BOBBATH

I am constantly amazed by BL65's historical and detailed knowledge of the sport. You should be appointed speedway guru mate!! I always enjoy your posts

Thanks Split for the origin of the nickname Anchor for Norman Hunter- how is Norman these days. I am trying to recall but didn't he leave West Ham in or around 1967-went to Wolves and looked like a real world beater till he had a bad accident. I always enjoyed his riding

I remember when Howard was just a Kid (Bodie)!!!

I guess you're on this one Norbold- much as it pains me to admit it,. Newport did beat the Hammers at Somerton Park though- I woz there .42-36 as I recall

Hi Midland Red-don't feel old -75 is the new 65. Speaking of which as I posted on another thread- I saw Dick's last ever ride in 1965 , it was against Sheffield when he clashed with Clive Featherby (RIP) . Dick was a great rider and more importantly a real gent-one of the old school. He was 40 when he turned in his leathers -which seemed to me to be really old at that time (now it seems young). On another thread I postulated that if Dick hadn't been injured in that first BL season- (and Newport didn't get a replacement )- we could have finished much higher in the League and perhaps champions. Sadly however BL65 in his posts comprehensively disproved that suggestion with detailed research and sadly he is right about that (good for you BL65 for your knowledge of that era, I always enjoy your posts.) Dick will be 98 in November and long may he continue. As long as I and many other Newport supporters are on this planet he will always be alive.

Before any of you answer this, it is not to be confused with "The Oldest Surviving World FInalists, which I am also interested (some may say obsessed by) in!!!! I started by looking at the 1949 World Final-all the riders participating are no longer with us. I then looked at 1950 and indeed there is one rider still around- Arthur Payne. Imagining still being around 72 years after appearing in the World Final. Then in 1951, Dick Bradley pops up- Dick was a reserve, had only one ride but got 2 points-finishing behind Louis Lawson but ahead of Alan Hunt and Norman Parker.. So one survivor from each of 1950 and 1951. By 1952 there were three still with us- Brian Crutcher appears ( 6 points) and Arthur Payne (9) and Dick Bradley (9). Actually I am not sure if Dan Forsberg is still alive. Actually after 3 rides Dick Bradley was joint second with 8 points.. That is as far as I went, hope forumlanders find this of interest-I think its great that these riders are still with us 70 years after appearing in a world final.

I have the Peter Morrish book, it's great but I just wish he had put in the riders' averages instead of total points for the season. BTW is Peter still with us

WTF

Maybe the European decline is just in UK- the Poles seem to be going gang busters-and that's where all the top riders go with Speedway crowds to match. What say you forumlanders?

Did you go to any other US tracks Steve- I managed to go to Costa Mesa and Ascot. I think Costa Mesa must have been like the nearest thing I ever got to a New Cross style track

Any forumlanders out there who attended this meeting. Living in Canada I just had to go.. A reasonable crowd , but there was absolutely no publicity-nothing in the L.A. papers for example. Les Collins had the meeting of his life- but of course the main thing was the Kenny Carter-Bruce Penhall clash. On balance I have to go with the refs decision to exclude Carter-great meeting though. I met quite a few British fans -for some it was the holiday of a lifetime. Also met Dave Jessup at Disneyland-seemed like everybody had a wonderful time.

Not strictly "Look at Life" but does anyone recall this? There was a TV Show called "Today" I think it was with Cliff Michelmore-not sure if it was BBC or ITV. Anyway in around late 1962-63, before I got into Speedway there was an item on speedway-some riders were interviewed. The thrust of the segment was that there were bigger crowds for a lower level rather than top level speedway- I guess they were talking about the Provincial League. I remember talking about it to some of my mates at High School. Do any forumlanders of the same vintage as me recall this??

I go back to the sixties- Sheffield were always great visitors- 1964-65; Jack Kitchen , Cive Featherby, John Dews , Alan Jay etc.-solid thru' and thru- a wonderful track to visit , super racing surface (thanks Frank V.) LE went every week 1966-67 when I lived in Nottingham, when they moved to Leicester in 1968 would go there. I wish those days would return- at least I still have my programmes to look at.

I miss Dave Lanning-wot a showman!! Thinking here of the 1965 Hammers when he used to write the programme notes

According to Dave Lanning-think he made them up- "The Dockland pearl" (Malcolm Simmons) and "Anchor" Norman Hunter

SOLD!!!!

I ain't selling my programmes whatever the price-just in the interest of research though-how much could I get for my treasured Newport v. Long Eaton Southern League meeting held in July 1964, heavily marked with indecipherable substitution notes. Unlike Norbold however I am not asking for a friend as I don't have any!!!

What happened to Vic Lonsdale-is he still with us

Where and when. Sorry

Ehere and when did Malcolm start his career, how old would he be now

I've got the Stenners Annuals 1950 thru 1954 covering the seasons 1949 thru 1953, one of the things I am most interested in are the World Champion Final qualifiers- it's amazing how many well known riders almost qualified but didn't ever make it Also the standard of literacy in those annuals is far superior to modern publications-maybe speaks to educational standards declining. Also have the 1963 Speedway Digest covering the 1962 season-good obituary on Jack Unstead killed in a track accident in the 62 season. Len Silver was PLRC champ that year (riding for Exeter). I also have the British Speedway Handbooks for the first 2 seasons- plus as I have mentioned before the programmes of every meeting I ever attended (so glad I kept 'em, sometimes I take a look at them and it brings back memories of those times.)

HI Andout the Bonny Good pay sheet is fascinating-where the heck did you find that??

Hi John, glad to see your posts again, any memories that you have of the 1956 World Final would be welcome- that's where you correctly predicted the winner (Ove) when the Star asked for predictions from its columnists in the World Final preview edition.

On the link from Split there is a photo of three all time greats -from left to right- Dick Bradley, Chum, Brian Crutcher- three world finalists all still with us Dick Bradley, one of my favourites is now 98-many happy times watching Dick as one of the Newport heat leaders- a real gent who hopefully still has a few laps yet to go!!

I recall Peter Murray-is he still around?