norbold

At last! Pages 26-29 of this week's Speedway Star.

I was going to put it in, but falcace wouldn't let me.....

In French? Or will it be enough just to mention Eric French?

Yes, I agree. As you can see by my avatar New Cross is my first love. I did go on to support West Ham and now Ipswich, but I know exactly what you mean.

Is Graham Miles very tall then? Why hasn't this been mentioned before?

I found this very interesting: http://www.inter-bike.co.uk/reviews-motorc...hn-chaplin.html

Thanks for that, Rob. It's certainly good to know Jimmy is still living life to the full. When I started going to speedway in 1960 at New Cross, Jimmy became my first hero.

A most enjoyable day. Photos from the day can be seen here

Thank you, fb. We aim to please!

The bookseller's own answer would seem to indicate you are wrong there, speedyguy, as if it was supposed to be £9.99 he would have to put the price up not down and if he's already sold it at £9.99 he can't go asking for a bit more once he gets his stock in.

A real bargain, fb. I hope you enjoy it.

Me: "Why is the price £99.99?" selinasbooks: "This is temporary while prices are adjusted and new stock gets entered into our system. The item is available to buy but this means that the price is about to be greatly reduced. We suggest that you 'Watch' the item, as we update our prices everyday." So my advice would be not to rush out and buy it from this bookseller just yet!

I look forward to seeing you and your mum on 7 March, annie and your mum on the 6th.

Yes, annie. Will we be seeing you next week at the book launch?

This is an offer no-one can refuse...: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tom-Farndon-by-Norma...223514114163827 Well worth every penny!

Couldn't agree more. Jack Parker, of course, also won the Riders' Championship in 1947.

I don't know where I got Dagenham v Rye House result. I think I may have made a mistake there. I'll have to check further on that one. The match was due to take place on 7 August but I don't think it was ever ridden. Thanks for pointing it out. Rye House 44 Smallford 39 took place on 19 June. The match on Aug 14 definitely wasn't staged. I'm not sure about the other three you mention, but I haven't found any trace of the results either. The date I have for Smallford v Dagenham is 10 July. That may have been the second meeting of course. I need to check my records on all this further. I'll get back to you later.

Just to let everyone know I have now taken receipt of copies of "Tom Farndon The Greatest Speedway Rider of Them All". It is being officially launched at the Celebration of Speedway on 21 February, but if anyone is desperate to have one now please contact me. I'm off to have a good read now!

You won't be disappointed, speedyguy!

Absolutely right, Ian. When I complained to the Speedway Star about Brian Burford's statement that Johnnie Hoskins had introduced speedway to Britain, the editor asked me if I would like to write an article about the origins of speedway in this country. I wrote the article which also included my thoughts on how/where/why speedway started worldwide as well. This article has been in his in-tray for several weeks now. I am ever hopeful that it will see the light of day soon! I hope it will move the discussion forward and once and for all dispel the myth that Johnnie Hoskins both "invented" speedway in 1923 and that he was responsible for bringing it to this country in 1928.

Neither.

Yes, yes, speedyguy. I heard you the first time!

I believe they already have by a well-known Australian historian.

I don't think anyone here is blaming Hoskins over High Beech, just lazy historians who can't be bothered to do the proper research. However, it is the case that Hoskins several times claimed to have "invented" speedway, which is not true either. Though once again the real fault lies with lazy research.

The problem is, Ian, is that it does a real disservice to the people who REALLY brought speedway to this country.