BOBBATH

Hi Blackbird-Norbold's second post related to the sixties because having read his 50's post, I asked him what his 60's favourites were -so he was kindly replying to my request, and its my fault for the confusion-hope this helps.Merry xmas to you.

Ta Norbold -that ranking is tough to argue with-the only one I was ever privileged to see ride was Hurriken Don't wanna be a pest but what was your top 6 for the sixties-guess Wilson, Betts, would be there somewhere?? Maybe Hedge/Simmons?? merry xmas by the way-amazingly no snow in Toronto this Christmas day.

Off topic a bit- re this tracks of yesteryear but Arthur Forrest from my reading would rank about the same as other great Brits like Ron How and Ken McKinlay. BTW Norbold re your previous post which riders did you rank as the best six of the 50's Brits?

Hi Skid -thanx for posting and comments re Redcar- but am thinking of the actual tracks that were around in operation in 68 thus Cleveland Park would have to still be around like say Brough Park for me to include it on my list. Also Whiteknight-think I agree with you e.g. re Brough Park I think of the 1964 Diamonds with guys like Ken Sharples, Mauger, Bill Andrew , Pete Kelly, Mike Watkin etc etc. Ditto Monmore Green with Pete jarman, Tom sweetman, james Bond, Cyril francis, Dave hemus etc etc.-maybe its better just to let the venues live on in my memory and imagination!!

The tracks of yesteryear thread got me thinking .I left UK in 1968-of the tracks then operating, that are still today operating there are only 3 I never visited-Newcastle, Wolves and Kings Lynn. On occasion I have thought I should come back and try and see them all-what puts me off is my suspicion that in 68 I imagined them full of spectators , great racing and lots of enthusiasm. I think they may now be shells of their former glory, with reduced capacity, poor facilities, small crowds etc. and that I may be better to let them live in my memory-perhaps I should just let them live in my memory(altho I understand KL may be better than when it opened)-what do forumlanders reckon-better to let them live in my imagination maybe?

Pennycross is the Champ-did you keep all the programmes?

I reckon Norbold should officially be allowed to count High beech-so there!!

Do foreign tracks count?-if so I can add LA Coliseum(1982 World Final) and Ascot Park(LA) that would get me to 19!!

Hi daveallen81-which history book are you referring to and can it be accessed online. Cheers

Another pint for you Britmet-hope George still doing well-last time I saw him race was for Doncaster v. Reading in Sep. 1970(was back over on vacation). Still got program-George scored 8 from 3 rides-finishing second to team mate Chris Harrison. George's picture was in program. Noticed Gordon McGregor scored 11, dropping only point to Richard May. Gordon must have been in his forties then. I think May and Harrison have also passed away. Re CH with the demise of Dudley Wood is there anywhere in black Country I could get a similar pork sarnie as used to be sold there-could do with one now-its snowing here(Toronto).

Thanx for posting this yesterdays man- I remember all this very well-good on George and he's absolutely right-he would have made all the difference to CH in the KO Cup Final. Also too bad he didn't get to ride in the PLRC Final-I think his place was taken by Norman Storer.

Thanx for posting semion-I enjoyed reading about it-is the stadium still there or has it ben demolished?

When I think about it what about Bert harkins-he was a true PL discovery and kept going till 1980(I think)

Sorry to resurrect this-but just found out Sandor Levai passed away in 2009-any other news of the Wasps of the mid sixties? Amazingly enough when I lived in Illinois in 1968-70, I mentioned the team name to my then American girlfriend(from Oklahoma) and she collapsed laughing-when I asked why she said that in US "Wasp" meant White Anglo Saxon Protestant!! Oh well what can you do!!

Hi arnieg, thanks for mentioning that Simmo was the last active PL rider. I don't really count Simmo as a PL rider though because he was only in it one season-1963 with 'Ackney,- he then chose NL in1964 as you know. I'm really interested in the guys who decided to ride black in 1964-anybody know which of those was the last guy riding, I know Eric Boocock who I reckon was a true PL rider went on for a long time-any advance on that. Also Norbold re 1960 PLRC-I guess Reg Reeves-dad of Eddie- was lucky that night-do you remember who finished 3rd.??

