norbold

Ron How!

None of those riders appeared in GB in the 1933 season

So, in the two "normal" size speedway tracks, Tom Farndon is rated as top Briton!

Very sad news. Doug Templeton was one of the first Provincial League riders I saw. He rode in the 1960 World Championship Qualifying Round at New Cross, scoring four points. I have always loved the story Stan Stevens told me once about the time he raced Doug Templeton up in Edinburgh: "We [Rayleigh] were away against Edinburgh in the Provincial League in 1961. We were one of the favourites for the title that year as we had a strong heat leader trio of Reg Reeves, Harry Edwards and me, so we were expected to beat Edinburgh. But with one heat to go, the scores were level and I was out in the last heat with the unbeaten Reg Reeves, against George Hunter and Doug Templeton. George very soon got the better of Reg, but we were both comfortably ahead of Doug and it looked for all the world as though it would be a 3-3 and a draw. But I can still vividly recall what happened then. As I rode into the fourth bend on the last lap, thinking we had the draw, I could see the whole crowd in the main stand rise to their feet as one and it was because of this that I knew that Doug had got me. He had made an amazing manoeuvre to cut through on the inside of me. Although I came last and in effect lost the match for my team, I will never forget the sight of that crowd rising as one to cheer their own rider home."

That is an absolutely fantastic find, iris. Surely, it must put the final nail in the coffin of the idea that Johnnie Hoskins "invented" speedway. Your article is dated 3 November 1923 and the West Maitland meeting was held on 15 December 1923!

Thanks. Looks likely, though the photo is captioned April 1933 and the International is dated 3 May - but close enough I suspect.

Any ideas on this one, iris?

Absolutely Split. It is really impossible to name a greatest seven ever. Different times, different styles, different bikes, different tracks. Do we mean the greatest in the sense of over a long period of time or riders who shone briefly but really shone in that brief period? There are all sorts of issues to consider. Here is a list of 20 great riders who dominated their period (and even this is not exhaustive as I am sure people can readily come up with other names). How do you decide a top seven out of this lot? Frank Arthur, Vic Huxley, Tom Farndon, Bluey Wilkinson, Jack Parker, Vic Duggan, Freddie Williams, Jack Young, Ronnie Moore, Peter Craven, Ove Fundin, Barry Briggs, Ivan Mauger, Ole Olsen, Anders Michanek, Peter Collins, Hans Nielsen, Erik Gundersen, Tony Rickardsson, Greg Hancock.

I've found this: http://www.speedwaymuseumonline.co.uk/alechunter.html It doesn't say where Alec Snr was born, but does say he was a pioneer rider at Sydney and Newcastle from 1927, so presumably that was him and, even if born in England, he had apparently become domiciled in Australia before he took to speedway.

I have never come across that name before in relation to speedway in Australia prior to its introduction to this country nor with regard to 1920s speedway in this country.

Yes, it's never been very clear whether Billy Galloway knew about the intention to start speedway in Great Britain before he boarded the ship and worked his passage as a barber or whether he found out by accident from Keith MacKay, who happened to be on board.

Yes, me too. In the freezing cold!

He did beat Malcolm Simmons though!

I messaged my good friend, Ross Garrigan, one of Australia's leading speedway historians, to see if he knew the answer to your question. I don't think his reply is of much help really! But this is what he said: "I don't think there was too much organization competitors-wise with the staging of Australian Championships back in those days. Vic Huxley spent some time racing in Adelaide before heading to England in 1928. I seem to recall he returned to Brisbane to say farewell to his parents and then left again to head south at the time Hunting's party was about to leave Brisbane to head to England. Another thing, I think Huxley went back to South Australia after his brief return to Brisbane because he had met a girl there. Probably to say goodbye to her before leaving for England."

Crickey, Sidney, that's a difficult one. But if forced to, I suppose the three riders I liked watching most were Sverre Harrfeldt, Christer Lofqvist and Peter Craven.

Yes, and Vic Duggan, both of whom were never world champion but won the equivalent trophy of the time.

The thing is, Sidney, that there was no World Championship prior to 1936, so you can't just dismiss everyone who rode before then. You have to take into account what the big events were at the time and how well the riders did in them. And certainly, the Star Riders' Championship was the equivalent to the World Championship. Essentially, it's purpose was to find the best rider in the World and was run on very similar lines with qualifying rounds and a final. As a secondary "big" event, the London Riders' Championship brought together all the top riders in the world apart from those who unfortunately rode for Belle Vue (!) Also, the Golden Helmet was a very significant competition between the world's elite, which Farndon absolutely dominated. The fact that Tom Farndon was a dominant force in all these competitions means you can't just dismiss him because he died a year before the World Championship started.

But it wasn't just a "what if?" for Tom Farndon. He did enough in his short life to be counted amongst the greats without the need for a what might have been. He held every National League track record simultaneously. He won the 1933 Star Riders' Championship and was favourite for the 1935 Final which, of course, he never competed in due to his fatal accident the night before. He was also unbeatable in the British Indivdual Match Race Championship and made the title his own beating off challenges from the likes of Vic Huxley, Dick Case, Max Grosskreutz and Ron Johnson. So much so that after his death the title was suspended until after the War. He also won the London Riders' Championship twice at a time when the title was second only to the Star Riders. He was also a regular for the England Test team.

Consider yourself hereby crucified, Sidney. Just two words - Tom Farndon!

Incidentally, the thought that the Americans Maldwyn Jones, Eddie Brinck and Sprouts Elder, following in the tradition of Don Johns and Shrimp Burns before them, were broadsiding and may have been responsible for introducing the technique to Australia would seem to put another nail in the coffin of the hoary old myth that Johnnie Hoskins "invented" speedway in Australia in 1923. As always, more research is needed...

Brilliant. Thanks for that, iris.

No, I'm afraid he lost it to Graham Warren...

Yes, poor Ron Johnson was never the same again after his near fatal crash. In 1960, he rode in some second half races at New Cross and captained the New Cross Colts team that travelled to Edinburgh and won 40-32 against the home side. Johnson scored a total of three points, with all the points coming from one race. Those who saw him that night say they will never forget the one race he won as it was a real flashback to the Johnson of old as he shot out of the gate and then actually slowed down, holding up the opposition to allow his partner to come through in to second place. Once he had assured himself that they were on course for a 5-1, he tore off again, winning the race with ease. It was a real flash of the vintage Johnson. As a result of this, Johnson was signed up to ride for Edinburgh in the Provincial League. In all he rode in six matches for Edinburgh, managing just one point and one bonus point. People who saw him say there was a sense of real apprehension every time he took to the track because his arms were clearly not strong enough to hold on to the machine properly and he was a dreadful accident just waiting to happen. He frightened the other riders in the race as much as the spectators. It was a sad end for the man who had once been one of the top riders in the world and associated with New Cross for 32 years and its captain and backbone for over 20.

Teo Teodorowicz also made his home in this country after seeking asylum - sadly not for very long though.

Not forgetting a certain Mr Barry Briggs of course as well as Bjorn Knutson.