norbold

This is the cutting, BL65 referred to:

They've not been the same since Tony Hancock retired.... Or was it Greg?

And in that dusty old book I mentioned above......

According to a dusty old book on my bookshelf called, "Speedway in the South East" there was an injunction granted to local residents over the noise levels forcing Luton to close down. The last meeting was held on 13 July 1936.

I have found a Clem Thomas riding at Luton in 1935. Luton was used by Wembley as a nursery track.

I've not come across the name. He was certainly never a contracted Wembley rider. He may have ridden as a junior or novice in second halves, but that would be as far as he got.

Lucky you!

Yes, but we all know Lambert can't overtake him because he's not Grand Prix standard!

And that they didn't have a report of the meeting.

Empire Stadium, Odsal?

Len Read died at the age of 102.

29th August 1936 edition of Speedway News which has a full report of the meeting. And, as BL65 says, it was Liverpool's Tommy Price.

1. George Greenwood - 59 pts 2. Tommy Price - 57 3. Billy Dallison - 50 3. Frank Goulden - 47 4. Ted Bravery - 43 5. Harry Shepherd - 36 6. Tiger Hart - 35 7. Dick Wise - 30 8. Roy Dook - 29 9. Eric Blain - 26 10. B. Jones - 25 11. J. Hobson - 23 12. Stan Hart - 20 13. Les Gregory - 12 14. Eric Collins - 10

Now you come to mention it, I seem to remember that in 1965, Wimbledon only held "Big" meetings on Mondays - Internationale, Laurels and GB v. Soviet Union Test match. Their regular night was Saturday. I don't remember much about 1966 as I was away at college in Norwich, so didn't get to see much speedway in London.

Wimbledon's might was always Monday back in the day. Monday: Wimbledon Tuesday: West Ham Wednesday: New Cross Thursday: Wembley Friday: Harringay

Which set are you talking about? The 1937 Speedway Riders set (John Player) is worth about £75; the Ogden's 1929 set of Famous Dirt Track Riders between about £80 and £100, while the J A Pattreioux 1930 set of Dirt Track Riders can be worth up to £500 - £600.

Tom Morgan's "Who's Who in Speedway", published in 1949, also gives his birth year as 1924.

Not that it can be taken as gospel, but Wikipedia has it as 28/8/1923.

Hi chunky!

We all did!

I know what you mean, BOBBATH. I saw Reg when he was just 24 and a young up-and-coming reserve for New Cross! P.S. Strangely enough he rode in the same 1964 West Ham team as Ray Cresp. P.P.S. Reg "liked" a Facebook post of mine today!

Sad news, BOBBATH. I saw him when he rode for West Ham in 1964, when Dave Lanning described him as "the droll leathery-faced slick-gating Aussie" practically every time he mentioned him in his programme notes! He was a valuable member of the team and was, indeed, a fast gater. Although he only had one year at West Ham he was a top rider for about 10 years or so with Ipswich, Poole and, as you say, Long Eaton amongst other teams. I believe he made one world final, in 1961 in Malmo.

Shame Leon Trotsky never took up speedway…

I had a chat to "Anchor" at the recent West Ham day at the Speedway Museum. He seemed very well and in good health. He told me that the reason he wanted to leave West Ham was because he was the No.3 there (behind Sverre and Hurri-Ken), whereas he could be no.1 at most other tracks. He said he put in a transfer request but didn't hear anything. Then someone said to him, "It's a shame you withdrew your transfer request because Wolverhampton were hoping to sign you." He said he hadn't withdrawn his request. Apparently, Dave Lanning had notified the SCB that Hunter had withdrawn his request because he didn't want to lose him. Hunter, of course, soon put that right! From his comments about Lanning, it seemed that 55 years later he still hadn't forgiven him and certainly isn't his number one fan!