Hi Britmet and Norbold, the reason I have been in a deep slumber is because most of the topics on the site seem to have been after my time i.e. 1964-68 (when I emigrated) So years gone by is usually after my time. What awoke me from my deep sleep was the Reg Fearman book "Both Sides of the Fence"-one of the best speedway books I have read -if not the best. Lots of PL stuff but great social history of the 50's and 60's-the world of the old working class east end, now long gone. Even the Kray Bros. make an appearance. CH still remains my favorite track and favorite supporters. Also Long Eaton with the Pavilion pub and great fish and chip shop just outside the gates(on the Nottingham side). I recall in 1967 being in the Pavilion with all the Sheffield riders when their meeting with LE was rained off-great times and great people. I wish I could have attended the 1964 PLRC-avidly read the Speedway Star report-what a great meeting it sounds to have been. Does anybody know when the last PL rider rode in a competitive meeting and who it was- I know Eric Boocock went on for a long time. I gotta say though that the Sheffield track always seemed the best prepared and a classy place to visit. Anyway thanks for remembering me and Britmet who knows maybe one day I will get to buy you 4 pints!!!!

Anybody still alive on this forum who remembers the PL (1960-64)-best speedway ever. My favorite riders of that league were Ivor Brown(CH), and the 1964 Newport team(Alby Golden, Peter Vandenberg, Dick Bradley, Jon Erskine , Geoff Penniket, Ray Harris , Vic White etc etc).. I recall the 2nd leg of the 1964 KO Cup Final at CH-where Newport had a huge lead from the 1st leg and just scraped home at CH in the 2nd leg by about 2 points on aggregate. No question CH would have won if George Major had been able to ride. John Edwards of CH rode extremely well.. Anyone else in forumland attend that meeting-if so I'll buy them a pint next time I'm in UK. CH supporters were the best and very welcoming-always recall the pork sarnies-and having a pint with them at a nearby pub the name of which I've forgotten. Wish we could return to those days!!

Yes of course I remember James Bond and indeed saw him ride. I always associate him with guys like Cyril Francis, Tommy Sweetman,and Pete Jarman (RIP). James was never a heat leader but one of those guys who was the backbone of speedway and always gave it his all. Wolverhampton were always a great team to watch-hope he is still enjoying life and thanks to him for giving us fans a lot of pleasure.

OK don't know how many folks can relate to these names as I left UK in 1968 but here goes. Ivor Brown, Jimmy Gooch, Ron How, Jim Squibb, Dick Bradley, Alby Golden, George Hunter, Bill Andrew, Charlie Monk, Roy Trigg.

R.I.P. Ron

No question-Bert Edwards-wotta guy

Sadly I think I will be the only one who remembers this-go back to Newport in 1964-65 and I always associate the Moody Blues "From the Bottom of My heart" with that time-if you've never heard it go to Youtube

I thought there was a post here about the above but couldn't find it-as I recall it mentioned that John was in a nursing home and would appreciate hearing from fans-does anyone know if John(Stoke, Cradley, Wimbledon all 1960's) is still alive?? I used to lodge in the same boarding house as him-20 New Century Road, Laindon-forget name of landlady. John lived in US for some time -Seattle I think. Cheers Bob

Anyone in forumland know Henry's actual d.o.b.

Hi White Knight reckon you are thinking Of "A Walk in the Black Forest" by Horst Jankowski- I also am reminded of speedway whenever I hear this-it was a hit in 1965 and played at Newport-hope this helps. Another one is "From the Bottom of My Heart" by The Moody Blues-was the flipside of "Go Now" I think. Also "Help" by Beatles. "We Gotta Get out of this Place" by The Animals which I remember singing to myself as I hitch-hiked from London to Poole to see the British Semi- Final there. Also "Mr.Tambourine Man by The Byrds