speedyguy Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 (edited) In 1947, the Canadian Mike Tams raced in one league match for Eastbourne, then spent the rest of the season in the second-half. There was also a Les Tams racing in the second-half that year. What became of him? I know this wasn't a 'crossover' and that they were not the same person. I checked some 1947 Eastbourne results and they raced against each other a couple of times. Edited September 29, 2006 by speedyguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoMinuteWarning Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 Probably best to go to the Canadian SRA site at http://www.speedwaybikes.com/canada/csra/contact.htm and someone there can ask Mike Tams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TigerTom Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 He isn't listed as ever riding in Canada and I never heard of him being a Canadian riding in Britain. I have been compiling a list of Canadians racing in the old country and only Mike comes up. Like the two Appleby's riding in the same team, Only Charlie was Canadian. Tom Marriott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted October 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 (edited) He isn't listed as ever riding in Canada and I never heard of him being a Canadian riding in Britain. I have been compiling a list of Canadians racing in the old country and only Mike comes up. Like the two Appleby's riding in the same team, Only Charlie was Canadian. Tom Marriott <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Then just who was Les Tams then? He is listed in Stenners Annual 1947 - as was Mike Tams - as being signed for that season's Eastbourne team. Tams isn't excatly a common surname is it? There was an article about Mike Tams in VSM a couple of years ago. I don't recall a mention of Les Tams in it. I wonder who he was? I remember the late Charlie Appleby at Hackney and Crystal Palace around 1938 and 1939, and as a member of the Birmingham team in 1946 until his sad death at, I believe, Newcastle at the end of that season. He hit the safety fence after avoiding a rider who fell in front of him. Edited October 3, 2006 by speedyguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted October 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 It was definitely Les Tams. I found it on the Speedway Researcher and the name appears in many second-half races for Eastbourne - as does Mike Tams. They raced against each other so it's not a 'printing error.' Les Tams was second-half at Eastbourne in same season that Les Trim was in the Exeter. No chance it was Des Tamblyn either. Did Les Tams move on to Hastings in 1948 I wonder? Thanks a lot. Good to see these old-timers are still remembered. I saw Les Trim at the Palace in 1939 when Keith Harvey was the captain. T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 (edited) Thanks for this info Speedyguy. My posting on these lines seems to have vanished. I think Keith Harvey was the "oldest active rider" in 1946 and 1947 whilst with New Cross. Maybe Norbold will be able to throw some light on these riders from his recent work for the Eastbourne book? Edited October 8, 2006 by star ghost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 Les Tams was an Eastbourne reserve in 1947. He rode in a number of matches for the Eagles. As far as I know he did not move on to Hastings in 1948 and I am not sure what happened to him after 1947. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted October 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 Les Tams was an Eastbourne reserve in 1947. He rode in a number of matches for the Eagles. As far as I know he did not move on to Hastings in 1948 and I am not sure what happened to him after 1947. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks a lot. But was he related to Mike Tams? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 I'm afraid I can't answer that. I can't find any biographical details about him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 (edited) John Hyam (aka speedyguy) on canadian speedway Forum today posted: Mike Tams has just phoned me in London about my original query. Les Tams is a younger brother and they both rode at Eastbourne, England, in 1947. They later went to race in Northern Ireland at Belfast and in the Republic at Chapelizoid and Santry. The promoter decided he wanted only one Tams name on the programmes and this was Mike's. Les Tams then raced until early 1949 as Les Gordon. Mike's British career extended on into the late 1950s when he returned to Canada. Edited October 28, 2006 by arnieg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted October 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 John Hyam (aka speedyguy) on canadian speedway Forum today posted: Mike Tams has just phoned me in London about my original query. Les Tams is a younger brother and they both rode at Eastbourne, England, in 1947. They later went to race in Northern Ireland at Belfast and in the Republic at Chapelizoid and Santry. The promoter decided he wanted only one Tams name on the programmes and this was Mike's. Les Tams then raced until early 1949 as Les Gordon. Mike's British career extended on into the late 1950s when he returned to Canada. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Great to see the details about Mike and Les Tams. Puzzled about the first reference. Mrs Speedyguy will be most surprised! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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