Igor From The Red Herring Fleet

[Guest]

By JOHN HYAM

THE name of early 1960s Russian rider Igor Baranov will mean little to most speedway followers. He turned up amidst much local publicity for a second-half ride at New Cross in the early 1960s.

Amidst a lot of ballyhoo by then New Cross boss Johnnie Hoskins, Baranov appeared on what looked to be a newly-chromed bike and wearing a red race jacket complete with the hammer-and-sickle emblem.

His arrival at New Cross came at a time when Russian fishing fleets were alleged to be over fishing traditional British areas in the North Sea. So, in his introduction, Johnnie told fans, "Igor has escaped from the Red Herring fleet!"

In his race, Baranov was outclassed, but that didn't upset Johnnie. He told supporters, "We have still to see the best of him."

But that never happened, and those who bothered to check for further details on the Russian found no evidence of him as a rider in his claimed homeland.

Eventually, it leaked out. Igor Baranov was British junior Jack Jones who had been persuaded to take part in another Hoskins' publicity stunt. Those who knew Hoskins better should have spotted the giveaway clue when Johnnie mentioned the words 'Red Herring.'

Jones was not seen again at New Cross, but he did have outings at Stoke and Wolverhampton in the early days of the Provincial League in the 1960s.

Edited November 29, 2016 by Guest

[steve roberts]

Reg Fearman mentions Igor in his most excellent book when they first met in a cafe opposite the entrance to Stoke Speedway. Igor's partner acted as an interpreter and just talked gibberish. It was an act just to get Igor rides at the time. They met up years later at Wimbledon Speedway and Igor mentioned that he was now in the world of wrestling! What a character!

Edited November 19, 2016 by steve roberts