britmet

Rob, Done quicker than expected, - they should be with you now. Please confirm OK.

Okay Rob, I have 71 & 73 speedways, - will scan them in and forward sometime tomorrow. britmet.

Son Paul works in the pits at Perry Barr and his other son David is a PB regular and ardent Brummies fan. So can we ask if it was he at St Austell and Plymouth in '52 and '53 - ?

Chris Julian is remembered at Cradley for the 4 years spent there between 1965 and '68, after which he moved to Newport. He'd come to Cradley from Glasgow to cut down on the travelling. - he had previously driven every week from Cornwall to Scotland and back ( remember, the M5 was only 26mls long then, - and the M6 no more than a few town-centre bypasses !) but Cradley was a mere 500mls round trip ! Arriving early on Saturday afternoons in a 10 year-old A50 Austin Cambridge, (sometimes tied together with string he was a scrap metal man; what would you expect. He found it in his yard, he'd say,) he'd spend much time chatting with fans, and had a good line in jovial self-deprecation. On the track anything could happen, he was a 4-lap trier, but when needed could deliver that 3rd heat-leader role. Chris started as a junior circa '58/59 in open meetings in the West Country, (St Austell, Plymouth and Exeter,) and got a place in the 1960 Prov'l Lge Bristol team alongside Trevor Redmond, transferring to Plymouth with the Bulldogs for the '61 season. When TR moved into league promotion at Neath in 1962 - as well as running St Austell and Newton Abbott (stocks only) - , Chris joined his mentor, and later transferred with him to St. Austell for '63, then Glasgow White City for the '64 season. He got nearer to home in '69, (Newport) before getting 'home' to the West Country, Exeter, (just 95 mls away from Redruth !) following the departure of Chris Blewett, - it wasn't considered wise to have these 2 Cornishmen in the same team together . He gave loyal service with the Falcons until 1975, when his average slipped. For 10yrs in the senior league he averaged a steady 5 to 7 pts each year, his best being at Cradley in 1967, - 7.04. But distance didn't apparently deter Chris: loaned out by Exeter during '75, (12 matches for ave. of 3.44) his next track was ? - Mildenhall ! He rode 27 matches for the Fens Tigers, ave. 6.73. But maybe it did. He next appears making 9 appearances for Weymouth in 1977, and there the scorebook seems to close. (?)

Ken is British, and still lives close to Dudley Wood in Stourbridge, West Midlands, from where he hails. He’s remembered as an Ivor Brown clone, having styled himself, and his equipment (but for the white shirt) on the Cradley hero of the day. However his extra height did mean that that folded left leg gave him away. He rode for Cradley in the British Lge between 1966 and ’70: rode one lower-division match for Long Eaton in 1971 when Ivor was promoter there, but decided to stay out of racing. Last seen at Wymeswold in 2005.

Derek Timms had a long riding career it would seem, including 4 years at Cradley in the Provincial Lge, 1961-64. For a time there he was suffering badly with arthritis in his knees which gave his riding a unique style with a stiff left leg rigidly out, but he performed every Saturday night regardless. Out of interest I’ve tried to piece together his career, - a regular journeyman it would seem, from the Midlands, to the West Country, the South-East, and finally, (-?- please feel free, dear reader, to infill, correct and/or update the following - ,) the North, (Yorkshire !) Brummie-born Derek has definitely been seen in W’ton Wasps colours (viz recent eBay photo sale.) The record books credit him with 108pt for them in NL3 in 1951; just 30pts for W’ton in 1952’s SAL, as well as 33 pts for a D.Timms at St Austell in 1952 - ? Was it Derek ? : the year fits, but not the location, (but then National Service gave rise to many out-of-place appearances. - ?) 1953 showed D.Timms at Plymouth scoring 33 SAL pts., (almost certainly the D.T. from St Austell the previous year. ) From ’54 to ’58 there’s no D,Timms to be found amongst the point scorers, in the Midlands or the South, in any division, (Qu: - 2yrs Nat’l Serv. in the West Country, then demob and a concentration on a career: - ?) until in 1959 he scores 4pts for W’don in their Natl.Res.Lge. team, and top scores for Aldershot with 63pts in the SAL. 1959 was also the year that New Cross ran a few Open (non-Lge ) meetings, and as Derek was a regular at the Frying Pan in their 1960 NL team, (24pts,) it a fair guess he may also have made appearances there in ’59. ( Norbold - ?) At this time, circa 1960, Derek put in several Sunday appearance at the likes of Rye House, Aldershot and Eastbourne, for one or other of those non-league ex-SAL teams, as well as occasional reserve slots for the B’ham team at NL level, (noting the Phil Hart NX/Brum promotional connection,) before signing for Cradley, via a Harry Bastable connection in ‘61. (Likewise ex-Brummie Ivor Davies, who Harry also persuaded out of retirement !) With the formation of the British League, top flight racing seemed not for Derek, and he only next appears in ’68 with the formation of BL2 and the need for some experience amongst the new generation of juniors, as a regular for Crayford Highwaymen, (plus 2 matches for Wolves via the common promotion.) That promotion next opened Doncaster in 1969, and Derek soon moved there, scoring 166pts in 24 matches. And that’s where the story/record books end. Is Derek still around? Was it he at St Austell in 1952 ? What was he doing in the mid ‘50s ? (grass-tracking, it’s suspected.) Can anyone infill this chronology ? 1928 d.o.b. 1951 W’ton 1952 W’ton, St Austell 1953 Plymouth 1954 - ’58 ? 1959 Aldershot, (W’don Res.,) New Cross(?) 1960 New Cross, B’ham, Aldershot, x, x, 1961 - ’64 Cradley 1965 - ’67 ? 1968 Crayford, (W’ton) 1969 Crayford, Doncaster ? - -

No, Cornishman Chris Blewett is no longer with us. I was in touch with his daughter a few years ago when she was looking for anything on his career, pics and progs, etc, to catch up with a that part of his life, and regretting not having taken more interest whilst he was around. (He had departed a number of years before that, so possibly gone 5-10yrs ago.) His enmity with fellow Cornishman and namesake Chris Julian was legendary, (though she reckoned it was hype,) and everyone looked forward to heats featuring the two, - even if they were riding for the same team ! Climax of Chris B's riding career was being chosen for England against USSR at Exeter in 1966. Chris Julian, as well as their mentor in the West Country, Trevor Redmond, has also departed. Picture shows Chris B with Martin Ashby and Geof Mudge at the Presentation of The Plymouth Cup, at Exeter, 1966.

Re Bluey, speedway historian in Adelaide has provided the following info on him, which should put that option to bed:- Bluey Scott is Eric William Scott and he was born in Auburn NSW on 10 July 1929. He lived all his life in Sydney until the late 1940s when he decided to travel around Australia and when he got to Adelaide he stayed here for a while. He went and watched Speedway at Kilburn, and then found out that he was working alongside one of the riders, Frank Young. From there he went on to be a rider and went to Scotland in 1951 where Jack Young arranged for him to sign for Motherwell. He subsequently rode for Motherwell in 1951, 52, 53 & 54, then half-a-season each with Southampton and Ipswich in 1955, then Long Eaton 63, Middlesbrough 64 and White City Glasgow 65, 66. He retired from Speedway in Australia in 1969. Bobbath, - This issue started with the thought that there may have been 2 JSs "around the same era." Whatever Bluey's true name had turned out to be, the fact that you had a notion of another JACK would not have come about from results or reports on this chap, as he was never referred to as anything but Bluey. You're now taking us back to 1948 ! As there's no overlap in time with any of these 3 Scotts, I suggest we discount it and deem the subject closed.

I think you're right, Bobbath, Bluey's not Jack, - But I still think the only other Jack Scott around at that time, - when my only reading back then was the SSN, from cover to cover, AND the NME (before it became an anarchist rag,) - , "Put that comic away" said my maths master. Its not sir, its registered as a newspaper. I even read that bit ! - was the singer of "What in the Worlds Come over You." in 1960 ! That's where your memory of a second Jack Scot came from, I suggest. p.s. There was a Jock Scott, circa 1950, up there in Haggisland, but I think we can forget him.

If you've got a Laptop with you, you can watch it on the internet.

We may be geting to the bottom of this. Red-haired Bluey Scott came to Motherwell c1950 and rode for them from '51 to their closure in '54 when he was signed by S'ton and then loaned to Ipswich for '55. (He didn't return to the UK til '63, for Long Eaton.) All records for these tracks list him as B. Scott, so was his christiain name Jack ? - and is this "the same era"" that Bobbath recalls when he asked the question ? ( There's no overlap with S'ton/Plymouth's JS.) Only in Wilkipaedia, - yes, i know, - , do we get an insight, where, under Motherwell Eagles, it lists its riders as including "Bluey (Eric) Scott. ! -? So, - can anyone out there attest to Bluey Scott's birth name ?

So which was your home team back then ? Clearly not W'ton ! Ommer Um Buddy !

And that other ex-Cradley rider Phil Collins is also still performing, taking his band Genesis out on the road from time to time !

I don't recollect another rider, BUT at the same time, 1960, Canadian Jack Scott sang "What in the World's Come Over You" ino the UK hit parade.

Aussie John Woocock, seen in 1967 in Cradley colours, for whom he rode 3 matches. (He wore a blue shirt over his leathers, I recall.

In 1961 Jack Scott, on loan from his parent club Southampton, had been the phenomenon of the Prov’l Lge. with Plymouth Bulldogs, having invested in new equipment from a UK pools win after 2 struggling years at Banister Court. He scored 212 league point, second only to Ivor Brown with 213pts, (though he disappointed in the Harringay PLRC, - but was the only PL rider to get thru the NL rounds to the British Final of the World Chmpshp at Wembley. Quite a feat.) On such form he ought to have earlier reverted to the NL, but the SCB refused it, declaring S’ton, with new men Briggs and Knutsson, to be too strong. It cost S’ton the 1961 NL title ! With a NL place guaranteed, Scott failed to return to the UK in ’62. It was 1967 before he returned, despite attempts by everyone, every year, to sign him up, when, as current Aussie Champion, Cradley made a coup and lured him, - on a 2-year contract at that ! The preceding year Cradley had signed the new Aussie champ, Chum Taylor. Their need for a former NL heat-leader in the amalgamated British Lge had become obvious, and former World Finalist and WTC rider Chum was to be that man. But at 38 years old, the Coca-Cola Kid, (Chum’s employer, who’s logo he bore on his tank, and of whom he loyally would speak, -“Pepsi ? no comparison”,) disappointed, with an average of just 6.3 and had to take much criticism. That was to be his last year of UK league racing, I think. Undeterred, Cradley again signed the newly-crowned Aussie Champion, - Jack Scott. With visions of his 1961 performances still in mind, surely he would do better than last year’s champ, we all thought. Scottie flew in, and for the first month used Ken Wakefield’s Rotrax-Jap whilst his ESO was on the high seas, (the norm back then.) He did …? (well, - not too bad, ) “ But wait till his own bike arrives” we said. He proceeded to get some double figures, then had a couple of falls and blown motors, and in early June he walked out of a mtg. and wasn’t seen for a few weeks! Scott and his wife had been living in the Midlands near the track at Quarry Bank. She was getting homesick, we learnt: they went down South to familiar territory and put up with fellow Aussie Geoff Mudge and his wife. Two weeks later they were sailing back to Aussie, having sold his equipment to buy tickets home ! Chum Taylor was now lauded for his loyalty in staying the course through the season despite poorer than expected results, ( 34 appearances, ave. 6.3, c.f. Scott’s 16 appearnces, ave. 6.5,) and Jack Scott was never forgiven, – nor chased by any British promoter again. Notwithstanding, I’m sure all UK supporters who remember Jack wish him well thru the heart operation and trust he will revert to better health. (Any update ?)

Tough guy Ron Mountford in action, Nat.Lge v Prov.Lge W'ton 1963

I’ve not read the Boocok book, but have to defend Ivor Brown, Cradley’s most loyal rider from a time, 1961-1968, when it wasn’t all about money, - anything but: no sponsorship, etc then. Every rider who’s got to the top, - the Fundins, Maugers, Nielsens, etc - , didn’t do so by being nice guys, and all would become booed by everyone except there own fans, (and some of them as well, - e.g. Penhall at Cradley in ’81 !) Ivor Brown didn’t get to such elevated positions, but he did top the Prov’l Lge averages consistently, yet never had much success in big meetings, IMO because, as a team man, he gave of his best at every mtg, - there being nothing in reserve to be pulled out at Indiv’ls. So many other likenamed put their own success before their team’s. Come the formation of the BL in 1965 Ivor Brown didn’t feature so well, but then that horrific crash in the first days of the BL, in the Wimbledon Internationale of 1965, (see pics) when Fundin cut in front and took his front wheel from him resulting in a fractured lower spine and split nether region, would have seen any other 38yr old hang up his leathers. With the Heathens desperate, Ivor was back within weeks, though he shouldn’t have been. How he’d have fared in the merged BL otherwise we’ll never know. Yes, he was 34 when he came to Cradley in 1961: 41 when retiring, so with his experience he had trackcraft and guile and wasn’t readily intimidated on the track and could hold his own, though was very mild off it. Even Mauger, in “Triple Crown Plus”, though not liking him, acknowledges he had respect for Ivor, “for not taking the coward’s way and shutting off….. but duelling right up to the fence". As a white-liner, his trademark move was to forge thru on the line on the last bend, even when there didn’t seem to anyone to be the room, a manoeuvre which only the toughest could withstand. That’s probably why his track-craft surprised many, (incl’g Ron Mountford, tough guy recently discussed on this forum, seen captured by Alf Weedon thumping IB, when he clearly thought P.Lge. upstarts shouldn’t pull one over on N.Lge. heatleaders; -“NL v PL”, W’ton 1963. )

