American Riders In Bl

[star ghost]

If its just in Britain and not British League then there are all the Americans like Johnny Roccio, Nick Nicholaides and Don Hawley who rode for the Shelbourne team in Ireland.

Also Bud Reda, East Coast U S A taxi driver, who came to the U K and rode at Norwich. He proved no match for Bob Leverenz and Phil Clarke however.

[miro]

Funnily enough, Mark Cherry didn't actually ride any league matches, but as he did appear for Birmingham, I still think he should be counted.

 

Mike Caruso's name is actually CUROSO.

 

Plus :

 

Steve Bast

Ivan Blacka

Pee Wee Cullum

Larry Kosta

Art Pechar

Buddy Robinson

Ray Tauser

 

Steve

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Did Art Pechar actually ride for a league team?

 

also

 

was Cecil Brown who rode for Wimbledon in 1929 American?

[speedyguy]

Didn't we go though a similar list some months ago that involved other countries besides the USA?

 

For all that, this sort of thing is very interesting. I knew a little about Bud Reda in the USA, mainly East Coast rider in late 1930s and through to about 1952. I also read as mentioned that he was a Yellow Cab driver in New York State.

 

Bud later promoted in Florida (1980s?) and his grandson John Reda was one of the riders.

 

Other names to conjure with are Putt Mosssman (pre-war) and Manuel Trujillo (pre and post-war).

Edited August 25, 2006 by speedyguy

[Ryan]

Bobby Hedden

[norbold]

Did Art Pechar actually ride for a league team?

 

also

 

was Cecil Brown who rode for Wimbledon in 1929 American?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

No, though he was Stamford Bridge's Overseas representative in the 1929 Star Championship.

 

Yes

 

And there was Miny Waln, Wimbledon, 1937.

Edited August 29, 2006 by norbold

[Gemini]

Dewayne Keeter...

Who I understand was the first American to appear in the British League in 1969 when he joined Leicester. (If this is wrong information blame Alan Jones.

Sadly Dewayne lost his life 6 years later in a track accident at Ascot Park in California.

Edited August 29, 2006 by Gemini

[The Third Man]

David East

[miro]

No, though he was Stamford Bridge's Overseas representative in the 1929 Star Championship.

 

Yes

 

And there was Miny Waln, Wimbledon, 1937.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Thanks for the confirmation Norbold.

 

I had Miny Waln in my first post above.

[miro]

Dewayne Keeter...

Who I understand was the first American to appear in the British League in 1969 when he joined Leicester. (If this is wrong information blame Alan Jones.

Sadly Dewayne lost his life 6 years later in a track accident at Ascot Park in California.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I remember seeing him that year. I believe he was a general motorcycle racer who hadn't ridden speedway proper before he came over, is that so?

[norbold]

Thanks for the confirmation Norbold.

 

I had Miny Waln in my first post above.

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Ooops! So you did. Sorry, miro.

[Gemini]

I remember seeing him that year. I believe he was a general motorcycle racer who hadn't ridden speedway proper before he came over, is that so?

Sounds about right miro. When he joined Leicester he only had 6 months experience of speedway behind him. Shame he only rode in Britain for one season.

I don't suppose anyone has a photo of him do they? From what I remember he had rather a strange looking face and certainly wouldn't have been chosen for a Mr Handsome competition, unlike some of the other past & present charismatic Americans.

Edited August 30, 2006 by Gemini

[iris123]

I remember seeing him that year. I believe he was a general motorcycle racer who hadn't ridden speedway proper before he came over, is that so?

Sounds about right miro. When he joined Leicester he only had 6 months experience of speedway behind him. Shame he only rode in Britain for one season.

I don't suppose anyone has a photo of him do they? From what I remember he had rather a strange looking face and certainly wouldn't have been chosen for a Mr Handsome competition, unlike some of the other past & present charismatic Americans.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I do.Its in one of those speedway pictorial things.I think an Alf Weedon production.And you are right not a pretty picture.Could quite imagine him up in a tree,banjo in hand

Edited August 30, 2006 by iris123

[Knowle]

I saw Bud Reda riding second halfs at Bristol in July 1950. Never made the team though.

Edited April 1, 2014 by Knowle

[stratton]

DId Mike Bast have a few practice laps at Wimbledon once? he so nearly signed for them.I also have a feeling i might be wrong? that two other established USA riders Alan Christian(could of been top class) and Jim Fishback had a few spins at a few tracks.I think Christian? might of had a spin at the Abbey.

[iris123]

DId Mike Bast have a few practice laps at Wimbledon once? he so nearly signed for them.I also have a feeling i might be wrong? that two other established USA riders Alan Christian(could of been top class) and Jim Fishback had a few spins at a few tracks.I think Christian? might of had a spin at the Abbey.

Think Bast + Penhall had a few laps after a meeting once.Before they appeared in one of those old world championship qualifying rounds.Might have been an Intercontinental final at White City a few days after the Wimbledon meeting.

[stratton]

Think Bast + Penhall had a few laps after a meeting once.Before they appeared in one of those old world championship qualifying rounds.Might have been an Intercontinental final at White City a few days after the Wimbledon meeting.

Yes you are correct "iris, in 77 both had qualified for White City i can remember Bast moaning that he was not allowed the track practice that he was promised hence after that year i think when he had qualified he did not bother coming over here.

[iris123]

 

 

 

These comments look a little harsh in regard to DeWayne Keeter, especially as he died in a motorcycle race accdent. I wonder what the critics would have made of them had they come from me?

Stop trolling,trying to make problems where there aren't any.Those comments were made over 7 years ago and haven't caused any trouble so far and i don't think will.in the future because most people have a sense of humour and know they were not in anyway meant to be nasty.Comments from you get criticised because they deserve it more often than not..........

[Paulco]

Whatever happened to Eric Carrillo ? Out of his depth at Wolverhampton , came to Glasgow and showed a modicum of potential at that level . But at the end of the 2004 season he disappeared never to be heard of again .

[iris123]

It is not a case of trolling at all. I spent more than 50 years working full-time in journalism (NOT all speedway - that was a brief period) - much of that time editing items. I regard going back through Posts as research and where I feel a comment is needed will raise it so the issue can be debated, evaluated and where needed seek further reference or comment on what has been said.

That is how I treated this matter.

You don't need to be a journalist at all to evaluate or seek further reference and understand those comments.Obviously have far too much time on your hands now the planned forum has failed and no-one much apart from yourself bothers commenting on your other proboard things.

[stratton]

It is not a case of trolling at all. I spent more than 50 years working full-time in journalism (NOT all speedway - that was a brief period) - much of that time editing items. I regard going back through Posts as research and where I feel a comment is needed will raise it so the issue can be debated, evaluated and where needed seek further reference or comment on what has been said.

That is how I treated this matter. The age of the item is not really relevant - it is what was said that matters because it still exists in the public domain. Maybe the fact that the comments raised seven years ago were not commented on then is because they may have raised a smile to the average reader while a possible deeper objective was not apparent to the lay reader whereas it would be to a person trained in journalism sub-editing who would go beyond treating a comment as mere flippancy.

There's nothing in regard to Eric Carrillo on the USA speedway riders website either. In fact, his comments are pre-him travelling to the UK for the 2004 season.

http://www.speedwaybikes.com/rw/ueric_c.htm

Gustix i have really enjoyed your posts and you are great value, but you are like ME sometimes you don't help yourself.There was no malice towards Keeter as Gemini pointed out he had limited experience and in my opinion did very well indeed odviously then Autrey took it to another level.