Ian

Funnily enough, I've just read on Ceefax that the BBC have just lost the right to show the Boat Race. That will be the first time in 66 years, we are told, that the Beeb won't be televising this. I'm sure all speedway fans will want to join with me at this sad time in commiserating with the Beeb, and in expressing just how gutted we are that this upper-middle-class nonsense is to be denied to us. Speaking personally, my sole consolation rests in the secure knowledge that I'll be able to watch it on ITV, along with many other speedway fans (he safrican americaned!) Tally ho, chaps! Jolly Boating Weather, and all that....

You don't really realise just how strong Norbold's Wimbledon side is until you realise who's been left out. Sverre Harrfeldt, for starters...

Afraid I know nothing about the meeting, but I think you'll find that it was Ernie Roccio who was killed. He was American, I believe.

How do we know that the guy who appeared is actually Bruce Penhall? Maybe it's just my suspicious mind, but a few years ago I was staying in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur where Paul Anka (remember him?) was appearing. Next day I spent a couple of hours in the bar with Paul and his roadies, and found him to be quite an intelligent and interesting bloke. Anyway, two or three weeks later I was in Washington. US television on Sunday mornings is wall-to-wall chat shows, and lo and behold - the guest was Paul Anka! Interestingly, it was a different person from the one in Malaysia. It did occur to me that there could be a different Paul Anka stationed on each continent. Is someone out there running Rent-a-Penhall?

Rod, I well remember this "rivalry" from the days when Trevor Redmond was fronting Glasgow (and simultaneously riding at heat leader for them!) Maybe sometimes it's easy to forget that speedway, whilst unquestionably one of the most thrilling of sports, is also about ENTERTAINMENT and SPECTACLE. That means it's at its best when we have rivalries between promoters, riders, team managers et al. Hoskins was the master at this as far as promoters go, and Len Silver was pretty good too; riders like Jack Millen, Kenny Carter and Dougie Templeton could always be relied upon to do their part as riders; and team managers like Dave Lanning in his West Ham days or Dick Barrie at Glasgow understood the value of getting a bit of niggle going. All of these people could use their own personalities (real or invented - it mattered not) to put numbers on the gate and to make sure that the crowd were entertained for the duration of the meeting. The pity of it is that so few speedway people nowadays bother to do this. Most of the riders I have met are personable, interesting and remarkable guys, but is anything done to project this to the crowd at a match? There needs to be a balance in speedway between sport and entertainment. Sometimes we take it all a wee bit too seriously, perhaps.

Ian Hoskins had nothing to do with Wemley's revival in 1970, Rod. The promoter was Bernard Cottrell, a property developer, and nor did Ian Hoskins present the meetings - that duty was shared between two well-known disc jockeys, Ed Stewart and David Hamilton. I saw all of the Wembley home matches that year, and a good many away ones, and my recollection is that the only appearance by Ian Hoskins was as team manager for Newcastle. Former Coatbridge riders in the team that year were Bert Harkins, Reidar Eide and Brian Collins.

Many years ago a friend told me that the oldest rider he could remember was George Newton, who was a pre-war leg-trailer who returned in the 1940s. Apparently my friend had been on the track staff at Old Meadowbank one night when George fell. They ran over to help him up and he was really feeling his age. No doubt Norbold will know more about him.

It's not all that complicated, Dick. I wasn't quoting the book. I was quoting what Peter says are quotes from the book (and I've no doubt they are.) I think if you look back to his posting dated 14th January you will see the source. Incidentally, if you are implying that I'm either lying or making this up then I'd be pleased to hear what you think the motive is.

Getting complicated, isn't it? I know Ian Hoskins was there - I saw him. As for my description of some of the text quoted from the book as "pure Hoskins", it appears to be very much in his style. I would not be surprised to learn that he had written it. Maybe he did. The number of long-term fans who were there that night and share my recollection has now risen to six. Reluctant though I am to in any way diminish people's memories of Peter Craven, the fact is that he started from scratch in his last race. Did he have to overtake two other riders to get into a position to challenge George Hunter? Not to my recollection. George's engine seized on the first bend of the third lap. Some witnesses say he stayed on and did not fall. I honestly can't remember - I was willing Peter Craven to get up and walk away, as you do, despite knowing that really wasn't going to happen. Whatever books written years later, by people who may or may not have been there, may or may not say, the publication I do recall was the Speedway Star headline following Peter's death. "The King Is Dead". That just about summed up how we all felt.

Peter, I certainly did not suggest that Peter had to pass anyone before he started to chase George. That appears to be what the book says, though. I can promise you that nobody in the stadium that night was watching anyone other than George and Peter. I doubt whether he had to pass either of the other two. As for DD's question "Have you read the book?", the answer is that I have not. However, I did see the race, which I suspect puts me at an advantage over the book's author (whoever he was).

