Parkstone Pirate

Just had a look thru' the Speedway Stars of the time for you, in case you hadn't, but absolutely no reference to this meeting whatsoever. Interesting reading though. In respect of another thread about attendances, Wolverhampton averaged 10,000 in 1961. I used to go to Monmore at that time as a kid and I remember that it was packed all round the stadium.

Jack Scott rode for Provincial League team Plymouth in the first meeting that I ever attended in July 1961 at Monmore Green. Plmouth thrashed an injury depleted Wolverhampton and Jack scored a four ride maximum. He did not return from Australia following the end of the 1961 PL season until he joined Cradley in the British League in 1967 riding only 16 matches before returning home to Oz never to be seen in the UK again.

Vic was a member of the new Wolverhampton team when they joined the Provincial League in 1961 and in an injury strewn season, was the only rider who survived unscathed. He was second top scorer behind Graham Warren with 118 points. He figured again at Wolves in 1962 usually partnering Tommy Sweetman who with G Warren were the top two riders. Vic scored 119 points. I seem to remember that he was released towards the end of 1962 and the following year was part of the attempt to re-establish Rayleigh which was a bit of a disaster both crowd and league wise, playing to small crowds and finishing bottom. Vic scored 86 points. In 1964 Bill Bridgett and Mike Parker briefly promoted at new venue Sunderland and included Vic in the team. The promotion lasted a few short weeks and three league matches, then the riders were distributed to other Parker tracks. Wolves taking on Colin McKee, Gordon Guasco and Jim Airey. Vic scored 11 points for Sunderland. He briefly turned out for Glasgow totalling 8 points but then seems to have dropped out of the PL and made a few appearances for Rayleigh and Eastbourne in the Metropolitan League. To my knowledge Vic did not ever turn out in the British League which started in 1965 but I stand to be corrected! I do remember that he had a few after meeting spins at Cradley but don't think that he joined the Heathens. I first watched Speedway in 1961 at Monmore Green and Vic was a definite crowd favoutite in 61/62 seasons. Speedway in the early sixties at Wolverhampton regularly attracted crowds approaching 10,000 with all three sides of the stadium, that were open to the public, being packed out.

Martin attended the Poole anniversary dinner last Saturday and the meeting the following day. I hope he doesn't mind me saying but he does look very different now, grey hair and glasses replacing the once flowing dark hair but I guess age catches up with all of us! I think Martin was very underrated and was a terrific servant to both Weymouth and Poole. He certainly clocked up a fantastic amount of points. I believe that the one track he really hated was Exeter but a lot of riders had a phobia about that place.

Anybody out there got Mark Sawbridge's book published in 2003 they want to sell or failing that any one got Mark's address. I'm not sure if this is still in print. Cheers P.P.

Wolverhampton had used the 17 year old Terry Betts towards the end of the 1961 Provincial League season and hoped that Norwich would let him stay for the following year. Despite Bill Bridgett's pleading Norwich decided that Terry should step up and ride for them in the National League. As a part compromise Derek Strutt was loaned to Wolves. I remember his first meeting for Wolves, at home to Neath, and Derek had a blinder including the beating of Trevor Redmond, who was no easy opponent in those days, in one of his races. The riders used to park their vans in the car park adjacent to the old stand at that time and I recall that Derek was absolutely mobbed by autograph hunters as he tried to put his bike away. Sadly that first meeting promise evaporated and Derek was subsequently transferred to a struggling Leicester. He rode for Rayleigh in 1963. Incidentally looking at the present Monmore Green on Sky what a difference from the old stadium which had stands, with catering and bars, down the back straight and on the 3rd/4th turn. It now looks very odd with just the one side open and the crowd all squeezed in under the glass fronted stand. The rest of the stadium, where thousands of fans used to be is now like a barren wilderness. Why can't the back straight be re-opened?

Ken Sharples had a practice ride after one of the very early meetings at Monmore Green in 1964 and those of us who stayed behind were very impressed and hoped that he was set to join the Wolves team which was looking very under strength, particularly as several riders were reluctant to ride in what was, in 1964, effectively an illegal league. Within the next few days he signed for Sunderland which was of course under the same Bill Bridgett/Mike Parker banner as Wolves. When Sunderland quickly failed Ken moved on to Newcastle and Wolves gained Gordon Guasco, Jim Airey and Colin McKee. Paul Sharples second halfed at Monmore and made a few appearances but I think retired when his dad was killed in the car crash.

Pete lives in Poole, he was watching the racing from the grandstand at a few meetings this season. He used to maintain the track at Poole for a few seasons under the old promotion, (Stewkesbury/Ansell), but packed that in and worked elsewhere in Poole in engineering I think. He has now retired and aprt from at the stadium I've seen him around the town a few times. I had a long chat to him once when he recalled the times he rode for Wolves in the PL and particularly when he was thrown over the fence and landed on the tractor which was stationary behind the fence resulting in quite serious injuries. I remembered that incident too because I started watching speedway at Monmore Green and Pete was one of my favourite riders in the early 60's. Colin Pratt was, and I presume still is, one of his long time mates because Pete tends to be at Poole when the Bees are in town. They both rode in the Stoke team in 1960-63.

I was at a very foggy Monmore Green in late 1965 when Wolves beat Newport 64-14. Not quite the max. but pretty close.

No 12 looks like Brian Leonard to me.

Weymouth 1968 Tony Lomas 9.389, Mike Vernam 7.943, Barry Duke 7.714, Chris Yeatman 6.145, Mick Steel 5.077, Roy Carter 4.585, John Hammond 4.250, Tony Hall 4.00, Ian Warren 3.200, Adrian Degan 3.048, Phil Arnold 2.717 Romford 1969 Barry Duke 12.000, Des Lukehurst 11.524, Ross Gilbertson 10.102, Phil Woodcock 9.173, Brian Davies 7.279, Tony George 5.926, Brian Foote 5.476, Mick Steel 5.000, Frank Wendon 4.989, Brian Curtis 4.923, Ian Gills 4.643, Charlie Benham 3.404, Chris Yeatman 3.200, Roland Schofield 2.182, Adrian Baker 1.143, Roger Knight 0.667, Brian Read 0.000 Long Eaton 1974 Geoff Bouchard 9.236, Alan Molyneux 8.229, Phil Bas 6.955, Alan Witt 5.051, Steve Finch 4.326, James Bond 4.058, Dave Patten 4.000, Dave Harvey 3.905, Max Brown 3.900, Pip Austen 3.632, Harry Maclean 2.968, Malcolm Corradine 2.67, Ian Teale 2.545, Nigel Rackett 1.333, Mick Durose 0.000

Many memories from my early spectating days at Wolves in the '60's. Such as when Colin McKee fell off and was badly shaken but then accepted a lift back to the pits from teammate Gordon Guasco who promptly looped the bike sending both of them sprawling on the track. The night Wolves created the highest score defeating Newport 64-14 and hardly anyone saw anything because of dense fog. The memorable evening when the PL met the NL in a challenge and the Wolves fans were highly delighted when Cradley 'enemy' Ivor Brown got clouted by an irate Ron Mountford at the pit gate. The photo was a best seller for weeks at Monmore. Chris Julian very much needing a police escort out of Cradley after some of his characteristic hard riding. Lyn Brown, the first coloured rider, waving to the Cradley crowd at the end of a race in which he was lapped!

Norbold, after searching the garage, dug out the '64 SS's but infuriatingly I am missing copies between March and May29th. The league table published on August 7th shows E'bne having ridden 4 matches, winning 3. It seems, from later editions, that they rode their last match on August 2nd because they could not get a team together and so I think it was just 4 matches in total. I have details of 3, see below, and presumably their first was prior to May 29th. Sorry, looks like a trip to your loft to dig out those earlier issues. Ipswich (a) 7.6.64 32-40 Des Lukehurst 11 (5 rides), Geoff Pennikett 9(4),Ken Vale 5(4),Dave Still 4(4), C.Benham 2(3),John McAuliffe 1(1), D. O'Flynn 0(3). Newpool (h) 14.6.64 37-30 Vic Ridgeon 10(4), Lukehurst 9(4), John Dugard 8(4), O'Flynn 5(4), Brian Davies 4(4), R. Prodger 1(2), D. Longhorn 0(2). Ipsw (h) 28.6.64 41-31 Penniket 12(4), Ridgeon 11(4), Dugard 9(4), Lukehurst 6(4), O'Flynn 2(4), Still 1(3), P. Pittingale 0(1).

Sorry Norbold on searching the garage my continuous SS collection commences April 9th 1960, too late for the previous season reviews, and the odd '59 copies are of no use. Did you want the 1964 stats because I have all the Stars for that year? Fatal getting old mags. out however because you then spend hours looking at them. The April 9th copy had an article on a youthful Tommy Sweetman at home with his wife and son Chris , who was then 5 years of age. Tommy was aiming to make the most of his season with New Cross. Graham Warren was trying to re-establish himself with Coventry and Norwich and Ipswich both opened with crowds of 11,000. It was the first year of the new Provincial League and there was quite a bit of movement of riders from the National League. A full page advert for Johnnie Hoskins presenting Speedway 'The New Way' at New Cross on Wednesday April 13th 1960 New Cross v Norwich. NC: Split Waterman, Arne Carlsson, Eric Williams, Leo McAuliffe, Jimmy Gooch, Norwich: Ove Fundin, Aub Lawson, Billy Bales, Reg Trott, Dennis Newton. Admission 3/- and 5/- (and worth double!) Fascinating stuff.

I have some Stars from '59 and '60 so let me know if you want me to dig 'em out for the off chance of the 1959 averages.

I take it you have all the scorers Norbold, these are available in Peter Morrish's book British Speedway Leagues, but not the averages. I have the S Stars for '64 if they are in there.

Interesting footage. During a world trip drove the Californian coast and was so impressed with Santa Barbara that stayed three extra days. Great place to live and a bit warmer than Poole!

Wolves versus Plymouth July 1961. Jack Scott scored a maximum and Chris Blewitt had a bad crash. Wolves, who had been struggling to get together a settled team were thrashed 53-25. I was hooked, not only with the racing and the atmosphere but also the hot dogs! Wolves improved later that season with the inclusion of Terry Betts and the 1960 PL Champ Trevor Redmond. The team that finished the season was: Redmond, Betts, Ridgeon,Sweetman,Warren, Oakley, and anyone from Kid Bodie, Erol Brook, Cyril Francis or Terry Stone at reserve, and was a pretty decent line up. Incidently, after reading an article by him, this was also Eric Broadbelts first meeting as a spectator and he obviously got hooked too!

Thanks Norbold, memory a bit hazy in respect of the exact details, and couldn't be bothered to dig out the Stars from the garage. One thing I think I am correct on though is that one pair in each race had to wear white jerseys, for the sake of the TV, and Ivor Brown adopted this for the rest of his career.

Ray was known as the 'Portly Potter' and despite cutting a bit of an unusual figure on the track was quite accomplished. He formed a good opening pairing with the late Ken Adams whilst with the Stoke team of '61 and '62 and I remember them winning Heat 1 at Monmore, one particular meeting, in the great days of the Provincial League. Also remember Ray riding in one of the two Best Pairs TV meetings staged for BBC Grandstand, at Cradley, in February 1962. Sadly so many riders of that era are leaving us such as the imperious Ivor Brown who cakewalked the competition by winning all of the races for 4 points, I don't think his partner, Tony Eadon scored any. Anybody else go to those meetings 43 years ago?

James Bond was the subject of a Speedway Star profile, (last year I think), and lives in Tewkesbury, listing bellringing as one of his hobbies. I think he is married to Howard Cole's sister, they met when James started riding at Wolves in the early sixties.

My apolgies Fireblade, I obviously know a bit more about speedway than I do hanging!

The passing of Jimmy Squibb is very sad, as is the recent death of Cliff Cox, which doesn't seem to be mentioned on the forum. Most of the Exeter side of the early sixties are now no longer with us. Apart from Jimmy and Cliff, Chris Julian and Chris Blewitt passed away fairly recently and Eric Howe, and Pete Lansdale a couple of years ago. That team, led by Len Silver, cut quite a distinctive look, all wearing green and white shirts and white boots, bit of a forerunner to the present team suits.

Tyburn Gallows rode for Stoke in 1962 and Reg Fearman, the promoter at the time, thought it was a great idea to 'hang' an efigy of a Cradley rider, during the interval, of an end of the season challenge match. The News of the World picked this up and Reg was in a lot of trouble for insensitivity. I think 1962 saw the last man to be hanged in this country, (James Hanratty), and so was not seen in very good taste. Reg recalls this in one of those History of Speedway videos, when he also remembers Igor Baranov, the phoney Rusian rider, and Kid Bodie, alias Howard Cole.