TwoMinuteWarning

That's excellent! Thanks Moxey63, much appreciated.

Brilliant! Many thanks for all your efforts, much appreciated.

Yes indeed! Interesting web site, that. Thanks

I agree, Tom, but this applies to many old riders. Just sit them down, and record them chatting about their career, I can't understand why it isn't done more often.

Thanks norbold!

Thanks, CHK and norbold. I don't have the Pre-War years book (yet!) Anybody have a date of birth for Jack?

Someone compiling a website for a Durham village has contacted me asking for information about a former resident of the village, Jack Ormston. I know that he rode for Wembley 1930-32, Harringay 1935-38 approx, was in the first Test match, won the first London Riders' Championship, 13 Test appearances. Could anyone fill in some of the gaps? Thanks

The report I have of their opening meeting on 7 April 1964 aginst Wimbledon (Challenge) says the crowd was 12,000 Other reported crowds were 14 April 12,000 v Swindon (Easter Cup) 21 April 12,000 v Norwich (Easter Cup) 28 April 10,000 v Coventry (Britannia Shield) 5 May 12,000 v Belle Vue (Britannia Shield) 19 May 10,000 v Wimbledon (Britannia Shield) But newspaper crowd figures for speedway are VERY unreliable!

I think Wal was born in Birmingham?

Thanks, but I think it would be on the headstone if he knew?

A newspaper clipping here about Wal I notice it dosen't include his birth date - any ideas anyone?

Biggest reported crowd was at Prague for an International 4TT in 1959, and again in 1961. The crowd was said to be capacity - 200,000. Ove Fundin was riding for Sweden in the 1961 meeting, and I seem to remember that he was later reported in Speedway Star as saying that he reckoned there was "only" 150,000 there, as he could see quite a few gaps!

Reported on the Wimbledon discussion list by Bob Andrews jnr. that Andrew Bargh won yesterday's North Island Championship at Rosebank, Auckland. 2nd was Dean Wallace, 3rd Jason Bunyan, and 4th was Andrew's uncle David - who I reckon is 42 now. Meeting was apparently run under the GP format.

Was that before he started doing speedway race commentaries for Sky TV?

Yes please, Al internationalspeedway@yahoo.co.uk Thanks

I'm trying to find a rostrum pic of the first World Pairs Championship, which was held at Kempten, West Germany in 1968, and was won by Sweden (Ove Fundin & Toby Harrysson). There wasn't one in Speedway Star, the 1969 BSPA Handbook, or the Swedish book Kolstybb och metanol. Can anyone help? It's for a lady in New Zealand, and would complete her records of this competition.

Why not? These kids could be the future and everyone should try and support them as much as possible. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well, me too, but different people have different attitudes. I know someone who goes to the GPs - but rarely domestic racing. He says he ONLY wants to see the best riders, racing at their best - and that rarely happens in the Elite League because riders are trying out engines, conserving their energy for GPs etc. Personally, I'll go to watch any level of speedway - anywhere, any time!

I think the idea is that the league runs on Saturdays and Sundays, plus during the school holidays. Keep this in perspective - we aren't talking about a 20 team league here! Haven't seen any numbers quoted, but I'd be surprised if it was more than 5 or 6 in the first season.

Graham Reeve started the Under-15's competitions with the internationals against the German lads in 2001, then Peter Oakes started the U-15 Championship last year, and now an U-15 league (no complicated rules please, keep it simple!) Brilliant, and congratulations to everyone involved in this. You see, BSPA, you CAN get things right when you've got the right people involved!

OK, have sent it to your nhs e-mail addy. If I can help on other matches, let me know.

Ken, Italy toured the UK in 1980 and 1981 - not 1979. They rode at Canterbury on both tours. They didn't ride at Ellesmere Port on either tour! Schedule was - 1980 - Canterbury, Mildenhall, Crayford (rained off), Long Eaton, Oxford. 1981 - Canterbury, Wolverhampton, Exeter, Milton Keynes, Oxford. The Birmingham Indoor at the NEC was 1980 (Jan 17,18,19). But they also held meetings in 1984. I can probably give you heat details on any of these meetings - let me know which ones you want.

Not a thing. Would be good to have a website on Irish speedway history (there's a challenge for someone!) Small piece (under D for Dublin) in the "Homes Of British Speedway" book. Track ran 1950, 51, 52, 54. Team known as the Dublin Lizods in 1950.

ANSWERS ... ... though all except nos. 8 and 10 were answered correctly! 1. Who finished 2nd in the 1990 Odsal World Championship Final? Shawn Moran, as discussed, was disqualified for failing drugs test. FIM failed to move other riders up a place, so there was no 2nd place rider. (Grachan got it first!) 2. When was the starting gate introduced? And at which track? Hand operated : 17 June 1933 at Crystal Palace (cyclone) Electric : 29 March 1934 at West Ham 3. Who said in 1989 "God told me to retire"? And from which team? Jamie Luckhurst, from Edinburgh. A few weeks later, God apparently told Jamie that it was OK to ride for Middlesbrough. (salty) 4. Who is the only rider to have been the subject of TV's "This Is Your Life"? Barry Briggs (sandman) 5. Who was the first rider to be awarded a Testimonial meeting? And when? Eric Boocock 14 July 1974 at Halifax (Tigerblade) 6. Which track had the first Supporters' Club? Wembley, started by Johnnie S Hoskins. Reason for its' success was that it offered discounts on admission prices! (cyclone) 7. Which two British clubs have raced in Russia/Soviet Union? Belle Vue (to Leningrad, 1967,69, & 71) & Exeter (to Togliatti 1996) (cyclone) 8. For which team have Mick Powell, Jack Young, Oyvind Berg, Charlie Monk, and Bruce Cribb all ridden? Scotland! (I did say "team", not "club"...) 9. Which teams' nickname was the Lizods? Chapelizod, Dublin (iris123) 10. When were Tactical Substitutes introduced into league racing? 1955 11. When and what was the last meeting at Wembley? 1981 World Final (sandman) 12. Who was the Guest Rider in a British League match in the mid-1970's who guested in place of himself? John Davis was allocated to Oxford in 1975, but on the day of his debut, a move to Reading was approved. So he guested, in place of himself, for Oxford at Coventry. (Grachan) Interesting about Ted Hubbard, cyclone, any chance of a year? Well done all!

I'll post the answers in a few days. Meanwhile- YTS - errrr ... well .... kinda ....

Some are quite difficult, a couple are much easier... and all questions relate to speedway in the British Isles. 1. Who finished 2nd in the 1990 Odsal World Championship Final? 2. When was the starting gate introduced? And at which track? 3. Who said in 1989 "God told me to retire"? And from which team? 4. Who is the only rider to have been the subject of TV's "This Is Your Life"? 5. Who was the first rider to be awarded a Testimonial meeting? And when? 6. Which track had the first Supporters' Club? 7. Which two British clubs have raced in Russia/Soviet Union? 8. For which team have Mick Powell, Jack Young, Oyvind Berg, Charlie Monk, and Bruce Cribb all ridden? 9. Which teams' nickname was the Lizods? 10. When were Tactical Substitutes introduced into league racing? 11. When and what was the last meeting at Wembley? 12. Who was the Guest Rider in a British League match in the mid-1970's who guested in place of himself? Good luck!