norbold

You should have started a web site about it. I bet if you had it would still be going today. (The web site that is, not the track!)

Thanks, BL.

Thanks for the info, gustix. So, if it was late 50s, they wouldn't have been around in speedway days then.

Do you know when that would have been, gustix?

Johnnie Hoskins contributed an enormous amount to speedway over the years. He was a master publicist and popularised the sport wherever he went. His longevity meant that many generations of speedway goers benefited from his involvement. He was my first promoter (New Cross) and he certainly added to my enthusiasm for the sport with his stunts, his articles in the programme and the speedway press and his sheer presence and force of personality at meetings. Having said that, what he did NOT do, however, was invent speedway at West Maitland in 1923!!! More off-track legends must include A J Hunting, Bill Cearns, Fred Mockford, Arthur Elvin and Ronnie Greene.

Yes, I think you are probably right. Norwich held its first meeting under an ACU licence on 25 June 1933, after which Leavis, Sharp and others used their real names.

Johnny Bull rode in Norwich's first-ever team, on 13 September 1931 against Staines. The last I heard there was some controversy over who Johnny Bull actually was. I'm not sure if it was ever resolved. He was reputed to have weighed over sixteen stones. Others who rode under pseudonyms were Fred Leavis (Arthur Reynolds), Allen Kilfoyle (Jack Williams), Bert Garrish (Herb Peters), Jack Newlands (Speedy Jack) and Jack Sharp (Jack Smythe). The reason this was done was because many clubs had signed riders on exclusive contracts. To get round this, some of the riders took these false names to allow them to earn money at non-league tracks like Norwich.

I'm not entirely sure, but I think you are right that the other venues were all grass track venues. Yes, the meetings at Yarmouth were held on a site to the south of the later venue.

A meeting was held at Lowestoft Road, Oulton Broad on 9 April 1932, organised by Lowestoft and District Speedway. Eleven meetings were held at Doles Meadow, Bradwell, run by Waveney Speed Track, who also ran one meeting at Crown Meadow, Lowestoft on 13 August 1932. Two meetings were held at the greyhound track in Caister Road, Yarmouth, two at Fakenham and another at Downham Market on 14 July 1932. Moving on to 1935, Norwich only ran one meeting, on Easter Sunday. Pakefield took over the dirt track licence and ran a number of meetings, including matches with a team called Lowestoft against 'London' and Hackney Wick. Several meetings were also held in 1936 and it became known as 'The Track by the Silver Sea.' I do have a photo of Pakefield, which I can't lay my hands on at the moment, but could probably find.

Definitely Chershire, TWK, just like Les Moore and Ray Moore. All Cheshire.

Thank you, Steve, the thought is much appreciated.

Jack Winstanley

Snowy Beattie was at Hackney. Ron Dyer was West Ham's man. Ernie Hancock at New Cross was a prominent member of speedway society.

I don't think you've quite understood this thread yet!

Ron Hoare was another fine speedway journalist/historian. It was his article, "Undefeated Tom", in the 1961 Speedway Star Digest that first got me interested in Tom Farndon.

Just saw this as the thread has been revived and thought, Blimey, it's just like Nigel Benn v. Steve Collins! Then I saw the date on the post!!!!

Think I'd have to go for Igor Plechanov Josef Hofmeister Boris Somoradov Jerky Szcackiel

It has to be Mike Bast surely....

I think Angus Kix, Danny Carter and James Oldfield come quite close.

Over to you!

Ove Fundin Tom Farndon Ivan Mauger Tony Rickardsson Vic Duggan Next Five Barry Briggs Jack Young Vic Huxley Hans Nielsen Jack Parker

1. Graham Warren er....er.....

I was considering the Welsh Top Five earlier and actually came up with the same five. I checked on Leo and, as you say, discovered he was apparently born in London. However, all the time I followed New Cross in 1960 and 1961, he was described as Welsh. So I'll stick to that five!

Matt le Tissier. Ooops, sorry, wrong sport....

Ken McKinlay George Hunter Tommy Miller Bert Harkins Gordon McGregor