Jump to content
British Speedway Forum

Footage Of West Ham


erasuretim

Recommended Posts

Just picked up on the French topic so forgive me if I have missed something.

 

I remember Ray Liston who tried to get into English Speedway in the 60s but didn't really do any good, but I am sure he

was involved to a greater extent riding in France.

 

Anyone sort me out on this one?

 

 

Ray Liston was an Australian. Records credit him as the 1961 French champion - possibly an ongoing points series event similar to the Speedway GP rounds. Gosh - France again ahead of the rest of the world? :unsure:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 115
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Ray Liston was an Australian. Records credit him as the 1961 French champion - possibly an ongoing points series event similar to the Speedway GP rounds. Gosh - France again ahead of the rest of the world? :unsure:

 

So Speedway in France was still relatively thriving into the 1960s.. :shock: When did it decline to the position I'm more familar with: ie of there being scarcely any!!?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes,interesting.Especially to attract an Aussie or two?What venues were hosting speedway in 60s France and when did the capital last host speedway?

 

 

My data indicates that the Buffalo Stadium in Paris last staged speedway in 1948. After that, Arthur Westwood promoted some meetings in Marseilles during 1949 and 1950s when his riders included the Australian Bill Harris who was fairly well known at that time in both NL2 and NL3 racing in UK. Westwood also he used the South Africans Buddy Fuller, Doug Serrurier and Fred Wills, and I'm certain that England's Reg Duval was also briefly linked with the Westwood regime, which also went over the border into Antwerp in Belgium for a few meetings.

 

The French tracks from about 1953 to the late 1960s were at various velodromes with athletics tracks, mainly in Normandy, and the meetings were promoted by Victor Boston. He used the stadiums on a circus-basis with a couple of meetings at each every summer. A well known name in the group for about 10 seasons was the former West Ham, Southampton and Liverpool rider George Bason. Another regular was Jean Landru who was competing in the French-staged world championships as far back as 1930. The main French riders in the 1960s besides Landru were Pierre and Charles Bellisent, Claude Boston, Roger Begasse and Jean du Bardine while Fernand Meynier also rode for the group in the early part of the 1950s. The French championships of the 1950s and 1960s were decided on total points scored by riders during the season.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Further research this morning shows that there were four French riders at the New Cross meeting as the heat details below confirm: the other two were ??? Berthet and Francois Hofecker.

 

It seems quite possible that it was JEAN Berthet. Apparently a versatile motorcyclist, he was predominantly known as a grass-tracker. He was killed on September 19, 1948, in practice at the Velodrome de Plan-les-Ouartes in Geneva.

 

Steve

Link to comment
Share on other sites

France staged its last version of the World Championship in 1937, when the title was won by Martin Scheinweiss (Austria). The previous season it had been won by Charles 'Pee Wee' Cullum (USA).

 

Schneeweiss, actually. A very famous name in Austrian motorcycling, he was killed at Graz on October 4, 1947.

 

Steve

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Schneeweiss, actually. A very famous name in Austrian motorcycling, he was killed at Graz on October 4, 1947.

 

Steve

Some info on Schneeweiss and other old Austrian riders on a very interesting site about motorcycle racing of all types in Austria.Some of it in english

M.Schneeweiss

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quite a lot of Speedway activity these days in the Netherlands, Steve. And spreading into the rest of Benelux too.. :approve:

 

 

There was league racing in Holland just after the war ended, from about 1949 until 1952. They even sent a test team to South Africa in the 1950s. The sport was very strong and well organised for some years. The Dutch even sent a team to ride in a testimonial meeting for England rider Jack Ladd (Tamworth) in 1947. They paid their own exes to Tamworth as a donation for Ladd who died in a crash at Alkmaar earlier that year. For P1928 - he was wll known in the Dagenham-Romford area at one time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This really is a 'SUPER' Thread - I am learning loads more than I ever knew about European Speedway. I am filled with admiration for some of you guys with your records and everything. Thank you for sharing - it's GREAT. :approve::approve::approve:

 

As you say Ian...: a little 'gem' here in the middle of the BSF and in the dead of winter!

Maximum respect to all those contributing... I'm just listening and learning!! :approve:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As you say Ian...: a little 'gem' here in the middle of the BSF and in the dead of winter!

Maximum respect to all those contributing... I'm just listening and learning!! :approve:

 

 

There's still a bit more about France t/c. Holland and Belgium early post-war are also interesting - and what about early 1948 action in Madrid, Spain?

 

Meanwhile, before I return to France - on July 27 1948, Dutch riders Jan Bosman and Henk Stemen (senior) rode in the Olympiad at West Ham. There was a run-off between two Harringay riders for the title, Vic Duggan beating fellow Australian Frank Dolan.

Edited by speedyguy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There's still a bit more about France t/c. Holland and Belgium early post-war are also interesting - and what about early 1948 action in Madrid, Spain?

 

Meanwhile, before I return to France - on July 27 1948, Dutch riders Jan Bosman and Henk Stemen (senior) rode in the Olympiad at West Ham. There was a run-off between two Harringay riders for the title, Vic Duggan beating fellow Australian Frank Dolan.

 

And good to see West Ham getting a mention again! Considering the thread's title!! :approve:

 

What was that about Jack Ladd and Dagenham before, speedy..?? :unsure:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What was that about Jack Ladd and Dagenham before, speedy..?? :unsure:

 

P1928: Jack Ladd was a pre-war grass track rider who may have also raced speedway at Dagenham before WW2. In 1947 he joined Tamworth in NNL3 and also rode in Holland that year until his fatal accident. Here is some information I have managed to find elsewhere. I hope this helps you - Jack Ladd lived in either Dagenham or Romford.:

 

http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ms&n=4412

 

Jack Ladd

 

Death date: 30.Aug.1947

 

Role: rider

 

Circuit: Sportpark Alkmaar

 

Jack Ladd

 

Complete name: Jack Ladd

Birth date: ??.???.????

Birth Place: unknown, unknown

Death date: 30.Aug.1947

Death Place: unknown, Netherlands

Nationality: United Kingdom

Gender: male

Age at death: ??

 

Event date: 30.Aug.1947

Series: unknown

Race: unknown

Event type: race

Country: Netherlands

Venue: Sportpark Alkmaar

Variant: dirt speedway (1946-c. 1965)

 

Role: rider

Vehicle type: motorcycle

Vehicle sub-type: speedway

Vehicle brand/model: unknown

Vehicle number: ??

 

 

Notes:

Jack Ladd, the English dirttrack rider from London was killed on Saturday 30 August 1947 after he had crashed and had been run over by two other competitors Iesberts and Budi on the speedway track of Alkmaar, in the Netherlands. He died when the races were finished the same day.

 

Sources:

 

* Magazine Motor, issue 36 of 05 September 1947. [L]

* E-mail by Herman Looman, dated 19 April 2006, citing [L].

Edited by speedyguy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Privacy Policy