norbold

One of the things I remember most about New Cross is the family we used to sit near in the stand on the home straight. They were all great characters. I'm not sure what relationship they were to each other, but our favourite was a young man, probably in his early 20s, who we called Fuzz because he had fuzzy hair. He spoke very slowly and seemed to be generally very sloth like in everything he did. He was also quite slow on the uptake and often puzzled for some time over anything said to him before responding. We think that one of the others was his best friend, El, who was the complete opposite. He spoke at a million miles an hour and got very excitable. He was a complete ball of nervous energy, always fidgeting and unable to keep still. Before practically every race Barry Briggs appeared in he would announce, "Watch Briggs rear at the start" to everyone around him. We think the older woman who was with them was probably Fuzz's grandmother. Her mission in life seemed to be to provide the others with cups of tea. She was up and down so often going to get the tea that we dubbed her, "Mrs Cups of Tea". I'm not sure if she ever actually saw any racing. Finally there was a middle age man, who we took to be Fuzz's father and Mrs Cups of Tea's son. He was an authority on anything to do with speedway, whether historical or mechanical or anything else. Throughout the evening there would be a constant stream of people coming up to him asking him questions or for his advice. He never let them down. He was known to us as "The Authority". Any other New Cross regulars here remember them?

There was an annual Eddie James Trophy raced for in the 70s. I don't know who Eddie James was but maybe he is the Eddie you mention, MLB.

No-one who was at the Wimbledon/West Ham Knock Out Cup Quarter Final Replay on 14 August 1965 could ever mention Simmo in this context. I still say it was the greatest performance of all time.

I fully sympathise with you, Split!

Colin Watson, Wally Kilmister, Cordy Milne, Arthur Atkinson, Joe Abbott, Eric Chitty , Alec Statham at first glance. Billy Lamont, Jim Kempster.

Mine would be in more or less chronological order rather than merit order: 1. Frank Arthur 2. Vic Huxley 3. Ron Johnson 4. Max Grosskreutz 5. Lionel Van Praag 6. Bluey Wilkinson 7. Vic Duggan 8. Aub Lawson 9. Jack Young 10. Jason Crump

Sounds like a good thread, Sidney. Who were the Aussie top 10 of all time?

Nothing wrong with you, TWK. It's all a matter of opinion and personal preferences.

I think I wrote that!

Although he rode for West Ham and was undoubtedly a great rider, for some reason the rider I never really took to was Bengt Jansson. He always seemed such a boring rider to me. There! I've said it!

Yes, I think it was probably the second meeting at High Beech. The ACU had revoked its ruling that bikes had to have brakes by then and, as you say, Rob, the Aussies had turned up, in particular A J Hunting who wxplained how it should be done!

There's no answer to that!

In the same vein, of course, although it was more palpable with Cordy Milne, the War also put paid to a number of other deserving riders chances of winning the World Title, most notably Vic Duggan, but also maybe Jack Parker, Eric Langton, Wilbur Lamoreaux, Bill Kitchen and Eric Chitty.

Arguably the unluckiest rider never to win the World Championship was Cordy Milne. Hot favourite to win the 1939 championship and leading on bonus points, the final was cancelled just four days before it was due to take place owing to the outbreak of War.

Graham Warren certainly had the potential and may well have been World Champion eventually but for his serious injury. I think all through the different eras you can find riders who could have been World Champion but for injury, e/f, sheer unluck and so on or others who were good enough but just didn't make it, riders like Split Waterman for example. Though this is probably not so true in eras when there were outstanding riders who had a stranglehold on the title, e.g 1954-1967 when the Big Five ruled.

Thanks cr. I was interested because that second badge is not a true representation of how it was at High Beech. There was no broadsiding and the riders did just use their road bikes, so I'm wondering why they changed it. Perhaps to fit in with how people saw speedway by the time I was issued?

When was the later badge issued, cr?

When he rode for West Ham, Dave Lanning always prefixed his name with "Droll leathery faced slick gating Aussie...." whenever he wrote about him in the programme.

My guess would be it was bought by Allen Trump. Though I really don't know.

Eastbourne (1956) Wembley (1956) Oxford (1957) Ipswich (1958, 1960-1962) Poole (1959) Norwich (1962) St Austell (1963) West Ham (1964) Long Eaton (1965, 1966)

Now you're both going off subject and talking about Speedway Magazines Over The Years!

Well I couldn't do it. I could have explained in old English though. Yes, I think there are many Norwich riders who would agree with the young Jessup!

Fundin didn't know the meaning of the phrase team riding!

Indeed, Sidney. We should also add Fred Williams to the early 50s. Two World Championship wins plus one runner-up spot. Can't be bad!

Mid to late 50s. Jack Young was the man of the early 50s.