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Tom Farndon...the Greatest Speedway Rider Of Them All


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Yes indeed.As i said it was a very interesting thread until that absolute imbecile arrived

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and then Sid turned up to make it even worse!!!!

Now Tom Farndon was a great rider, saying that you would more than likely even disagree about that not to worry eh! 🤔✌️️ Edited by Sidney the robin
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Hopefully this excellent Link dedicated to Norman Jacobs' book about Tom Farndon will put the thread back on its proper course?

 

http://www.speedwayplus.com/TomFarndon.shtml

 

...or visit here...

 

http://www.national-speedway-museum.co.uk/tom%20faridon.html


This Tom Farndon book review appeared in the 'South London Press' when Norman Jacob's book was first published:

:::

TOM FARNDON; THE GREATEST RIDER OF THEM ALL

Co-authors - Norman Jacobs, John Chaplin

History Press £14.99 (160 pages, many illustrations)

iSBN 978 0 7524 5140 4

TOM Farndon was the idol of both the Crystal Palace and New Cross teams in the early 1930s.

He was undoubtedly the best rider of speedway's early days, although there is conjecture in some quarters as to the overall qualification with the passage of another 75 seasons since his death after a track accident at New Cross on Wednesday August 26 1935.

Farndon was just 24 years old and hailed as the best in the sport at that time. He was an established England international, the holder of the British Individual Championship and the leading rider in the New Cross team.

As a rider, Farndon achieved the peak from the obscurity of riding for Coventry in 1929 to being a superstar for the Palace between 1930-33, then at New Cross when the Palace team moved across south London.

Farndon's fatal crash came in the second-half of a match against Harringay, who won with Farndon scoring nine points. In the race, Farndon was out with team mates Stan Greatrex and Ron Johnson, and the West Ham star Bluey Wilkinson.

Journalist Cyril May wrote: "More than a little halfway down the back straight on the third lap, the New Cross skipper (Johnson) touched the fence and fell. So close was Tom that there was never the slightest possibility of his avoiding the crash or laying down his machine.

"Tom and his machine were thrown into the air, and he was flung an incredible distance before falling on his head. It looked from the terraces as if Tom deliberately turned, to try and hit the fallen machine instead of the man."

Farndon was rushed to the Miller Hospital at Greenwich where he died two days later without recovering consciousness.

Speedway supporters crowded the road outside the hospital to read the notices about Farndon's condition. There were so many of them that bus and tram services were halted.

The book is an absorbing read, written by two of the sport's leading historians, John Chaplin and Norman Jacobs. I recommend it as an essential addition to any speedway library.

JOHN HYAM

Edited by Guest
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Always possible in these type of thread.If Fardon can be thought of as one of the best ever because of a few years when he was one of the best and the thought of "what might have happened",it is also possible to come to a conclusion that Ronnie was the best ever,it was just his lack of ambition and his leaving the sport that prevented it.That is why it could be concluded that someone like Michael Lee might have been or was the best ever or Tommy Jansson could have won multiple world titles or could we draw a comparison between Farndon and Darcy Ward?Ward was a great talent who also had crowds of fans outside the hospital after his crash.....all opinions,and hard to say any are wrong

It's not quite fair on Farndon to compare him to Lee or Jansson or Ward and say we can all say what might have been. Farndon actually was not might have been. At the time of his death he had already won the Star Riders' championship (and was favourite for the 1935 title because of his form that year), he was unbeatable in the British Match Race Championship and had beaten all-comers for two years and he held the track record at every track in the National League. He had proved his greatness in his all too short career.

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It's not quite fair on Farndon to compare him to Lee or Jansson or Ward and say we can all say what might have been. Farndon actually was not might have been. At the time of his death he had already won the Star Riders' championship (and was favourite for the 1935 title because of his form that year), he was unbeatable in the British Match Race Championship and had beaten all-comers for two years and he held the track record at every track in the National League. He had proved his greatness in his all too short career.

Looking back through my 'Vintage Speedway' and 'Classic Speedway' Magazines it occurs to me that sadly I missed Speedway's truly great years, due to being too young.

 

Not often you can say that about anything.

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Looking back through my 'Vintage Speedway' and 'Classic Speedway' Magazines it occurs to me that sadly I missed Speedway's truly great years, due to being too young.

 

Not often you can say that about anything.

I would have enjoyed watching the likes of Van Praag, Langton, Parker, Farndon, Elder etc etc. The pioneers of Dirt Track Racing in its formative years.

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I would have enjoyed watching the likes of Van Praag, Langton, Parker, Farndon, Elder etc etc. The pioneers of Dirt Track Racing in its formative years.