Dick, I certainly did not intend to be patronising toward anyone, but the facts are these. Three life-long supporters who were actually there on the night believe that Peter started off scratch. One of them, an accredited expert on the sport, uses the word "definitely". At the inquest, William Ewart Templeton gave evidence that he was in the race and had to lay his bike down to avoid George and Peter. (I only know his middle name from the inquest, by the way). Are we suggesting Willie obstructed the course of justice when he knew there were 8000 witnesses present? The only possible reasons I can give for Ian Hoskins being wrong about this is that he is no longer a young man - nor am I, but I'm a good bit younger than he is! His account of Peter's pass ofd the other two riders is pure Hoskins. "He soon began to close in on Hunter, and the crowd roared their encouragement to their Scottish star as the spectacular Belle Vue superstar got closer and closer with each turn...." This is a debate which could rumble on forever, and one which I have always assumed to be unprovable either way. However, it may be that there is a guaranteed way to resolve it. I imagine that inquest records from the early sixties are still available and are a matter of public record - would you accept the transcript as conclusive evidence of what actually happened that Friday night?

I seem to recall that the reason for the change of spelling, according to Hoskins Junior (so that'll be right enough, then!) was that "Johnston" is the Scottish version of the name. It will be recalled that Ron did, on occasion, ride for Scotland. In the same circumstance, however, we still await enlightenment from Ian Hoskins as to what the correct Scottish spelling of Reidar Eide is. It's a pretty fair bet that if Berwisk were currently under the Hoskins banner they would be tracking one Michael McOvsky, though!

Peter, it wasn't a case of him being asked to start 20 yards behind in his last race. Remember that we are talking about 1963, when the top five in the National League (Craven, Briggs, Moore, Fundin and Knutsson) were all required to start 20 yards back in each and ever league match. He had done so in each of his previous races. It stands to reason that the only change that could have been made would have been for him to start from scratch, as the crowd wanted, and that's exactly what he did. Who would have won the race had the tragedy not occurred? I don't know. Both riders were flying - George was a white-liner, so Peter looked faster. Meadowbank was far from being a one-line track. After 40 years of seeing that race in my mind over and over again I still wouldn't put money on the outcome. Were it not for the outcome people would certainly still talk about this race as one of the greatest ever, even without a pass having taken place. Incidentally, at that time I had the ridiculous notion that I fancied becoming a lawyer (working class kid - no chance!) I therefore went along to the subsequent court inquest into Peter's death some months later. A very emotional George Hunter gave evidence, as did Willie Templeton, who from behind them probably had the best view in the stadium. Although this topic certainly isn't one appropriate for humour, I still smile when I recall Willie trying to explain to the court his evidence that "I laid the bike doon tae avoid them!"

I've now had a chance to compare notes with Merlin and Mickthemonarch on the Monarchs Chat Board about this. Merlin is fairly sure the race went off scratch. Mick is absolutely adamant that it did. All three of us were there (unknown to each other at that time.) We can all also remember the crowd demanding that the race be run off scratch, because we all thought that George had a chance of beating Peter. Whatever anyone else tells you, Dick, just remember they're arguing with a combined speedway experience in excess of 120 years!

Well, with all due respect to what others are telling you, my recollection is that this race went off scratch. It's over 40 years ago, though, so I'd be pleased to have this confirmed by someone else who was there - Merlin? As to whether George would still have been in the lead after three laps, I think you would have to have seen him at his peak around Meadowbank to know the answer to that one. On his day, in the mood, and given the right track conditions, George could have beaten anyone there. One thing's for sure - George was seldom out-gated! I also remember just how fantastic Peter had looked that night. You often hear the word "breathtaking" used in relation to a rider's performance. Well, Peter WAS breathtaking! He was tiny (5'2" as I remember) and smaller riders always look faster, don't they? Peter, however, was so far over on the bends that he appeared to be looking UNDER his handlebars! This was the one and only time I ever saw him, and looking back I realise just how privileged I was (along with some 8000 others who were there.) By the way, I was also at Belle Vue a couple of weeks later for the Provincial League Riders Championship, where George Hunter was one of the favourites to win. He didn't, thanks to bike problems, but I can't begin to imagine what his emotional state was so soon after Peter's death.

I was there and can recall this vividly - it was the saddest night I ever experienced at a speedway track. Peter started each of his first three races from a 20-yard handicap, and was due to do so in his last race. However, everyone in the stadium, it seemed, wanted to see local hero George Hunter in a straight head-to-head with Peter. It was an inter-league challenge match, and there was nothing at stake other than individual pride. It was therefore agreed that Peter would start from scratch, alongside George. The rest, sadly, is history...