chunky Posted April 19, 2008 Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 Okay, here's another one to get you thinking... Reading the thread on Lew Coffin gave me the idea for this; whether they are riders, promoters, or whatever, what people do you think deserve recognition for what they have done for the sport, and why? Here's my starting list... Lew Coffin (see other thread!) Johnnie Hoskins - Regardless of opinions/facts about the early meetings, one has to admit that he did a great deal to help get speedway established in the UK. Ole Olsen - Not only was he a great rider, he really helped establish the sport in his native Denmark, and even after he quit riding, was the brainchild behind the SGP. Sir Arthur Elvin - A great friend of speedway, and promoter at Wembley Stadium. Barry Briggs - One of the greatest PR men the sport has seen, and like Olsen, continued to have a great impact on speedwway after his retirement with the Golden Greats, and even the dirt deflector. Dr Carlo Biagi - The speedway doctor, who helped so many riders overcome their injuries during his long and distinguished career. Neil Street - Instrumental in the development of the 4-valve engine. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trackman Posted April 20, 2008 Report Share Posted April 20, 2008 Little Boy Blue... Regards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAST GATER Posted April 20, 2008 Report Share Posted April 20, 2008 Ivan Mauger may of had some influence !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted April 20, 2008 Report Share Posted April 20, 2008 So many people... A. J. Hunting - Established the first major promotion in Australia and then in Britain. Bill Cearns - For the cash he injected in to the sport in the early days and his support of tracks like High Beech and Wimbledon amongst others. Sydney Glanville and Lionel Wills for being instrumental in bringing the sport to Great Britain. Early promoters like Fred Mockford and Cecil Smith for taking a chance on the new sport. Jack Hill-Bailey for organising the first meeting at High Beech. J. A. Prestwich for inventing the J.A.P. speedway bike. Showmen promoters like Ronnie Greene, Alec Jackson, Len Silver. And that's without the pioneer riders like Frank Arthur, Vic Huxley, Ron Johnson, Sprouts Elder, etc. for helping to get the sport established. And lots lots more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Evans Posted April 20, 2008 Report Share Posted April 20, 2008 Jonathon Greene Tony Millard Mark Crang (anyone remember him) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miro Posted April 20, 2008 Report Share Posted April 20, 2008 (edited) As Norbold says above Fred Mockford - alongside Hoskins as a pioneer and model promoter, most of all for inventing the starting gate with Harry Shepherd and co promoter Cecil Smith - an announcer and influence with the ACU from the start. Wal Phillips - rider and engineer who put the JAP parts together to perfect the one true Speedway motor. Edited April 20, 2008 by miro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted April 20, 2008 Report Share Posted April 20, 2008 And I thought the starting gate, like speedway, evolved from something else. There are some who would say Neil Street has caused problems of cost by developing a 4-valve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted April 20, 2008 Report Share Posted April 20, 2008 Jonathon Greene Tony Millard Mark Crang (anyone remember him) Yup, often see him. (never changed) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oddfossengen Posted April 21, 2008 Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 the man that was mr speedway in southampton and stadium and presentation to match everynight was show night charles knott senior (THE GUV.NOR) his sons were good promoters as well and another unsung hero charles foote thats when poole and saints were run by gents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Butler Posted April 21, 2008 Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 E O Spence, the promoter who kept speedway going at Belle Vue - and thus Britain - throughout WW2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted April 21, 2008 Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 Dick Case, the promoter who kept speedway going at Rye House - and thus Britain - throughout WW2...well, ok, he missed out on 1944, so I'll give you that one, Ron! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted April 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 (edited) Dick Case, the promoter who kept speedway going at Rye House - and thus Britain - throughout WW2...well, ok, he missed out on 1944, so I'll give you that one, Ron! Some good stuff here, and I was wondering who would mention people like Messrs Mockford, Greene, Silver, Knott, Foote, etc. Also, Harry Shepherd... Keep 'em coming! Steve Edited April 21, 2008 by chunky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted April 21, 2008 Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 Some good stuff here, and I was wondering who would mention people like Messrs Mockford, Greene, Silver, Knott, Foote, etc. Also, Harry Shepherd... Keep 'em coming! Steve Speedway journalist Eric Linden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Custom House Kid Posted April 21, 2008 Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 (edited) Another few names Journalist Tom Morgan Tom Stenner Rider/Captain/Manager/Training Schools Harold Tiger Stevenson PR man/Press man/ Comentator/ Management Dave Lanning Rider/Mechanic Wal Philips Mechanic Alec Moseley Edited April 21, 2008 by Custom House Kid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Also - how could I have forgotten? - Don Johns, Albert 'Shrimp' Burns, Maldwyn Jones and Eddie Brinck - American pioneers from before the First World War and the early 1920s who invented the art of broadsiding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Little Boy Blue... Regards. Do you mean Keith Gurtner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Another few names Journalist Tom Morgan Tom Stenner As mentioned before, Eric Linden. Then there's Jim Stenner Basil Storey John Wick Cyril J Hart Peter Arnold They all chronicled speedway happenings during the years of the 'great depression' circa 1953-60. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thbender Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Frank Varey - not only for being one of the world's most outrageously daring riders (el Diablo Rojo) but also for being the good and faithful servant of the sport he loved by promoting it far and wide, and for perfecting the art of preparing the perfect racing surface (a legacy which has set the standard which is still maintained to this day at Owlerton). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 As mentioned before, Eric Linden. Then there's Jim Stenner Basil Storey John Wick Cyril J Hart Peter Arnold They all chronicled speedway happenings during the years of the 'great depression' circa 1953-60. And let's not forget John Hyam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 We must not forget Olle Nygren in Speedway for the last 60 years A long time servant as rider and running training schools. (Since about 1947) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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