norbold

I wondered what happened to him in 1988. Was he just relaxing and taking it easy then?

As you know I am writing this with falcace. I am doing 20s to 60s; he is doing 70s to date. My ten are: 1928: First meeting at High Beech 1928/9: First meetings at Belle Vue (Kirkmanshulme Lane and Hyde Road) - bit of a cheat, but you buy one get one free in this chapter. 1930: First England v. Australia Test match 1934: New Cross v. Harringay (London Cup) plus Match Race Championship between Tom Farndon and Vic Huxley 1946: Wembley v. West Ham (London Cup) 1947: Speedway Riders' Championship Second Round at Newcastle 1951: World Championship Final 1957: Norwich v. Belle Vue (Britannia Shield Final) 1961: Edinburgh v. Rayleigh (Provincial League) 1965: Wimbledon v. West Ham (Knock Out Cup) falcace's are: 1973: Daily Mirror Final 1976: Intercontinental Final 1979: BLRC Final 1980: Halifax v. Hackney 1981: World Championship Final 1983: Newcastle v. Mildenhall 1993: Wolverhampton v. Belle Vue 1999: Polish GP 2004: World Cup Final I'm not sure what his other 00 is at the moment. If you want to find out why we chose those matches you'll just have to read the book! p.s. to youngy 105, we only get six complimentary copies between us which leaves us four to give away to people who have helped us. At the last count I think there were something like 27 people who had in some way contributed either with photos, videos, programme covers or reminiscences. That is, of course, not to say you won't be one of the lucky four.... Edit: P.S. to the above, I have just noticed that on another thread on here, falcace was asking for video footage of the 1980 England v. USA meeting at Wimbledon (the one Steve asked about). Maybe he is doing that instead of another 00 match. I really ought to find out what is going in my own book!

Ah yes, but he had improved by 1989 at Exeter: 4 meetings scoring 10 points and 3 bonus from 13 rides average :- 4.00

Sorry chaps, I don't think either of those are being included. When you have 20 meetings to choose from 78 years of speedway (not counting the earlier Australian meetings!) you are bound to leave out someone's favourite. Never mind, there's always volume two.....

I once sat on Gavin Hedge's stationary bike inside Bawburgh Village Hall. That was enough for me...

It happened at Coventry on 29 July 1961. The Speedway Star & News reported: "The meeting was marred by a crash in the second half involving Arne Pander and Les Owen. In the top points' scorers' race, the pair were fighting out the lead when they came down together. Both were taken to hospital, Owen with facial cuts and abrasions, Pander for an X-ray on head injuries." The following week, the Star& News reported: "It was four days after his bad crash at Brandon before Arne Pander regained consciousness, then only for a few moments. Earlier Arne had been moved by ambulance from Coventry to the Radcliffe Infirmary at Oxford, a hospital held in high regard for its treatment of brain injuries. It was a Ted Flanaghan's instigation that Pander was moved, the 50-mile journey with police escort taking three hours. Meanwhile, les Owen - involved in the same crash - was discharged on the Monday..."

The book has been mentioned several times on the Forum. I am writing it with falcace. If you remember we asked some time ago for suggestions for meetings we could use and recently falcace asked for help with finding some programmes. It won't be out in June though. More like August or September. It will include two meetings from each decade from the 20s to the 00s plus two 'wild cards' to make up 20 chapters.

Reading your post again, andout, (see, I'm trying not to use quotes!), if that was the case, it is a bit ironic that it is now television that wants to change it back from yellow and black to yellow!

Yes, now you mention it, that does ring a bell...

That's very interesting miro. The only thing I would say is that all the pre-War programmes I have show the fourth rider as wearing yellow, not yellow and black. Maybe they were yellow and black but they just printed yellow in the programme?

I believe it was originally a yellow helmet cover but was changed to yellow and black to avoid confusion with white.

Thanks aao. Some good detective work there.

Yes, you're quite right, andout. The fourth Test match was due to take place on 13 August at Poole but was rained off. Sorry to have doubted you. Presumably there were programmes already to go. But what happened to them...? p.s. As you have nearly every International programme in England can you help falcace's request on the Classic Meetings thread please: "Dear all, For a book I'm cuurently help to put together along with fellow Forumer Norbold, I would like to get my hands on the following programmes. If any you can help please e-mail me. Naturally, I'll be willing to pay a fair price. Alternatively, a scan of the front cover of any of the programmes below e-mailed to me would suffice and be very gratefully recieved 1973 - Daily Mirrror International Tournament Final - England v Sweden 1976 - Intercontinental Final 1979 - BLRC 1980 - England v USA, Wimbledon 1980 - Halifax v Hackney, British League 1981 - World Final 1983 - England v USA, Sheffield 1993 - Wolves v Belle Vue, Division 1 1999 - Polish Grand Prix, Bydgoszcz 2004 - World Cup Final Thanks "

Bob Duckworth is in New Zealand.

Ditto, Kevin.

30 October 1909

Possibly the oldest (both in age and seniority) speedway riders still alive today.

Sorry, youngy, I think I must have had a bit of a senior moment there! I completely missed your colts team. Belle Vue certainly has a star-studded history....

I think you mean 1954. He was 21.

Belle Vue 59 Wimbledon 19 Wimbledon 43 Belle Vue 35 Can't help with the four team tournament at Leicester at the moment. p.s. Belle Vue raced 36 matches for a total of 51 points; Wimbledon 36 for 37

You're right there, youngy. A Belle Vue dream team must be almost impossible. Considering you've left out Eric Langton, Frank Varey, Louis Lawson, Ove Fundin, Ron Johnston, Max Grosskreutz and Cyril Maidment. Another whole team. But then who would you leave out of your team to put any of those in???

I have just been reading how Vic Huxley once actually rode his speedway bike from Charing Cross to Euston to get the train to Manchester as his van and trailer had broken down! Can that be true???

I went to White City a number of times and (nearly) always enjoyed the racing. As wwtbp says it was a bit slick, but mostly good for racing. I think the real problem with the stadium was the atmosphere. It was a very big stadium with very small crowds and you couldn't really get into the spirit of it. It was better, of course, for the big meetings, but league meetings were very flat.

Yes, it's great Jim. Just had a listen on the web site. Excellent.

Put him in a match race against Archie Windmill.