Nigel

Perhaps he died later ? as a result of his injuries or has the Speedway Researcher website got it wrong .. i shall have to speak to JH. or is there 2 Goran Andersons and they are being confused?

Goran Andersson is supposed to have died following a crash at Aldershot in 1952. The Speedway Researcher site indicates that he died on 21 July 1952 and, indeed, on that date England 'C' faced Sweden at Aldershot. I have not yet found any reports as to this death actually taking place. I find it hard to believe that a rider was killed, yet it wasn't reported! anyone any Info ?

Regarding old films ...... there is more than one film which has recorded the action at High Beech in early 1928 also filmed were Greenford and Blackpool, both were trotting tracks. Blackpool ran racing clockwise for the first couple of meetings. The first Speedway film with sound was recorded at Stamford Bridge 1928/29? I would discount the South African meeting as being the first. The first recorded meeting in America (so far found) was in 1901 'The Old Agricultural park' trotting track Los Angeles California and was in use for over a decade. Trotting was very popular in the late 1800s and just about every country had tracks. The American motor cycle companies were very keen on racing... had dealerships around the world, so events in America soon reach the ears of the rest of the world. I have evidence of dirt track racing on trotting tracks in Italy 1911 and I’ve no doubt there were earlier events. I am pretty sure that motorcycle racing was happening from the earliest times in just about every country that had a trotting track. Who was the first broadsider, well ….. On the evidence that I have (until someone proves otherwise) I believe the Honor goes to an American who was the son of a Welsh emigrant farmer…… Donald ‘Don’ Johns who was broadsiding before 1914. Americans Maldwyn Jones, Ed Brink and Cecil Brown have been given credit as some of the earliest broadsiders. It is said that Brink and Brown taught the Australians how to broadside during their visit to Oz in the 1920s American trotting tracks where usually half or 1 mile long. In my View.. speedway evolved from American dirt track racing on trotting Tracks

Frank was captain of the Wigan team 1960.. the club ran non league meetings.. .. a team photograph is in the "Speedway Star digest" of 1961 I believe frank was a regular at vets and oldtimer speedway rider get togethers in OZ

Like asking the executioner to cut of your head

I believe Geoff Bennett is still with us, though I understand he has been poorly of late. Arthur Payne is I believe, also still with us.

Someone with a much greater store of knowlage than myself has just passed this info to me. quote:- The Cake was presented to the Brummies to Celebrate their victory over West Ham in the National Trophy. And was gift of H.V. Smith Ltd, Of Lodge Road, Hockley, Birthday, Wedding Cake and Confectionery experts. as a token pride in the achievements of the Birmingham speedway team. I think the man in the middle is H.V Smith as he wrote the notes in the programme. Hope this helps you, and remember always ask a Cradley man. ... End Quote:- I believe the presentation was made 4th September 1948 Brum V Norwich

The riders are spotlessly clean which suggests the presentation was pre-match

"Cracking Photo" It is definately Buck Whitby 3rd from the right Judging by the flag in the background the opposition were Norwich I think the occasion was someones Birthday??? The tall gent in the centre may be team manager and Joint Promoter George Buck????? ( have not had time to do a thorough check) Edit:- on second thoughts Geo. Buck was a much shorter man? Noticed there was not a lot of dirt on the track, looked awfully slick.

Norman, I have just checked my fixture list for 1928 .............and it says a meeting was held on the 7th April and two on the 9th April (morning and afternoon). I have only recently obtained this list and have not examined them closely until this thread brought things to my attention!

I can.................but 'someone' may know 'something' you are only going to get a few twit-bits on forums The leicester Speedway history book By Alan Jones is still available direct from Alan Jones, I suggest getting in touch with him, he is a very agreeable chap always willing to help. Can I suggest a few trips to the National Newspaper library at Colindale, London may be useful?

More likely I think to be 1950s-60s riders Ernie lessiter or Ernie Baker ??????

New Zealander Spencer Stratton raced in the US 1926 A Brit was riding on the American half mile dirt tracks '1922-23'....but I have yet to discover his name?.

Sorry can't help with Buck Whitmer but...................... I am pretty sure there was motor cycle racing at 'San Jose' in 1927, Billy Galloway the first Australian speedway rider to arrive in England toured the USA in 1927, riding dirt and board tracks. His last race before retuning home was at 'San Jose' (late 1927). anybody have any info on Billy's tour of the US????????

Star ghost I think the story was on the 'Speedway History Forum', unfortunatly all was lost when the site went down a while back? I think the story arose while discussing Digger Pugh?

Brisbane Smith was an English pioneer speedway rider from 1928 raced mainly on the southern tracks. Somewhere I have the story of how he got his name and what his first name was.......when I find the details I will post it Write a thousand times I must organise my filing system....I must org.....................

Слушает, котор Bruce, оно будет Brummie не Brummy, вами австралиец мозга мертво осуждает, идет игра с вашим трактором. Я не говорю вам ничего. Получите с вашего большого австралийского задняя сторона и проведите исследование ваше собственное исследование

Sorry, But a gent by the name of McAvoy was building laydowns in 1928-9, he was not the only one, cant remember the other chap but a picture of his machine appeared in the motocycle press.

. The starting gate idea was I believe taken from horse racing. The device was first used in 1897 at Newmarket races but had been used even earlier in the colonies. It is not known who invented the device at the present time. Elasticised webbing was used not tape, in 1929 this was changed to 6 unbreakable ropes, .....pity the poor jockey whose horse was a bit keen! The gate was replaced by stalls in 1965. (Source :-National Horse racing Museum, Newmarket) There is photo of the horsey starting gate in " All Sports Weekly" April 20th 1929. p20. It would appear that Mockford and Shepard adapted and developed the idea for speedway. (thank god they did). If the device had been their invention I feel they would have patented it. The early Speedway gate suffered the same problem as the Horsey version, as it was manually operated jockeys could anticipate the actions of the starter, as can be seen from the well known speedway photo with the starter pulling on the stirrup handle. On the Speedway Star video series' History of Speedway' non other than Peter York mentions the starting gate Idea came from horse racing. Coloured helmet covers were another idea taken from horse racing.

I bet you say that to all the girls Have you 'pulled' much with your tractor...... I take it you are still in circulation Is yours a big red one ...............................the tractor that is did you make the grade?..................there's more, there's more

Norman, I see now how things have got crossed up...its so easy on these forums. my jibe was not aimed at the 'quote' or the original writer ..I did not want to cover old ground, my aim was to provoke a response from the poster who used that quote.. a naughty little imp by the name of trackman ....seems he delights from stirring things up.. I am the wiser what I want to know is does the track grader have to travel anti clockwise.. if the grader circulates clockwise is this considered not to be track grading.?....er Trackman

alls well that ends well ...no probs

Sorry Norman, It was a bit tongue in cheek, pity we dont have a smily with a tongue in its cheek! but I object to the use of the phrase 'generally accepted' as though this justifies and legitimises a statment/truth/Fact/hearsay. This phrase does not indicate fact, it indicates belief (IMO). Should something be 'generally accepted' even if the facts fed to the "general" (IMO) are incorect.? It was once 'generally accepted' the world was flat! Shazzy I am not the least bit bothered about being pulled up for spellling I was just joking, how many smilies do I have to use?.. again 'You have started something' was another joke, with the greatest of respect a sense of humour is a great asset. I have never shown disrespect to JSH I have always said he was a great show man and did much for the sport. I have never questioned JSH's contribution to speedway. The truth is not disrespectful. I view history objectivley, not with bias because I am emotionaly involved. Who you choose as your history guru is your business. Quote:-As far as history goes Norbold is my man for that (or KevH he's pretty clever to) and I tend to believe whatever he discovers and as we have been over this one in the past I accept what he said. -: end quote. Apparently you are not above being disrespectful or insulting to someone you do not know either? ...... people in glass houses etc "Kev H is pretty clever" ..WOW!! perhaps I should pay him homage ...bow to this Master of History? ........ (sorry KevH definitely no offence meant) I already pay homage to the great East Saxon scribe 'Norbold' I buy his books!!

Trackman ...quote:- The first meeting in the UK is generally acknowledged to have taken place at High Beech on 19 February 1928. end quote . This "Generally acknowledged" statement... used frequently, not just in this situation.... generally acknowleged by who???... "Sun" readers? ....nomads in Outer Mongolia?... the great unwashed? ....those who believe everything they read...those who have not got a clue about history. Those who rely on hearsay. You have started something 'Shazzybird', you have started something Shazzybird, sorry... You have two minutes... you have two minutes :lol: