norbold

Wasn't Slant Payling injured in the race in which Tink was killed?

Right, this is the story from Colindale. Auto does not mention either meeting. Motor Cycling reports on the meeting on the 7 April; but not the two on 9 April Motor Cycle reports on the two meetings on 9 April but not on 7 April. The local papers, West Essex Gazette and Loughton Advertiser, both report the meetings on 9 April but not the meeting on 7 April. However, there is a line in the Loughton Advertiser report which says that the meeting on 9 April was the third meeting held at High Beech, which indicates there was a meeting on 7 April. So, I think we can safely say there was a meeting on 7 April; but it seems strange that only Motor Cycling reported it. Also, in the course of this investigation, I came across the report on the meeting at Greenford held on 7 April as well, also in Motor Cycling. I could be persuaded that, in fact, this was the first "real" speedway meeting in this country. There is an accompanying photograph which shows two riders, one of whom is Billy Galloway, the other unnamed, with their feet on the track cornering. Curiously, Galloway appears to have a foot forward style. (The other is leg trailing).

Not any more...

No, thanks, it's ok, really, I can make my own there, thanks for asking... Phew! Bit of a narrow escape there.

Oh well, I'm off to Colindale tomorrow...

Yes, the programme for sale on eBay is very interesting. I have never seen a report of a meeting on 7 April 1928 before. I shall investigate further and let you know....

Although Ernie Baker wasn't from the north. He started out at Rye House having had trials at Wimbledon.

Yes, I know, but if they actually rode for a team they normally say they were speedway riders. It's just from my experience that when someone says they were a part-time rider it means they weren't good enough to get in to a team!

Part time speedway rider usually means someone who just rode in second halfs and never made a team.

Actually, now you come to mention it, he was living in Southampton then, not Plymouth...so, not much of a commute after all.

I believe Maury had the longest commute in speedway. Didn't he live in Plymouth while he was riding for Glasgow?

Don't start that again! Anyway, Dudley McKean wasn't in the race - he was watching from the centre green. George Hunter's partner was Willie Templeton. See here. In particular the last entry on the first page from Dud McKean's son.

Yes, I think you've summed it up nicely there, Steve.

Great commentator. Who was it? Get him back for the GPs. Who was the other Poole rider?

At the risk of upsetting several people on here, was Mark Loram really the best in 2000 and was Nicki Pedersen really better than Jason Crump when he won the first time??? Maybe the GP series doesn't always find the best rider in the world either.

Same here.

He signed his autograph for me once...and I was only about 55 then!

There have been numerous attempts to develop a speedway track in the Norwich area. At least 30 since 1964. Most of them have been turned down by the Council, though I believe the Showground itself won't have speedway.

Derek Strutt is also sadly no longer with us, though I don't know what happened. I'm sure star ghost will know.

Not totally. I think there's enough of his back wheel still on the track to make it a legal move.

Debbie isn't at the museum any more. Is it a contact for her you want or the museum?

Incidentally, wasn't there another young Norwich rider who made the final for the first time in 1954? Swedish I believe...

We don't have the space like you do.

Bob Leverenz' world final appearance was in 1951. His seven points would have made him the highest scoring second division rider ever in a world final...if it hadn't been for the fact that a certain Mr Jack Young was also in the 1951 final!

You could be right there. Do we really know what Stonehenge was used for???