Speedway Star World Ratings 1956-1966

[stratton]

Jim Squibb was still riding in the Seventies. For Eastbourne if I remember correctly in the National League Division Two.

 

Unless there was another Jimmy Squibb?

WK -- Jimmy was born in 1921,he last rode for Canterbury in 1975 making him 54 years of age god what an elder statesman.I always believed Ken Mckinlay was one of the oldest when last active when riding for Scunny.!

[norbold]

I've just found this list in the old archives as well. It is my "Champion of Champions" list from 1946 - 66 taken from the yearly rankings (including my two made up years, 1954/55). It was produced by giving 20 points for each no. 1, 19 for no. 2 etc.:

1.Ove Fundin 209

2. Barry Briggs 199

3. Ronnie Moore 173

4. Aub Lawson 142

5. Peter Craven 140

6. Bjorn Knutson 127

7. Olle Nygren 114

8. Ken McKinlay 108

9. Jack Young 107.5

10. Jack Parker 107

11. Rune Sormander 96

12. Gote Nordin 90.5

13. Tommy Price 86

14. Norman Parker 79

15= Vic Duggan 77

15= Ron How 77

17. Split Waterman 75

18. Igor Plechanov 66

19. Fred Williams 64

20. Wilbur Lamoreaux 60

Edited November 17, 2015 by norbold

[The White Knight]

WK -- Jimmy was born in 1921,he last rode for Canterbury in 1975 making him 54 years of age god what an elder statesman.I always believed Ken Mckinlay was one of the oldest when last active when riding for Scunny.!

Thanks for that sidney - I was beginning to doubt my ailing memory even further.

 

I think Jimmy Sqibb wore dark purple leathers and sported a very piratical beard.

[stratton]

I've just found this list in the old archives as well. It is my "Champion of Champions" list from 1946 - 66 taken from the yearly rankings (including my two made up years, 1954/55). It was produced by giving 20 points for each no. 1, 19 for no. 2 etc.:

1.Ove Fundind 209

2. Barry Briggs 199

3. Ronnie Moore 173

4. Aub Lawson 142

5. Peter Craven 140

6. Bjorn Knutson 127

7. Olle Nygren 114

8. Ken McKinlay 108

9. Jack Young 107.5

10. Jack Parker 107

11. Rune Sormander 96

12. Gote Nordin 90.5

13. Tommy Price 86

14. Norman Parker 79

15= Vic Duggan 77

15= Ron How 77

17. Split Waterman 75

18. Igor Plechanov 66

19. Fred Williams 64

20. Wilbur Lamoreaux 60

Some greats there my top five would be 1.Briggs, 2.Fundin 3.Craven 4.Mirac 5.Duggan( only because his career was knackered by the evil war.)

Thanks for that sidney - I was beginning to doubt my ailing memory even further.

 

I think Jimmy Sqibb wore dark purple leathers and sported a very piratical beard.

Did you see him ride at Sunderland WK? I am doing a book detailing all of Vic Harding's career cutting's (ect) were you a fan of Vic's??

[The White Knight]

Some greats there my top five would be 1.Briggs, 2.Fundin 3.Craven 4.Mirac 5.Duggan( only because his career was knackered by the evil war.)

Did you see him ride at Sunderland WK? I am doing a book detailing all of Vic Harding's career cutting's (ect) were you a fan of Vic's??

I did indeed sydney - I can't remember how he rode that day but he was certainly in the Eastbourne Team.

 

I was a big Fan of Vic Harding, he was a super lad who always made time to talk to Supporters.

 

So sad that he lost his life at Hackney - I thought that he showed great promise.

 

Much missed by Sunderland Supporters by the way.

 

R.I.P. + Vic.

[norbold]

Some greats there my top five would be 1.Briggs, 2.Fundin 3.Craven 4.Mirac 5.Duggan( only because his career was knackered by the evil war.)

 

In the period we are talking about mine would be 1. Fundin 2. Duggan 3. Young 4. Briggs 5. Moore

[stratton]

I did indeed sydney - I can't remember how he rode that day but he was certainly in the Eastbourne Team.

 

I was a big Fan of Vic Harding, he was a super lad who always made time to talk to Supporters.

 

So sad that he lost his life at Hackney - I thought that he showed great promise.

 

Much missed by Sunderland Supporters by the way.

 

R.I.P. + Vic.

