These Mistakes Drive Me Nuts

[BOBBATH]

So I go to the site "Speedway Great Britain"-the official British speedway Website apparently. I then go to the section "World", then to "World Individual Finals 1936-64", then to Rider Index for the World Final Appearances-thinking this is really good. I click on riders beginning with E , look at Bryan Elliott(R.I.P) and immediately see he's been given 9 points in his only appearance in 1960 instead of the correct 0 points. Anybody know how or who to contact to get this corrected-otherwise these errors will remain in perpetuity. This drives me bonkers-. Don't bother to tell me to calm down and get a life as I already know that

[The White Knight]

So I go to the site "Speedway Great Britain"-the official British speedway Website apparently. I then go to the section "World", then to "World Individual Finals 1936-64", then to Rider Index for the World Final Appearances-thinking this is really good. I click on riders beginning with E , look at Bryan Elliott(R.I.P) and immediately see he's been given 9 points in his only appearance in 1960 instead of the correct 0 points. Anybody know how or who to contact to get this corrected-otherwise these errors will remain in perpetuity. This drives me bonkers-. Don't bother to tell me to calm down and get a life as I already know that

Don't worry - I won't. These Records need to be right.

[Guest]

So I go to the site "Speedway Great Britain"-the official British speedway Website apparently. I then go to the section "World", then to "World Individual Finals 1936-64", then to Rider Index for the World Final Appearances-thinking this is really good. I click on riders beginning with E , look at Bryan Elliott(R.I.P) and immediately see he's been given 9 points in his only appearance in 1960 instead of the correct 0 points. Anybody know how or who to contact to get this corrected-otherwise these errors will remain in perpetuity. This drives me bonkers-. Don't bother to tell me to calm down and get a life as I already know that

 

 

Don't worry - I won't. These Records need to be right.

 

It looks like an original keyboard error that should be corrected On a keyboard the figure 9 is followed by a 0 - whoever made the wrong score for Bryan Elliott must have had the famed 'fat finger' busy that day.

[The White Knight]

 

 

 

It looks like an original keyboard error that should be corrected On a keyboard the figure 9 is followed by a 0 - whoever made the wrong score for Bryan Elliott must have had the famed 'fat finger' busy that day.

Hopefully they will correct it then.

 

Knowing how many Speedway 'Statistitions' there are as I say, they need to be right.

[Guest]

Don't worry - I won't. These Records need to be right.

 

 

 

 

 

It looks like an original keyboard error that should be corrected On a keyboard the figure 9 is followed by a 0 - whoever made the wrong score for Bryan Elliott must have had the famed 'fat finger' busy that day.

 

 

Hopefully they will correct it then.

 

Knowing how many Speedway 'Statistitions' there are as I say, they need to be right.

 

I agree TWK. When the error was discovered and attention drawn to the fact a correction should have been made.

[arnieg]

I agree TWK. When the error was discovered and attention drawn to the fact a correction should have been made.

As it has been

[Grachan]

I'm sure that whoever put the site together is grateful that the mistake was pointed out to them, but I' not sure why it would drive you nuts that it was made.

 

It's easy to make a mistake, you know!!

 

I never knew that information was there before. Very intersting. What surprised me was Ken McKinlay's Worl Final record.Very impressive. I knew he was a former top rider, but to me he was always the "Compo" type bloke in the bobble hat that rode Second Division for Scunthorpe.

[norbold]

.....to me he was always the "Compo" type bloke in the bobble hat that rode Second Division for Scunthorpe.

How very dare you! I hope for your sake customhouseregular doesn't read that.

[lucifer sam]

I never knew that information was there before. Very intersting. What surprised me was Ken McKinlay's Worl Final record.Very impressive. I knew he was a former top rider, but to me he was always the "Compo" type bloke in the bobble hat that rode Second Division for Scunthorpe.

 

It's even more impressive than appears on paper. But for a fall while leading his final race in 1956, he would have contested a run-off for first place with Ove Fundin.

 

All the best

Rob

[BOBBATH]

I'm sure that whoever put the site together is grateful that the mistake was pointed out to them, but I' not sure why it would drive you nuts that it was made.

 

It's easy to make a mistake, you know!!

