Robbie B Posted July 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 Yes,but if you include something like that....what about Jack Parker who started in 1928 and rode at the Hackney 50 year meeting in 1978(was it???? ) You're right there iris123, maybe we should only count riders who rode in more then a special one meeting, to find out who had the longest riding career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wessex Wanderer Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 Tbh,i don't know much about him......he was still riding in the 70s wasn't he? At the time i really only heard about him through his training schools at Weymouth,wasn't it? According to a very good article by Andy Westlake in Classic Motorcycles, Lew actually started racing pre-war. He officially retired in 1978 but was still riding regularly in past masters races in 1992 when he was into his 70's. Of course this was grass track racing rather than speedway, in which he rode (of and on) from the 40's to the 60's. His Weymouth Training Schools ran from the mid 1960's to the demise of the old Wessex Stadium track in 1985. Always a pleasure to talk about Lew. When last I saw him (about a year ago) he didn't look much different than he had back in the 60's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miro Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 According to a very good article by Andy Westlake in Classic Motorcycles, Lew actually started racing pre-war. He officially retired in 1978 but was still riding regularly in past masters races in 1992 when he was into his 70's. Of course this was grass track racing rather than speedway, in which he rode (of and on) from the 40's to the 60's. His Weymouth Training Schools ran from the mid 1960's to the demise of the old Wessex Stadium track in 1985. Always a pleasure to talk about Lew. When last I saw him (about a year ago) he didn't look much different than he had back in the 60's. Glad to know he's still about, I believe they forced his retirement when they made him give up his riding licence when he reached the upper age limit of 55 - ? Did he ride Speedway for anyone apart from Weymouth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 Gene Bonsignore started racing on the USA's East Coast in 1976-77 and is still active in New York State. He still regularly makes it into the A-main finals at Champion Speedway. Gene celebrated his 60th birthday sometime last year (2008). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wessex Wanderer Posted July 5, 2009 Report Share Posted July 5, 2009 QUOTE (Robbie B @ Jul 4 2009, 09:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You're right there iris123, maybe we should only count riders who rode in more then a special one meeting, to find out who had the longest riding career. Agree with you Robbie but it is still a pleasure to read these mentions of some great old timers. Particularly like the mentions of Wal Morton, he was a true unsung hero of Speedway. Maybe an honourable mention should go to Phil Bishop. Although not in consecutive seasons he nevertheless rode in the original High Beech meeting in 1928 and also appeared in the main event of an ordinary regular meeting at Weymouth in 1963. He only lasted about a lap and a half and broke yet another couple of bones but that still makes 35 years from first to last meetings. By the way he insisted that the first aid guys carried him off on the stretcher shoulder high so that he could wave to the crowd! They don't make 'em like that any more!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 5, 2009 Report Share Posted July 5, 2009 Maybe an honourable mention should go to Phil Bishop. Although not in consecutive seasons he nevertheless rode in the original High Beech meeting in 1928. Did he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted July 5, 2009 Report Share Posted July 5, 2009 Agree with you Robbie but it is still a pleasure to read these mentions of some great old timers. Particularly like the mentions of Wal Morton, he was a true unsung hero of Speedway. There's an article about Wal Morton in the current edition of 'Classic Speedway.' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wessex Wanderer Posted July 5, 2009 Report Share Posted July 5, 2009 Did he? Always thought so Norbold but am also always open to correction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 You may be right, WW. I'm not sure, but I have no record of him taking part in the results I have from that first meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchy Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Regarding Jack Parker's career - wasn't he riding prior to '28 (trials maybe) ? How about Tony Childs - wasn't he riding in the late '60s then made a comeback around 2000 (sorry don't remember the exact dates) ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Regarding Jack Parker's career - wasn't he riding prior to '28 (trials maybe) ? Yes, but obviously not as a speedway rider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchy Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Yes, but obviously not as a speedway rider. Yes indeed but as this thread is called Longest Racing Career I assumed that you could point it out (others have mentioned riders on this thread competing in non-speedway sports). Incidentially, forgot to suggest Olle Nygren. On another thread on here someone said that he's still teaching speedway in Sweden so with a riding career of circa 1950 through to now then thats a long time (if the mention of still teaching is wrong then I know he was running traning courses at King's Lynn in the late '80s which would be around the 40 year mark). Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Tony Childs rode at the Firs Stadium in Norwich along with Cyril Crane before they sold our track for building in 1964, that makes it the early 60s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAST GATER Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 Would it not be Jimmy Squibb who rode until he was about 55yrs old almost 40yrs unbroken but I maybe wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 Would it not be Jimmy Squibb who rode until he was about 55yrs old almost 40yrs unbroken but I maybe wrong? Yes. He's in indeed a serious canidate. Indications are that Jimmy Squibb started at Southampton in 1939, where he was a protege of local riders Vic Collins and Frank Bond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie B Posted July 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 Jimmy Squibb, 40 years might well have the londest racing career. I haven't had time to read my 'Classic Speedway' mag yet, I know there's a article about him in the lastest edition. World Cup week 'BACK THE BRITS' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Hamilton Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 I am sure that we have done this before and the end result was Jimmy Squibb & Gordon Mcgregor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 I am sure that we have done this before and the end result was Jimmy Squibb & Gordon Mcgregor Yes, it's another recycling of a much-debated topic. Elsewhere on the forum, Fay Taylour's political views are under detbate - AGAIN!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
25yearfan Posted July 10, 2009 Report Share Posted July 10, 2009 Norfolkman Geof Pymar is the only man who rode on Grass, cinders and shale at the great Firs stadium, Norwich. He started in 1930 and retired in around 1962 although he did retire for a spell in the late 50's when he co - promoted at Exeter! Another long serving rider with strong Norfolk connections Wal Morton also rode for a similar period alas also which some breaks! Ivan Mauger rode his 1st competitive meeting in New Zealand in 1955 and had his last competitive meeting in early 1986 although since then I believe he has infrequently had practises on various tracks up to present. I know one of the famous Perrys (can't recall which one!) rode grasstrack for 40 unbroken years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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