norbold

I think I may have mentioned before my autograph book story...but, anyway, here it is again for newcomers and those that have forgotten! Some years ago I went to the 40th reunion of my College year. While there, someone I hadn't seen since I left college come up to me and showed me an autograph book he had. He had just retired from being the headteacher at a primary school and said this book was on sale on a jumble stall at his school fete but had not been sold. The people running the stall said they were going to throw it away but he thought it had something to do with speedway, though he knew nothing about speedway himself. He knew that this reunion was coming up and thought it possible I might come along. He had seen some of my speedway books for sale in his local bookshop so knew I was interested in speedway. Anyway, he showed me the book and asked me how much I thought it was worth. Looking through the names I took a wild guess at about £75. He thanked me and took it back. At the end of the reunion, he came up to me and gave me the book, saying, "Here, take it. I could see how much you were drooling over it when I showed it to you." I said, "Well, as I said, it's worth some money." He said, "Just take it. It would have been thrown away anyway and I can see you want it." So he gave it to me for nothing. I subsequently asked a dealer how much he thought it was worth and he offered me £100 on the spot. But I didn't sell it and still have it. Amongst the autographs in the book are Tom Farndon, Sprouts Elder, Lionel Van Praag, Wally Kilmister, Gus Kuhn, Alec Jackson, Norman Evans, George Greenwood, Vic Huxley, Dick Case, Buster Frogley, Bluey Wilkinson and Johnnie Hoskins. There are also a number of well known actors and boxers of the time.

I know you didn't ask me, but I got to know Vic very well in his later days. He sent me some good old photos of Clacton as he used to holiday there in his younger days! He was such a nice man and very forthcoming with information and stories about ye olde days (especially at Rye House) when I was researching for my books.

Swindon it is then...http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/13371783.Speedway__Darcy_Ward_s_decision_is_made___/

That would be an even better joke, E.I., if you spelt Ron How's name correctly!

Frank Hodgson was captain. I don't think Gil Craven was in the 1938 team. Malcolm Craven may have been. Not sure without checking. Other leading riders that year certainly included jim Baylais, 'Crusty' Pye and Nobby Stock.

Thank you, chr. I'm glad you enjoyed it. That's what it's all about.

Norman Parker

Does that mean if you haven't seen someone ride they can't be an all time great?

Dick Barton, Life with the Lyons, A Life of Bliss, Take it From Here, Round the Horne, Muffin the Mule, Prudence Kitten, Twizzle, Sooty, Fabian of the Yard, Mr Turnip, Burns and Allen, Kit Carson, Rin Tin Tin, Hopalong Cassidy, Billy Bunter, Billy Cotton Bandshow, In Town Tonight.......need I say more?

"Billy Bean built a machine to see what it could do. He built it out of sticks and stones, and nuts and bolts and glue. The motor ran, chuttle-a-bang, ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-torator, And all of a sudden a picture appeared on the funny old cartoonerator". My favourite programme. I used to love Jennings and Derbyshire on the wireless, on television and in the books. I have a complete set of J&D books, many signed by Anthony Buckeridge as I got to know him quite well in later life. He became a friend of my brother's. Anyway, I can see you'll love the book, TWK!

I think you'll find my earliest memory of watching television was Andy Pandy in 1950 (pages 7-8)!

There is no doubt that in the "modern" era you just simply could not find 20 riders with a better record than Nicki Pedersen. You'd be hard pushed to find 10. We then, of course, get into the argument about whether we should consider riders like Jack Parker and Vic Duggan, but, in a way, that's another issue. On the subject of his riding "tactics", I wrote a book a few years ago called "Two Wimbledon Legends" about Ronnie Moore and Barry Briggs. Here are a couple of quotes from his own team mates about Briggo, "Barry had to go flat out, it was the only way he could ride. He wasn't exactly out of control, but he wasn't always in control either. If he came up on the inside of you and got some grip he was liable to bash into you." [Alf Hagon]; "I had a season riding with Barry - oh my God! I would gate, then leave a foot of room in case he wanted to come through. Usually, by the next bend, he would not just come through, but he would 'hang' me on the fence. Briggo was a selfish rider." [bob Andrews]. And that's his own team mates! But do we ever exclude Briggo from the 'greatest ever' lists because of the way he rode?

