norbold

Sprouts Elder Jack Milne Cordy Milne Bruce Penhall Greg Hancock

So how about: 1. Sverre Harrfeldt 2. Rune Holta (unless he's Polish!) 3. Reidar Eide 4. Dag Lovaas 5. Basse Hveem

That's a bit unfair on Morian and Baltzar Hansen as there were no Danish Championships when they were at their peak in the mid to late 1930s. It's like saying Tom Farndon couldn't be included in the greatest ever riders because he never made a World final.

Yes, I agree, that’s why he didn’t actually make it to my top five. But he was one of the top riders in the era of the “Big Five” and averaged 10.15 in 1960, which placed him above Briggo in the averages. In 1961 he had an average of 10.12 until he fractured his skull which put him out for the rest of the season and 1962. It then took him a long time to return to form. It wasn’t until 1965 that he returned to form, recording an average of 10.03. Between 1959 and 1961, he was ranked in the Top 10 in the end of season Speedway Star Rankings, his highest being in 1960, when he was ranked at number four, above Barry Briggs and Bjorn Knutson. If he hadn’t fractured his skull he would probably have made at least two or three World Finals and done well in them. But, of course, we will never know.

What were Morian Hansen and particularly Baltzar Hansen's achievements that you think places them above the Hans Nielsen, Jan O Pedersen and Tommy Knudsen. My own top five I think would be the same as Steve's, though I would like to think there might be a place for Arne Pander....

Wimbledon 1935: Matches/Average Vic Huxley 24/8.71 Syd Jackson 14/6.37 Gus Kuhn 20/5.83 Wal Phillips 23/5.66 Jack Sharp 22/5.52 Geoff Pymar 24/5.46 Wal Morton 13/5.07 Claude Rye 8/4.74 Alf Sawford 2/4.00 Eric Collins 9/3.83 Ron Howes 1/0.00 Wimbledon won six of their first nine fixtures including three away. They then lost nine fixtures on the trot. It was said that the main reason for this loss of form was Syd Jackson, who suffered a shoulder injury mid term and on his return could only manage nine points. However, every single rider suffered a loss of form compared to their 1934 averages. Vic Huxley dropping from 10.31 to 8.71 for example. They not only finished bottom of the league but were also bottom of their ACU pool and were beaten comprehensively by Harringay in both the National Trophy and the London Cup.

Not forgetting Hasse Holmqvist as well.

Thanks BL. At last, a mere 57 years later, I can complete my New Cross programmes!

Everyone who lived in the Eastend at the time was in that pub that night.

You've got it. I did used to have a post-it note stuck to my forhead with my name on. Does that help?

Yes, Wimbledon v. New Cross on 6 June was definitely a Britannia Shield match. Unfortunately it is omitted from the back of New Cross programmes, which gave fixtures and results for the year. Apart from my own manuscript note on several programmes that just says New Cross lost! But no score sadly.

No flairs or lairy shirts. Does that help?

None of those would have been me then. No beard but long hair at that period of my life. (Actually I still have no beard and long hair!)

New Cross v. Wimbldon 31 May 1961 New Cross: Split Waterman, Reg Luckhurst, Doug Davies, Jimmy Gooch, Eric Williams, Leo McAuliffe Wimbldeon: Ronnie Moore, Cyril Brine, Ron How, Cyril Maidment, Bob Andrews Also eleven. Two weeks later, New Cross met Swindon. Same six for New Cross. Swindon had George White, Mike Broadbank(s), Brian Brett and Ian Williams plus Teo Teodorowicz (who made it to reseve for one final but never actually rode). So sort of eleven!

1. Fundin 2. Rickardsson 3. Knutson 4. Michanek 5. Perm any one from Per Jonsson, Bengt Jansson, Olle Nygren, Gote Nordin.....probably have to go for Per Jonsson.

N No

So was I. I didn't see you there...

It's a strange thing, but it's probably because I did see Peter Craven on a number of occasions that I don't rate him as highly as some of the others here. He was, of course, a spectacular rider, there's no denying that, but I saw him mostly at New Cross and he never really seemed to be able to get to grips with the track like some others. I'd say he certainly wasn't as good as Ove Fundin or Ronnie Moore at the Frying Pan. Strangely, as well, although Briggo rode for New Cross in 1960, he too never really got the hang of it. I think 1960 was probably his worst season. Of course, experience of a rider is coloured by one's own experience, and that's probably why I have always rated Ove Fundin as the outstanding rider of his era. He was almost unbeatable at New Cross (apart from the memorable night when Split Waterman beat him three times!)

This thread does make me feel old. I've seen most of these riders that others are too young to have seen.....

Need you ask!?

I agree with your order for those five, Sid. Eight British champions: Craven, Collins, Price, Lee, Woffinden, Williams, Loram, Havelock. Now throw in Tom Farndon, Jack Parker, Eric Langton and Split Waterman.....

Ipswich 1998 wasn't bad with Tomasz Gollob, Tony Rickardsson, Chris Louis, Scott Nicholls, Toni Svab (2 Grand Prix) and the great Savalas Clouting.

What Happened To Norman In 1937 ? Sorry, I wasn't alive then.

I believe there is an excellent book all about the history of Crystal Palace speedway, which can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crystal-Palace-Speedway-History-Glaziers-ebook/dp/B009BCWUY2/ref=la_B001KIKM18_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1496578952&sr=1-7

Fundin 63, 67 Knutson 65 Olsen 71, 75, 78 Mauger 72 Penhall 81