60's Riders Winter Jobs

[BOBBATH]

Does anyone out there recall this era?? I remember an article in the Star or Post at the time that said something like "Brian Brett- in the winter he cleans windows , in the summer he cleans up at speedway" and Brian was a top guy in 64-65. I also recall Ron Bagley being a taxi driver, Tommy Roper running a hairdressers shop(which I think became a chain and he did well), George Hunter being a long haul truck(lorry) driver, Jim Lightfoot being a panel beater(does that job still exist)?? Any other thoughts re this. I have not posted for a while because the topics are after my time which ended with the sixties-maybe we should have another section that is titled "Really Old Years gone By"!! Norbold,. Iris 123 may recall this era plus others of course.

[steve roberts]

Pete Wigley was a postman during his racing days (1970s)

Edited April 18, 2016 by steve roberts

[norbold]

I think Maurie Mattingly was a milkman as was Nobby Stock.

 

I don't think we'd better go into what Split Waterman did in his spare time.....

Edited April 18, 2016 by norbold

[Reviresco]

Charlie Benham, who was my first speedway hero at Romford in 1969, was a builder by trade and then, I believe, ran a garage in his home town of Oxford. Charlie was the only rider to represent the Bombers in all three of their guises - Rochester, Romford & West Ham.

[iris123]

Weren't the or at least one of the Templeton brothers farmers?Maybe Andy Meldrum as well.I seem to remember at least one rider who used to miss southern meetings at certain times of the year because of work on the farm.....

[daveallan81]

Bert Harkins sometimes doubled-up as a shortbread tin.

 

The sixties were not my era so I'll refrain from posting a list but from the Glasgow teams of the late 70's certainly till the mid-eighties I don't think any of the riders were full-time in speedway.

 

Edit to add: come to think of it I don't think any riders outwith the BL were full-time.

Edited April 18, 2016 by daveallan81

[iris123]

Barry Briggs did have his record shop in the 50s.Not sure if it lasted into the 60s or exactly when it closed

[Triple.H.]

Barry Briggs did have his record shop in the 50s.Not sure if it lasted into the 60s or exactly when it closed

Admittedly he wasn't a rider but photographer Mike Patrick had a record shop up the road from his house in Headington.

[iris123]

Admittedly he wasn't a rider but photographer Mike Patrick had a record shop up the road from his house in Headington.

Didn't know that.Thought he would have a boutique like Peter Osgood did

[Triple.H.]

He may well have. Remember reading a winter series about his life in the Speedway Star. He certainly had his fingers in lots of pies

[steve roberts]

Admittedly he wasn't a rider but photographer Mike Patrick had a record shop up the road from his house in Headington.

Remember the shop well!

[Reviresco]

Didn't know that.Thought he would have a boutique like Peter Osgood did

 

Brilliant. Mike Patrick organised wife swapping parties too didn't he (not too close to the mark, I hope)?

[Split]

Ron How was the licensee of a 300 year old pub called The Crown in Little Missenden. Gote Nordin had a newsagents in Sweden. Ronnie Moore's father ran a Wall of Death travelling show and I believe he rode there in the British off-season.

 

Edited April 19, 2016 by Split

[steve roberts]

Terry Betts used to run a garage in Essex during the sixties.

[Sidney the robin]

Does anyone out there recall this era?? I remember an article in the Star or Post at the time that said something like "Brian Brett- in the winter he cleans windows , in the summer he cleans up at speedway" and Brian was a top guy in 64-65. I also recall Ron Bagley being a taxi driver, Tommy Roper running a hairdressers shop(which I think became a chain and he did well), George Hunter being a long haul truck(lorry) driver, Jim Lightfoot being a panel beater(does that job still exist)?? Any other thoughts re this. I have not posted for a while because the topics are after my time which ended with the sixties-maybe we should have another section that is titled "Really Old Years gone By"!! Norbold,. Iris 123 may recall this era plus others of course.

All those riders you mentioned "BOBBATH" we're all pretty hard riders fair of course, Tommy R only see ride four or five times decent and tough as old boots.George Hunter also was a very good tough fair rider remembered for his fateful spill with Pete Craven but in his own right George was decent.

[E I Addio]

Zu

I think Maurie Mattingly was a milkman as was Nobby Stock.

 

I don't think we'd better go into what Split Waterman did in his spare time.....

Maury Mattingley made Speedwáy frames and forks, but in addition to that he made towel rails (not sure which was the main business and which was the sideline).

 

Norman Hunter was an electrician. Len Silver had his car showrooms in Manor Park. There was a Conventry rider whose surname escapes me Tony something, was a test rider for Triumph motorcycles. Eric Boothroyd was a grengocer. Ron mMountford had a garage or workshop of some kind. Super Simmo was an apprentice in Chatham dockyard when he started but soon turned full pro. Ove Fundin was some kind of paraffin supplier. Stan Stevens ran a brake and clutch service (in East Ham I think). Tommy Sweetman I believe had an opticians shop in Cheshunt, and I believe Howard Cole was an estate agent. Mike Broadbanks was a lorry driver. Norman Strachan worked in a sawmill (where he lost two fingers in an accident ).

