the team at the Firs but was in the Bloaters team during some matches there. The Yarmouth Historian may be able to help. This story is certainly "coloured" on here

Lew Coffin is one of those people who proves you do not have to be a star to be a real asset to the Sport. He probably deserves a "Benefit" meeting after the number of years he has been involved in Speedway.

I think you may find Howard Cole rode as a Welshman, try the World Final records

The Bristol match was 70 - 14 against Glasgow White City and they also beat Norwich 69 - 15; Norwich beat Fleetwood 69 - 15 also. These were all 14 heat matches. I think the record score was in the National Trophy - Wimbledon beat Stoke 89 - 19 over 18 heats wasn't it?

One of the riders who started out at Abridge was Bob Wells who had a team place at Wembley just after the restart in 1946