I see Vic ride for Weymouth and later on for Hackney,he made alot of progress it was a tragedy when he lost his life.Hackney had bad memories for me WK with Vic and Denny Pyeatt losing there lives there, but i generally enjoyed my dont be late Friday at eight night outs. Edited November 17, 2015 by sidney

[stratton]

In the period we are talking about mine would be 1. Fundin 2. Duggan 3. Young 4. Briggs 5. Moore

Craven had a good head to head record with Ove had already won two titles and was approaching his peak i am surprised "Norbold" he is not in your five.

[norbold]

Craven had a good head to head record with Ove had already won two titles and was approaching his peak i am surprised "Norbold" he is not in your five.

He had the best record against Ove of the "Big Five", that's true. Nevertheless, I don't think he was ever dominant in the way my top five were in their day, as, indeed, the rankings show. I couldn't include Craven as I really can't see how I could leave any of the others out.

 

As a secondary, though important, consideration, I was a regular speedway goer from 1960 onwards and my own experience of seeing the Big Five was that Craven was the fifth best (I won't say the worst!) I even had the privilege of seeing Jack Young in his comeback year (1961) at New Cross and although not the rider he had once been, he still managed to beat the Big Five in two individual meetings towards the end of the year, winning the King of the South Cup and the Tom Farndon Memorial Trophy. I saw both meetings and he was simply superb. It gave me a real insight into what he must have been like at his peak. As for Duggan, again apart from statistics, my dad and two uncles used to go to speedway just after the War and they all raved over him and they all thought he was the greatest ever.

 

Actually one of those uncles is now 91 and still goes regularly to Lakeside and Kent. It would be interesting to ask him who his top five of that period would be....

[The White Knight]

He had the best record against Ove of the "Big Five", that's true. Nevertheless, I don't think he was ever dominant in the way my top five were in their day, as, indeed, the rankings show. I couldn't include Craven as I really can't see how I could leave any of the others out.

 

As a secondary, though important, consideration, I was a regular speedway goer from 1960 onwards and my own experience of seeing the Big Five was that Craven was the fifth best (I won't say the worst!) I even had the privilege of seeing Jack Young in his comeback year (1961) at New Cross and although not the rider he had once been, he still managed to beat the Big Five in two individual meetings towards the end of the year, winning the King of the South Cup and the Tom Farndon Memorial Trophy. I saw both meetings and he was simply superb. It gave me a real insight into what he must have been like at his peak. As for Duggan, again apart from statistics, my dad and two uncles used to go to speedway just after the War and they all raved over him and they all thought he was the greatest ever.

 

Actually one of those uncles is now 91 and still goes regularly to Lakeside and Kent. It would be interesting to ask him who his top five of that period would be....

Indeed it would. :approve:

 

[stratton]

He had the best record against Ove of the "Big Five", that's true. Nevertheless, I don't think he was ever dominant in the way my top five were in their day, as, indeed, the rankings show. I couldn't include Craven as I really can't see how I could leave any of the others out.

As a secondary, though important, consideration, I was a regular speedway goer from 1960 onwards and my own experience of seeing the Big Five was that Craven was the fifth best (I won't say the worst!) I even had the privilege of seeing Jack Young in his comeback year (1961) at New Cross and although not the rider he had once been, he still managed to beat the Big Five in two individual meetings towards the end of the year, winning the King of the South Cup and the Tom Farndon Memorial Trophy. I saw both meetings and he was simply superb. It gave me a real insight into what he must have been like at his peak. As for Duggan, again apart from statistics, my dad and two uncles used to go to speedway just after the War and they all raved over him and they all thought he was the greatest ever.

Actually one of those uncles is now 91 and still goes regularly to Lakeside and Kent. It would be interesting to ask him who his top five of that period would be....

Fundin 15 finals, ----5 wins, -----3 seconds and ----3 third places. ) ------ Briggs 18 finals ------ 4 wins------- 3 second places ----- and 3 third places). Craven. 10 finals ------- 2 wins . ------- and 2 third places ) some record between these three greats.

[norbold]

Fundin 15 finals, ----5 wins, -----3 seconds and ----3 third places. ) ------ Briggs 18 finals ------ 4 wins------- 3 second places ----- and 3 third places). Craven. 10 finals ------- 2 wins . ------- and 2 third places ) some record between these three greats.

Not forgetting Moore 14 finals, ----2 wins, ---- 3 seconds.

