Top Riders 1928-39

[Guest]

In August 2006, a speedway history forum polled its members in regard to the Top Riders for the years 1928-39. Seven riders received nominations with the result:

(1) Tom Farndon (England)

(2) Bluey Wilkinson (Australia)

(3) Jack Milne (USA)

(4) Jack Parker (England)

(5) Vic Huxley (Australia)

(6) Eric Langton (England)

(7) Lloyd 'Sprouts' Elder (USA)

Obviously, the results could only have been based in most cases on written material about the riders named, as well as research in regard to racing records but probably never having seen any of them in action.

For my part, I was fortunate enough to see two of the riders named - Jack Parker and Eric Langton. And they were IMO majestic speedway performers.

I would be interested to see similar Top Seven lists from BSF members for this pre-war speedway era with possible other nominations like Wilbur Lamoreaux (USA), Jack Ormston (England) and Ron Johnson (Australia) for example included.

Hopefully, based on the results that may be sent to the forum I will be able to compile an overall final chart based on a voting system of seven votes for No.1 down to one vote for the No.7.

NOTE: The chart given is not my opinion but a collective result by participants in the August 2006 poll.

Edited January 29, 2014 by Guest

[lucifer sam]

I think Wilkinson was the class performer pre-war. Obviously Farndon was a quality act as well, although his poor test match record lets him down a bit.

 

All the best

Rob

[The White Knight]

In no particular order and from what I have read:

 

Max Grosskreutz

Jack Milne

Jack Parker

Vic Duggan

Norman Parker

'Sprouts' Elder

Frank Varey

[stratton]

In August 2006, a speedway history forum polled its members in regard to the Top Riders for the years 1928-39. Seven riders received nominations with the result:

(1) Tom Farndon (England)

(2) Bluey Wilkinson (Australia)

(3) Jack Milne (USA)

(4) Jack Parker (England)

(5) Vic Huxley (Australia)

(6) Eric Langton (England)

(7) Lloyd 'Sprouts' Elder (USA)

Obviously, the results could only have been based in most cases on written material about the riders named, as well as research in regard to racing records but probably never having seen any of them in action.

For my part, I was fortunate enough to see two of the riders named - Jack Parker and Eric Langton. And they were IMO majestic speedway performers.

I would be interested to see similar Top Seven lists from BSF members for this pre-war speedway era with possible other nominations like Wilbur Lamoreaux (USA), Jack Ormston (England) and Ron Johnson (Australia) for example included.

Hopefully, based on the results that may be sent to the forum I will be able to compile an overall final chart based on a voting system of seven votes for No.1 down to one vote for the No.7.

NOTE: The chart given is not my opinion but a collective result by participants in the August 2006 poll.

I would agree with all of them, but i certainly would have Duggan in maybe? In front of Sprouts Elder my uncle who i first went with saw Huxley and was a big fan.

[waiheke1]

Wasnt Duggan at his peak during the war years and just after - would explain his exclusion? Good thread gustix.

[stratton]

Wasnt Duggan at his peak during the war years and just after - would explain his exclusion? Good thread gustix.

Yep probably right eaces1, technically he was better after 39 if that is the case the riders"Gustix suggested look good to me!

[lucifer sam]

Duggan was at his best during 1946-1949.

 

Notice no-one has mentioned Lionel Van Praag as yet?

 

All the best

Rob

Edited January 30, 2014 by lucifer sam

[norbold]

I agree, Rob, I think Lionel Van Praag has always been underrated. I think this is because many people feel he was lucky to win the first World Final in 1936 i) because it was held on his home track and ii) because Bluey Wilkinson actually went through the card unbeaten on the night only losing out to Van Praag because of the bonus points system. However, Van Praag's league averages 1936 - 1939 were: 9.45, 10.53, 10.50, 10.61, which can't be bad in anyone's book.

Edited January 30, 2014 by norbold

[norbold]

Anyway my top seven would be:

1. Tom Farndon

2. Vic Huxley

3. Bluey Wilkinson

4. Eric Langton

5. Jack Milne

6. Jack Parker

7. Lionel Van Praag

 

Not too far distant from gustix's original seven!

[Guest]

For pure entertainment value, George Newton would merit serious consideration. Three times a a World finalist, leg trailer supreme, heat leader for league winners New Cross in 1938 and top scorer for England on his test debut at Wembley with 16 points.

 

His untimely retirement in 1938 through ill health occurred when he was still in his mid twenties.

 

Also think Arthur Atkinson of West Ham and Cordy Milne deserve honourable mentions.

[norbold]

We also shouldn't overlook Frank Arthur. Probably the best rider in the world in 1928; overtaken by Vic Huxley in the following couple of seasons but should certainly be remembered as one of the greats.

[Punjabipal]

interestingly...I have just bought an autograph book with some speedway riders and a stunt rider in it.

 

Putt Mossman

Bluey Wilkinson,

Gus Kuhn

Austin Humphries

Bob Wells.

