BOBBATH Posted July 24, 2008 Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 Well-whatever the truth, I just wish there were more characters like Tyburn around these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted July 24, 2008 Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 Rays 1st brush with officialdom was when he had a Ban the Bomb sticker on his bike, the Control Board told him to remove it. After his mock hanging of Ivor Brown it was reported that the Home Office terminated his position as assistant to the executioner and as a result Ray asked to ride under the name of Tyburn Gallows which was refused. He then changed his name by Deed Poll and rode as such. His career was virtually finished with a horrific crash at Cleveland Park during a match between Middlesbrough and Canterbury. Ray came down the back straight very fast and failed to make the 3rd turn, he broadsided into the fence, his bike damaged a light support, the marks were still visible when the track held its final meeting in 1996, Ray flew through the air above my head, it was my habit to stand on the boards which protected the dog track, and ended in a recess between the dog track and the public safety fence. I was quite convinced he was dead, and as the First Aid team were on the centre green I was the first to him, he opened his eyes and said to me "That's me finished" mindful of the danger of broken bones causing further damage, I told him to lay still and not try to sit up, I then let the medics take over. I did meet up with him much later and chatted about the crash and how it had affected him. Recently I was in Leeds and in an attempt to keep the Wife and my wallet apart, I wandered into Borders where I found a book on executions which gave details of the Executioner and his assistants at each one. I spent some checking, but found that while the Executioner was always named, his assistants were sometimes not. So I couldn't be certain that Ray had or hadn't been involved. Regards to all. Nice posting thanks HarryA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 Did anyone see the play about Albert Pierrepoint on television yesterday? Not a mention of Raymond Humphreys! I was most disappointed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bee Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 I'm sure I read in a Speedway Argus from 1968 that Coventry objected to an application form Brafield to join Div II that year. Anyone else recall? You are indeed correct CO was vehemently against any club trying to open withing his catchment area. Even though her owned Leicester Stadium! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 Brafield also operated in 1954 when they came second in the Metropolitan League, and in 1955 when they were third in the Southern Area League both under the Brafield Flying Foxes banner. I was under the impression that the title Metropolitan League was dropped before the start of the 1954 season, with the junior competition then retitled as the Southern Area League? Brafield were a good strong side - I especially remember the talented Vic Hall whose career was later ended through injury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 Didn't the "Metropolitan League" also operate in 64 briefly-Newport and Poole with a combined team called Newpool-I think Weymouth were in it also. Never was a full series of fixtures completed tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 I was under the impression that the title Metropolitan League was dropped before the start of the 1954 season, with the junior competition then retitled as the Southern Area League? Actually the renaming took place after the season started Early programmes refer to metropolitan league, but then change to SAL mid-May. Guess someone realised that California, Ringwood, Brafield, Hoddesdon and Arlington weren't exactly metropolises Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 The league actually had four names! It started out as the Amateur League, it was then changed to the Metropolitan League, it then became the Southern Area Training League and finally the Southern Area League. And yes, the Metropolitan League operated (after a fashion) in 1964. It originally consisted of Eastbourne, Ipswich, Rayleigh, Weymouth, Exeter B and Newpool (a joint Newport/Poole junior team). Exeter B withdrew after just one match while the others raced between 3 and 6 fixtures each. Ipswich won the league by virtue of the fact that they were the only team to race 6 matches, winning 5 of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 The league actually had four names! It started out as the Amateur League, it was then changed to the Metropolitan League, it then became the Southern Area Training League and finally the Southern Area League. Was the SATL actually a name for the league or was it just the label used in Speedway News while the league apparently had no name? