Weren't Second Halves Wonderful

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Weren't those 'proper' second halves of yesteryear (as well as being superb value for money!) the source of some brilliant names for competitions..?!

 

Whatever made anyone at Crayford think that 'Kestrels Ketch' was a good name..? "Ketch"..? What as in "ketchup"..?!!

 

Looking thru' old progs I'm bound to find a few more gems but in the search for the daftest name of an old second half event, let's get going with:

 

from Hackney: The Horton Griffiths Travel Service Cash Bonus Bonanza;

and

from Crayford: Manns Olympic Appeal (Tooke Arms, Millwall)

[Humphrey Appleby]

Looking thru' old progs I'm bound to find a few more gems but in the search for the daftest name of an old second half event

 

I used to love reading old programmes to see the names of the second half races - "Reserves (sic) Romp", "Junior Jaunt" and the like. However, the 'Hawkins of Harrow Snowball' always seemed pretty daft to me..

 

A ketch is a sort of sailing boat isn't it, although what is has to do with speedway is anyone's guess.

Edited August 31, 2010 by Humphrey Appleby

[lucifer sam]

The "Rider Of The Night" second halves were rubbish - half the riders didn't bother, and those who did were testing machinery.

 

Far better was the second half junior match from 1985 to 1992. Used to be some cracking racing in these. I once remember a lad called Daz Santos, who made a few appearances for the Oxford Cubs. He was a bit wild, once got his handlebar jammed in the fence, but kept going, and managed to rip down half the Oxford safety fence.

 

Parsloes, straying from the subject, but I know you're a huge Buzz fan, so I would suggest getting a video of the Scunny vs Buxton match yesterday. Heats 13 & 15 are both classic Buzz, he came from 4th to 1st in Heat 13 whilst wearing the silly hat, and then won a photo-finish with Simon Lambert in Heat 15 after 4 of the best laps that you're ever likely to see.

 

All the best

Rob

Edited August 31, 2010 by lucifer sam

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

The "Rider Of The Night" second halves were rubbish - half the riders didn't bother, and those who did were testing machinery.

 

Far better was the second half junior match from 1985 to 1992. Used to be some cracking racing in these. I once remember a lad called Daz Santos, who made a few appearances for the Oxford Cubs. He was a bit wild, once got his handlebar jammed in the fence, but kept going, and managed to rip down half the Oxford safety fence.

 

Parsloes, straying from the subject, but I know you're a huge Buzz fan, so I would suggest getting a video of the Scunny vs Buxton match yesterday. Heats 13 & 15 are both classic Buzz, he came from 4th to 1st in Heat 13 whilst wearing the silly hat, and then won a photo-finish with Simon Lambert in Heat 15 after 4 of the best laps that you're ever likely to see.

 

All the best

Rob

 

Cheers Rob - will try and do so. Only sorry couldn't have been there in the flesh (and holding a frothing beer bought by you!!) but those tiles won't grout themselves you know!!!

 

You're too young (it saddens me to admit!) to remember when second halves involving the main meeting riders were VERY competitive...

 

Two stand out in my memory...

One was at Foxhall Heath two nights before the 1975 World Final when Tiger Louis beat Ivan Mauger in the second half final to send the Witches crowd into a frenzy. He repeated the trick against Ivan in the run off for third at Wembley two nights later!

 

And then there was the opening meeting at White City the next year when Tommy Jansson pipped the up to then unbeaten Gordon Kennett in a thriller in the second half. A brilliant race... And poignant as Tommy was dead within six weeks and for me it was the last race I saw him ride...

 

But come on folks, enough of that maudlin stuff, what about those daft names for second halves..?!

[boston five]

i was lucky to see buss at scunny in i think 1984 and many times since but last night heat 15 was very special with simon, i was with them both in the pits after the meeting simon sure made buss work for that race it was a credit to them both

[chunky]

You're too young (it saddens me to admit!) to remember when second halves involving the main meeting riders were VERY competitive...

 

You beat me to it! I know it was always an opportunity for riders to try out new equipment, but some were very exciting. I remember when we had "guest" stars coming over to ride in second half events. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, the second half of a Wimbledon v West Ham (for example) league match would include perhaps Terry Betts as a guest. Not only would he race in the "Rider of the Night" event, but would also take part in match races against one or two of the Dons.

 

Steve

 

PS Think I'll have to dig out some progs for you...

