Knowle Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 I've got some nagging feeling that this wasn't his real name. Can anybody in the know confirm this or otherwise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 Apparently it was his real name-there was an article on him in I think Classic Speedway-Louis confirmed that it was his real name-others can probably remember the article better than I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted March 15, 2012 Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 (edited) Does this help you? It's from oldtimespeedway discussion group a couple of years ago: --- In oldtimespeedway@yahoogroups.com, "raceleader" <raceleader@...> wrote: Its interesting that nobody seems to know how and where from the two-names for Louis Lawson theory started. That name Arthur Woods continues to bug me. I am positive that somewhere I read an article claiming it was his real name and that it was one that he raced under on the grass tracks. It was said he felt that Louis Lawson was more in keeping with speedway racing and so he used it for the more professional sport. Could it be, however, that Louis Lawson may have used the name Arthur Woods to race on grass because, at one-time in the 1940s, speedway promoters put a ban on their riders also competing on grass tracks. Over the years it could be that a distortion of this fact has taken place and created the assumption that Louis Lawson was really Arthur Woods whereas the reverse may be the case. Does anyone have records of immediate post-war grass track results around the Midlands Centre where Arthur Woods may have competed. To discover this name among them might finally settle the mystery over this talented speedway riders real name. > --- In oldtimespeedway@yahoogroups.com, "speedstox12" <speedstox12@> wrote: This evidence from mattjackson looks hard to contradict. I'll accept he was born Louis Lawson. However, who then was Arthur Woods - and where did this theory about the two names originate from I wonder? --- In oldtimespeedway@yahoogroups.com, "mattjackson68" <mattjackson68@> wrote: I'm not sure that is right. I was doing research into the riders who started their careers in the 1940s and was checking the birth dates of riders at the Family Research web site. Louis was born on October 25, 1921 at Southwell, Nottinghamshire and the entry is there in the ledger: Lawson, Louis - born Southwell. I've also read the Arthur Woods story but I think that Louis Lawson was his real name. Edited March 15, 2012 by speedyguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knowle Posted March 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 Thanks Speedyguy for the trouble you have taken. I know someone who apparently named his son Louis after him, it would indeed be ironical if it wasn't his real name! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MMiller Posted December 14, 2013 Report Share Posted December 14, 2013 Louis Lawson was my uncle. "Louis" was his real name, and he was indeed born in Southwell and married my aunt Hilda from Lowdham, Notts. She and her sisters had known him since childhood. We've never even heard the "Arthur Woods" story! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 14, 2013 Report Share Posted December 14, 2013 (edited) Does this help you? It's from oldtimespeedway discussion group a couple of years ago: --- In oldtimespeedway@yahoogroups.com, "raceleader" <raceleader@...> wrote: Its interesting that nobody seems to know how and where from the two-names for Louis Lawson theory started. That name Arthur Woods continues to bug me. I am positive that somewhere I read an article claiming it was his real name and that it was one that he raced under on the grass tracks. It was said he felt that Louis Lawson was more in keeping with speedway racing and so he used it for the more professional sport. Could it be, however, that Louis Lawson may have used the name Arthur Woods to race on grass because, at one-time in the 1940s, speedway promoters put a ban on their riders also competing on grass tracks. Over the years it could be that a distortion of this fact has taken place and created the assumption that Louis Lawson was really Arthur Woods whereas the reverse may be the case. Does anyone have records of immediate post-war grass track results around the Midlands Centre where Arthur Woods may have competed. To discover this name among them might finally settle the mystery over this talented speedway riders real name. > --- In oldtimespeedway@yahoogroups.com, "speedstox12" <speedstox12@> wrote: This evidence from mattjackson looks hard to contradict. I'll accept he was born Louis Lawson. However, who then was Arthur Woods - and where did this theory about the two names originate from I wonder? --- In oldtimespeedway@yahoogroups.com, "mattjackson68" <mattjackson68@> wrote: I'm not sure that is right. I was doing research into the riders who started their careers in the 1940s and was checking the birth dates of riders at the Family Research web site. Louis was born on October 25, 1921 at Southwell, Nottinghamshire and the entry is there in the ledger: Lawson, Louis - born Southwell. I've also read the Arthur Woods story but I think that Louis Lawson was his real name. Louis Lawson was my uncle. "Louis" was his real name, and he was indeed born in Southwell and married my aunt Hilda from Lowdham, Notts. She and her sisters had known him since childhood. We've never even heard the "Arthur Woods" story! It has also been confirmed elsewhere that he was Louis Lawson and the Arthur Woods theory was so much bunkum. The assumption does not even get a mention on Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Lawson This 'Nottingham Post' interview may also be of interest. http://www.nottinghampost.com/Lawson-recalls-vintage-years-speedway/story-12241944-detail/story.html Edited December 14, 2013 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 14, 2013 Report Share Posted December 14, 2013 :::: Since I made my comment re Louis Lawson NOT being Arthur Woods, I have found this contradiction! http://forums.bmxtalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7938 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MMiller Posted December 15, 2013 Report Share Posted December 15, 2013 I read this with total bemusement. I can assure you that my uncle, Louis Lawson, WAS a champion speedway racer and I can't understand anyone else racing in his name, unless maybe he let them. I will look into my end of it further. A mystery! M Miller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 (edited) I read this with total bemusement. I can assure you that my uncle, Louis Lawson, WAS a champion speedway racer and I can't understand anyone else racing in his name, unless maybe he let them. I will look into my end of it further. A mystery! M Miller In the Link references to Arthur Woods, references are made to his employment and various locations, as well as years. How do they fit in with what Louis Lawson was doing at the same time? It would also be nice if a photo of Arthur Woods - obviously well known in the BMX world - could be found. Edited December 16, 2013 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 (edited) Well, the first thing I noticed on the BMX forum was that Arthur was born in 1930; as stated, Louis Lawson was born in 1921. I've just found a photo of Major Arthur Woods here : http://www.universityofbmx.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=172&Itemid=71 Steve Edited December 16, 2013 by chunky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerowl Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 (edited) From the Births Marriages and Deaths site Births Dec 1921 Surname Given Name Mother District Volume Page Transcriber Lawson Louis Hibbert Southwell 7b 853 DDove Edited December 17, 2013 by tigerowl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 Well, the first thing I noticed on the BMX forum was that Arthur was born in 1930; as stated, Louis Lawson was born in 1921. I've just found a photo of Major Arthur Woods here : http://www.universityofbmx.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=172&Itemid=71 Steve I also thought there was something obscure in the claim that Arthur Woods was Louis Lawson (or vice versa). Your reference virtually confirms they were two different people. There are also business addresses for Woods at which I am sure Lawson had no contact at all? From the Births Marriages and Deaths site Births Dec 1921 Surname Given Name Mother District Volume Page Transcriber Lawson Louis Hibbert Southwell 7b 853 DDove Tiger Owl - as ever you are spot on. I am among those who are positive Louis Lawson and Arthur Woods were different people - and more than likely never even met. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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