 

I never knew that information was there before. Very intersting. What surprised me was Ken McKinlay's Worl Final record.Very impressive. I knew he was a former top rider, but to me he was always the "Compo" type bloke in the bobble hat that rode Second Division for Scunthorpe.

You are quite right Grachan, accordingly I have been to the Doctor who has immediately doubled my medication and you'll be glad to know I'm now in a happy and mellow place!!!!

[The Doctor...]

I'm sure that whoever put the site together is grateful that the mistake was pointed out to them, but I' not sure why it would drive you nuts that it was made.

 

It's easy to make a mistake, you know!!

 

 

Well said...

 

The massive workload that went into putting all the info on there by a hugely dedicated bloke has to be applauded really...if that kinda stuff drives someone nuts maybe they want to have a crack at doing the job themselves.

 

Cheers

Tom

[moxey63]

As a col;ector of statdstics and a facts and figured buff, I have to be carefuk of my fat fingerd and the digits they press. Double check whar you type - alwayd.

[Guest]

As a col;ector of statdstics and a facts and figured buff, I have to be carefuk of my fat fingerd and the digits they press. Double check whar you type - alwayd.

 

Ghanka moxrt52. I aleaus di tgat. Gppd afvuce to podtwrs.

Edited December 16, 2015 by Guest

[BOBBATH]

 

Well said...

 

The massive workload that went into putting all the info on there by a hugely dedicated bloke has to be applauded really...if that kinda stuff drives someone nuts maybe they want to have a crack at doing the job themselves.

 

Cheers

Tom

All these points are well taken, and I certainly applaud the effort people have put in to compiling the stats And I am also glad the mistake has been corrected.I would respectfully submit that if the website originator had simply indicated something like "any errors noticed in this section please contact me at xxxx" I would have done so- privately end of story. Sadly this opportunity was not afforded on the site so that's why I posted on this site(it didn't really drive me nuts). If the dedicated guy who did all this work is a poster on this site, thank you for all the work -it is greatly appreciated-but it might be a good thought for the future to enable comments re any possible errors discovered to be directed to the compiler for private correction. Sorry for any concerns this might have caused but at least you know some of us out in forumland do pay close attention to your dedicated work. Thanks for all your efforts and keep up the good work mate.

Another possible error in the same section is that it shows R. Westerburg as a non riding reserve in the 1957 World Final- I had not heard this name before , so I looked up the Speedway Star for Sept 28 1957 and this showed two non-riding reserves; Brian Crutcher and Jack Biggs. This time I noticed that the stats were compiled by Robert Bamford who has done a great job.I wonder Robert that if you send me a way of contacting you directly I could avoid bringing these issues up on this website. Rest assured though your efforts are greatly appreciated .

[The Doctor...]

All these points are well taken, and I certainly applaud the effort people have put in to compiling the stats And I am also glad the mistake has been corrected.I would respectfully submit that if the website originator had simply indicated something like "any errors noticed in this section please contact me at xxxx" I would have done so- privately end of story. Sadly this opportunity was not afforded on the site so that's why I posted on this site(it didn't really drive me nuts). If the dedicated guy who did all this work is a poster on this site, thank you for all the work -it is greatly appreciated-but it might be a good thought for the future to enable comments re any possible errors discovered to be directed to the compiler for private correction. Sorry for any concerns this might have caused but at least you know some of us out in forumland do pay close attention to your dedicated work. Thanks for all your efforts and keep up the good work mate.

Another possible error in the same section is that it shows R. Westerburg as a non riding reserve in the 1957 World Final- I had not heard this name before , so I looked up the Speedway Star for Sept 28 1957 and this showed two non-riding reserves; Brian Crutcher and Jack Biggs. This time I noticed that the stats were compiled by Robert Bamford who has done a great job.I wonder Robert that if you send me a way of contacting you directly I could avoid bringing these issues up on this website. Rest assured though your efforts are greatly appreciated .

 

You've got too much time on your hands.

 

However, Rolf Westerburg was one of two non riding reserves in the 1957 final. Jack Biggs was the other. Crutcher was unavailable on the day, injury i believe.

 

I doubt the stats compiler will need your help to be honest..

[norbold]

This conversation raises a very interesting point and that is that when something is written in a book it is repeated by future writers who can't be bothered to do their own research and so becomes the truth.

