Split

I'm wondering how long it will be before someone younger than myself appears in the top 20. At the moment it's Ray Wilson who's a couple of months younger than I am but not yet in the top 20.

Never forgave Roy Trigg for leaving New Cross to join rivals Wimbledon.

By coincidence Bob Andrews was also riding in the first meeting I ever attended, at New Cross in 1960. A good rider who I subsequently saw ride many times over the years. Sad to hear that another member of the Oldest World Finalists club is no longer with us.

... a rider wins a Speedway GP and you remember seeing his grandfather ride.

But a few could have earned the nickname Tortoise.

Reg was in the first race I ever saw, in September 1960 so a little later than you. I looked it up and he fell in that race riding with Split Waterman against Ronne Moore and Jim Tebby of Wimbledon. Of course he went on to ride for Wimbledon along with another member of the New Cross team that day, Leo McAuliffe.

Sorry, never heard of one of them.

Chris Julian (far left) rode for Plymouth back in the 60's together with his namesake Chris Blewett (third from right). They were both West Country lads although Blewett was born in Canada. They were known as fierce rivals but apparently it was all show and behind the scenes they were good mates.

I saw him regularly, riding as a reliable second string for the 1963 New Cross Provincial League team. I loved his armchair style.

I think Bjorn Knutson is still with us but missing on the list (born 27 April 1938).

I also remember seeing a rider named Vladimir Sokolov top scoring for the Soviet Union in a test match against Great Britain at Wimbledon in the mid 60's, outscoring his more famous teammates.

I think my previous post on the short stay thread actually belongs here: He remained in Britain until 1971, riding for Wembley Lions so it was certainly not a "short stay" for Sverre Harrfeldt. But I thought I would mention that I saw the Norwegian make his debut for Wimbledon in 1963. I recall he rode an introductory lap around the track carrying a Norwegian flag before the meeting. He moved on to West Ham and I believe Olle Nygren went in the opposite direction in a swap deal. At West Ham he was undoubtedly a world class performer recording two ten plus average seasons and finishing runner-up to Barry Briggs in the 1966 world final.

He remained in Britain until 1971, riding for Wembley Lions so it was certainly not a "short stay" for Sverre Harrfeldt. But I thought I would mention that I saw the Norwegian make his debut for Wimbledon in 1963. I recall he rode an introductory lap around the track carrying a Norwegian flag before the meeting. He moved on to West Ham and I believe Olle Nygren went in the opposite direction in a swap deal. At West Ham he was undoubtedly a world class performer recording two ten plus average seasons and finishing runner-up to Barry Briggs in the 1966 world final.

Reg rode in the first race I ever saw which was at New Cross back in 1960. He fell which is no surprise on that rainy night. He was a second string to captain Split Waterman in that New Cross team but went on to attain heat leader status at Wimbledon and rode in the 1965 World final.

I once got a birthday card from the family with Les McGillivray's picture on the front. He had a very distinctive riding style and I recognised him straight away.