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wessex Wanderer Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 Didn't the "Metropolitan League" also operate in 64 briefly-Newport and Poole with a combined team called Newpool-I think Weymouth were in it also. Never was a full series of fixtures completed tho Strictly from memory but I think the teams which entered the Metropolitan League that year and rode at least one match were: Weymouth, Ipswich, Newpool (combined Newport and Poole team), Exeter "B", Rayleigh (all definitely) and Eastbourne (possibly entered but did not ride a match). The fixtures were never completed. I don't think any single club completed all their fixtures. The league was part of the "black" organisation that year operating outside of Control Board jurisdiction. It all s tarted with lots of optimism but gradually fizzled out as the season progressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 Strictly from memory but I think the teams which entered the Metropolitan League that year and rode at least one match were: Weymouth, Ipswich, Newpool (combined Newport and Poole team), Exeter "B", Rayleigh (all definitely) and Eastbourne (possibly entered but did not ride a match). The fixtures were never completed. I don't think any single club completed all their fixtures. The league was part of the "black" organisation that year operating outside of Control Board jurisdiction. It all s tarted with lots of optimism but gradually fizzled out as the season progressed. Ipswich rode 6 matches Weymouth rode 5 Newpool rode 4 (although the one against Eastbourne was for double points, and the one against Exeter was expunged from the records after Exeter B withdrew from the league) Eastbourne rode 3 (See above - so technically 4) Rayleigh rode 3 Exeter B rode 1 Ipswich "won" the league with 10 points Eastbourne were second with 6 Rayleigh, Newpool and Weymouth all had 2 points Exeter B withdrew after losing at "home" to Newpool (although the match was raced at Weymouth). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 Ipswich rode 6 matches Weymouth rode 5 Newpool rode 4 (although the one against Eastbourne was for double points, and the one against Exeter was expunged from the records after Exeter B withdrew from the league) Eastbourne rode 3 (See above - so technically 4) Rayleigh rode 3 Exeter B rode 1 Ipswich "won" the league with 10 points Eastbourne were second with 6 Rayleigh, Newpool and Weymouth all had 2 points Exeter B withdrew after losing at "home" to Newpool (although the match was raced at Weymouth). Wal Morton finished his career (started 1932) in this league. Offhand I think for Ipswich and Weymouth - but, as always I stand to be corrected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wessex Wanderer Posted August 31, 2008 Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 (edited) Don't know about Ipswich but Wal raced one match for Weymouth. He scored 3+1 at Rayleigh on 1 August. This was Weymouth's last team match until they entered BL2 in 1968. Wal had been brought into the team at number 1 in place of the programmed John Poyser. As John Pilblad was promoter at both Weymouth and Ipswich and as the inclusion of riders in team was somewhat "flexible" it is quite possible that he was an Ipswich rider whom John used as a convenient one match replacement. By the way, the original subject of this thread Tyburn Gallows also rode in this match, scoring 4+1 from the number 6 berth for Rayleigh. Edited August 31, 2008 by Wessex Wanderer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted August 31, 2008 Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 Everyone seemed to be "flexible" in that league. As you say, WW, Wal Morton rode for both Ipswich and Weymouth, Geoff Penniket rode for Eastbourne and Newpool, Malcolm Brown for Rayleigh and Weymouth, Vic Ridgeon for Eastbourne and Rayleigh just to name a few! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Man Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 For those of you have never seen a Brafield Badgers race jacket, I'm wearing one here, getting out the gate in a hurry, at Peterborough, the black and white V shape represented the head of the Badger. Badger jacket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljh Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Hi Team Man, Just seen the picture of you going out of the start at Peterborough. By heck the grim look on your face tells a story alright, I guess it was a relief to you when the bike eventually straightened up from that angular lift off position and set itself back down on terra firma. Good luck to everyone who enjoys the thrill of riding those powerful old machines. Regards Rod Haynes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Man Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Hi Team Man, By heck the grim look on your face tells a story alright, I guess it was a relief to you when the bike eventually straightened up from that angular lift off position and set itself back down on terra firma. Regards Rod Haynes. Hi Rod It didn't end there, I knocked the throttle back and she dropped, I fell across the tank, when I opened the throttle to recover, she lifted again then dropped again, Its the only time I got to the turn first, I don't think anyone else would come near me ......as you say the face says it all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Great to see the old Badger race jacket-didn't some of the old Brafield riders in the 60's include Laszlo Munkasci and Ian Champion-praps Ted Spittles also??Anybody recall?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantodan Posted September 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Great to see the old Badger race jacket-didn't some of the old Brafield riders in the 60's include Laszlo Munkasci and Ian Champion-praps Ted Spittles also??Anybody recall?? If anyone manages to dig up any iformation or pictures of Brafield please get in touch so we can improve the Brafield page on the defunct site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Thanx dantodan-great site and answered my question re Badgers riders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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