norbold

When I named those four (including Loram), I was thinking more of riders noted for their ability to win from the back, so wouldn't be all over at the first bend, rather than just necessarily the best four.

I hope the draw puts Craven, Collins, Loram and Carter together in one heat. Now that would be worth seeing!

Craig Quinn, King's Lynn.

Yes, very sad news. Publicity officer and some time team manager at West Ham. He managed West Ham on the afternoon of their greatest ever victory at Wimbledon in 1965 in the best match I have ever seen and did much to bring on Malcolm Simmons from a reasonable second string to the world class rider he became. I spoke with him a number of times during his time at West Ham and later when researching for books. Always made time to talk and was very helpful. R.I.P. Dave

Really? Is that the best you can come up with? I think others have explained why above. Those elusive straws are getting further away than ever, Phil. Stop digging.

It is very sad seeing you defending the indefensible, Philip. Though I guess you have to defend the Speedway Star in public. Nevertheless it is still a poor day for speedway journalism that you find yourself in this position. But, honestly, making a big point about why would Greg Hancock gift his "team mate" a point after he had already made sure of the Championship when that point could have helped Holder get into a medal position shows a naiivety beyond belief....and actually I don't believe it. Clutching at non-existent straws springs to mind. It's just not worthy of you, Philip.

I agree with BL65 for the reasons given.

I can't see that that makes it any better. How many times have we seen riders excluded for incidents that weren't their fault? Or, at least, don't think it's their fault, and get on the phone to the ref? How many times have we seen riders "furious" with the decision? What do they do next? They get back on their bikes and carry on with the meeting. I suppose it's too much to expect that the World Champion should behave like a normal rider and pay the fans back for their support (and money) by carrying on.

All very interesting in light of the current Greg Hancock controversy!

Except as it turned out it wasn't!

There was a thread on this some time ago: http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=49387

So that's where you've been. I wondered why I hadn't seen you this year!

Tr3mm0r You talk as though this is the only time a rider has lost out on the World Championship because of injury and another rider is fortunate enough to cash in on that. It's happened many years in the past, going back I would say to 1937, when Bluey Wilkinson missed out on qualifying for the final because of injury. In fact, go back two years earlier to 1935 when Tom Farndon was red hot favourite to win the Star Riders' Championship (the equivalent of the World Championship then). The night before the final he was killed in a track crash at New Cross. Sadly,it is part of speedway, a very unfortunate part maybe, but these things happen, always have and always will.

Very arguably. My money would be on Jack Young and Jason Crump. Though I do agree with your general point.

Well at least they couldn't say that when Vic Huxley, Frank Arthur, Sprouts Elder, Billy Lamont and Charlie Spinks were lining up to fight it out for the early trophies!

I don't know why the name was changed yet again to the Rangers. The New Cross management made the announcement at the beginning of 1937 that henceforth the team would be known as the Rangers. As far as I know they didn't give a reason. I've always assumed the Maltese Cross was just a pictorial depiction of a new cross. It always seemed very appropriate to me.

There were also some colourful nicknames of course: Little Boy Blue - Nigel Boocock The Red Devil - Mike Broadbank(s) The White Ghost - Ken le Breton

New Cross were originally called The Lambs. After a couple of years, the management announced that they were changing the team’s nickname from the Lambs to the Tamers. They felt the name Lambs gave the wrong impression, as in “lambs to the slaughter”, and that the Tamers would be more appropriate so they could tame the Wembley Lions and the Harringay Tigers, etc.

Slider Shuttleworth Acorn Dobson Riskit Riley Broadside Vic Huxley Cyclone Billy Lamont

Yes, I have photos of Dons' teams and riders with the star in late 1930s photos. 1937 sounds right to me based on my own collection.

The yellow star on red was certainly used by Wimbledon in the 1930s.

Just thought I'd mention that, 18 months after it first came out, my book is back up to #31 on the Amazon Kindle best sellers list.

It's Dirk Bogarde playing a speedway rider in the film, "Once a Jolly Swagman".

The unluckiest rider I ever saw was Trevor Redmond in the final of the 1961 Provincial League Riders' Championship. With four rides completed, he and Reg Reeves had 12 point each and were due to meet in the last round of rides. Trevor shot off from the gate and had an unassailable lead going in to the last bend when his chain came off on the crown of the bend. He was easily the best rider on view that night, but that chain cost him the title.

I think he had them for the whole of his career.