BOBBATH Posted March 3, 2022 Report Share Posted March 3, 2022 Anyone (particularly old Bees fans). know how Cap'n Jim is doing these days. He was a stalwart of the great Coventry teams of the mid sixties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted March 18, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2022 I think I am getting too old for this website. I recognise that Jim Lightfoot was from a previous era-although Norbold and BL 65 will probably recall him. Anyway after doing extensive (is there no other sort) research- Capn`Jim is still with us (same age as Reg Fearman). Good for Jim -a World Finalist in 1963- I am worried these riders will be forgotten. I would ask again for memories of Jim- Norbold, Chunky , Iris ,anyone.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted March 18, 2022 Report Share Posted March 18, 2022 I know that Tony Lomas once set up in business with Jim selling reproduction furniture but their relationship didn't work out . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrs Posted March 18, 2022 Report Share Posted March 18, 2022 Hi Bob, as far as I know and touch wood Jim is still doing fine. It was Jim who got me into speedway in the 50's as he used to work with my old man. In the 60's he had a body shop business in Exhall with with Mick Blackburn who used to be team manager at Brandon at one time. I trust that most of all of the old teams of the fifties and sixties at Brandon are still going strong, and I assume that John H and Nigel H are still in the hotel and golf course business. I remember that 1963 Final at Wembley I was there and I think Jim made reserve the following season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted March 18, 2022 Report Share Posted March 18, 2022 14 hours ago, BOBBATH said: I think I am getting too old for this website. I recognise that Jim Lightfoot was from a previous era-although Norbold and BL 65 will probably recall him. Anyway after doing extensive (is there no other sort) research- Capn`Jim is still with us (same age as Reg Fearman). Good for Jim -a World Finalist in 1963- I am worried these riders will be forgotten. I would ask again for memories of Jim- Norbold, Chunky , Iris ,anyone.... I'm afraid to say I don't have any particular memories of Jim Lightfoot. I saw him several times of course at New Cross, West Ham and Hackney when he rode for Coventry and in various individual meetings, including the 1963 World Final that jrs mentions, where he came 14th. But I don't have any outstanding memories of him other than the fact he was a good competent rider. Sorry, Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted March 18, 2022 Report Share Posted March 18, 2022 15 hours ago, BOBBATH said: I think I am getting too old for this website. I recognise that Jim Lightfoot was from a previous era-although Norbold and BL 65 will probably recall him. Anyway after doing extensive (is there no other sort) research- Capn`Jim is still with us (same age as Reg Fearman). Good for Jim -a World Finalist in 1963- I am worried these riders will be forgotten. I would ask again for memories of Jim- Norbold, Chunky , Iris ,anyone.... Unfortunately, I'm not as old as you lot, so I don't actually have any memories of Jim. I'm sure I would have seen him ride, but I was only five when he retired... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted March 18, 2022 Report Share Posted March 18, 2022 Just digressing a little, it's an interesting comment that you made, Bob, about certain riders being forgotten - particularly English world finalists. It's not unusual to see stories about the old'uns, but names like Jim Lightfoot, Dick Fisher, Brian Brett, and George White are often ignored. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midland Red Posted March 18, 2022 Report Share Posted March 18, 2022 I seem to recall a succession of Bees home meetings decided by heat 13 (last heat) 5-1s for Booey and Cap’n Jim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted March 18, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2022 Thanks for all the memories folks- in answer to JRS I was looking at a team photo of Coventry in 1964- last year before the BL was established. Of that great team, I think the only two still with us are Jim Lightfoot and Rick France- Mountford, Boocock, Owen, Biggs, all passed away. Have to say I am not too sure if Col Cottrell is still alive though. Also Chunky- you are right that guys like Brian Brett, Dick Fisher and George White are overlooked. unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted March 19, 2022 Report Share Posted March 19, 2022 4 hours ago, BOBBATH said: Thanks for all the memories folks- in answer to JRS I was looking at a team photo of Coventry in 1964- last year before the BL was established. Of that great team, I think the only two still with us are Jim Lightfoot and Rick France- Mountford, Boocock, Owen, Biggs, all passed away. Have to say I am not too sure if Col Cottrell is still alive though. Also Chunky- you are right that guys like Brian Brett, Dick Fisher and George White are overlooked. unfortunately. