BOBBATH

Thanks chunky- that cheered me up- but I think George Major in 1964 was a heat leader for CH in PL, maybe he rode a few meetings in NL (for Oxford maybe) but he was one of the stars of the PL primarily.

Thanks for all the memories folks- in answer to JRS I was looking at a team photo of Coventry in 1964- last year before the BL was established. Of that great team, I think the only two still with us are Jim Lightfoot and Rick France- Mountford, Boocock, Owen, Biggs, all passed away. Have to say I am not too sure if Col Cottrell is still alive though. Also Chunky- you are right that guys like Brian Brett, Dick Fisher and George White are overlooked. unfortunately.

I think I am getting too old for this website. I recognise that Jim Lightfoot was from a previous era-although Norbold and BL 65 will probably recall him. Anyway after doing extensive (is there no other sort) research- Capn`Jim is still with us (same age as Reg Fearman). Good for Jim -a World Finalist in 1963- I am worried these riders will be forgotten. I would ask again for memories of Jim- Norbold, Chunky , Iris ,anyone....

I recall Dave riding for Wolves, sorry to hear of his passing. How old was Dave? I think he emigrated to South Africa and then Oz. Howard Cole had just informed Reg Fearman of this who passed it on to me, Howard lives in Sydney so maybe Dave had moved on to Oz?

Anyone (particularly old Bees fans). know how Cap'n Jim is doing these days. He was a stalwart of the great Coventry teams of the mid sixties

Any chance of speedway returning to the County Ground if nothing has been built on it?

Thanx for your response John, were you surprised at Ken Mckinlay's performance and do you recall his final race, when if he had won he was in with a real chance- was it nerves that caused him to fall- it looked like it was his easiest race?? Arthur Forrest did well to get to the podium -were you surprised by that? Look forward to your comments.

Nostalgia time- I was looking at old Speedway Stars from 1956 and in the issue of 29 September , the week which contained the report of the World Final , I came across the bye- line of John Hyam. The week before John had an article on Maury McDermott who I recall riding for Exeter.. Also John's prediction in that issue was correct- Fundin to win. other luminaries e.g. Basil Storey said it was going to be Crutcher, others predicted Briggs or Craven. I assume you were there on the big night John-any memories. Looking at the race details I was interested to see Ken McKinlay of Second Division Leicester was in with a real chance with 10 points from 4 rides. Ken had beaten Ronnie Moore, Briggs and Craven but in his final ride (what looked like his easiest ride) he fell. So close yet so far. Ken never got that close again. Did any forumlander , other than John, attend this event. What are your memories John or anyone.?

Thank Arnieg-glad to hear the Cheetahs will live on!!!

Just got updated, great news but I'm sorry they don't plan to call them "Cheetahs"- I wish these historic names were preserved. Why "Chargers"?

White Knight-how true-do you think anyone will take a chance on the Boldon circuit again?

Well done chadster, I couldn't have answered that- I do recall them holding WCQR meetings though, and I agree with Chunky-they just wanted to promote speedway at different venues. One name of the participants stuck in my mind- Leo Ramm-does anybody recall him? Also is it true that Cowley are reopening? That would be great!! What about the Abbey Stadium will they keep going?

I got to thinking which of the British League stadiums of 1965 are still operating as speedway venues- I came up with three only- Poole, Sheffield and Newcastle, and I think maybe some of them had a couple of years when they closed. Before anybody tells me King's Lynn- as I recall they were running open meetings in 1965 and joined the BL in 1966. This is very depressing although I am not sure of the status of the Abbey Stadium. However did we get to this state where only 3 of the 18 are still speedway venues.

Those pork sarnies at Cradley were to die for! Lovely grub.

I was fascinated by the picture of the football game that had the ad for New Cross prominently displayed and an advert for "The Astoria" Old Kent road. I am assuming it was a Millwall game at the Den-am I right? BTW would any historian hazard a guess at the opposition. Great photo-maybe from an old newspaper.?

Yes Chunky, but I like any excuse to check my old programs-thumbing through them brings back lots of associated memories.

I just looked at it- very interesting and thanks John one of the people who helps run it is Bill Powell-does anyone know if that's the former Belle Vue rider-did Bill emigrate?

Hi Sotonian, Sorry for mixing up Simon with Garfunkel-you are right of course -mea culpa!! Put it down to age!! Also NW42- great picture of Ken Eyre at Buxton, looking like he is enjoying life to the full. Good on Ken. Did he go on to have a career in the British League post 1968.. Would folks say he was the most successful rider of the 1968 Belle Vue Colts. They really mopped up everyone else that year as I recall. I regret that having left the UK in1968 -I never went to a Second Division meeting, until I came back on vacation in 1970 when I got to see Doncaster v. Reading at York Road. I recall Gordon McGregor still going strong for the Stallions as Doncaster then were known. I think also George Major was riding for Doncaster-have to check my programs though.

Hi chunky it's around -10 up here and expecting another 10 cms. tonight. No problem for us Canucks we are sitting out in the backyard in shorts drinking margaritas (well I may be exaggerating a bit). Hope you are ok too Andout!!

I wonder if Sandor actually participated in the Hungarian revolution- I guess he was born in the mid thirties and would have remembered Admiral Horthy, who was deposed in about 1943 or 44. Replaced by Ferenc Salazi and the Arrow Cross- Jewish Hungarians were ok until that point but then they became the last major victim group of the Holocaust. I thought Horthy did the best he could- he survived the war and retired to Spain-wrote a most interesting auto biography. I wonder if Sandor with a last name - Levai-was Jewish, and Levai was just a derivation of Levy. Anyway-he really helped out Newport.. A most interesting guy.

Wasn't Honved an army sponsored team ?

Thanks Chunky, Is Ken Eyre still with us-he was the runner up in the first ever Second Division Riders Championship-behind I think Graham Plant-how is Graham doing these days, I saw a photo of him as part of a Newport reunion-still had all that long hair!! Hope you are surviving the winter in Ohio better than us up here-we had 60 cms. of snow last week and temps in the minus twenties!!

Went to the link- saw Chris Bailey, Steve, Eric Broadbelt , Taffy Owen etc. Anyone know how Ken Moss, Ken Eyre and Peter Thompson are doing these days- the 1968 Colts were unstoppable

Steve is looking good, as Art Garfunkel would say "Still crazy after all these years"!!

I certainly remember Steve- I think he rode second half at some tracks and then just drifted away. Don't know anything else sadly. I think he also rode somewhere in 1968 .