mIcK50 Posted April 18, 2003 Report Share Posted April 18, 2003 I recently had to clean out my carport and in all the accumulated junk, I found a book that I had completely forgotten I possessed. It was written by the great American rider, Sprouts Elder and is called The Romance of The Speedway and it gives a wonderful insight to the pioneer days of speedway. The following paragraph reveals a little of the evolution that was going on in speedway machines before a standard was reached, not to mention revealing a few famous names as well! "Gus Kuhn, I believe, used to ride a Calthorpe when he first started. Jack Parker, of Coventry, preferred a B.S.A., while Billy Lamont at one time found in the A.J.S all that he wanted in the way of speed and acceleration. Then again Art Pechar was partial to the Indian 500c.c., while Ron Johnson and Sig Schlam, the Australians, used to ride Peashooter Harleys before they took to Douglas bikes." I've never heard of a Calthorpe, but I wonder if Jack Parker's B.S.A was a Sloper, which was popular as a speedway bike for a while in the 1930's. With it's forward inclined engine, the Sloper sort of proves that there is nothing new under the sun, especially when you look at todays "lay-down" style of bike. I suppose the former was good for speedway by accident, the latter by design. Ron Johnson and Sig Schlam were Western Australians and I think Schlam was killed racing at the Western Australian Cricket Association Ground, (the famous WACA). Speedway was run there for one or two years in the early 1930's, but couldn't compete with Claremont and closed down. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 19, 2022 Report Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) What a wonderful find mlcK50! Edited May 19, 2022 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
False dawn Posted May 19, 2022 Report Share Posted May 19, 2022 On 4/18/2003 at 8:52 AM, mIcK50 said: .....I found a book that I had completely forgotten I possessed....... Wow. Thanks for sharing that. Sounds like a really good read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted May 19, 2022 Report Share Posted May 19, 2022 1 hour ago, False dawn said: Wow. Thanks for sharing that. Sounds like a really good read. Yes, it's a great book. I managed to buy it about 20 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted May 20, 2022 Report Share Posted May 20, 2022 There's a copy available on abebooks - for over $500... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
False dawn Posted May 20, 2022 Report Share Posted May 20, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, norbold said: Yes, it's a great book. I managed to buy it about 20 years ago. Might be a worthwhile investment, depending on what you paid for yours..... Click here But you'd think for that price, they would throw in the postage. And who owns that strange gold hand on some of the photos? Edited May 20, 2022 by False dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted May 20, 2022 Report Share Posted May 20, 2022 7 hours ago, False dawn said: Might be a worthwhile investment, depending on what you paid for yours..... Click here But you'd think for that price, they would throw in the postage. And who owns that strange gold hand on some of the photos? Cripes! I think mine cost £10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS50 Posted May 20, 2022 Report Share Posted May 20, 2022 Always wondered. Was this his real name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
False dawn Posted May 20, 2022 Report Share Posted May 20, 2022 32 minutes ago, RS50 said: Always wondered. Was this his real name. From the write up on this book: "James Lloyd Elder. Lloyd was known as 'Sprouts' due to a growth spurt in his teens" 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midland Red Posted May 25, 2022 Report Share Posted May 25, 2022 On 5/19/2022 at 10:11 PM, JohnHyam said: What a wonderful find mlcK50! 2003 again! You’re really living in the past, rolling back the forum years. Why???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted May 25, 2022 Report Share Posted May 25, 2022 5 hours ago, Midland Red said: 2003 again! You’re really living in the past, rolling back the forum years. Why???? Because he is John Hyam? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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