PROVINCIAL LGE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP, 1960 – Cradley Heath ! I was a teenage schoolboy at that first PLRC, and attended every one, i.e. ’60 to ’64, as well as the follow-on BLRCs at Belle Vue over the rest of the ‘60s decade. As rightly picked up, the first PLRC was indeed in 1960 at Cradley Heath. ! The league was ACU-SCB approved, 1959 having been the year of the ‘pirate’ mtgs, at Bradford, Liverpool and Cradley, as well as a student-union run mtg at Edinburgh Old Meadowbank, which may have been ACU-licensed. LOCATION: Cradley was chosen for this first PL championship for 2 reasons, (- neutrality didn’t arise, but see below,) i) it was a Saturday night track, ii) being in the Midlands, it was considered central, clubs that year ranging from Poole in the South to Edinburgh in the North. The fact that it was also pretty much a ‘fair’ track, at 367yds (when 320yds was considered a small track, and ‘large’ tracks then were over 400yds.) probably had some consideration. At the time that it would have been being considered, earlier in the season, viability of the new league would have been uncertain, so keeping riders travelling expenses down and optimising supporter attendance - to the Midlands; on a Saturday evening - , would have been paramount in the PSLPA’s mind. Stadium facilities would have been less important, (Cradley’s never progressed beyond those put in in1947. For the following year the Final went to the South, (London,) and in ’62 it went in turn to the North, to Manchester. This rotation about the country brought in track neutrality, Harringay club racing having finished in 1954, and Belle Vue being a National Lge track. Most importantly of all, the B.V. Zoological Gardens and fairground, together with their regular October firework displays made PLRC day, and subsequent BLRC days, a full day out for the whole family and ensured excellent support for many years: even non-speedway grandmothers were taken along ! RESULTS. So though not strictly ‘neutral’, Cradley in 1960 was still an even venue for all the riders that day! Local star Harry Bastable had returned mid-season from Nat’l Lge racing with amazing success to the track of his upbringing and was practically unbeatable around Dudley Wood. After the qualifying rounds in the South, (incl’g at non-lge Plymouth,) - Northern tracks had nominated their top scorers whilst a few others, Reg Reeves and Clive Featherby, were considered deserved ‘opt-ins’ to fill non-availabilities - , qualifier Bastable couldn’t get a return flight from Spain from a pre-booked end-of-season holiday. The field was open ! As we’ve heard, ex-Wembley Lion Trevor Redmond went thru thru card, Ken Middleditch beat Eric Hockaday in run-off for 2nd place, and Tony Robinson followed up with 11pts. In ’61 at Harringay TR looked to be set to repeat his success but a shed chain in ht 17 handed the trophy to another veteran, Reg Reeves. Maurie Mattingley, noted frame builder, was 3rd, also on 12pts.. These mtgs had been the conventional 16 rider/20 heat format of the World Championship, but in ’62 at Belle Vue, with the increasing size of the Prov’l Lge, a unique 24-rider/ 24-heats-plus-a-final format was operated. With just 4 rides each, the top 4 qualifiers, Craven, Featherby, Bagley and Silver were seeded not to meet in the heats, and the 4 top-scorers to meet in the final. Result: Silver, Briggs, Craven, Allott . (All family names with a speedway pedigree, siblings and descendents, these particular 4 being Len, Wayne, Brian and Guy respectively! - Qualifier Featherby was father Clive F. ) The 24/24 format was repeated in ’63, but reverted to 16riders/20hts for the last PLRC in 1964. The only ever-presents in the 5 PLRCs were Redmond (for Bristol, Wolves, Neath, St.Austell, Glasgow in turn) and Ivor Brown, (Yarmouth,-1960, and Cradley.) Winner in both '63 and '64 Finals was a certain PL newcomer, I. Mauger Having it’s genesis in unlicensed mtgs back in 1959, this final Prov'l Lge Riders Chmpshp was concluded without an ACU-SCB license, ’64 being the break-away year for the Provincal Lge., out of which rose the 18-team British Lge which ran successfully, later with a second division, right up until 1990.

Tickest still available at 8.50am monday, ( but Free Kids,-under 12 -causing them difficulty.)