So sorry to hear this. As well as discussing many topics on the Forum, we met up several times at Cardiff and other speedway related functions including once when she proudly introduced me to her uncle Ted. We didn't always agree but our disagreements were always carried out in a friendly way without the rancour that now seemes to creep into more and more arguments here. There is no doubt she was very passionate about her speedway and will be very sadly missed. My condolences to all her family and friends.

This whole discussion started because you asked why this topic was in "Years Gone By". Doug pointed out my op. You countered this by quoting the Amazon blurb which doesn't mention speedway as though this backed up your questioning of why this topic should be on a speedway thread rather than "General Discussions." You have now come up with a different reason why you quoted the blurb, which seems to be framed in a supportive way in that had speedway been mentioned I might have made more sales. All I can say to that is that the book is 288 pages long and covers many subjects. It would be absolutely impossible to include everything covered in the book in a short blurb. However, I think it's time we drew a line under this. So I'll say thank you for your good wishes for succes to my book. Thank you and thank you for all your past support for my books with your excellent reviews. I really have appreciated your support.

So what? So what if the publisher's blurb for my book doesn't mention speedway? I have told you that speedway in the 50s and 60s gets mentioned in the book. Do you not believe me? Why do you think I would lie about that? And if you do believe me why are you going to such lengths to try and cast doubt on what I've said? I really don't understand what your problem with my opening post is? Why don't you buy a copy and see for yourself?

How should I know, salty? Gustix probably knows much better than me what's in the book and if he says there is no speedway in it who am I to argue? After all, I only wrote the book.

Poole hater!

How can you say such a thing. Look at this. Absolutely delicious. Nothing finer. Mmmmmmm http://theworldandhistuktuk.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/pieandmash.jpg

How did you come to hate it if you never touched it?

Well they do say there's no such thing as bad publicity....

Sorry, waihekeaces1, without looking it up I can't recall. But if the Grand Prix was in place from 1928 (in fact there was a similar system in operation in 1928 on A.J.Hunting's tracks, which included most of the top riders) to 1939, I'd say that there would have been three multiple world champs in Vic Huxley, Tom Farndon and Bluey Wilkinson. During the War is more difficult to say but maybe Vic Duggan, Aub Lawson, Tommy Price or Eric Chitty (but not all as obviously they couldn't all have won multiple times!).

What about the pre war world champs. Why are they not safe? Same barometer? Even looking post war, who includes Jack Young or Tommy Price these days? The other problem is that as time goes by naturally more and more riders come to the fore. Whatever video exists of the 1970s, in 20 years time, we'll have had another 4,5,6 "greats" and people really won't remember the 70s.

This question comes up time and time again and each time it does the "greatest" shift further and further forward in time because there is no-one around now (or hardly anyone) who can remember the likes of Vic Huxley, Tom Farndon, Bluey Wilkinson, Eric Langton and Jack Milne, all undoubted greats who should be in a top 20. Then we move on and the likes of Jack Parker, Vic Duggan and Jack Young also fall by the wayside. In 10 - 20 years time even the great period of Fundin, Briggs, Moore, Craven and Knutson will be forgotten. Then it'll be Mauger, Collins, Michanek, Olsen, Gundersen, Nielsen and Rickardsson who'll fade away. And there you are, that's 20 undoubted greats, all of whom could arguably be incuded in the Top 20 of all time, all of whom operated pre Grand Prix, (though, of course, two did win the World Championship in the Grand Prix era). Naming the Greatest 20 of all time is a mug's game! It all depends how old you are and how interested you are in the history of the sport and how on earth you compare riders of different eras.

In principle I agree with you TWK. You don't have to be a world champion to be classed as great.. Vic Huxley, Tom Farndon, Jack Parker and Vic Duggan spring to mind and, of course, there are different measures of greatness and you make a good point regarding Leigh Adams. Nigel Boocock would be another similar. I'm not sure I would class Darcy Ward as a great yet. He has done a lot in his 23 years, no doubt about it. But I really think he needs a few more years of winning major individual events to be classed as truly great.

Quite right, Doug. There are very few greats - hence the term! Not even every World Champion could be classed a great.