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Lionel Levy retired, then on his comeback was killed, think he was in his 50's. That was sad!

I had the priviledge of seeing Ivan V Phil Crump last year at Redcliffe, They would have made the final, in the meeting proper! Ivan is still fast,

How old was Jack Parker, Nigel Booey, when they retired, they don't make them like that any more! ;O))

Regards.

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Guest Rod King
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?

No, it's not him. It's a different Ian H.

Thanks for clearing that up - it had been posted in a different thread ("Let it go!") and someone had picked it up and said that Ian H was the great Hoskins Junior - a man who used to do his utmost to stir up the Glasgow crowd anytime there was an Edinburgh vs Glasgow match. My recollection is that sometime later, it emerged that the Hoskins family owned both teams but had Trevor Redmond fronting Glasgow thus ensuring creating the illusion of rivalry between Hoskins and Redmond. Good for the crowds for both tracks!

No one like him now!

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Lionel Levy retired, then on his comeback was killed, think he was in his 50's. That was sad!

I had the priviledge of seeing Ivan V Phil Crump last year at Redcliffe, They would have made the final, in the meeting proper! Ivan is still fast,

How old was Jack Parker, Nigel Booey, when they retired, they don't make them like that any more! ;O))

Regards.

Saw Jimmy Mc Millan ride a couple of years ago, He was super fast .won every race :o

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Guest Rod King
Saw Jimmy Mc Millan ride a couple of years ago, He was super fast .won every race :o

I don't know about Old Riders but including Jim McMillan makes ME feel very old - I saw Jim when he was starting out as a second-halfer at White City in Glasgow! Pass me the zimmer frame!

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Many years ago a friend told me that the oldest rider he could remember was George Newton, who was a pre-war leg-trailer who returned in the 1940s. Apparently my friend had been on the track staff at Old Meadowbank one night when George fell. They ran over to help him up and he was really feeling his age.

 

No doubt Norbold will know more about him.

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Ian Hoskins is alive and well and living in New Zealand now.

So he won't want to reopen Canterbury, then? How close was I on his age?!!

Have a look at this web site. There's a picture of Ian Hoskins at the 2003 Veteran Speedway Riders' Association reunion.

 

http://www.vsra.homestead.com/index.html

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No doubt about it. The last of the great showmen. This was a guy who really knew how to promote and get the crowd involved. By the looks of the photograph he could still do it even if he is in his seventies.

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No doubt Norbold will know more about him.

 

No doubt :rolleyes:

 

'Wee' Georgie Newton was knocking on a bit Ian, but in his day he was a very popular and much loved rider with the New Cross fans down off the Old Kent Road. :approve:

 

Not sure if he was the oldest, but as previously mentioned Wal Morton would be thereabouts methinks. :)

Edited by newxranger
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Many years ago a friend told me that the oldest rider he could remember was George Newton, who was a pre-war leg-trailer who returned in the 1940s. Apparently my friend had been on the track staff at Old Meadowbank one night when George fell. They ran over to help him up and he was really feeling his age.

 

No doubt Norbold will know more about him.

George Newton - now there was a rider! One of the most spectacular leg trailers ever by all accounts. Just wish I'd seen him.

 

He was born in 1913 and retired at the end of the 1952 season so he was a mere lad of 39 on his retirement. Not a candidate for one of the oldest riders ever.

 

He began his career at West Ham, equalling Vic Huxley's track record in his very first match. He moved on to Crystal Palace and had some outings at Eastbourne. When Crystal Palace moved to New Cross Georgie went with. His best period was between 1936 and 1938 but then he contracted tuberculosis and did not ride again until 1948 when he turned out once again for New Cross (minus a lung and several ribs).

 

He moved on to Fleetwood then Walthamstow. In 1951 he transferred to Liverpool and he finished his career in 1952 at St Austell, taking over the role of team manager on his retirement.

 

Before the War he was one of England's top riders, reaching all three World Finals and represented England in three Test series.

 

He was never the same after his illness but he was still a force to be reckoned with in the second division.

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