spinkox

Could that be Paul Dowdall in white?? whoever it was he owes someone an apology...

I think speedway will become mostly amateur - not by planning or design - but by evolution - that is the extinction of fans and tracks. It will become like motor racing - where the spectators at club events are usually the drivers’ family and friends apart from a few hardcore fans sitting on a grassy bank. Grand Prix meetings will be supported massively.

Partly true about the characters - In the old days 60s and 70s you could meet the riders in the grandstand bar or the pub after the meeting for a pint and a fag - well at Wimbledon anyway. I remember riders attempting a yard of ale - Im pretty sure that wouldnt happen today...

Strange that the most important subject has few sensible ideas how to deal with it. Just like saving the planet!

Interviews here...

Class act. Always great team riding with Cyril Maidment at Wimbledon.

Film just showed on the Talking Pictures channel - but can be found on Youtube - called There is another Sun. Some speedway from Walthamstow - a complete 'race' near the end - 1951.

Well - I trust your knowledge - but I think he RARELY used flash - especially at Wimbledon. Someone told me he used to over expose when taking the picture - then under develop when making the neg (or the other way round) - and he probably played around with the printing. I always noticed the use of flash photography when the Lions went to Australia. Nowadays with better cameras and computer programs - my guess is a better shot could be obtained without flash...

Never like photos using flash - it stops the wheels - well the front anyway. Alf Weedon never used it...

It's about time the human race started worrying about more important things - like climate change, ice caps melting, sea levels rising, population growing, plastic in the sea and food chain, fossil fuel pollution. God knows what else - bloody ridiculous.

Ken Vale or Reg Trott must have done quite a few??

If you haven't made it to PL second string by 20 then you're never going to make it. Realistically you need to be heatleader by then. John Louis did alright - started speedway after 20 - someone else will know exactly...

I have always thought the leg back riding style was to do with the lower centre of gravity of the lay down engine - so it is easier to balance. I reckon if you put them on an upright engine they wouldnt be able to do it. As for the early leg trailers - there was more dirt on the track - so they didnt get so sideways - so that made it easier to ride in that style. That is my theory...

I think you can usually turn predictive text off - but people either dont know - or dont bother...

Just happened to come across Eddie James in list of riders practicing after the meeting at Wimbledon on 1 April 1971 after the match with Wolverhampton.

I dont always trust my memory - but I seem to recall not even knowing he had been on a bike!

Yes - I should have remembered his full name. I used to travel up with one of the trainees - and we used to pick up Lionel on the route. The strange thing is I cant recall him talking about his riding days!

There was a guy called Lionel who did timekeeping in the 70s - quite an old chap ...

Did Wimbledon run on a Saturday - before it ran on Thursday (after the Monday race night) - or did I dream that??

Ive often thought this - or are the saddles lower?? More info: https://ourworldindata.org/human-height/

I wonder how this would have affected Ivan's career if there had been no rolling at the start...

Heat 2 of the rained off meeting - finishing order - Des Lukehurst Romford, Hugh Saunders Rayleigh, David Kennett Canterbury, Gordon Kennett Eastbourne. I think Canterbury 'borrowed' David Kennett from Eastbourne - as I dont recall him contracted to them (unlike Barney). He replaced Jake Rennison. In the rerun meeting he was lent to Romford! I have only 2 times for the rained off meeting - heat one - 72.0, heat two - 69.0. I would normally record them - so maybe the rest werent issued... The Eastbourne programme specifies an away meeting for this tournament on 11th October - but doesnt say which track. (not Rayleigh) - either Canterbury or Romford. Steve

OK - I have some info - I have programmes for Eastbourne and Rayleigh. Eastbourne cancelled at heat 7 - scores East 11, Rom 14, Ray 7, Cant 10 - slightly different to you Eastbourne - RE RUN 11th October - scores East 33, Rom 11, Cant 29, Ray 23. - (Crazy scores from Romford who scored less in 16 heats in the second match than in 7 heats in the previous match - Kevin Holden - 7 points first match, 0 points second match) ALSO - this was the match when a few riders had a go on a penny-farthing - and I think someone broke a collar bone. Rayleigh 31st August - East 20, Rom 19, Cant 22, Ray 35. The match at Rye House would have had nothing to do with this tournament - it would have been a friendly. - Oh and Ive just checked the back of the Eastbourne programme - and it says it was rained off. If you want a copy of the programmes - let me know. Steve

Can anyone tell me how many times a 2 valve Jawa won the world championship - and the years?? Thanks...

Would you have to modify the footrest to be lower and stiffer?? - or the bike would be at quit an awkward angle at the start...