Robbie B Posted January 14, 2020 Report Share Posted January 14, 2020 iris123 were there any strikes in pre-war British speedway that you have come across? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted January 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) Can’t think of one off hand. Clem Beckett the socialist rider, who was killed in the Spanish civil war Organised a riders union. Don’t think he organised a strike though. But it certainly was part of social life back then. Strikes, Communist MPs, Blackshirts etc Speedway riders in the UK though, we’re earning astronomical sums Edited January 14, 2020 by iris123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie B Posted January 14, 2020 Report Share Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) Just looking through some old papers online and found regarding a potential British speedway strike in a Daily Mirror from 27 July 1937 I know from reading several Speedway News papers form the time that there was a lot of ill feeling towards American riders at the time, from taking British riders jobs not just from the riders but also in the letter pages from supporters. Regarding poor US riders when a British would have ridden much more better for their team. Shamke that I do not possess a full collection of pre-war Speedway News, but I found this in the editional of the 8 August 1937 The 3rd July 1937 Speedway News reported that Lionel Van Praag of the Riders Association was given a place on the Speedway Control Board from a recommendation from the Auto Cycle Union Track Committee. I'am currently back onto my computer copies of pre-war Speedway News that might hopefully add some more information to his news story and your excellent topic iris123 Edited January 14, 2020 by Robbie B 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie B Posted January 14, 2020 Report Share Posted January 14, 2020 From the 8 August 1937 Speedway News Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie B Posted January 14, 2020 Report Share Posted January 14, 2020 The next of this article states Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted January 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2020 Brilliant article Robbie. Just wondering if these Americans were the Putt Mossman troupe that caused all the fuss? Also interesting that another fuss was expected over the 'small car racing' Thanks for that 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie B Posted January 14, 2020 Report Share Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, iris123 said: Brilliant article Robbie. Just wondering if these Americans were the Putt Mossman troupe that caused all the fuss? Also interesting that another fuss was expected over the 'small car racing' Thanks for that At this I do not know the names of these riders and this is something I will discover somehow.. You may be correct in regards the Putt Mossman troupe but as yet I have not come across this name, but who knows what I will find. But I do think that it is ironic that with some many complaints about the standards of American riders by fellow riders and supporters that in that years world Final it as a USA 1-2-3 with Jack Milne, Wilbur Lamoreaux and Cordy Milne. I will keep looking online as I do not possess that many 1937 Speedway News in PDF format. The 29 September Daily Mirror reported that the American riders turned down an opportunity to ride against England in England in five official test matches. So there must be some bitter feelings still between the riders as to what happen on the 1937. Many thanks iris123 for creating this topic as it has been a really enjoyable read. Edited January 14, 2020 by Robbie B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted January 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2020 I think it is those guys. Earl Farrand, Shorty Campbell, Manuel Trujillo . But I thought they were based at Hackney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie B Posted January 14, 2020 Report Share Posted January 14, 2020 8 minutes ago, iris123 said: I think it is those guys. Earl Farrand, Shorty Campbell, Manuel Trujillo . But I thought they were based at Hackney You many be right I still have found their names yet. But I found this in the Daily Express on 10 June 1937 relating to a different possible speedway strike regarding pay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie B Posted January 14, 2020 Report Share Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) Found theses name at last in the Daily Mirror 24 July 1937 and you were right with names iris123 Edited January 14, 2020 by Robbie B 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie B Posted January 14, 2020 Report Share Posted January 14, 2020 To confirm the Daily Mirror reporting regarding the speedway strike being called off is this report in the 27 July 1937 Daily Express 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie B Posted January 14, 2020 Report Share Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) I know this is off topic but the Daily Mirror reports the 1936 World Final attendance odf about 74,000 fans which is more than the 65,000 I have seen in books. interestingly it reports that the reason why Eric Langton was not excluded for breaking the tapes in the run-off is because under match race rule there cannot be a false start. sadly, the forum will not allow me to upload any more articles due to overgoing my mb allocation for this space Edited January 14, 2020 by Robbie B 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted January 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2020 On 1/14/2020 at 11:10 AM, Robbie B said: iris123 were there any strikes in pre-war British speedway that you have come across? Found something from 1931 The Daily Mail reveals that a strike nearly preceded the speedway test between England and Australia, the riders demanding the doubling of the fiver which is the usual appearance fee. Despite the hothead's insistence on a strike, wiser counsels prevailed and the matter will be thrashed out at a special meeting of the National Speedway Association, when it is expected that a decision to make the fee for test appearances of 