BOBBATH

English I think

I recall Tim mainly as an Exeter rider, but in 1966-I think-he was transferred to Newport.I recall being at Long Eaton when Newport were there and talking to Geoff Penniket who told me on the previous weekend Tim had a bad crash.What happened after that-and did Tim ride for other trax besides Exeter and Newport.Is he still around?A nice guy.

BrianH -think it was in a track speedcar crash that Gerry Hussey died. Graham Warren- I think-but stand to be corrected- was that he was on his way to win the 1950 World Final, won 2 rides, fell while trying to pass eventual winner Fred Williams(who had home track advantage) then came back and won his remaining two.He finished third-then at some point he had an accident which I reckon knocked the stuffing out of him and was never the same againand that's why I brought his name forward.

This sounds great-wish I could go -any chance of pictures being taken and posted-it would be great to see the former riders as they are today.Hope everyone has a good time. (P.S. to Norbold can you go and measure the height of the riders to see if anyone there is taller than Graham Miles!!!)

That's right I'd forgotten that Jim married Howard's sister-are they still married-does Howard visit very often from -where is he now Aussie or-he became a teacher I think.

yes yes-its almost as bad as disputing that Graham Miles was not the tallest ever speedway rider!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This gives me another thought how is John Hart??-thought that he had passed awa, but must be getting mixed up with Jack Kitchen.John H rode for Cradley H. was he also with Sheffield for a time??. P.S. to Brian Hamilton-for shame for shame,Brian, everybody but everybody knows Kid Bodie was Howard Cole!!!!!Keep smilin' everyone in forumland.

Remember James Bond of Wolves in the mid-sixties-whatever happened to Jimmy??

I agree with you starghost-after I did my post I thought of Billy Bales.

Yes that was Ray's trade mark-as you probably recall he got somewhat portly towards the end of his career!!.

Do you think Les Owen of Coventry figures in this list-"Muscles "was doing well in 62-63 then he had a terrible smash up.Wondered if this in fact affected him in later life and contributed to his tragic death.

Was interested to see the name Tony George-I saw him ride as ,I think ,reserve for Exeter at Swindon in BL in 1968-the last meeting I saw at Swindon before I emigrated.He looked really promising-didn't he then ride for Plymouth in Div 2-sort of lost track of him after that-didn't even know he had an accident-when was that then??

To me the three champions of this thread must be 1)Torbjorn Harrysson-should have been World Champion 2) Arne Pander 3)Sverre Harrfeldt-I know these guys had great careers but I reckon they would have done even more-and while I'm on the subject -farther back -what about Graham Warren?? Yet again Norman Hunter who I thought was just about to achieve his potential in 1969.Thanx for making me think of this my Illinois friend!!

Hi Railway End- I think I used to stand on the opposite side from you, I know after a couple of years they changed where the starting gate was-I reckon you must have been on the side where there was glass fronted bar(a club you had to pay to get in) upstairs above the terrace.I was at the side where there was seating and then a bar behind the stand(separate little building)-I even joined the Newport County Supporters Club to get in.Great days-I even liked Whitbread Trophy beer then-aaagh!!! I recall when Wayne Briggs came with Edinburgh in Prov. Lge.-it was the second meeting I ever saw-Wasps won 42-36 I think(July 1964??).They were a good team , and good as Wayne was I reckon George Hunter was the star of that team

Guess we must have been in the same crowd that night Railway End-hard to believe its that long ago.

I think I saw Wayne involved in a bad accident in Newport in 1964-perhaps a Britain v Overseas Test Match--and I think he was never the same after

Railway end -do you know what happened to the other second halfers, Peter Harris,Alan Jones and Fred Powell-do they still live locally??

Yes but who is the tallest guy on the list.Seriously was glad to see Derek Timms name-I recall him for CH -anyone know where Derek is these days??

Whatever happened to Wayne-great PL rider-came 2nd I think in 1963 PL RC-is he still around??

Thanx guys-after Bob left Newport were all the other teams Div 2-where is he now, I thought he could have made it as a Div 1 rider because he was very competitive with the Wasps Brit Lge. teamn 1965/66. A great trier in my view.

Anyone know where Bob is-he was a rising star in the late 60's-seem to recall him getting his first max. Don't know what happened to him-I think he went somewhere else after Newport-Swindon??,Poole??.Anybody in Forumland know

Thanx dantodan-its a great website one of the best around-I reeally enjoyed the visit.

I agree with your approach Chunky-also looking at the list brought back some good memories.Thanx for starting this thread.

Hi speedyguy-don't know where to start, I'm floating out here in planet Canada and there seems to be folk more plugged in to these things in UK-good thought tho'!!

As I figured, judging by the number of posts not too many folks have as fond memories of Somerton as they do of Waterden Road or The Firs, or Custom House.I would have been better to have titled the item "gay riders at Somerton" or even better who was the tallest gay rider to appear at Somerton(not Graham Miles tho')!!!!!!!!!!!!!!