Retired Too Soon in the 50s

[Beirao]

Who do you remembervgiving the sport up too early? 

https://classicspeedwaymemories.webador.co.uk/december-2023/retired-too-soon-1950s

[norbold]

If you are talking purely about riders who retired in the 1950s, I'd say that Arthur Forrest must be the prime example.

[chunky]

1 hour ago, norbold said:

If you are talking purely about riders who retired in the 1950s, I'd say that Arthur Forrest must be the prime example.

Closely followed by Brian Crutcher...

[iris123]

It had a number of top riders that had very short careers.

If you include Crutcher who went jut into the 60s. Then Tommy Miller and Knutsson for example also had a career of around or under a decade

This seems on a level found back in the early days when a lot of riders got in, made i guess a lot of money and got out quite early. Guess partly due to the sheer danger, seeing colleagues injured or worse, and having enough money to set them up in a more family friendly career

[Sotonian]

8 hours ago, chunky said:

Closely followed by Brian Crutcher...

In 1960.

[norbold]

8 hours ago, chunky said:

Closely followed by Brian Crutcher...

Who retired in 1960, so not in the 1950s.

[chunky]

2 hours ago, Sotonian said:

In 1960.

 

1 hour ago, norbold said:

Who retired in 1960, so not in the 1950s.

We're going to quibble over one year - or more precisely, a couple of months? It seems strange that you would argue that point when neither Soderman nor Kaiser "retired" in the 1950's either...

Edited December 12, 2023 by chunky

[norbold]

1 hour ago, chunky said:

 

We're going to quibble over one year - or more precisely, a couple of months? It seems strange that you would argue that point when neither Soderman nor Kaiser "retired" in the 1950's either...

Where did I say that Soderman and Kaiser retired too soon? I'm sorry, I must have missed my own post.

[iris123]

15 minutes ago, norbold said:

Where did I say that Soderman and Kaiser retired too soon? I'm sorry, I must have missed my own post.

I assume he means on the actual link, which i hadn't looked at

But the link does stragely mention riders like Crutcher, Knutsson, Soderman, Kaiser and others who rode into,some well into the 60s

But not Tommy Miller

 

[BOBBATH]

A most interesting list- I immediatly thought of Arthur Forrest-wasn't he quite wealthy thru' a family business? I was lucky enough to see Bjorn Knutson win his only World Final in 1965, I couldn't believe he retired so soon-a great rider. I think though riding put him under tremendous mental pressur, Brian Crutcher too. Didn't Tommy Miller have health issues?

[Beirao]

Missed a few then! I was basing this on  age and looking at those who stopped before they were 27/28. Miller was well into his 30s when he retired - born 1924. Forrest was a miss by me though! Agree some didn't retire until the 60s - Knutson being a glaring example. The file I used was riders who started riding iin the 50s. A better title might have been "Retired too earky from the 50s" Not my finest moment though hope it was interesting none the less. Off to look out the dunces cap! 

Edited December 12, 2023 by Beirao

[norbold]

1 hour ago, BOBBATH said:

A most interesting list- I immediatly thought of Arthur Forrest-wasn't he quite wealthy thru' a family business? I was lucky enough to see Bjorn Knutson win his only World Final in 1965, I couldn't believe he retired so soon-a great rider. I think though riding put him under tremendous mental pressur, Brian Crutcher too. Didn't Tommy Miller have health issues?

I was lucky enough to see Bjorn every week at Custom House. Just pure class, week in, week out. If he hadn't retired so early, I am sure he would be right up there with the usual suspects in the unanswerable question "Greatest rider ever?"

[chunky]

4 hours ago, norbold said:

Where did I say that Soderman and Kaiser retired too soon? I'm sorry, I must have missed my own post.

Tsk, tsk... Time of the month, eh? Not like you to not read things, Norman...

[BL65]

Dominic Perry, from Dublin, decided to retire after Shelbourne closed in 1954. He was only 24 and had made excellent progress in just over two seasons in the National League with Wimbledon. Perry was third top scorer for England in the test series in South Africa in 1953-54. Admittedly it was not a permanent retirement, as Trevor Redmond persuaded him to take part in four challenge matches staged at Shelbourne Park and two meetings at St Austell in 1961, but his serious speedway career ended in 1954. He resisted further offers to ride in the UK and returned to work on his farm.

[iris123]

Talking Wimbledon. You could also add Dennis Gray, who retired both young and in the 50s. Bit of a sensation but injury curtailed his career. So maybe doesn't quite fit

[steve roberts]

2 hours ago, iris123 said:

Talking Wimbledon. You could also add Dennis Gray, who retired both young and in the 50s. Bit of a sensation but injury curtailed his career. So maybe doesn't quite fit

If I recall he was in the RAF?

[iris123]

28 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

If I recall he was in the RAF?

It is an absolute interesting point. Wasn't it his years military service ? And did all speedway riders have to do it? Because I can't really recall others having to put their career on hold . Or was it because he hadn't reached a certain level before he was due ? Or maybe he was of such a mind that he actually wanted to do the year

Of course I remember Tommy Janson having the break in his career for his military service in Sweden. But that was later and another nation

Edited December 12, 2023 by iris123

[BOBBATH]

6 hours ago, Beirao said:

Missed a few then! I was basing this on  age and looking at those who stopped before they were 27/28. Miller was well into his 30s when he retired - born 1924. Forrest was a miss by me though! Agree some didn't retire until the 60s - Knutson being a glaring example. The file I used was riders who started riding iin the 50s. A better title might have been "Retired too earky from the 50s" Not my finest moment though hope it was interesting none the less. Off to look out the dunces cap! 

No problem Beirao, I just enjoyed reading your list and comments. Regarding Tommy Miller, didn't he lose his edge after  Glasgow closed and he went to Coventry (I think) or maybe Leicester. Was it rumoured that he liked his booze too much. He certainly rocketed to fame in his Glasgow years. Anybody know when he passed?

[steve roberts]

55 minutes ago, iris123 said:

It is an absolute interesting point. Wasn't it his years military service ? And did all speedway riders have to do it? Because I can't really recall others having to put their career on hold . Or was it because he hadn't reached a certain level before he was due ? Or maybe he was of such a mind that he actually wanted to do the year

Of course I remember Tommy Janson having the break in his career for his military service in Sweden. But that was later and another nation

I seem to remember my mother saying that he was serving in the RAF when he rode for Oxford?

I've just checked and apparently his RAF posting was cancelled so he could continue to ride for Oxford?

Edited December 12, 2023 by steve roberts

[Beirao]

9 hours ago, BOBBATH said:

No problem Beirao, I just enjoyed reading your list and comments. Regarding Tommy Miller, didn't he lose his edge after  Glasgow closed and he went to Coventry (I think) or maybe Leicester. Was it rumoured that he liked his booze too much. He certainly rocketed to fame in his Glasgow years. Anybody know when he passed?

He was sold to  Motherwell in 1954 as Glasgow tried to balance their books to allow them to start the season.- they folded after a few weeks. He was never accepted by the Motherwell fans and moved to Coventry after just a few months. He rode for the Bees until mid 1956 when he joined Oxford for the last couple of months of the season before retiring.. He died in 1975, just 51. Have heard the rumours too.