WiganWarrior

There is no reference to Jack Winstanley riding in the Best Pairs event in May in the Wigan Observer report. I asked my father and he doesn't know any connection between Winstanley and Ron Johnson. Sorry I can't be more help. I'm collecting speedway magazines from 1947 and if I find anything I'll post it here.

The 2nd meeting at Wigan in 1947 was on Saturday 12th April. Norwich beat Wigan 40-39 in a Northern League match. The only reference to Jack Winstanley in the Wigan Observer report was that he fell in the final heat. Norwich objected that he had been assisted to remount but later withdrew the objection. No mention of Ron Johnson but the local paper report doesn't list all scorers for this match and I don't have the relevent speedway magazines.

Wigan's opening meeting was an individual event for the Easter Cup on Good Friday 4th April 1947. It was won by Ron Clarke of Bradford with 12 points. Ernie Price, also of Bradford was 2nd with 11 points and Tommy Allott came 3rd with 10 points. Jack Winstanley, riding in his first speedway event, scored three points. Heat winners were Oliver Hart, Ron Clarke, Ernie Price, Don Haughton, Ron Clarke, Oliver Hart, Tommy Allott, Will Lowther, Ernie Price, Ron Clarke, Tommy Allott, Tommy Allott, Percy Brine, Don Haughton, Ron Clarke, Jack Gregson in that order.The crowd was 4,896. No mention of Ron Johnson in my records of that meeting. But on 24th May Ron Johnson and Geoff Godwin (Middlesborough) came joint 2nd in a pairs event with Wilf Jay (Newcastle) and Cyril Brine (Wimbledon). The event was won by Mike Erskine (Wimbledon) and Alec Grant (Newcastle), and the crowd was 8,000.

Yes, I heard that Frank Malouf died only last year, I think. Thanks for the info.

I just learned from another post that former Wigan rider Jack Winstanley recently attended a few reunions. I was just wondering if anyone has news of any other former Wigan riders from their single seasons in 1947, '52 and '60. Any info would be most welcome.

Nice to know Jack Winstanley is still around. I was born in 1961, a year after the last Wigan speedway closed. But my Dad went to Poolstock as a boy in 1947, rode in 2nd halves as a 17-year-old at Woodhouse Lande in '52 and helped with work for the reopening of Poolstock in '60. He (John Rylance) and his brother Keith also rode in '60 at Wigan and he raced at Belle Vue, Liverpool, Stoke etc at times. I'll pass along news of Jack Winstanley, who he remembers.

I went to the Glasgow - Cradley challenge at Belle Vue in 1971. Being speedway fans and not just biased fans of one team there was a good crowd as the atmosphere at Belle Vue was great in those days and it was better than a Saturday night without racing.

Soren Sjosten was always a big favourite of mine. But I was spoiled as a kid watching the Belle Vue team with the likes of Ivan the great, Chris Pusey, Alan Wilkinson, Tommy Roper etc. Briggo was always great at Hyde Road (6 British League Riders Championships was an amazing feat) and I always liked the Boocock brothers and Jimmy McMillan. But there were so many great riders in those days. Heaven was Hyde Road on a Saturday night.

Some back issues available from VSM. Others can be found on ebay though earlier ones can fetch good prices.

Don Potter also promoted speedway at Wigan in 1960.

I remember Malcolm Shakespeare riding for Long Eaton at Crewe. He was very good on the big, fast track and had a great meeting.

I was lucky enough to be taken to Hyde Road most Saturday's when I was a kid. The track was terrific and the team consisted of greats like Ivan Mauger and Soren Sjosten. Also went to many winter Saturday morning practice sessions as my mums youngest brother rode for a while. My father and uncle (who had both raced when younger) went along to advise him. Dent Oliver ran the training school. I also prefer bigger tracks but must say that I went to Poole when we were on holiday in the mid-70's and thought that was terrific also, especially Jimmy McMillan almost bouncing off the fence at every turn! Sky cover speedway well these days and I enjoy racing at Poole and some other tracks on TV but wouldn't cross the street to watch at some of the slick gaters tracks. But they had those in the old days as well!