fatface 2,549 Posted September 9, 2019 (edited) One for Tony...and possible others? I have a (very) vague recollection of Speedway Mail in the early 80s - possibly earlier? - of an annual World Top 10 unofficial rankings being printed in the Mail, provided by prominent reporters from different countries. Naturally, there was a bit of national bias with the Polish correspondent ranking Zenon Plech higher than other national scribes, but it still made for interesting reading. So, I guess I have a few questions... 1) have I imagined this? 2) if not, please can someone dig them out for a refresh? 3) still if not, perhaps Tony can give us some background story on how they came about? Thank you :-) Edited September 9, 2019 by falcace Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TonyMac 720 Posted September 11, 2019 You are correct, the Mail did run an annual poll for international journos to vote for their Top 10 riders each year. It was started by John Hyam, the de facto editor immediately after Ian MacDonald left in 1978, although I think John introduced it some years before then. I guess he simply contacted each of the scribes by snail mail (no pun intended) and asked them to cast their vote. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fatface 2,549 Posted September 11, 2019 58 minutes ago, tmc said: You are correct, the Mail did run an annual poll for international journos to vote for their Top 10 riders each year. It was started by John Hyam, the de facto editor immediately after Ian MacDonald left in 1978, although I think John introduced it some years before then. I guess he simply contacted each of the scribes by snail mail (no pun intended) and asked them to cast their vote. Thanks Tony. Good to know I am not going mad. Is John Gustix? It'd be great to see those rankings again, just out of pure curiousity. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,242 Posted September 11, 2019 19 minutes ago, falcace said: Thanks Tony. Good to know I am not going mad. Is John Gustix? It'd be great to see those rankings again, just out of pure curiousity. Yes that's correct. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted September 14, 2019 Many years before the 'Speedway Mail' world rankings I started a similar scheme in 'Speedway Star' in the 1950s - only difference was it covered a Top 20 ratings rather than a Top 10. Voting lists made by normal mail were from 'Speedway Star' representatives in different countries. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ruth Reddy 8 Posted September 14, 2019 World Ranking lists were included in the Stenner's annuals in the 1940s and 1950s, as well as Australian, Scandinavian and divisional rankings - the latter compiled by individual contributors. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fatface 2,549 Posted September 17, 2019 On 9/14/2019 at 4:02 PM, Ruth Reddy said: World Ranking lists were included in the Stenner's annuals in the 1940s and 1950s, as well as Australian, Scandinavian and divisional rankings - the latter compiled by individual contributors. On 9/14/2019 at 7:39 AM, gustix said: Many years before the 'Speedway Mail' world rankings I started a similar scheme in 'Speedway Star' in the 1950s - only difference was it covered a Top 20 ratings rather than a Top 10. Voting lists made by normal mail were from 'Speedway Star' representatives in different countries. Thanks very much both. It would be great to see those lists. Just out of pure curiousity. Are they on-line at all? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted September 17, 2019 (edited) I have a vague recollection that at one time these World Ranking lists were online. But it was quite a few years ago and I have no idea now where or what the source was. Possibly they were on a website that has long time become defunct. Edited September 17, 2019 by Guest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted April 30, 2020 (edited) Further to my previous comment I have a VAGUE recollection that MANY years ago Bob Andrews had a website which carried the old world ratings. Edited April 30, 2020 by Guest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 20,939 Posted May 1, 2020 Someone, well arnieg has compiled a list for last year and it seems they have done some previous years as well. But not sure if they are online http://www.speedwayplus.com/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,101 Posted May 7, 2020 Stenner's Rankings.doc Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,101 Posted May 7, 2020 SPEEDWAY STAR Rankings.docx Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 20,939 Posted May 7, 2020 Don't work for me, Norbold Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,101 Posted May 7, 2020 2 hours ago, iris123 said: Don't work for me, Norbold Does for me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 20,939 Posted May 7, 2020 26 minutes ago, norbold said: Does for me. Good for you. All I get is.... Sorry, there is a problem This attachment is not available. It may have been removed or the person who shared it may not have permission to share it to this location. Error code: 2C171/1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