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Col Cottrell passed away in 1982... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted March 19, 2022 Report Share Posted March 19, 2022 From what I can see, the following NL riders from 1964 are still with us are : George Major, Colin McKee, Ove Fundin, Billy Bales, Trevor Hedge, Jim Lightfoot, Rick France, Jim Yacoby, Bill Powell, Norman Nevitt, Barry Briggs, Mike Broadbank, Martin Ashby, John Bishop, Mike Keen, Eddie Reeves, Reg Luckhurst, Bjorn Knutson, Stan Stevens, Norman Hunter, Ray Cresp, Alf Hagon, Sverre Harrfedlt, Gote Nordin, Roy Trigg,. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted March 19, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2022 Thanks chunky- that cheered me up- but I think George Major in 1964 was a heat leader for CH in PL, maybe he rode a few meetings in NL (for Oxford maybe) but he was one of the stars of the PL primarily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted March 19, 2022 Report Share Posted March 19, 2022 18 minutes ago, BOBBATH said: Thanks chunky- that cheered me up- but I think George Major in 1964 was a heat leader for CH in PL, maybe he rode a few meetings in NL (for Oxford maybe) but he was one of the stars of the PL primarily. Yeah, he did have a few meetings for Oxford - and Norwich (in the Britannia Shield), which is why i included him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted March 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2022 Understood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split Posted March 20, 2022 Report Share Posted March 20, 2022 Jim rose from second string in 1961 (a 4 point average -see below) to world finalist in 1963. Quite an achievement! Riders Scores & Averages M R Pts B Ave M P Jack Young 37 101 194 11 8.12 2 2 Nigel Boocock 37 98 179 9 7.67 2 1 Les Owen 36 96 159 19 7.42 3 2 Ron Mountford 38 96 140 20 6.67 4 1 Nick Nicholls 38 91 105 22 5.58 - - Kazimierz Bentke 32 66 64 12 4.61 - - Jim Lightfoot 38 74 65 10 4.05 - 2 Maury Mattingley 6 10 7 0 2.80 - 1 Rick France 2 0 0 0 0.00 - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted March 20, 2022 Report Share Posted March 20, 2022 3 hours ago, Split said: Jim rose from second string in 1961 (a 4 point average -see below) to world finalist in 1963. Quite an achievement! Riders Scores & Averages M R Pts B Ave M P Jack Young 37 101 194 11 8.12 2 2 Nigel Boocock 37 98 179 9 7.67 2 1 Les Owen 36 96 159 19 7.42 3 2 Ron Mountford 38 96 140 20 6.67 4 1 Nick Nicholls 38 91 105 22 5.58 - - Kazimierz Bentke 32 66 64 12 4.61 - - Jim Lightfoot 38 74 65 10 4.05 - 2 Maury Mattingley 6 10 7 0 2.80 - 1 Rick France 2 0 0 0 0.00 - And then there was Bryan Elliott, who actually still was a second string with Leicester when he qualified for the World Final in 1960, having a five point average. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted March 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2022 I must admit that was a disadvantage of the old one off World Final-though it was still exciting to have everything decided in one night. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrs Posted March 20, 2022 Report Share Posted March 20, 2022 (edited) On 3/19/2022 at 3:27 AM, chunky said: I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Col Cottrell passed away in 1982... The fine sight of Booey and Col on a five one coming off turn one onto the back straight at Brandon in the first heat, was a regular treat in the sixties. Used to know Col quite well when he had his unit near the ring road, one of the good guys and an oft underrated rider.Was so shocked when I came back to the UK in 83 to learn of his sad passing at such a young age. RIP Col Edited March 21, 2022 by jrs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted March 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2022 What did Col die from?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrs Posted March 21, 2022 Report Share Posted March 21, 2022 2 hours ago, BOBBATH said: What did Col die from?? I do believe it might have been leukaemia, but not 100% certain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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