norbold 7,117 Posted August 28, 2021 And here we are again. 86 years today. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Split 179 Posted August 28, 2021 I was involved in a series of posts on here recently concerning the number of world champions each country had produced. The careers of both Tom Farndon and Peter Craven were tragically cut short and we can only speculate how many world titles they could have won representing their country. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,117 Posted August 28, 2023 Just thought I should revive this to mark the 88th anniversary. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BOBBATH 467 Posted September 5, 2023 A scary thought is that there is probably no one who saw Tom ride still alive today!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
midlandred 206 Posted September 6, 2023 8 hours ago, BOBBATH said: A scary thought is that there is probably no one who saw Tom ride still alive today!!! True, but probably my favourite rider!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,117 Posted September 6, 2023 10 hours ago, BOBBATH said: A scary thought is that there is probably no one who saw Tom ride still alive today!!! Arthur Payne might have done! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sotonian 610 Posted September 6, 2023 9 hours ago, norbold said: Arthur Payne might have done! He recently turned 100! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,117 Posted September 6, 2023 1 hour ago, Sotonian said: He recently turned 100! Hence my comment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BOBBATH 467 Posted September 7, 2023 I don't think he could have , Arthur is an Aussie and didn't come to England until his early twenties. However, did Tom Farndon go to Australia to race- in which case Arthur as a little lad might have indeed seen him !! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
midlandred 206 Posted September 7, 2023 5 minutes ago, BOBBATH said: I don't think he could have , Arthur is an Aussie and didn't come to England until his early twenties. However, did Tom Farndon go to Australia to race- in which case Arthur as a little lad might have indeed seen him !! He certainly did and broke track records all over the place Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,117 Posted September 7, 2023 1 hour ago, midlandred said: He certainly did and broke track records all over the place When did he ride in Australia? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BOBBATH 467 Posted September 8, 2023 Reg Fearman is still in touch with Arthur, I will have to ask him!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,117 Posted September 8, 2023 6 hours ago, BOBBATH said: Reg Fearman is still in touch with Arthur, I will have to ask him!!!! I wouldn't at the moment, BOBBATH. The reason I asked Midland Red that question is that I don't think Tom ever did ride in Australia, but I may be wrong, which is why I asked if he knows when Tom rode there. Tom Farndon did spend one winter in New Zealand where he broke lots of records, but never, as far as I know, went to Australia. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BL65 657 Posted September 8, 2023 Tom Farndon had been due to travel to Australia at the end of the 1935 British season. I have never seen any reference to him competing there in earlier seasons. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
midlandred 206 Posted September 8, 2023 1 hour ago, norbold said: I wouldn't at the moment, BOBBATH. The reason I asked Midland Red that question is that I don't think Tom ever did ride in Australia, but I may be wrong, which is why I asked if he knows when Tom rode there. Tom Farndon did spend one winter in New Zealand where he broke lots of records, but never, as far as I know, went to Australia. Apologies, memory failure. A relative of Tom’s lived near us and invited me round to look through some memorabilia - cuttings, photos, trophies, etc - back in the mid1970s. It was of course New Zealand, not Australia. My notes show that on his first appearance at Western Springs, Tom clocked a race time of 78.6 secs, next night he lowered Squib Burton’s track record of 78.2 with a 77.0. He also broke the one mile record there. Four wins on his second appearance. At Wellington, he “scored brilliantly” and the following week recorded 6 wins in 6 starts. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites