Oh dear!

[norbold 7,116]

I suppose we are going to have to put up with this erroneous nonsense all year now!

"Eurosport

"The 2023 FIM Speedway Grand Prix calendar has been confirmed as venues across eight different countries host FIM Speedway World Championships action in the sport's 100th season.

"A century on from the first speedway event in 1923, the sport’s current generation of stars will mark a huge anniversary season with another epic year of 500cc, no-brakes, wheel-to-wheel racing on the most famous stages."

[Historian 39]

Oh God no no no no !!!!  Not Hoskins all over again, spare us please. FIM

[steve roberts 9,246]

37 minutes ago, norbold said:

I suppose we are going to have to put up with this erroneous nonsense all year now!

"Eurosport

"The 2023 FIM Speedway Grand Prix calendar has been confirmed as venues across eight different countries host FIM Speedway World Championships action in the sport's 100th season.

"A century on from the first speedway event in 1923, the sport’s current generation of stars will mark a huge anniversary season with another epic year of 500cc, no-brakes, wheel-to-wheel racing on the most famous stages."

Having said that are there plans to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the sport with a meeting or event?

[norbold 7,116]

2 hours ago, steve roberts said:

Having said that are there plans to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the sport with a meeting or event?

The 100th anniversary was probably many years ago, steve!

[Split 179]

On 3/25/2023 at 3:25 PM, norbold said:

The 100th anniversary was probably many years ago, steve!

I think Steve was probably referring to the anniversary of the first known meeting in Britain, at High Beech in February 1928.

 

[norbold 7,116]

20 hours ago, Split said:

I think Steve was probably referring to the anniversary of the first known meeting in Britain, at High Beech in February 1928.

 

Oh right, thanks. Well, we've got another five years yet to plan for that which probably means, if British Speedway runs true to form, somewhere around 1st Feb 2028, they'll start to think about it….

[steve roberts 9,246]

7 minutes ago, norbold said:

Oh right, thanks. Well, we've got another five years yet to plan for that which probably means, if British Speedway runs true to form, somewhere around 1st Feb 2028, they'll start to think about it….

Frightening but I remember the 50th year anniversary...

[norbold 7,116]

25 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

Frightening but I remember the 50th year anniversary...

I remember the 40th, steve!

[chunky 6,097]

36 minutes ago, norbold said:

Oh right, thanks. Well, we've got another five years yet to plan for that which probably means, if British Speedway runs true to form, somewhere around 1st Feb 2028, they'll start to think about it….

So we don't count Droylsden in 1927?

[norbold 7,116]

50 minutes ago, chunky said:

So we don't count Droylsden in 1927?

No.

[norbold 7,116]

Actually, to give a fuller reply, chunky, I personally don't even count 19 Feb 1928 as the first real speedway meeting. My view is that the first proper speedway meeting as we understand speedway was held on 7 April 1928 at High Beech.

[chunky 6,097]

1 minute ago, norbold said:

Actually, to give a fuller reply, chunky, I personally don't even count 19 Feb 1928 as the first real speedway meeting. My view is that the first proper speedway meeting as we understand speedway was held on 7 April 1928 at High Beech.

Ah, that's interesting! There are so many "claims", and so many different views from so many different people.

So, why?

[arnieg 3,644]

46 minutes ago, chunky said:

Ah, that's interesting! There are so many "claims", and so many different views from so many different people.

So, why?

Because speedway evolved, just like most sports. Can you say when baseball was invented? [Answer -  it certainly wasn't at Cooperstown]

Personally in the absence of doing the primary research it is largely a matter of evaluating the evidence and it's sources. For example people tend to under estimate how unreliable personal memory is, and over rely on something if it is printed in a nicely bound book with high production values.

I go with 7 April 1928 because I trust Norman to have made these fine judgements.

[iris123 20,993]

This is not supposed to be a trick question. Just out of interest

Using the criteria that makes you think the 7 April 1928 meeting was the first in the UK. Would you say there is a meeting before or after 1923 that fits the same criteria ?

 

[norbold 7,116]

2 hours ago, chunky said:

Ah, that's interesting! There are so many "claims", and so many different views from so many different people.

So, why?

April 7th was the first time a track in this country had a loose surface and bikes weren't fitted with brakes. It was therefore the first time that broadsiding was seen - demonstrated most effectively by Colin Watson, Alf Medcalf and Digger Pugh. The 19 Feb meeting had a hard rolled surface and all bikes were fitted with rear brakes under ACU rules. No broadsiding took place even by the two experienced Aussies (Keith McKay and Billy Galloway) who were there. 

The top Australian promoter. A.J. Hunting, arrived towards the end of the 19 Feb meeting and took the promoter, Jack Hill-Bailey, to one side and told him that he "had it all wrong." He then took a hand in preparing the track properly for the 7 April meeting while also lobbying the ACU to remove their rule insisting on rear brakes.