norbold

Phil Bishop's picture is on the spine of Speedway in the South East (ISBN 0 7524 2725 3) as well as a number inside including one of him receiving the £50 Gold Trophy at High Beech in 1930 from Mrs W J Cearns.

It's obvious, Gem. It's the change of name that's done it.

I'm sure you're right, DD. I didn't start going to New Cross until 1960.

Well said, Steve.

1. Australia 2. Sweden 3. Denmark 4. GB (Dave Norris to score a maximum in the final but let down by his team mates...I don't think I mean that bit... )

Excellent site. Brings back many memories: "Give us a B - S Give us an O - R Give us an M - E Give us a B - B Give us an E - M Give us an R - O Give us an S - B What have we got? - SREBMOB" I remember the first bend war cry well! Happy days at Brooklands...

Is this because of Leicester's close proximity to the sea?

'Chewy Chewy'!!! West Ham had a deal with Bhudda records and they played their records exclusively during matches. Great songs, as well as the above, included, 'Yummy Yummy Yummy', 'Goody Goody Gumdrops', 'Quick Joey Small' and 'Simon Says' all sung by the Kassenatz Katz Singing Orchestral Circus and the individual bands that made up the 'Circus'. They were fun days at Custom House as I am sure CHK will remember.

Well that's solved Long Eaton's tune, now back to Leicester.

I am really interested. The King of Crash, the man who broke every bone in his body, so it is said. He was also West Ham's team manager in the 60s and, of course, lost his life in the Lokeren disaster. I have a number of photographs of him and info if you would like any, Jenny. Let me know.

Putt Mossman held one of his famous rodeo meetings at Staines Greyhound Stadium in 1938. Several more amateur meetings were held that year and the following year. In 1947 an application to run speedway at the stadium was turned down by the ACU and again in 1948 following an objection from the local Town Planning Committee. The stadium authorities appealed against the local planning decision and their appeal was upheld, though nothing happened subsequently. In 1956 some sidecar speedway was staged at the stadium.

Yes, I was very sorry to hear about Ron's death. I met him a couple of times at veteran dos and he was always very happy to talk about the 'old days' and had a fund of stories. Very sad.

I'd go for Ken McKinlay and Tommy Miller, though I wouldn't argue too much with Ken McKinlay and either Jim McMillan or George Hunter instead.

I was talking about this thread to an acquaintance of mine who does not possess a computer. He told me his first meeting was on 19 February 1928 at a place called High Beech. He said unfortunately he didn't remember much about the meeting as he was only 4 months old at the time. Beat that one!

Haven't we just done this?

It's a great site, Jim...er...Dick...but could you do something about the blue writing on a black background? My poor old computer can't cope! Thank you.

More than just West Ham bias surely? Remember he did break in to the Fundin/Briggs/Moore/Craven stranglehold to become part of the 'Big Five'. He was a great rider in anybody's book.

11 May 1960. New Cross v. Norwich. Ove Fundin winner of the first race I ever saw when he beat Split Waterman in heat 1. Ove Fundin and Split Waterman in my first race - no wonder I got hooked!

As you were saying, Dekker...

Harringay opened in 1928; closed in 1931. Reopened in 1934; closed at the outbreak of War in 1939. Reopened again in 1947 and continued until 1954 when they closed again. There were a number of one-off special meetings subsequently. The last meeting was on 16 September 1961, the Provincial Riders' Championship...and I was there! I don't recognise the name Reginald Smith, but I will check.

Strangely enough I was working on a similar thread myself, only with 4-man World Cup type teams. However, I agree with most of your selections CHK. My only changes would be: Australia: Vic Duggan, Jack Young res: Vic Huxley. Gt Britain: Tom Farndon, Peter Craven res: Jack Parker. Denmark: Erik Gundersen as sub. Not sure about USA, might put Jack Milne and Greg Hancock round the other way. Might also put Briggs and Moore round the other way for New Zealand.

Barry Briggs

And everyone seems to have missed out Tommy Price. Surely, if longevity is the key, then there is no doubt that Jack Parker would be the greatest ever. Arguably the best - or at least one of the best three - British riders in the very first year, 1928, and still arguably the best (in fact, almost certainly the best) British rider twenty years later in 1948. The only interruption to being accounted the best probably coming during Tom Farndon's hey-day, c. 1932 - 35. He even beat Malcolm Simmons fifty years later in 1978 on a very cold day at Hackney!

I agree falcace. That is the real tragedy of Michael Lee. He could have been the greatest rider of the 80s. It would be interesting to know how Nielsen and Gundersen would have fared had he still been around and whether Nielsen would still be one of the leading candidates for "greatest rider of all time" or whether Lee would have eclipsed him..... But (sigh) we'll never know.