norbold

He spent most of his time at AE just missing, I don't know about injured. He did injure his ankle kick starting a trials bike, but it seemed to be a minor injury. Every week, Thorogood made a different excuse for the non-arrival of Malcolm. Some weeks, Malcolm assured Thorogood he would be there but just didn't turn up. At the end of the season, Thorogood said, "I think you can just forget about Malcolm riding for Arena Essex next year....It was embarrassing enough for me to tell the fans every week that I didn't know what was happening. They always gave me the bird and most weeks someone would shout out, "Simmo's still in the Dartford Tunnel." I prefer to remember Malcolm on that magnificent night in August 1965 when he won the London Cup quarter-final for West Ham and turned from a young second-string into a top star overnight.

You're quite right, Ray. 1963 Hackney: 18 68 79 12 91 5.35 (? 0 or 1 paid max) 1964 West ham: 16 37 30 9 39 4.20 0

Speedway in the South East says that Peter Thorogood talked Malcolm Simmons out of retirement at the beginning of 1989. So I guess he didn't ride for anyone in 1988.

Very strange. It sounds like someone was living in a fantasy world...

VSM 53 is now out and it is probably the best issue ever - certainly for me anyway. It conains articles on Tom Farndon, Stan Stevens, Ove Fundin and Ron Johnson. Four of my all-time favourite riders. What more can you ask for? There is also an article on Gordon Byers another great rider. Just thought I'd throw that one in! Well done, Tony. The VSM gets better and better. But I'm not sure what you can do for a follow-up now as you've almost exhausted my favourites. It'll have to be Split Waterman and Aub Lawson in the next issue....

Paddy Mills was discovered by Arthur Westwood and Bluey Wilkinson at Sheffield before the War but never really progressed beyond novice stage. He signed for Norwich in 1946 and immediately showed potential that he had not shown at Sheffield. He topped the Norwich score charts in 1947 and 48. In 1949 he was all set to make his debut for England when an horrific accident put him out for several weeks. He continued to ride for Norwich until 1952. I don't know what happened to him after that.

Jimmy Gooch was my first favourite rider because in the first match I ever saw he was the only New Cross rider to beat Norwich's Aub Lawson, who scored paid 17 from 6 rides. He performed better that night than Split Waterman or Eric Williams. Do you mean Jack Milne, spartan? Cordy Milne never rode for New Cross.

The local newspaper cutting I have reporting Max Pearce's death does not mention he was the son of Frank Pearce. That's not to say he wasn't, of course. It just says he came from Melbourne. p.s. Incidentally, with reference to what this thread is all about, Stenner's Annual reporting his death says, "Pearce [was] the last man of the 50 rider Australian invasion to arrive..." The Stenner's report also does not mention Frank Pearce. Bill Harris is mentioned in the 1949 Who's Who. It says, as speedyguy says, that he arrived in England in 1947 to ride for Tamworth. He also rode for them in 1948. He stayed at Tamworth in 1949, moving on to Hanley (Stoke) in 1950 and 1951.

The interesting thing about Steve Langton is that in the report of his first meeting at Eastbourne his style of riding is remarked upon as he was using a foot-forward style unlike everyone else who, were, of course, leg trailing.

According to Bryan Tungate on the Vintage Forum: The track was "round a cricket pitch...Thrum Hall, Halifax. After the War Halifax was round a football pitch so they did it both ways."

Well now, let me see...At a complete guess I'd say it's Halifax and the riders are Geo. Reynard, G. Wilson, Riskit Riley and B. Harrison. Thank you Bryan and Jim on the Vintage Speedway Forum. It's a Forum well worth taking a look at. Just click here

Having just written books on Wembley and Eastbourne both with year by year statistics I have all the riders averages for pre-War Wembley and Eastbourne 1938 - 2004, if you are interested.

I've just had a message from a friend of mine - and Norwich expert - Bryan Tungate to say: REG HAY, from Tasmania, who rode for Norwich and Newcastle MICK SIMMONS (Melbourne?) who had a season at Norwich in the 50s

It's just that I'm full of pre-War Wembley statistics and 1950s Eastbourne stats at the moment!

Ever or British League?

Frank Pearce was certainly here in the early days, in 1928 in fact. I'm not sure how many years he was here. Owen Gyles broke a bone in his neck after falling and being hit by another rider on 27 March 1948 at Bradford. The accident wasn't fatal.

Great site, Steve. Excellent. Well done. I notice you don't have the full date for Frank Charles' death. It was 15 July 1939.

Max Pearce died in Yarmouth Hospital on the morning of 14 July 1948 following injuries suffered in an accident at Yarmouth the night before. He was lying fourth after a bad start and was trying to make up ground on the straight. His bike wobbled, struck the fence and dragged him across the track. He came from Melbourne and had only arrived in England a few weeks before. He originally signed for Norwich but was soon transferred to Yarmouth. He was the second Yarmouth rider that year to lose his life in a riding accident; the first being Reg Craven. Pearce's accident happened on 13 July in Yarmouth's 13 meeting of the season. p.s. Frank Pearce didn't ride for Harringay in 1939. I don't know if he rode for anyone else, but I can't find any record of him racing in 1939 in England.

Bob Sharp

Bob Sharp

As always Shazzy, your wish is my command: 1979: Dave Perks Mike Sampson Kevin Hawkins Glenn McDonald Les Sawyer Nigel Wasley Craig Featherby John Homer Mark Williams There were also a few who only rode in one or two matches: Tony Garad, Paul Share, Neil Collins, Terry Freeman, Roger Lambert. 1980: Mike Sampson Ivan Blacka Glenn McDonald Craig Featherby Mark Collins Arthur Price Steve Sant Mark Williams Peter Bacon John Homer Steve Mildoon (Paul Bosley rode for them once)

No, he didn't ride for Nottingham.

Mike Sampson rode for Nottingham in both 1979 and 1980. In 1980 he topped their averages with a cma of 9.88.

Bob Kilby is English Bob Sharp is an Australian. He rode for Ipswich in the old National League. Dick Wise was an Australian. He rode for - and managed - Norwich. I don't think Triss Sharp was an Australian, though I am not 100% sure. He was Crystal Palace captain in 1929 and continued to ride for them until 1933. He owned a motor business in South London. Sig Schlam rode in Britain, but I'm not sure if he was attached to any league teams.

Junior Bainbridge is Ron Bainbridge We've also discussed Cliff Watson's nationality at some length! Terry Betts and Ray Wilson are English unless they are a different Terry Betts and Ray Wilson