[BOBBATH]

Great thread, while World Finals and Journalist/Expert Rankings of are important I gotta look at the top of the NL averages for each year-so courtesy of Matt Jackson(thanx Matt here they are)

oops made a mistake -here goes 1946 Jack Parker . 1947 48 and 49 Vic Duggan. 1950 Graham Warren. 1951 Aub Lawson.. 1952 ,53,54,55 and 56 Ronnie Moore. 1957 Peter Craven. 1958,59,60 and 61 Ove Fundin. !962 Bjorn Knutsson,.1963 Ove Fundin. 1964 Barry Briggs. Highest averages wer Duggan 11.48 in 1948 ditto Ove Fundin in 1960. Others over 11 average-Moore 11.42 in 1952, Peter Craven 11.14 in 1957, Fundin 11.35 in 1958 (Peter Craven finished 2nd that year with 11.22), Fundin as noted 11.48 in 1960 and Fundin 11.41 in 1961 (Knutsson finished 2nd that year with 11.03). To me Moore and Fundin have to stand out- Vic Duggan's career was outstanding but short lived and who knows what warren would have done if not for that terrible accident

[stratton]

Not forgetting Moore 14 finals, ----2 wins, ---- 3 seconds.

Both Briggo/Ivan said Mirac was a better rider than the both of them a true legend.So Proud of Briggos world final record missed out only in 1971 ( i think the Anglo Nordic Final???in Scotland ???1954 until 1972 not bad going. Edited November 17, 2015 by sidney

[norbold]

Very interesting, thanks, Bob. The only thing I find slightly surprising is no Jack Young.

Both Briggo/Ivan said Mirac was a better rider than the both of them a true legend.So Proud of Briggos world final record missed out only in 1971 ( i think the Anglo Nordic Final???in Scotland ???1954 until 1972 not bad going.

I think it was generally agreed that Mirac was the best rider technically. It was his "hunger" to win Individual titles that probably prevented him winning more. He always said himself that he was more interested in helping Wimbledon win than winning for himself. This is somewhat borne out by BOBBATH's post above. Edited November 17, 2015 by norbold

[mickthemuppet]

Craven had a good head to head record with Ove had already won two titles and was approaching his peak i am surprised "Norbold" he is not in your five.

Freddie Williams had a far superior head to head against Peter Craven. PC only beat FW five times in eighteen league and cup meetings and did not even have a head to head advantage at Belle Vue

[norbold]

Freddie Williams had a far superior head to head against Peter Craven. PC only beat FW five times in eighteen league and cup meetings and did not even have a head to head advantage at Belle Vue

 

That's not really very surprising given the dates of their respective careers.

[BOBBATH]

Re norbold comment about Jack Young.. In 1951 Jack would of course have been in Div 2-and I am sure top of those averages(I will do in depth research on this) In 1952 he was second in Div 1 averages at 10.97 behind Ronnie Moore. In 1953 he was third at 10,83 behind Moore and Olle Nygren, 3rd in 1954 at 10.36 behind Moore and Eddie Rigg and 2nd in 1955 with 10.74 behind Ronnie Moore., and just ahead of Ove Looks to me like Ronnie Moore and Ove were the top consistent guys in 1950's. I aim to please or as it used to say on urinals in UK "please aim" I have been up all night researching this and am now going to bed!!.ZZZZZZZZZZZ

[norbold]

According to the 1952 Stenner's Annual, Jack Young easily topped the Div 2 averages with 11.68. Tommy Miller was second with 10.53. These are not CMA's, it is just the total number of points divided by the number of matches.

 

Incidentally, it is interesting to note that in the 1951/2 Stenner's rankings, three of the 15 were Division 2 riders, Young, Miller and Bob Leverenz. Also that Tommy Miller made the rankings for three consecutive years as a second division rider.

[BL65]

According to the 1952 Stenner's Annual, Jack Young easily topped the Div 2 averages with 11.68. Tommy Miller was second with 10.53. These are not CMA's, it is just the total number of points divided by the number of matches.

 

Incidentally, it is interesting to note that in the 1951/2 Stenner's rankings, three of the 15 were Division 2 riders, Young, Miller and Bob Leverenz. Also that Tommy Miller made the rankings for three consecutive years as a second division rider.

 

Statistics from the Speedway Researcher website show CMAs in league matches for Jack Young in 1951 (Edinburgh, Division 2) 11.72 and 1952 (West Ham, Division 1) 10.88, a very impressive transition to the higher division.

 

The CMA shown for Tommy Miller at Glasgow White City in 1951 is 10.70 and in the following two seasons for league matches 10.91 and 10.81, so no doubt the ranking was thoroughly justified. Sadly, his scoring declined significantly in the mid-50s after joining Motherwell and then Coventry.

 

Bob Leverenz achieved a CMA of 10.84 for Norwich in 1951 according to the Researcher website and he also reached the World Final that year, finishing in 8th position.