 

The 1957 final 2nd reserve is a good example. Maurice Jones, in his 1979 book, "World Speedway Final" shows Brian Crutcher as the 2nd reserve on the night. This is repeated in (ironically) Robert Bamford's own book, written with Glyn Shailes, "A History of the World Speedway Championship" (2002). With two authoritative books saying the same thing it passes into history as true.

It reminds me of the whole idea that Johnnie Hoskins "invented" speedway.......

[Guest]

This conversation raises a very interesting point and that is that when something is written in a book it is repeated by future writers who can't be bothered to do their own research and so becomes the truth.

 

The 1957 final 2nd reserve is a good example. Maurice Jones, in his 1979 book, "World Speedway Final" shows Brian Crutcher as the 2nd reserve on the night. This is repeated in (ironically) Robert Bamford's own book, written with Glyn Shailes, "A History of the World Speedway Championship" (2002). With two authoritative books saying the same thing it passes into history as true.

 

It reminds me of the whole idea that Johnnie Hoskins "invented" speedway.......

 

That's an excellent comment norbold. It's known in some quarters as 'perpetuating an error' and happens in many spheres besides speedway.

[moxey63]

It reminds me of the whole idea that Johnnie Hoskins "invented" speedway.......

 

Speedway invented Johnnie Hoskins!

 

It is true though, about trying to get facts correct. In speedway, with all the figures that build up even over one season, it is really difficult to get things bang on. But you'd think World Final scorers would be spot on, the importance and the once yearly aspect.

 

The more facts that a sport like speedway contain, the more chance some of them may not hit the print as they happened. This year quite a few editions of Speedway Star have printed corrections from previous weeks, but any researcher in the future will go on and record the report and facts as originally printed.

 

For example, what was that match in 1974, the result of which was decided at conference months after the season as over... or am I dreaming again? Little things like this makes speedway all the more interesting to a sad person like Mr Mox. Better than the racing, perhaps....

Edited December 17, 2015 by moxey63

[Guest]

This conversation raises a very interesting point and that is that when something is written in a book it is repeated by future writers who can't be bothered to do their own research and so becomes the truth.

 

The 1957 final 2nd reserve is a good example. Maurice Jones, in his 1979 book, "World Speedway Final" shows Brian Crutcher as the 2nd reserve on the night. This is repeated in (ironically) Robert Bamford's own book, written with Glyn Shailes, "A History of the World Speedway Championship" (2002). With two authoritative books saying the same thing it passes into history as true.

 

It reminds me of the whole idea that Johnnie Hoskins "invented" speedway.......

 

 

 

That's an excellent comment norbold. It's known in some quarters as 'perpetuating an error' and happens in many spheres besides speedway.

 

Again norbold...a perpetuating error - one that I and many others adhere. 'Australian legend' Ron Johnson. Not so really according to wikipedia and other sources - "...Ron Johnson (24 February 1907 born Duntocher, Scotland^[..."

[BOBBATH]

 

You've got too much time on your hands.

 

However, Rolf Westerburg was one of two non riding reserves in the 1957 final. Jack Biggs was the other. Crutcher was unavailable on the day, injury i believe.

 

I doubt the stats compiler will need your help to be honest..

I'm glad another historical error has been corrected- evidently in this case the incorrect report of the Speedway Star in September 1957. Also two other sources." World Speedway Final- A history from 1929" by Maurice Jones (pub. 1979) and "A History of the World Speedway Championship" by Robert Bamford and Glynn Shailes (pub. 2002).All of these publications list Crutcher and Biggs as the non-riding reserves with no mention of Westerburg. The latter two books I find particularly reliable. The question now becomes who discovered the situation re Rolf Westerburg that occurred in 1957 and was being repeated in reference publications(see second book mentioned) as late as 2002. If true it that means the incorrect answer has been floating around for at least 45 years. So what has changed since then. BTW what is the official source that counts RW as a non riding reserve, was Crutcher injured on that day and didn't show up and what was RW even doing at Wembley that night. Crutcher was listed as first reserve, Biggs as second reserve so I reckon then with Crutcher injured Biggs would become 1st reserve and in theory whoever finished just behind Biggs in the qualifiers should become second reserve. The mystery deepens it seems to me!!