[BL65]

From the 1960's, a few unusually named second half events from Wolverhampton v Cradley Heath meetings:

 

1963: The Willie Win Scurry

1963: Educate the Heathen

1964: Wooden Spoon Scurry

1965: Don't Go Home, Watch the Final Scratch Race

 

Not to be outdone, from Cradley Heath v Wolverhampton:

 

1961: Operation Bury the Wolf

1962: Hammer the Wolf

1962: Clobber the Wolf

1963: Cuddle the Wolf

1963: Pity the Wolf

[BigFatDave]

From the 1960's, a few unusually named second half events from Cradley Heath v Wolverhampton meetings:

 

 

1961: Operation Bury the Wolf

1962: Hammer the Wolf

1962: Clobber the Wolf

1963: Cuddle the Wolf

1963: Pity the Wolf

Can you detect a pattern developing here?

 

Certainly explains why some Wolves fans are paranoid.

[Split]

I recall seeing a mechanics’ race in the second half of a meeting at Wimbledon back in the 60’s where I think the time in the programme was printed as “Hours, Minutes, Seconds”

[speedyguy]

I recall seeing a mechanics’ race in the second half of a meeting at Wimbledon back in the 60’s where I think the time in the programme was printed as “Hours, Minutes, Seconds”

 

 

I remember a second-half race at West Ham in 1946 won by Alf Webster, he went on to ride quite well including for Hull, Exeter and Belle Vue.

 

yes, second-half races were excellent from what I remember and I always enjoyed in them just after the war at New Cross. I won't tell you why...!

[cityrebel]

the best second halves for me were the ones staged at wembley during the 1970/71 seasons. the lions promoters used to book in a couple of big hitters to go up against those that rode in the main league match. they were the only second halves my old man used to hang around for, other than those staged at plough lane that were a lot nearer to home.

[BOBBATH]

Often they were a joke but in some cases a top rider the home fans loved to hate would be booked in-and it was a bonus for us- I distinctly recall Ivor Brown being booked in to a second half at Newport in 64 or 65- and he put on a great show against the top Wasps riders.Ivor was a great rider and a great man(he must have been to get Ivan Mauger so upset at him!!).Always immaculately turned out too. BTW -I must have been away too long- I didn't realise second halves no longer existed-what happens after the League match is over??

[norbold]

what happens after the League match is over??

Everyone goes home.

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Everyone goes home.

 

Well I get into my car and terrorise the neighbouring streets....!!!

[BOBBATH]

You mean to say there are only 16 or so heats and that is it-when do they have an interval or have they got rid of that too-wot about junior type races. Can you still meet the riders in the bars at the track like you used to be able to do??(I'm talking the sixties here)-I recall nice after the meeting chats at Newport with visiting riders like Mike Watkin, Ivan Mauger,(both Newcastle) Alby Golden etc

[chunky]

You mean to say there are only 16 or so heats and that is it-when do they have an interval or have they got rid of that too-wot about junior type races. Can you still meet the riders in the bars at the track like you used to be able to do??(I'm talking the sixties here)-I recall nice after the meeting chats at Newport with visiting riders like Mike Watkin, Ivan Mauger,(both Newcastle) Alby Golden etc

 

No Bob, that is it., and you don't even see much in the way after after-meeting practices. It's also difficult to find riders who socialise in the bar. Most are in such a rush to get off as they are needed in Sweden, Poland etc the next evening. Things really have changed.

 

Steve

[Paulco]

From memory , at Glasgow , there would be a reserves race with the home and away number 7's and two of the home novices . A good way for the novices to guage their progress .

Then you would have the three heats for the rider of the night between the top 6 from both sides , with each heat winner and the fastest runner up progressing to the final .

There would be another reserves race before that final .

So that was an added 6 races after the 13 heat league match . Which is a bit better value than what we get now .

Though there were certain away riders who were packed up and ready for the off not long after heat 13 was over , but generally the second halfs were pretty good .

[BOBBATH]

Hi Steve -hope you are surviving in downstate Illinois ok in this weather-also paulco-what you describe at Glasgow is what I recall also-I used to like the novices racing against the number 7's also. I recall being in the bar at West Ham after the British Final was cancelled -in 1965 and talking to Ivan who was glad he had an extra week to get over his injuries-also chatting with Ken McKinlay and Bob Andrews-nice guys-though Ken liked his whiskey a bit more than most!!!Great days eh!!

[Ian]

It seems to be widely believed nowadays that some of the old second half races were a bit of a sham, with riders agreeing to split the prize money etc. I have no idea whether that was true, but I recall with great pleasure the weekly Rider of the Night finals from Meadowbank. I remember local heroes like George Hunter and Dougie Templeton facing the likes of Monk, Mauger, Boothroyd and Squibb. If they weren't actually "racing" then they certainly had me fooled.