BOBBATH

Thanx 2nd bender-it must have been a great sight to see Ivor Brown on his first visit-he was always a guy we loved to hate, but was agreat rider. To my friend in Darwin Bigfatdave-did you go on away supportes bus trips with some of your buddies e.g. to Swindon in 65 and did you work at a factory in CwmbranDo you guys remember the old song:

As a matter of interest is there anybody out there who was also at my first meeting on 13 June 1964 at Somerton Park???Probably not but no harm in asking.

I certainly recall Bill Powell-for BV in 64-5, he was a middle order guy along with Norman Nevitt-I think the heat leaders were Gordon McGregor, Dick Fisher and Soren Sjosten, and Cyril Maidment fitted in there also-on second thoughts perhaps Cyril was the third heat leader and Gordon was a second string.Bill had fair hair as I recall.

My first meeting was on Saturday 13 June 1964 at Somerton Park-it had been rained off the night before(Friday being the usual race night) and my buddy and I being at a loose end decided to go along.I was 17 then. I still have the program and am looking at it right now here in Toronto. It was a Southern League match Newport v Long Eaton. The first race was won by Alby Golden who broke the track record, Jon Erskine was 2nd, Ken Adams was 3rd and John Mills 4th. So a 5-1 to Wasps.I see Alby and Dick Bradley both scored maximums, Peter Vandenberg scored 11(paid max), Jon Erskine 9, Geoff Penniket 2, Vic White 3 and Ray Harris 3. For the Archers, Ken Adams and Norman Store scored 6 apiece(Norman was their only heat winner), Ken Vale 4,Kid Bodie(Howard Cole) 3,Ray Wilson 3, Ron Sharp 3 and John Mills 0. The Wasps won 52-25, Alby won the scond half.I was hooked and went almost every week after-the noise, the smell -it was great and I knew I had found my sport.I went to speedway regularly until I left UK in 1968.Hope some of these names bring back memories for folk in forumland.

Any mormons???

Hi iris123- what a good idea- lets start a thread on catholic riders!!!!!!!!!!!

Thought that would get your attention!!! Last I heard he and Lord Lucan were in Waziristan with Osama. Seriously tho' does ANYBODY know where he is, whether he is alive or dead-he can't just disappear like that. Oops he's just been sighted at the corner of Yonge and Bloor in Toronto-see ya later.

OK bavarian-I went the site you mentioned-and discovered that besides a Jewish guy being the first World Champ -did not Benny Kaufman get to the World Final once also-there thus being at least 2 Jewish World Finalists. Eat you hearts out you Buddhists!!! Beat that if you can Muslims!!(No offence intended!!!)

Come on you Brits-Jewish people are the greatest-super doctors, charitable philanthropists and some of the most honest businessmen I've met e.g. the Canadian Reichman family behind Canary Wharf-their handshake was a guarantee.

Bavarian Is that true re Lionel van Praag??-I'd like to be able to tell my buddy that the first speedway world champion was Jewish-he'd get a real kick out of it. If so good on Lionel!!!

Hi Ross if you are in touch with him, just remindJack that all his fans in UK still think of him and wish him well and are interested in his wellbeing-hope it cheers him up.

How old would Kelly and Shawn be now??

Sadly I don't think the economics would support a London track now-I think eventually the greyhound stadiums will go to and probably be replaced by mosques!! Don't report me to the UK cops!!

On a more serious note is Gil Goldfinch still alive??

As I said on another thread, I got interested in this talking to one of my Canadian jewish friends who I was telling about speedway and how great it was-so I'll be able to tell him based on this thread that indeed there were some very good ones!

OK OK but can we start a thread on gay Jewish riders(some of whom may also have been-almost-as tall as Graham Miles)-greetings from snowy Toronto!!!

I am fascinated by folks' response to this thread-I probably should have added in my case-as well as Norwich-Old Meadowbank. I was in Edinburgh a few years ago and specifically went by where it used to be-seems to be an athletics track now. A plan of mine is to go back to UK some time and visit the tracks that were around in the mid sixties that are still around , but that I didn't get to-I think the only ones that meet this criteria are Brough Park,Saddlebow Road and Monmore Green but am worried I would be disappointed. Perhaps I should leave it on the basis that"its better to journey in hope than to arrive"!!!!

kevh when you say 7/12/50-do you mean 7th of December, or 12th of July-can't recall how you Brits do this.

I would have to say Norwich in my case. I started going to speedway in 1964-their last year and I had heard so much about this track and Ove's exploits and also about the dedicated fans. Now I will never get the chance. In 1964 there were 7 NL tracks-over the years got to the other 6 but not Norwich.Was it out in the country or in a district of Norwich-guess either way they would have run special buses.Anybody else have regrets about other tracks they didn't get to???

That is right Bee. Arne Pander was routinely referred to as The Great Dane in the early 60's-unlucky not to have got to a World Final.I understand he still lives in England??

Ditto from me-hope they are ok.

What's the scoop -anything to do with drugs??

Say it ain't so-though I wouldn't be surprised-what does anyone know of this

Surely Ole Olsen was the original Great Dane!!!(although Erik and Hans should split it with him!!)They were all Great Danes.

Thanx czechhero-nice to hear about Derek-next time you see him tell him that he is remembered by many with great affection.