norbold

I remember that I really disliked Charlie Monk....but, for the life of me, I can't remember why now!

Between 1956 and 1963, Ove Fundin was ranked at no. 1 in the world in the Speedway Star rankings every year except 1958, when he was second to Barry Briggs. Peter Craven made second place only once, in 1962, and third three times. Ronnie Moore was second on three occasions. Briggo was second just once but then came into his own 1964-1966 as Fundin began to decline. It is, of course a field for endless speculation and you can never know what special factors might influence any particular Grand Prix season, e.g. which tracks would have been used during the season, but simply going by historical records and, from 1960 onwards, my own personal observation of the leading contenders, I would say Fundin could well have won the Grand Prix every year from 1956-1963, with Briggo winning 1964-1966. Two caveats - Briggo might have won in 1958 and Bjorn Knutson in 1965. Personally, I really couldn't see Peter Craven winning a Grand Prix Season, but wouldn't rule out Ronnie Moore, especially in the 1950s. But then things rarely work out as you expect them to!

Thanks, spiegal. I wasn't having a go at you. Inadvertent errors are easily made on Internet Forums, but I just felt that if we are discussing Arthur, it is only right to spell his name correctly.

Incidentally, I know this thread had been going some time but could either the originator or an admin please change the title to Arthur Forrest out of respect to the man please?

He died in 2000 at the age of 68.

They also issued Stars of Bradford Speedway, Stars of London Speedway, Stars of Midland Speedway and Wembley Speedway Stars. Just to add, I don't know which riders were featured on the Scottish set. The only other one I know was Jack Young.

They came out in 2002, issued by J F Sporting Collectibles.

Indeed. There's a long history of foreign riders in speedway's top division going right back to even before the National League to the Southern League.

Thanks as always for your comprehensive and well researched reply, BL. Just to say I didn't mean they would be heat leader status, I did mean I thought they would be good enough for second string positions.

As a New Cross supporter, I didn't see many Provincial League riders in its early days, 1960/61, but I did see some in Individual meetings and in second halves. Purely from memory, without resorting to record books, I seem to remember that I thought Trevor Redmond and Ivor Brown were head and shoulders above the rest of the riders I saw and were the only two I felt at the time could hold their own in the National League. Of course that is purely a subjective view of a young speedway novice (me) and without seeing all of the top riders. i'd be interested in hearing Provincial League aficionados from that period's views on Redmond and Brown.

Tommy Miller was ranked in Stenner's Top 15 rankings three years running - 1951, 1952 and 1953. Not bad for a second division rider.

Thanks, Chunky, some really interesting stuff about Swindon and why they were so successful in 1957. I only started going in 1960, but I was always very impressed by the Swindon line up as it seemed they had five heat leaders in their team, George White, Ian Williams, Neil Street, Teo Teodorowicz and Mike Broadbank(s). They were the only team that had such a strong top five. However, and I could never really understand this, they managed to finish bottom of the league! This was partly due to the fact that their top scorer, George White, missed several matches through injury and also the fact that their no. 6 rider, Johnny Board, could only manage an average of 2.5, while the reserves, Brian Meredith and Ron Taylor, could only manage 2-4 and 1.7 respectively (remember they were eight man teams in 1960). Brian Brett rode in 11 matches and managed even less with 1.4. It was a sad decline from the heady days of just three years earlier.

Have you seen Robert Bamford and Glynn Shailes' book "A History of the World Speedway Championship"? It takes the story up to 2001.

Maurice Jones died some time ago. All his speedway archive was auctioned off.

This is the message John received from Phil giving the reasons for his ban: Reason: Spamming Penalty: Given 1 points which will never expire. Content moderated - 30 days Restricted from posting - 14 days Banned - 14 days

He's been banned for another transgression. He told me I could tell you.

By nomination. No qualifying rounds.

I looked up Stenner's rankings and found these riders who didn't win the world title in the year they were ranked first: 1949: Jack Parker, 1950 Graham Warren, 1953 Jack Young. Of course there was no World Championship in 1946, 47 and 48 but Vic Duggan was ranked first in all three years. And then the Speedway Star Rankings. Similarly, no. 1s who were not World Champion in their no.1 year: 1957 Ove Fundin, 1959 Ove Fundin, 1962 Ove Fundin. Certainly looks as though Ove might have benefited from a Grand Prix style World Championship! Only Barry Briggs in 1958 interrupted his run of no. 1 rankings from 1956-1963

Talking of which, what's happened to gustix?

Yes, of course, Sydney. It would be interesting to see how many times the recognised best rider in any particular year did not win the title.

Wish I'd thought of him!

Quite the reverse I think, Sidney. Briggo owes Ove his 1957 win. Ove was the best rider in the world that year,

He must have sneaked an extra one in while no-one was looking as well.

Yes, 1939 I believe.

Didn't Colin Watson have a spell at Sheffield?