norbold

Almost all...Don't forget Grzegorz WALASEK.

The first three in the first open meeting that took place there were: Paul Dowdall, Rocky Coutts and Mick Camier. The 1975 Iwade Junior team included Dave Ross, Paul Dowdall, Gary Keown, Ray Allen, Kevin Garcia, Roy Barwick, Paul Heller and Alan Diprose. Other early riders there were Pip Austen, Colin Clark, Fred Stubberfield, Brendan Shillito, John Douglas, Duane Kent, Dave Basson, Dave Cullen, Steve Davey and Nigel Sparshott. In 1983, the Thomases (Barry and his brother Ivor) organised the juniors in to teams called The Mustangs, the Shires, The Stallions and the Colts, Riders included Ray Morton and Chris Mulverhill (Mustangs), Paul Whittaker and Mark Fordham (Shires), Terry Mussett and Paul Tillman (Stallions) and Paul Muchene and someone called Mark Loram (Colts). Andy Galvin also had some of his early experience at the track.

John Holder at West Ham. If he finished less than half a lap behind everyone else we saw it as a victory. We also had two young second halfers called Dave Jessup and Barry Thomas. I wonder whatever happened to them.

OK, following further discussions with Tempus about the Classic Meetings book and its format etc., I can now give the following update. Firstly, I will be co-editing the book with falcace. The book will consist of 20 chapters and will include two meetings from each decade 20s - 00s. This, as you will observe, makes 18. There will therefore be two "wild card" chapters, which can be from any decade. Falcace and I would welcome your suggestions on which matches to include before we make a final decision and we thought that, in any case, the two extra chapters would be those which are most popular with Forumers. We are hoping to make a start on the book as soon as possible with a view to having it published in time for next year's British Grand Prix. I have already made a note of the suggestions posted on here, but further suggestions would be welcome. You can either post on here or e-mail them direct to falcace or me. So get posting or e-mailing!

Just looking at that line-up, it strikes me that the two wild cards are better than most of the actual GP riders!

See under Speedway General Discussions

I don't think I need to to. It's all been said!

Arthur Forrest and Bill Gilbert were certainly post-war only. So it seems likely they all were. I reckon the dates 1947-9 are just about right.

I don't think that can be right wollongong. There was no speedway in Great Britain in 1943 apart from Belle Vue. Wimbledon certainly didn't have a team in 1943. Mike Erskine joined Wimbledon in 1946 and rode for them in 1947 and 48 so that would still fit in with your original dates.

Dont quite understand what you are saying???? Are you trying to predict what will happen!? Oh dear!

1. Jason Crump 2. Greg Hancok 3. Andreas Jonsson 4. Mark Loram I reckon it was a shame about the clash between Leigh Adams and Tony Rickardsson in the semi-final that saw them both go out.....

The story so far... On Saturday, for the first time in 37 years, I met up with the man who originally nicknamed me norbold back in 1965 (see General Discussions). He is now the headmaster of a primary school in Hertfordshire. At a school jumble sale one of the items left over was a small autograph book. The organisers were going to throw it away but my creator, Andy, kept it. He showed it to me on Saturday. It was the autograph book of a Wembley Lions supporter in the early 1930s and contained, amongst others, the autographs of Tom Farndon, Vic Huxley, Sprouts Elder, Bluey Wilkinson, Lionel Van Praag, Dick Case, Gus Kuhn, Buster Frogley and Wally Kilmister. There was also a real photograph of a young Johnnie Hoskins stuck in on the back page together with his autograph. Andy asked me if it was worth anything. I told him it was worth a fair bit in the right circles with those names in. As I was leaving at the end of an enjoyable afternoon, Andy gave me the book and said, "Here take it. It's no good to me." I told him again it was worth a bit of money and he said, "No, I don't want anything for it, I'm just glad to have found someone to whom it means something." I'm glad I met up with my creator again 37 years on....

Yes. It's Jim you have to thank, even though it's George Bason not Basin! There's also Alfred George Boyce, George Henry Butler, George Farmer, George Fisher, George (Huck) Finn, George Gower, George Saunders, George Smith and George Wall. Any good?

OK, we'll go for Peace then. It looks as though they were all juniors around 1948. Arthur Forrest, of course, went on to become one of England's best (3rd in the World Championship in 1956) but at the time of your autograph book only just starting out. Perhaps poor old Stringer/Zilinger/Linger never made it beyond the second half...

Yes, could be Peace. He rode for Odsal in four matches in 1949 and scored the grand total of one point! On the other hand, I know it's stretching it a bit, but there's no chance it could be Ron Mason is there? He was a regular Odsal rider of the period. Can't find George Stringer in my Who's Who or in any of the Stenner's Annuals of the period.

Yes, sorry, I meant to mention those three as well. You're quite right about Bob Lovell and Jack Hunt, Jim. I agree it's more likely to be Jack Hunt as Jack Hughes was later - don't think he was around in 47/48 period. Also drawn a blank with Zilinger. Also, on your main list I don't recognise the name Ron Pearson. All the others were top class riders. Pearson anyone?

Thanks Gem! I didn't recognise any of the names on your "other autographs" list, woolongong, so I looked them up in my 1949 "Who's Who in Speedway". Not one of them is mentioned. Maybe they were supporters, track staff, referees, announcers, time keepers, management....They don't seem to have been riders. Incidentally, England won the Test match at Bradford on 5 July 1947, 65-43. Scorers: England: Jack Parker 9, Norman Parker 13, Bill Kitchen 16, Tommy Price 7, Alec Statham 16, Ron Clarke 4, Malcolm Craven (res) 0, Les Wotton (res) 0 Australia: Vic Duggan 16, Max Grosskreutz 10, Lionel Van Praag 3, Bill Longley 6, Frank Dolan 3, Ron Johnson 5, Aub Lawson (res) 0, Ray Duggan (res) 0. There's quite a few different names there to the ones you have.

Well said, Grachan. The most sensible comment on the whole sorry saga so far.

Two Taurus's what? Sorry, Gem!

I'm with Summit....

No, but the highest paid sportsman in Poland will be there.

Yes. Well done Poland. I'm glad they proved me wrong. Fantastic meeting. And you are so right about the joker. It would have been a travesty if Australia had got through because they could use the joker.

I believe there are Forum members who do that sort of thing. Perhaps one will offer...I was at the 1972 Internationale. I might be on your film! Ronnie Moore scored 13 points but lost to Ivan Mauger in the run-off for first place. Banger came third with 12.

Yes! I'm sure it would be of interest, but, as you suggest, maybe needs transferring to video or DVD.

It was a great season wasn't it CHK? The highlights for me were beating Wimbledon in the KO Cup on the afternoon that Malcolm Simmons became a star and the final victory at Cradley Heath that gave us the League. Oh, yes, happy memories.