[Reviresco]

Norman Hunter was an electrician. Len Silver had his car showrooms in Manor Park. There was a Conventry rider whose surname escapes me Tony something, was a test rider for Triumph motorcycles. Eric Boothroyd was a grengocer. Ron mMountford had a garage or workshop of some kind. Super Simmo was an apprentice in Chatham dockyard when he started but soon turned full pro. Ove Fundin was some kind of paraffin supplier. Stan Stevens ran a brake and clutch service (in East Ham I think). Tommy Sweetman I believe had an opticians shop in Cheshunt, and I believe Howard Cole was an estate agent. Mike Broadbanks was a lorry driver. Norman Strachan worked in a sawmill (where he lost two fingers in an accident ).

 

Ahh, Manor Park, one of my old stomping grounds. All fast food and massage parlours the last time I went there (not to one of the parlours).

 

Was the Coventry Tony, Lomas?

 

And Stan Stevens. What a great servant to British speedway was Stan. From Rayleigh in 1960, to Mildenhall in 1976 with Lockeren and Romford in between.

[E I Addio]

Ahh, Manor Park, one of my old stomping grounds. All fast food and massage parlours the last time I went there (not to one of the parlours).

 

Was the Coventry Tony, Lomas?

 

And Stan Stevens. What a great servant to British speedway was Stan. From Rayleigh in 1960, to Mildenhall in 1976 with Lockeren and Romford in between.

That's it, Tony Lomas. Thanks.

[norbold]

 

 

And Stan Stevens. What a great servant to British speedway was Stan. From Rayleigh in 1960, to Mildenhall in 1976 with Lockeren and Romford in between.

Indeed. Stan was my hero. In spite of the Fundins, Cravens and Collins etc. of this world, I always say that he is my favourite rider of all time. A great team man. His pairing with Ken McKinlay at West Ham was one of the best team pairings in speedway in my opinion. And who can forget the night he beat Briggo at West Ham!? Heat five on the 15th of July 1969. West Ham v. Swindon. That race lives in the memory of all West Ham supporters still. It was Briggo's only defeat of the night and not only that but three weeks later Briggo won the British Final at West Ham with a maximum 15 points....

 

I got to know Stan very well in later life - he even came to my 60th birthday party! He is such a modest man as well. He says he knew he was never going to be one of the greats but he just enjoyed riding and always tried to do his best for whatever team he was riding for. And he certainly did that. A wholehearted never give up trier.

Edited April 24, 2016 by norbold

[Reviresco]

That's it, Tony Lomas. Thanks.

 

My pleasure EIA.

 

Indeed. Stan was my hero. In spite of the Fundins, Cravens and Collins etc. of this world, I always say that he is my favourite rider of all time. A great team man. His pairing with Ken McKinlay at West Ham was one of the best team pairings in speedway in my opinion. And who can forget the night he beat Briggo at West Ham!? Heat five on the 15th of July 1969. West Ham v. Swindon. That race lives in the memory of all West Ham supporters still. It was Briggo's only defeat of the night and not only that but three weeks later Briggo won the British Final at West Ham with a maximum 15 points....

 

I got to know Stan very well in later life - he even came to my 60th birthday party! He is such a modest man as well. He says he knew he was never going to be one of the greats but he just enjoyed riding and always tried to do his best for whatever team he was riding for. And he certainly did that. A wholehearted never give up trier.

 

If it wasn't for a similar great club man in Charlie Benham, I would probably have adopted Stan Stevens as my favourite too, after he had left West Ham, following the Lokeren disaster, and moved down and over to Romford. Stan rode his first meeting for the Bombers against Rayleigh on 17 July 1971, after a less than successful return from his Lokeren injuries at West Ham at the beginning of the season. Stan recorded two heat wins and two last places in that meeting in the No. 3 position. Stan was never particularly at home at Brooklands but, of course, never complained and just got on with it, always giving of his best with a smile never far from his lips, always making himself available to the fans for a chat, an autograph or even a photo - not as common then as now, with the advent of cameras in mobile phones - who would've envisaged that development back then? Stan's best results came on away trips to Hull and Sunderland, when he top scored for the Bombers.

 

With Romford's forced closure, due to one dissenting local resident (Mr Stretch), Stan then found himself back at Custom House in 1972 with the Bombers relocation there, and was appointed captain, moving on when Custom House closed, to Barrow. I lost track with Stan for a while after that, but was delighted to regularly see him ride at Mildenhall in 1975 and 1976, when in his early 40's. Still the 100% committed club man, still with the smile and the ever approachable nature.

 

Riders like Stan are the backbone of the sport and he added a lasting treasured memory of those days.