 

Lucky me! I saw Eric Langton, Jack Parker and Lionel Van Praag in action over the 1946 and 1947 seasons. Langton and Van Praag retired from British speedway at the end of the 1947 season but Parker continued racing into the 1950s.

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Lucky me! I saw Eric Langton, Jack Parker and Lionel Van Praag in action over the 1946 and 1947 seasons. Langton and Van Praag retired from British speedway at the end of the 1947 season but Parker continued racing into the 1950s.

Langton was he nearly World Champion? a very controversial year Eric/Van Praag had a run off Langton broke the tapes but Van Praag insisted Langton was not to be excluded as he did not win the title on default so was aloud back in.Langton led the run off until the last bend until Van Praag darted through a small gap to grab the title.That year i believe Bluey Wilkinson should of been crowned WC but a countback of bonus points put Langton/Van Praag in a run off. Edited by Sidney the robin
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Langton was he nearly World Champion? a very controversial year Eric/Van Praag had a run off Langton broke the tapes but Van Praag insisted Langton was not to be excluded as he did not win the title on default so was aloud back in.Langton led the run off until the last bend until Van Praag darted through a small gap to grab the title.That year i believe Bluey Wilkinson should of been crowned WC but a countback of bonus points put Langton/Van Praag in a run

Yes, Wilkinson scored a maximum in the final, but lost out as bonus points were carried through from the previous round.

 

According to John Chaplin it was even more controversial than that. He says that Eric Langton told him that he had an agreement with Van Praag that whoever reached the first bend first would be allowed to go on and win and the other wouldn't overtake. As you say, Van Praag broke this agreement by passing Langton.

 

I'm not sure I believe this. Why would you make an agreement like that? I think it's a bit of sour grapes from Langton myself. Though John believes it to be true. Anyway, good story and adds to that controversial first World Final.

Edited by norbold
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See what i mean.You just can't understand english

 

I gave up discussing the topic with you.I know what i did

 

Just like in this video,i gave up for a quiet life....

 

I do rate Dave that is why i mentioned him in the unsung heroes thread.He just wasn't as good as his younger brother.Only you come along and try to argue about 1 season,when i/we are talking about a whole career.You have a long record on not being able to understand simple things and will argue til the cows come home that you are right.You can't debate and you are embarrasing

 

All i was doing was asking for an explanation.If you find that childish it just tells us more about you and your debating skills than anything else.All it was,was a simple question on what was an interesting topic and now we have a load of crap which i am not going to continue with you.Grow up

 

I never ever disputed who the better rider was but anyway you win HAPPY now what a child you are.You can see that with your childish snipes at Gustix Why??? is it envy is it jealousy makes me wonder sad really grow a set.
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A meeting I would enjoy watching in my fantasy world would be:

 

1. Sprouts Elder

2. Lionel Van Praag

3. Bluey Wilkinson

4. Eric Langton

5. Jack Parker

6. Jack Young

7. Jack Milne

8. Freddie Williams

9. Ronnie Moore

10. Ove Fundin

11. Peter Craven

12. Barry Briggs

13. Bjorn Knutsson

14. Tommy Farndon

15. Igor Plechanov

16. Tommy Price

 

What a meeting that would be!

Edited by steve roberts
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I think I would be prepared to pay big money to watch that Meeting Steve. You have got the real Royalty of Speedway there.

 

It is a hell of a field of Riders.

 

Ken Le Breton for Reserve - in case someone never turned up.

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The Tom Farndon Trophy (held at New Cross) - winners:

8/09/1935: FARNDON MEMORIAL TROPHY - ERIC LANGTON

30/09/1936: FARNDON MEMORIAL TROPHY - JACK MILNE
12/10/1938: FARNDON MEMORIAL TROPHY - BLUEY WILKINSON
02/10/1946: FARNDON MEMORIAL TROPHY - MALCOLM CRAVEN
08/10/1947: FARNDON MEMORIAL TROPHY - JEFF LLOYD
28/10/1948: FARNDON MEMORIAL TROPHY - HOWDY BYFORD
09/08/1950: FARNDON MEMORIAL TROPHY - GRAHAM WARREN
11/07/1951: FARNDON MEMORIAL TROPHY - JACK YOUNG
23/09/1959: FARNDON MEMORIAL TROPHY - PETER CRAVEN
24/08/1960: FARNDON MEMORIAL TROPHY - RONNIE MOORE
06/09/1961: FARNDON MEMORIAL TROPHY - JACK YOUNG

Edited by Guest
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I think I would be prepared to pay big money to watch that Meeting Steve. You have got the real Royalty of Speedway there.

 

It is a hell of a field of Riders.

 

Ken Le Breton for Reserve - in case someone never turned up.

