britmet

I'm going to record this shortly under 'Australasian Championships' (suitably qualified,) on the Speedway Champions website, - seems the most appropriate place. http://www.speedwaychampions.com/--australasia.php

The FIM regional authorities having been given a degree of autonomy, this authority is no doubt trying to demonstrate its status (in the speedway sphere, - no idea how they stand in other m/c sports out there - ?) After a number of successful Sidecar Speedway Oceania Championship years seems they want to expand. FIME through SEC have a European Championship, this will be FIMO's equivalent.

Doug, Jack, Harry, Alan(Allen) & Bob Serrurier. (click image for full view of the 5). www.speedway-sa.com

Ernie Hancock also started and ran something called the International Speedway Supporters Club, ( - ?, wording tbc) circa 1963-4. It possibly ran trips abroad. Known of to badge collectors because it had its own badge, - white race-jacket shape, with a Union Jack within - , so any collector had to join and get one. They also issued year bars for the badge. Mine's long since gone, but someone may still have one to show.

Take a look at the photograph plus all the GH and SH winners over time.

Appointed by the local club, WSRC, as their webmaster for 10 years, and via that and European connection, into the Sp.Star.

Freddie Williams had great successes in South Africa and Rhodesia in the '50s, - a time when all the World-class riders, Briggs, Moore, Craven, Crutcher, Nygren, Fundin, etc , spent the winter there - , including Golden Helmet MRC wins in both countries. He was undefeated SA GH champ in '53/'54, and had a 10.56 league average over his 2 league season there. Details HERE

The 2019 British Sidecar Speedway Championship was won again by Mark Cossar, - his 5th national title. Partnered this season by Gareth Williams, Cossar won the 3rd and Final round of the official ACU competition at Somerset, (the Leicester-cum-Kings Lynn round was cancelled,) with an unbeaten score, for a total of 43 pts overall, (11,16,16.) 2nd place went to Mick Cave & Bradley Steer, (11,14,13 =38pts); 3rd was Paul Whitelam & Alan Elliott after a run-off with Will Penfold & Ricky Pay, each having totalled 35 points. http://www.speedwaychampions.com/sidecar-champions.php

Ivor Brown was a mild-mannered quietly spoken man, pleasant to meet and speak with. It's only envy by rival supporters, whipped up by press and ghost writers of a certain biography, that gave rise to Ivor's title. Most top successful riders have gone thru that phase, - e.g. Fundin, and even Mauger himself, who was one of the least accommodating of fans. That said, Brown was never successful as an individual, - i.e. in individual mtgs. It was his consistent team performances and scoring, which put him at the top of Prov'l Lge averages until Mauger rose to the fore, that made his name and reputation.

There used to be 4 rakers on each bend, 4 at the starting line (beside the Starting Marshall,) 2 pushers-off for each helmet colour (after having collected bikes from the pits to the pit gate and on to the track,) : that's 20 guys that had to be paid ! So we know why they went, . . . .but as with volunteers on other functions today, I doubt there'd no shortage of supporters offering to get closer to the action.

New venue and date for Rd.3, . . .and the Final in Sept. http://www.speedwaychampions.com/sidecar-champions.php

Maybe true independence would, ( - ?, I'm unsure,) but they have more influence at Westminster than they would ever have in Brussels !

Got all the Roman roads topic right, (plus a few others.)

But Scotland supposedly doesn't want independence, it wants to leave one Union, the UK, to join another Union, the EU, - ? ? The 2016 referendum (on EU membership) was a single entity UK referendum. It was not geographical area by geographical area, - no more for Scotland than for Yorkshire, Rutland, or Kent to make a choice of their own.

What a collection ! . . .and such a range of stuff. Enough parts alone to build a dozen or more bikes. Then there's the race jackets, the photos, posters, and books. And the unique bike collection, - old ('20s), '50s, and newer, (of the last few decades.) There's a full day's reading/viewing and more, just to get thru the auction item lists, if you've the spare day or 2. Worth it !