BOBBATH

Hi Wessex Wanderer-I was at the first one also-hitch-hiked up from Cardiff without a ticket-when it was rained off I bummed a ride on a Newport supporters coach back home -very nice of them. I planned to go back the following week and Ian Terrar(later briefly rode at Newport) who was on the coach gave me his ticket for the re-run as he couldn't get time off work.So I went up the next week to W.H. again and this time saw the meeting!!I still think Charlie Monk was robbed!!

Starghost thanx for that-I listened to Old Comrades on youtube just now-so at least though I never gt to The Firs I can imagine the parade.

Brits (1) I am sure the guy with Ron Mountford is Bert Edwards rather than Eric French.

Re yesterdaysman comment on Leicester pub-John O'Gaunt-don't know about it being Ken Mac's pub-I went there only in 68 -long after Ken's time there.Glad the post brought back hopefully some memories tho.

What is the significance of Oliver's Mount in Scarborough-was it a track-if not why were riders killed there??

Why was the little figure looking over the wall called a "chad"??????

Thanx folks-glad the "Jims "are still ok

Saw Jim's name on another thread -I recall(I think) Jim riding for Hackney-mid sixties-was also at California Poppies I think-how is he anyone know??

Norbold I may indeed be mixing up Jim Heard and Jim Gleed-what is Jim Heard up to

Gemini-not me re the badge but why would you be going by the stadium last Sunday-I thought it had been knocked down-assume you mean the stadium site-have a beer for me sometime at the Blackbird.!!!!!!!!!!!

Very funny RTG-however-The John O'Gaunt is it I reckon-ta much Midland Red-is it still there or did it get knocked down when the area was redeveloped?? Also can anyone recall the pub near CH I mentioned-went there twice-in 64 after Newport won the PL Cup in a super 2nd leg at CH which we lost by about 18 pts(but had won the first leg by about 20)-it was a great and raucous evening-again the CH fans were wonderful even tho' they lost the Cup.

I always recall Bob as a second string with Swindon in 1965-along with Mike Keen-Mike sometimes looked a better prospect than Bob to me. I am sure that Mike, great trier though he was and a credit to the sport in every way, wouldn't object to me saying that Bob really ended up becoming the star of that group of juniors.Anyone know by the way the closest Bob got to making a World Final appearance. I think he came close a couple of times.

Cardiff (1) -Mick Holland I think

Gemini I sure do recall the Long Eaton Fish and Chip shop-great fish and chips, can taste 'em now.-The Pavilion was mentioned in another thread-I think someone said its gone now. The pub near the stadium in Leicester was not on the main road-you walked up a hill and it was a road or so below the stadium entrance.

I think Johnny Chamberlain is the Aussie(Kangaroo race jacket) and the two guys wearing the Union Jack are for sure Bert Edwards who died only recently, and Ron Mountford.

Blimey-so young -what happened?? This is awful news.

What happened to Ernie Lessiter-am familiar with Alby but not Ernie

Yes I have been to the former site of Somerton Park-it is so depressing to recall what used to be there and all the excitement the events created-all gone!!

I would be interested to know what happened to the Abbey Stadium in Neath- I know they only ran one year- in 1962- and finished 2nd in Prov Lge. to Poole. I'll never know what made Trevor Redmond pick Neath for a track. Any forumlanders out there ever visit it, if so what are your memories. BTW my prediction on this is that no-one reading this ever went there-b/c a) its a long time ago and there were never many spectators. But perhaps someone knew someone who knew someone who went there or even who rode there??(Friends of Charlie Monk, Jon Erskine etc please come forward!!)

Blimey Keef that's depressing-I remember 5,000 or so at Newport in the mid sixties-is it really that bad now.

In the thread on the one-off World Finals which has turned into a discussion of deserving and undeserving World Champs,Jerzy Szczakiel's name crops up the most.Whether Jerzy deserved to be World Champ or not-it got me thinking as to who would have been Poland's most deserving first ever World Champion.I can think of three-Antoni Woryna who dropped only two points in 1966 and finished third, Pawel Waloszek who had a number of top years and creditable World Final Appearances and of course Zenon Plech.What do forumlanders think??BTW Happy New Year to all you Brits and Aussies-its already 2009 there- a few more hours to go here-I'll be glad to see the back of 2008 along with many others I suspect-hope everyone has a healthy and happy 09!!

Great picture of Leicester 1957-exactly as I recall it-ta gemini. In an earlier post on this thread 25yearfan noted that BV current gates could double if ran on Sat instead of Mon.About how many people attend Kirky Lane each week-I have lost track(no pun) of attendances now-who would be the best supported tracks do you think and how many would they get-does anyone average say 5,000?

Scary to think he's been dead that long.

BTW Van McCoy who recorded "The Hustle" passed away a few years ago-another song played at Somerton Park, Newport frequently in 64-was "Walk on By"-Dionne Warwick.

You are right Parsloes -the one-off World Finals were wonderful- I always recall Nigel Boocock beating Fundin in Heat One at the 65 World Final-then Brian Brett winning Heat 2, Jansoon beating Knutsson in Heat 3 and Plechanov defeating Briggs in Heat 4-however none of those heat winners hung in and finished Champ-Knutsson won his first and only title-I recall talking about it with other spectators all the way back on the night train from Paddington to Cardiff.I thought Brett was in with a real chance that year by the way-but not to be-and it was his only WF appearance. RIP Bretty