I would also include Vic Duggan and Spit Waterman.

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A meeting I would enjoy watching in my fantasy world would be:

 

1. Sprouts Elder

2. Lionel Van Praag

3. Bluey Wilkinson

4. Eric Langton

5. Jack Parker

6. Jack Young

7. Jack Milne

8. Freddie Williams

9. Ronnie Moore

10. Ove Fundin

11. Peter Craven

12. Barry Briggs

13. Bjorn Knutsson

14. Tommy Farndon

15. Igor Plechanov

16. Tommy Price

 

What a meeting that would be!

 

 

I think I would be prepared to pay big money to watch that Meeting Steve. You have got the real Royalty of Speedway there.

 

It is a hell of a field of Riders.

 

Ken Le Breton for Reserve - in case someone never turned up.

 

 

I would also include Vic Duggan and Spit Waterman.

 

Two GREAT names there in Vic Duggan and Split Waterman. Of the duo, I feel that Duggan has more claim for inclusion. But who would you leave out of your suggested 16 rider line-up to accommodate him and with the 'dropped' rider going down to reserve who would then lose his place?

And I also feel that a strong consideration must be for Split Waterman at least one of the reserves.

Maybe you would like to confirm a revised line-up?

No doubt, however, this is an absorbing and interesting thread.

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Two GREAT names there in Vic Duggan and Split Waterman. Of the duo, I feel that Duggan has more claim for inclusion. But who would you leave out of your suggested 16 rider line-up to accommodate him and with the 'dropped' rider going down to reserve who would then lose his place?

And I also feel that a strong consideration must be for Split Waterman at least one of the reserves.

Maybe you would like to confirm a revised line-up?

No doubt, however, this is an absorbing and interesting thread.

That would be my chosen 18 but which two would be the reserves? Now there's a conundrum!

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I never ever disputed who the better rider was but anyway you win HAPPY now what a child you are.You can see that with your childish snipes at Gustix Why??? is it envy is it jealousy makes me wonder sad really grow a set.

No,you were just making yourself look a plonker as usual.Then you come out with utter crap that i was saying Dave was a mug.Trouble with you Sid is you can't back anything up when challenged.You won't be able to find a quote from me saying or even suggesting Dave was a mug because it was bullrubbish what you posted.You have had tons of arguments with Bwitcher where you say forget the averages,then just come out with some stupid argument quoting a 1976 average,which had no real relevance to my post.

 

I ain't taking any lectures from you Sid.You are known to offer to punch peoples light sout when you start losing an argument.You have been banned a couple of times i'd guess and maybe not as many times as gustix or maybe not got quite so many warning poins as gustix,but probably having a decent race between the two of you.

 

As i asked before,look back at gusto's post and tell me what he was on about.Then look back at my post and tell me what was wrong with asking the question i did.There was nothing else in that post other than asking for clarification.Something gustix seems to ask at least once a day.If it is good for the Goose it is good for the Gander,surely

 

 

Now if the two of you can't stand discussion and being questioned then this is obviously not the place for you.Just have a read of SCB's excellent thread in the general speedway section........

Edited by iris123
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No,you were just making yourself look a plonker as usual.Then you come out with utter crap that i was saying Dave was a mug.Trouble with you Sid is you can't back anything up when challenged.You won't be able to find a quote from me saying or even suggesting Dave was a mug because it was bullrubbish what you posted.You have had tons of arguments with Bwitcher where you say forget the averages,then just come out with some stupid argument quoting a 1976 average,which had no real relevance to my post.

 

I ain't taking any lectures from you Sid.You are known to offer to punch peoples light sout when you start losing an argument.You have been banned a couple of times i'd guess and maybe not as many times as gustix or maybe not got quite so many warning poins as gustix,but probably having a decent race between the two of you.

 

As i asked before,look back at gusto's post and tell me what he was on about.Then look back at my post and tell me what was wrong with asking the question i did.There was nothing else in that post other than asking for clarification.Something gustix seems to ask at least once a day.If it is good for the Goose it is good for the Gander,surely

 

 

Now if the two of you can't stand discussion and being questioned then this is obviously not the place for you.Just have a read of SCB's excellent thread in the general speedway section........

Funny thing is i go on the old threads with Norbold, Gustix, TWK, Steve Roberts, Gresham, BL65 and endless others no problems with them.All of those i respect YOU forget it i dont respect you never will.Iris you need to let it go you are making a complete co.k of yourself.Now look back you got all EMOTIONAL because i said Dave Morton was a good rider in his own right before he had his bad injury.Really was that worth having a heart attack over ? now jot on Iris and annoy someone else not Gustix though.😆
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