speedwaykate Posted October 15, 2009 Report Share Posted October 15, 2009 trying to track down an old friend of my dads.HOWARD COLE. i believe he rode for stoke roundabout 1962.im told he moved to australia to be a teacher??? my dads name is bob mason . any help would be greatly appreciated .thankyou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Warren Posted October 15, 2009 Report Share Posted October 15, 2009 I seem to have read somewhere that he now lives in New Zealand and is a teacher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britmet Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 . Howard Cole, who rode under the name of Kid Bodie in his Stoke years, '62 & '63, retired from racing at the end of 1974, when captain of Cradley Heath. He was New Zealand Champion in 1967 and spent most winters downunder, mainly in Aussie, to where he retired (from speedway.) He became Head of Maths at Sydney Grammar School and retired from that position (i.e. to become an OAP,) just a few years ago. You can read about him, and see recent-day pics in Oz on the Cradley website and Cradley Forum, http://www.cradleyspeedway.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ under Riders A-Z, and http://cradleyspeedway.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=riders. incl'g "Ex-Heathens" and H.C. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyM Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 Very accomplished rider on his day. I remember vividly seeing Howard Cole ride from reserve at Coventry for the Heathens and score a 12-point max in 1972. My dad, who had been a Bees fan for many years, was indignant. What on earth was he doing riding at reserve? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 Perhaps Bob Andrews would know-pretty sure if you contacted John Skinner who runs the Defunct Speedway Tracks website he'd know or put you in touch with someone who did, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 Very accomplished rider on his day. I remember vividly seeing Howard Cole ride from reserve at Coventry for the Heathens and score a 12-point max in 1972. My dad, who had been a Bees fan for many years, was indignant. What on earth was he doing riding at reserve? Not doubting your memory Andy, but that seems strange. Howard moved to Cradley from Kings Lynn at the start of the 1973 season and I'm pretty sure that he had a serious injury the previous season. If you are correct that it was 1972 then he must have been a guest, but he was a fully fledged heat leader in those days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frigbo Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 This is Howard's 'modern era' record http://wwosbackup.proboards.com/index.cgi?...=430&page=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 trying to track down an old friend of my dads.HOWARD COLE. i believe he rode for stoke roundabout 1962.im told he moved to australia to be a teacher??? my dads name is bob mason . any help would be greatly appreciated .thankyou He lives in Sydney Australia. I've PM his email Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 (edited) Howard came to Lynn from Cradley I think He also rode for Long Eaton before that He got sent back to Cradley by the notorious "rider control committee" Didnt he have his big crash at Leicester in a World Championship Semi-Final Howard was the first Kings Lynn rider to qualify for a World Final Edited October 16, 2009 by star ghost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHALEWAY69 Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Howard is a member of our veteran speedway riders assn in Australia, i am not at liberty to disclose his address but he does live in a Sydney suburb. The VSRA would have his full address. Regards Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHALEWAY69 Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 On second thoughts I could be more helpful, it is just that I am careful with giving out addresses!, email me on binbooks@iinet.net.au with your address and email and i will forward it on to Howard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyM Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Not doubting your memory Andy, but that seems strange. Howard moved to Cradley from Kings Lynn at the start of the 1973 season and I'm pretty sure that he had a serious injury the previous season. If you are correct that it was 1972 then he must have been a guest, but he was a fully fledged heat leader in those days. Salty, my memory may well be faulty. Think it was 72 though not absolutely certain which club. Would have to delve down into my programme collection to find that one out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Salty, my memory may well be faulty. Think it was 72 though not absolutely certain which club. Would have to delve down into my programme collection to find that one out... According to an old programme, I have Howard scoring 12 at Brandon early in the 1973 season. Not sure if was a maximum, but he definitely wouldn't have been riding at reserve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britmet Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 According to an old programme, I have Howard scoring 12 at Brandon early in the 1973 season. Not sure if was a maximum, but he definitely wouldn't have been riding at reserve. Quite so. The Record books list HC amongst the Kings Lynn scorer in 1972, (14 matches, 8.94pt ave. 2nd behind Terry Betts,) and in the Cradley list in 1973, (19 matches, 9.12pt ave, 2nd only to Bernt Persson.) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erasuretim Posted November 12, 2009 Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 Is this Howard Cole aged 3 ??? http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=46556 Regards Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britmet Posted November 12, 2009 Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 (edited) Is this Howard Cole aged 3 ??? http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=46556 Regards Tim Indeed it is, - filmed at Dudley Wood Stadium, Cradley heath, - though wearing a Brummies race jacket, as up to that time he was the Brummie mascott, known as 'Junior Cole' The film is headed 1948, but the date is given as Jan'48, so was probably taken in Cradley's first year of 1947. - - Confirmed, - there's no lighting, (which only became available for the 1948 season.) . Edited November 12, 2009 by britmet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesterdaysman Posted November 23, 2009 Report Share Posted November 23, 2009 If you go on the link and scroll down to the stills, the first one entitled "Boy Motorcyclist" is another film of Howard in 1950, shot in his back yard at Bilston road W/ton. This was situated between the entrances to Monmore Green Stadium, which can be seen in the background when Howard is riding round. By the '60s the track had made way for several workshops and lock up garages on the yard and many old midland riders may recall spending time there sorting out problems, or just buying spares and having a chin wag with Mr Cole senior, who seemed to be on call at any time of the day or night, (unless at a Speedway meeting!) When the Cole family moved to a new home the house at Bilston rd was converted, downstairs, to a Hairdressing salon, (for Mrs Cole) and upstairs to a flat, where many Aussie/ NZ riders would spend their season in England. With the workshops, plus the experienced Howard Cole senior on hand, this was a very convenient set up indeed. My memory is not so good now but I think I recall the names Jim Ryman and the Brown brothers, Alan & Max, maybe a few more will come to me in time. As well as helping lads with bike maintenace at these workshops, Howard Cole senior produced frames for Speedway and Grass Track and also this was the place where the Cole engine was designed and built, which in itself, was a great feat of engineering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
multiworc Posted November 26, 2009 Report Share Posted November 26, 2009 (edited) Howard was allocated to Cradley from Kings Lynn at the start of the 73 season. Cradley was given special dispensation to use him as reserve for six matches to see if he had recovered from his accident at Leicester in the British semi-final in June 1972 as he had not ridden since that meeting. The league match at Coventry was on Saturday 21st April, 1973 with a writeup in the Express & Star on the 24th. Howard had 4 rides, won all four and thus scored 12 points which is a maximum: he won heats 2, 6, 8 and 9, and beat Nigel Boocock in heats 6 and 8. This was Cradley's first ever British League win at Coventry, the final score being Coventry 32, Cradley 46. This was Howard's sixth and final match at reserve, he rode at number 3 on Monday the 23rd and top scored with 9 (paid 10) in Cradley's win at home against Swindon. He rode the rest of the 1973 season at number 3, and continued to do so until his retirement at the end of 1974. Edited November 26, 2009 by multiworc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britmet Posted November 26, 2009 Report Share Posted November 26, 2009 . Well I think that explains how HC ever came to be riding at reserve ! Apols to AndyM, your memory was right on that point at least, - Thanks to Multiworc for sourcing the detail and explanation. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedwaykate Posted November 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2009 . Well I think that explains how HC ever came to be riding at reserve ! Apols to AndyM, your memory was right on that point at least, - Thanks to Multiworc for sourcing the detail and explanation. . thankyou all very much for your info. my dad (bob mason) is now in contact with howard cole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.