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iris123

Strikes, bans and protests

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2 hours ago, iris123 said:

Wasn't Barry Briggs, who at the time I think was world champion, threatened with a ban from the world championship if he didn't ride for Wimbledon by Ronnie Greene ?

Hi Iris123, think the Ronnie Greene thing was in 1958 or 59 as by the mid sixties Briggo was riding for Swindon

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Re the 1965 British Final, I was there supporting Peter Vandenberg, after an e.f. in his first ride , Peter won his second ahead of Charlie Monk. I think I  might be  correct in thinking that this was the first point Charlie had dropped in any of his World Championship rounds to that point. In fact for me that final was all about Charlie-with 7 points from 3 rides he was joint top with Briggo and McKinlay.  Looked a cert to qualify until his last ride when he got excluded and put Jim Gooch thru'. I reckon Charlie if he had made it to the Final would have put on a better show than Reg Luckhurst, Jim Gooch, Ken McKinlay and perhaps even Brian Brett. What say other forumlanders?

 Also do you reckon the exclusion was a fair call, I think it resulted from a clash with Ken McKinlay but not sure? As an aside I recall Charlie as a fair rider who seldom got excluded-any thoughts?

BTW-am sure I bought Andout a beer and Norbold a coke at that meeting!!!!! After all it was only 54 years ago!!

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1 hour ago, BOBBATH said:

Hi Iris123, think the Ronnie Greene thing was in 1958 or 59 as by the mid sixties Briggo was riding for Swindon

Yes, it was 1959. He sat nearly all of the season out but came back for just one or two matches with Wimbledon just before the World Final. He was seeded direct to the final as reigning champion.

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In the aftermatch of the 1934 US national championship, the dethroned champ, Wilbur Lamoreaux was upset that new champ, Cordy Milne used what he called a 'trick machine'. It seems Cordy's frame was shorter than the standard frame which according to Lammy gave him an unfair advantage on the turns. The promoter of Emeryville Speedway got wind of this and held a series of conferences to match them up at his track.

Through Lammy's manager he heard Wilbur would agree as long as Cordy used a standard bike. It was then that AMA president Hap Alzina stepped in to threaten Cordy with a lifetime ban from all tracks if he didn't agree. In the end Milne had no choice, but requested the track be specially prepared so he could ride 'full throttle'. He then sent a telegram stating he would bring both his short bike and a standard one and said 'understood race to decide best man.Why not trade machines? Will beat him anyway'

When told of this Lammy replied 'All I want is a chance to meet him again on even terms.Let me at him'. The race was to be over two laps and a huge cash prize was waiting for the winner to settle the argument.

In the end Milne proved yet again he was the better man at that time and not only won the revenge race, but also beat Lammy in the scratch race final that night

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See there was also a strike in Denmark in the 1930s. Again because the crowds were so good and the money wasn’t getting to the riders. At least in their opinion. Not long after speedway suffered from an entertainment tax.....seems the Danish government didn’t consider speedway to be a sport !!!

Edited by iris123
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iris123 were there any strikes in pre-war British speedway that you have come across?

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Can’t think of one off hand. Clem Beckett the socialist rider, who was killed in the Spanish civil war Organised a riders union. Don’t think he organised a strike though. But it certainly was part of social life back then. Strikes, Communist MPs, Blackshirts etc

Speedway riders in the UK though, we’re earning astronomical sums 

Edited by iris123

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Just looking through some old papers online and found regarding a potential British speedway strike in a Daily Mirror from 27 July 1937

DM 27 July 1937 Cutting (LR).jpg

I know from reading several Speedway News papers form the time that there was a lot of ill feeling towards American riders at the time, from taking British riders jobs not just from the riders but also in the letter pages from supporters. Regarding poor US riders when a British would have ridden much more better for their team.

Shamke that I do not possess a full collection of pre-war Speedway News, but I found this in the editional of the 8 August 1937

The 3rd July 1937 Speedway News reported that Lionel Van Praag of the Riders Association was given a place on the Speedway Control Board from a recommendation from the Auto Cycle Union Track Committee.

I'am currently back onto my computer copies of pre-war Speedway News that might hopefully add some more information to his news story and your excellent topic iris123

 

Edited by Robbie B
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Brilliant article Robbie. Just wondering if these Americans were the Putt Mossman troupe that caused all the fuss? Also interesting that another fuss was expected over the 'small car racing'

Thanks for that 

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1 hour ago, iris123 said:

Brilliant article Robbie. Just wondering if these Americans were the Putt Mossman troupe that caused all the fuss? Also interesting that another fuss was expected over the 'small car racing'

Thanks for that 

At this I do not know the names of these riders and this is something I will discover somehow.. You may be correct in regards the Putt Mossman troupe but as yet I have not come across this name, but who knows what I will find.

But I do think that it is ironic that with some many complaints about the standards of American riders by fellow riders and supporters that in that years world Final it as a USA 1-2-3 with Jack Milne, Wilbur Lamoreaux and Cordy Milne.

I will keep looking online as I do not possess that many 1937 Speedway News in PDF format.

The 29 September Daily Mirror reported that the American riders turned down an opportunity to ride against England in England in five official test matches. So there must be some bitter feelings still between the riders as to what happen on the 1937.

Many thanks iris123 for creating this topic as it has been a really enjoyable read.

Edited by Robbie B

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I think it is those guys. Earl Farrand, Shorty Campbell, Manuel Trujillo . But I thought they were based at Hackney 

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8 minutes ago, iris123 said:

I think it is those guys. Earl Farrand, Shorty Campbell, Manuel Trujillo . But I thought they were based at Hackney 

You many be right I still have found their names yet.

But I found this in the Daily Express on 10 June 1937 relating to a different possible speedway strike regarding pay

 

 

Daily Express 10 June 1937 Clip.jpg

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Found theses name at last in the  Daily Mirror 24 July 1937 and you were right with names iris123

 

Daily Mirror 24 July 1937 Clip.jpg

Edited by Robbie B
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