daveallan81

I have 2 meetings from 1978 that didn't run to an obvious heat formula: 9th September at Canterbury: Townsend Thoresen Pairs - 6 pairs over 15 heats. 21st October at Canterbury: Invicta Pairs - same formula as above. 9th June at Bristol: v British League Select - 2 x 7 riders over 12 heats. 8th October at Eastbourne: v Poole (Colin Gooddy Testimonial) - 2 x 8 riders, 14 heats plus 1 nominated 26th October at Wimbledon: Farewell Pairs - 5 pairs over 10 heats. 28th October at Canterbury: Graham Banks Memorial (Individual)- 13 riders over 13 heats, 2 x SF & Final. I'm looking for the riding order and/or the heat formulas for these meetings if anyone can oblige.

I can't dispute the older generation - McKinlay, Miller, McGregor, Gilbertson or the Templetons - I never saw any of them ride. Come to think of it, by the time I started going in the late seventies that team was either retired or moving into the latter years of their careers. I would have Bobby Beaton ahead of Bert Harkins. Not much in it, but for me Beaton should get the nod because he didn't dress like he'd put glue on his body and leapt through a tartan mill. If indeed Beaton, and he deserves to be considered at the very least, is the last true 'top class' Scottish rider then it's approaching half-a-century since we produced one. So either: 1. We were previously spoiled for choice or 2. The time frame largely coincides with the switch to 2nd division racing in Scotland - did Jimmy Mac learn more in second halves than say, Kenny McKinna, racing against higher quality opposition for example? Just a thought or 3. We simply haven't produced one or 4. Comparing eras is impossible and in actual fact Colin Caffrey would have left Gordon McGregor eating dust. One thing I do know - never mind putting out a team, you'd be lucky to fill a heat with Scottish riders now.

Dave Hemus retired at the end of April 1973. Full biog here http://www.speedwayatoz.co.uk/davehemus.html He rode for Sheffield in a Northern Trophy match at home to Halifax on 29th March 1973. Rest of the team: Haley, Valentine, Wyer, Larsson, Wilson and Paulsen.

The one copy I have is 16 pages, quite advert heavy particularly the scorecard which is spread accross 4 pages. The programme served as your re-admission ticket so you're correct about it being included in the price. I must say I like the cover.

The year was 1981 and Burton was guesting at reserve, scorcard here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jtd6utfdw8gny3k/19811022ShefvBirmBL.pdf?dl=0 He rode for Sheffield in 77/78 so knew his way round Owlerton and 1981 was pretty much his best ever season in the sport.

Many thanks. That pairs format looks like the Westernapolis individual format. I hope they at least got the riders correct as that would mean a lot of writing! From the line-up I'm able to deduce the likely format to match the heat results so thanks for that. In the juniors reply you say you have a programme for 3rd August but give details of a match on the 30th. Surely not two matches in a month so I'm guessing the 3rd was rained off/cancelled for some reason and the programme re-issued on the 30th?

As the result of a request in another topic I've compiled the Falcons' heat details for their ill-fated British League soujourn in 1984. As usual there are a number of things that require clarification if anyone can oblige (updated 17/4/15): 10/06 at Eastbourne: Eagles #8 18/06 at Wolverhampton: Exeter #8 (possibly noted in Exeter programme stats?) 23/06 at Halifax Ht 5: reason for Baker's exclusion. Reported as (exc) but he was replaced. 27/07 v Coventry: Bees #8 08/09 at Swindon: Robins #8 1984 saw the introduction of a fabbo new competition designed to bring on the youngsters called the National Junior Knockout Cup. And the Imps (sadly rejecting the opportunity to track as the Exeter Eyasses) went and won the thing. Reporting is sketchy at best - to hope for heat details is perhaps a bit much but I'll take them if you've got them and information that can fill out what I know from Speedway Star and some searching online: Round 1 v Poole: Have full details of 2nd leg at Exeter on 14/07. Confirmed 1st leg date at Poole on 17/06 and result. 1st leg heat details required. Quarter Final v Wimbledon: Both legs confirmed with heat details. Semi-final v Ipswich: Have full details of 1st leg at Exeter on 12/10. Confirmed 2nd leg date at Foxhall 18/10 and result. 2nd leg heat details required. Final v Milton Keynes: Dates and results confirmed, have full details of 2nd leg. 1st leg heat details at MK required. There was a junior 4TT at Reading on Monday 3rd September, other sides were Weymouth and Swindon. Result and scorers now known. Heat 1 reason for Chessell exclusion and Heats 7 & 11 times also required. The finished file will of course be available to all and sundry, it's not just a private project.