10 pounds, will be reached Presumably all went well. No mention of this on International Speedway 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie B Posted January 15, 2020 Report Share Posted January 15, 2020 (edited) 32 minutes ago, iris123 said: Found something from 1931 The Daily Mail reveals that a strike nearly preceded the speedway test between England and Australia, the riders demanding the doubling of the fiver which is the usual appearance fee. Despite the hothead's insistence on a strike, wiser counsels prevailed and the matter will be thrashed out at a special meeting of the National Speedway Association, when it is expected that a decision to make the fee for test appearances of 10 pounds, will be reached Presumably all went well. No mention of this on International Speedway Nice One iris123 another to your tlist in this excellent topic iris123 I have just read this from the Daily Mail did you at the bottom of the news story that it stated that now Vic Huxley is definity World Champion the question of the next challenger becomes important. With it mentioning Eric Langton and Haig as outstanding northern riders , and Burton, Jack Parker and Dicky Case having a strong for the south. And as Tom Stenner writes the committee should start arranging eliminating races between these riders. I wonder of they considered the Star Riders Champion as World champion afterall Vic Huxley did win the 1930 event as would have been the reigning champion at the time of this news story. iris123 you might stumble across something interesting here and extremely debatable were Star Riders considered World Champions? may be a topic for a separate page. Edited January 15, 2020 by Robbie B 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted January 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2020 Yes there were many titles considered to be world champion. Can discuss it on the un-official world championships thread. there might even be Star Riders thread buried away. Sure I have seen, maybe even posted that there were one or two riders before 1928 considered to be world champion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie B Posted January 15, 2020 Report Share Posted January 15, 2020 (edited) iris123 I found another in the Daily Mail 1 June 1935 page 14, titled riders Threaten A Strike) news story by Tom Stenner. Riders threatening to strike over non-payment of their £2 booking fee this season (1935) the strike is due to be called y the Riders Association and unless they received contracts on the same terms as 1934 they would in 2 days time. And another rider strike mentioned in the Daily Mail on 8 April 1938, page 17. (titled Uncensored Sports Parade), in an article by Tom Stenner regarding riders who easily earn £60 - £100 per week demanding a £300 singing on fee. Edited January 15, 2020 by Robbie B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted January 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2020 Oh on that 2 pound fee I found an article post war from 1949 British speedway riders threaten to strike on Saturday unless their demands for more prize money are met. They demand that prize money be increased from 2 pounds each point scored to 3 pounds. Riders made their demands after the formation of a junior league, which has 4 of the heats during a meeting .The senior men claim this has cut their prize money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie B Posted January 15, 2020 Report Share Posted January 15, 2020 (edited) 5 minutes ago, iris123 said: Oh on that 2 pound fee I found an article post war from 1949 British speedway riders threaten to strike on Saturday unless their demands for more prize money are met. They demand that prize money be increased from 2 pounds each point scored to 3 pounds. Riders made their demands after the formation of a junior league, which has 4 of the heats during a meeting .The senior men claim this has cut their prize money I'm only 1938 so far but following form my previous message in 1938 Bluey Wilkinson, Lionel van Pragg, Bill Kitchen and Eric langton pulled out of a test match between England and Australia vs USA unless their payment was increased by £2 a point and 10 shilling start. Article written by Tom Stenner in the Daily Mail 13 September 1938 page 14 and titled 'speedway strike'. The riders complained that they were underpaid in the previous test match by receiving 30 shillings a point and £1 a start. Edited January 15, 2020 by Robbie B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted January 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2020 According to International Speedway, Vic Huxley failed to appear for Australia v England in their 1932-33 series in his homeland because the promoters' failed to meet his demanded appearance fee' 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted January 15, 2020 Report Share Posted January 15, 2020 45 minutes ago, Robbie B said: Nice One iris123 another to your tlist in this excellent topic iris123 I have just read this from the Daily Mail did you at the bottom of the news story that it stated that now Vic Huxley is definity World Champion the question of the next challenger becomes important. With it mentioning Eric Langton and Haig as outstanding northern riders , and Burton, Jack Parker and Dicky Case having a strong for the south. And as Tom Stenner writes the committee should start arranging eliminating races between these riders. I wonder of they considered the Star Riders Champion as World champion afterall Vic Huxley did win the 1930 event as would have been the reigning champion at the time of this news story. iris123 you might stumble across something interesting here and extremely debatable were Star Riders considered World Champions? may be a topic for a separate page. I don't think the Star Riders Championship was ever thought of as the World Championship, but, in 1931, the Golden Helmet Match Race Championship was promoted as the World Championship. Vic Huxley was match race champion in 1931 and that's what the article is about, i.e. finding challengers for the Golden Helmet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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