dukes Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 We know who the youngsters are, but what about the Grandaddies of our sport. Any takers out their for the oldest rider to represent a team, ( Be it Conference, Premier, Elite, British League, National league or what) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 Without looking up dates at the moment (I'm at work!), I think Ron Johnson, Geoff Pymar and Wal Morton all rode for teams when in their 50s. It's an interesting question. I look forward to more responses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 Alec Gilroy rode in some Youth Development(!) and individual meetings at Linlithgow, Glasgow and Edinburgh a few years ago and still does the occasional 2nd half I believe. He's in his early 60's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff. Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 (edited) Thats what he did after the Rovers Return then is it. I thought he worked on a cruise ship Edited February 3, 2004 by Jeff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 Beat me to it Jeff! I thought exactly the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whacko Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 stoney is old sign of a good machanic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevH Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 Jimmy Squibb was certainly no spring chicken when he rode for Canterbury - does someone know how old he actually was? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 I remember Ron Johnson riding for the Edinburgh Monarchs when, if I'm not mistaken (there has to be a first time!), he was in or approaching his 60s. He didn't last long however and it's just as well Ian Hoskins pulled the plug on this last chapter in his career. There was a sense of horror every time he took to the track because his arms were clearly not strong enough to hold on to the machine properly and he was a dreadful accident just waiting to happen. I think he frightened the other riders in the race as much as the spectators although you had to admire his guts for giving it a go if not his common sense! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whacko Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 in a couple of seasons we will see how carr and schott compare to the great ron johnson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 Out of interest...Just found this on an old thread from Ian H: Ron Johnson at New Cross and Edinburgh 1960/61. Ron had been there done it etc since 1927. I remember Ron having a match race with Geoff Pymar which must have been a record for the oldest combined age for riders who were still riding for league teams as opposed to Golden Greats etc type meetings. You still have to admire them though - it must be in the blood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 Ken McKinley must have been pretty old when he retired. He was just some old bloke in a bobble hat to me when I started going in the seventies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 I believe Jimmy Squibb was 53 years old when he wore Canterbury colours in 1975, having started riding at Southampton in 1947. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hullangel Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 Tony Child's was still second halving at Hull in his fifties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhoundp Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 Jimmy Squibb was born in 1920 according to the Cradley web site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whowasthatberntpersson Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 I remember reading about a couple of old fellas still having a spin on the Californian scene not so many years ago. Both approaching seventy. Tom Castagnola was one, I have spoken to his Daughter via the net recently and I believe ha has finally called it a day, interestingly Tom was also a preacher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miro Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 I hope Norbold can confirm Wal Mortons age and dates, I believe he rode from at least 1932 to 1964 finishing with Sheffield, there was an article in the' Star about him around that time if someones got their backnumbers to hand. Morton had and I bet still holds the record for riding for the most clubs, which is how he became known as 'Wandering Wal'. Lew Coffin rode Speedway but is more famous as a grasstracker, he must have been getting on for retirement age when he quit - anyone know? and dont riders have to surrender their racing licence when they reach a certain age? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 Surely The Men in Black are the eldest they are still riding now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rod King Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 Surely The Men in Black are the eldest they are still riding now! Oi Shazam! That's cheating! Any hidden at the back of the garage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 what ya reckon Honey will "he" fit in the garage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rod King Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 what ya reckon Honey will "he" fit in the garage On an unrelated (almost) matter, I see that there is a quote from a poster called Ian H who is referred to as being Ian Hoskins. Is it really him? One of my all time villains? I see that he has not posted since December so maybe it was someone else masquerading under the old showman's monicker? Or, if it is truly him, maybe he has a few bawbees left over from his Edinburgh/Glasgow days to reinvent Canterbury as a living memory to the great Johnny H? Mind you, Ian must be about 103 by now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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