Excellent, thank you.

22/05 Can you confirm Louis Carr's score in heat 13? Speedway Star reports (ef, 1pt), pushed home perhaps. 25/05 I have Margarson at position 2 for Workington - who did he replace? The Teesside meeting works out as Ellesmere v Newcastle v Workington v Teesside but it seems strange that the home team are in position 4 in the line-up. Can you clarify this for me? Many thanks.

I'll put it on my 'to do' list.

No I am merely a contributor. If you're talking about a full 1984 season review file, I don't know if anyone is currently tackling that. If it's something more specific you're after fell free to PM me and I'll see if I can help.

A mystery! Possibly matches for which I hadn't located an official scorecard, or matches that required some more information.

I make it 613 matches in 2014, including 44 abandoned fixtures. The result stood in 31 of those abandonments.

Interesting. The second half heats I have see Kevin Lock in y/b in 14 and Guglielmi in y/b in heats 15 & 17, details here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mimpv17kkqlmrt4/19780601ExevCov.pdf?dl=0

10/09 That also answers another query concerning Mr. Harris' forename! 15/05 Bob Watts appears to ride in the #16 position - who did he replace? Can you say if he's been promoted to #17 or remained at #18? 01/06 Is this taken from a marked programme? Mortiboys doesn't appear to ride in the second half which I find a bit strange. If programme is marked, can you provide the 2nd half times, I know someone who would greatly appreciate them. 13/10 Ackroyd appears to be in the team at #7. Thanks for your help.

Bristol 14/7 - I make the Exeter team 1. Autrey 2. Rumsey 3. Prinsloo 4. Koppe. Who did Rumsey replace? Thanks for all that info, much appreciated.

Now at the business end of my 1978 season research, I'm hoping to plug some gaps in the list of non-riding and non-reported number 8's and meeting reserves. The list is far too long to post directly, so it's been uploaded here https://www.dropbox.com/s/gytjp02lzpj15kq/1978REQD_number8s%26reserves.pdf?dl=0 List is in club order. If anyone can provide information I'd greatly appreciate it.

Robert Dole's entry in the 79 yearbook gives his date of birth as 2/8/1955 so not Ray's father, Ray being born in 1962. Brothers perhaps.

I remember Ray Dole but it's definitely not him - he would only have been 15 at that time in 1978.

Can anyone provide me with answers to the following: 11/6/78 Boston v Kangaroos Select - Roos include a John Dole at #6. Programme notes state "At No. 6 and on trial from Birmingham is John Dole." I can't find reference to a John but know of Robert who also rode out of the Midlands. Is this just a programme mis-print and it should be Robert at #6? 6/10/78 Hackney v Wimbledon (LC) - Wimbledon have a M. Harris at #6. Forename isn't included in yearbook, anyone know?

Thank you.

Jim Beaton of Glasgow sustained dreadful injuries to his right arm which rendered it practically useless. He switched the throttle controls to the left side where he employed a thumb-operated lever system. He simply tied his right arm to the handlebars. I'm sure there was a junior at Swindon about a decade ago who was deaf but to my eternal discredit I can't recall his name. Both Michael Holding and Paul McHale rode in the 80's after each losing an eye.

Here you are: http://www.dropbox.com/s/im2kegwxjbic7ev/19831015BLRC.pdf?dl=0

1980 http://www.dropbox.com/s/zd8u7kkgypjbls4/19801018BLRC.pdf?dl=0 1981 http://www.dropbox.com/s/7kgne4l6c0q7kpd/19811017BLRC.pdf?dl=0

The book Sidney and I are referring to is Robert Bamford's "Swindon Speedway: The Definitive History of the Robins". Not available online as far as I can see. Regarding Holloway's figures, that looks like 1980 BL and KOC combined, although there seems to be an extra bonus point kicking somewhere.