 

 

I watched the Exeter Falcons during the 1970's and had the opportunity to watch the great Ivan Mauger.

I don't know how good the listed riders were but if they were half as good as him...they must have been good.

 

Martin

[Guest]

Thanks for the responses I did hope for more message traffic. I will collate and compile a final charts...but in a few more days - just in case there are other forum members who would like to take part.

One point I agree with - I don't really think Vic Duggan qualifies as great pre-1939 but what a fine rider he was post war. I first saw him at New Cross in 1947 - his Harringay team mates included his brother Ray, Frank Dolan, Danny Lee, Joe Abbott and that 'man of many tracks' Wal Morton.

[Guest]

interestingly...I have just bought an autograph book with some speedway riders and a stunt rider in it.

 

Putt Mossman

Bluey Wilkinson,

Gus Kuhn

Austin Humphries

Bob Wells.

 

 

I watched the Exeter Falcons during the 1970's and had the opportunity to watch the great Ivan Mauger.

I don't know how good the listed riders were but if they were half as good as him...they must have been good.

 

Martin

I expect you mean Putt Mossman as the stuntman? But Putt was also a good speedway rider and midget car driver. He competed in USA flat-track track racing and tried unsuccessfully to get a ride in the 1938 Isle of Man.

You can find out all about him on the AMA Hall of Fame website - along with many other famous USA speedway and motorcycle riders. A Google query will bring up the site - worth a bookmark when you get it!

[norbold]

interestingly...I have just bought an autograph book with some speedway riders and a stunt rider in it.

 

Putt Mossman

Bluey Wilkinson,

Gus Kuhn

Austin Humphries

Bob Wells.

 

 

 

Some years I ago I was given an autograph book which contained the signatures of Sprouts Elder, Tom Farndon, Lionel Van Praag, Wally Kilmister, Dick Case, Gus Kuhn, Alec Jackson, Vic Huxley, Alf Foulds, Buster Frogley, Bluey Wilkinson and Johnnie Hoskins (amongst others).

 

It was given to me by an old college friend I hadn't seen in just under 40 years. We held a college reunion in 2005 and I met people there I hadn't seen since I left college in 1966. One, Andy Sawyer, came up to me and said he had a book he thought I might be interested in as he had seen some of my books in a bookshop near where he lived and knew I was interested in speedway. He then showed me this autograph book and said that it had been on sale at his school fete (he became a Primary School Headmaster) but had not been sold. The woman who brought it along took it back and said she was going to throw it away as no-one wanted it. Andy took it from her and said he knew someone who might be interested in it and that he would be seeing him soon at the reunion. So here he was showing me. He asked me how much I thought it was worth. I told him I wasn't sure but I'd guess about £75 to the right person. He thanked me and took it back after I'd drooled though it - sorry looked through it! At the end of the evening he came over to me and said, "Here, you take this book, it's no good to me." I reminded him that I thought it was worth some money but he wouldn't take anything for it, just saying, "You keep it. It means more to you than me." So I did.

 

Afterwards I contacted a dealer in speedway memorabilia and told him about the book and he offered me £100 for it on the spot. But I said it wasn't for sale. I still have it today.

 

Now, as if all that wasn't remarkable in itself. The other thing about this story is that Andy Sawyer was the very person who first came up with my norbold nickname, which I had revived a couple of years earlier especially for the BSF.

[Guest]

 

Some years I ago I was given an autograph book which contained the signatures of Sprouts Elder, Tom Farndon, Lionel Van Praag, Wally Kilmister, Dick Case, Gus Kuhn, Alec Jackson, Vic Huxley, Alf Foulds, Buster Frogley, Bluey Wilkinson and Johnnie Hoskins (amongst others).

 

It was given to me by an old college friend I hadn't seen in just under 40 years. We held a college reunion in 2005 and I met people there I hadn't seen since I left college in 1966. One, Andy Sawyer, came up to me and said he had a book he thought I might be interested in as he had seen some of my books in a bookshop near where he lived and knew I was interested in speedway. He then showed me this autograph book and said that it had been on sale at his school fete (he became a Primary School Headmaster) but had not been sold. The woman who brought it along took it back and said she was going to throw it away as no-one wanted it. Andy took it from her and said he knew someone who might be interested in it and that he would be seeing him soon at the reunion. So here he was showing me. He asked me how much I thought it was worth. I told him I wasn't sure but I'd guess about £75 to the right person. He thanked me and took it back after I'd drooled though it - sorry looked through it! At the end of the evening he came over to me and said, "Here, you take this book, it's no good to me." I reminded him that I thought it was worth some money but he wouldn't take anything for it, just saying, "You keep it. It means more to you than me." So I did.

 

Afterwards I contacted a dealer in speedway memorabilia and told him about the book and he offered me £100 for it on the spot. But I said it wasn't for sale. I still have it today.

 

Now, as if all that wasn't remarkable in itself. The other thing about this story is that Andy Sawyer was the very person who first came up with my norbold nickname, which I had revived a couple of years earlier especially for the BSF.

What a delightful story.