miro

Airey isn't remembered often enough, but he was a proper speedway rider and a real star of the BL in the late sixties and early seventies and in Sydney. He advertised Lewis Leathers on his sleeve and appeared in their adverts, which sticks in my mind for some reason. I believe I read that he knew he wasn't going to make the ultimate step to potential world champion level after the world final of 1971, gave up racing relatively young and went on to make a fortune in Australia.

Haslinger was based in Oxford and worked as a mechanic at the bus garage I believe. As both were Austrians by birth I take it they went to Australia and returned as Commonwealth riders in the BL2?

Brilliant to see, thanks for posting - this was the kind of speedway I fell in love with. Black leathers, plumes of dirt, terrace houses in the background, sunshine and supporters wearing silly hats. I saw Neil Street, Jack Geran and Jimmy Squibb in the clip, any more names?

Who is Spartacus?

1967 Fundin Jawa/ESO with JAP engine

Its great to hear that Bysarna are coming back. I love Gotland and I look forward to going there and seeing some speedway again.

...and the Austrian Leo Killmayer who rode for Plymouth in '33. Has anyone had a look yet at the two clips on itn archive I mentioned? any identification of the Australians?

I dont know if its been discussed before, but I was interested in a couple of clips on the itnsource.com website - there's tons of good stuff on here including 1930s roller speedway and aircraft pylon racing. Searching 'motorcycle dirtrack' previews there's two clips from 1928, one of a meeting in Paris with Australian dirt track speedists as they call them, also a clip of a wrong-way-round meeting on a UK trotting track, the caption saying "England: Motorcycle Riot-Track racing at Blackpool... Dirt track terrors" Riot-Track racing! its certainly furious stuff. Anyone add any details of these two meetings?

I had a look over the wall at Cowley this afternoon and it was a fine sight in the sunshine with everything just the same and in place, there could be racing there next week, if only...

Tommy Roper joined Oxford from Belle Vue in mid 1971, in a move to strengthen the Cheetahs in a desperate season that meant they had to loose the Oxford legend Ronnie Genz to Newport, thus making his signing pointless! Roper, who was always a tough, composed and capable rider was never at home at Cowley in a short stay. He is remembered as the third man in a terrible pile-up resulting from a coming together between Pete Ingram of Exeter and Rick Timmo, 'coming together' being a very generous interpretation of what happened...Timmo nearly died and never properly came back from it. Roper was gone by the end of the season, I don't recall him riding after that.

George Bason, who died not long ago I believe, was captain of the first Oxford team to race a visiting side at Cowley in 1939. Some other names of that year apart from Lee and Duke were Geoff Godwin, Buster Yeoman, Dick Reynolds, Rob Jones, Ron Clarke, Jack Adams, Jack Peck - I had a list of scorers once - any info on early Oxford welcome, and apologies for going off topic.

Thank you very much for the information above. Danny Lee was resident in Oxford in 1939 and was active in the clubs first season.

Duke rode post war for Norwich then Yarmouth in 1948, transferring to Leicester and retiring in April 1949 after injury. Any information on Danny Lee, riding in the late 1930s?

Roy Duke as he had the honour of winning the first ever race at Dagenham and the first meeting at Cowley, but he rode for the Dagenham team in 1936. As he was known as the 'The Duke of Dagenham' at one time I'm surprised he wasn't included in that list, and neither is Charlie Challis.

Did Roy Duke ride in this league for Dagenham - I believe he was the track record holder, can anyone confirm?

Glad to know he's still about, I believe they forced his retirement when they made him give up his riding licence when he reached the upper age limit of 55 - ? Did he ride Speedway for anyone apart from Weymouth?

Samuelsson came over to Oxford in 1969 and that was his only other club apart from Vetlanda in Sweden in all the time he rode, but he only lasted a couple of months. Bit of a mystery as he flew around Swindon on his first visit there and broke the Coventry track record, but could hardly get around the first bend at Cowley. He did Longtrack and ice racing as well. Though he was mostly a grasstracker does anyone know how many years Lew Coffin rode for?

To add another long career, Connie Samuelsson rode league Speedway in Sweden every season from 1964 to 1999. It must be my job to mention him on this forum as I seem to do it so regularly. Ross retired from racing I believe during the time mentioned above though he returned, so he's had a long span of a riding career but not consecutive years.

Beryl Swain was a motorcycle road racer of the early 1960s who raced a 50cc Itom, and had the honour of being the first woman to compete in the IoM TT in 1962. She was a victim of the chauvinism of those days when her license was withdrawn. Her obituary in The Times in 2007 said 'she also flirted with 500cc bikes at Hackney Wick speedway'. Any memories of this?

Didn't Reg team-ride with Eddie for a 5-1 in his first outing or is that Speedway folklore... Eddie married the actress Ann Michelle. He came back to ride for Oxford in 1973, and I also think he was in California in the 1970s.

Brian Andersen rode for Oxford

Col Cotrell rode for Oxford

Wagstaff staged week after week of a Conference season at Oxford as double headers, and highly enjoyable they were too. At £10.00 for 30 races it was about the right price and value for Speedway.

Very sorry Bob I didn't read your post properly - Pratt, you're right I'm sure.