NOBBY

Can someone help me out here... I recently obtained a photo of a rider named Don Potter, leg trailing taking a bend. It's a fantastic action photo, and he is wearing a team bib with a star on it. The problem is that it is in black and white and therefore he could be riding for either Wimbledon or Norwich. Does anyone have any info on Don and who he rode for, dates etc. I have had no luck trolling through any reference books so far. Norbold...I feel sure you would know, but I would appreciate any info from anyone as it's become a bit of a quest for me to find out something now. Many thanks. NOBBY

Nor like "Does your chewing gum lose its flavour on the bedpost overnight?" either Norbold! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> AAHH those were the days...Lonnie Donegan, His dad was a dustman I believe

I was only 13 at the time so the memory is a bit vaugue I have been looking for some music for my website ? Now that's a thought <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Eerrr....I'm not gonna mention how old I was at that time, it'll depress me as much as the probable name change at Arena....

Jeeeesus...those memories are flooding back...it was called bubblegum music wasn't it. I definitely remember one of the records was by the 1910 Fruitgum Company 'cos I had a copy on 45rpm...can't remember the record title though. Those were the days, me mum used to give me seven and sixpence dinner money and I used to go hungry at lunchtimes so I could use it to go to West Ham on a Tuesday night. I used to have to pretend that I'd done some car washing to get the cash. Thank God she wasn't that annoyed when I finally owned up and told her though...but then I was 36 years old and married with children by that time ! !

Nobby. This may be of intrest! http://www.freewebs.com/customhousekid/ very much in it's infancy. Any help very much appreciated <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi CHK, brilliant..it's got the making of a first class website. I'm not a whizz kid when it comes to doing websites. I leave that sort of thing up to my son, but I would be more than willing to help out, especially now that the season is almost over. I left a message with my e-mail address in the site guest book, but I don't know if it downloaded properly. If it didn't let me know and I will get it to you somehow. I have been collecting West Ham Speedway memoribilia, programmes etc for a few years now so I may have some things that could come in handy. Well done again..i'm sure it will be a huge success, just let me know what you need and I'll see what I can do.

A chap I know down at Arena Essex named Steve ( his younger brother was the mascot in the sixties at West Ham ) met up with Sverre at the Hamar GP recently. Steve showed me the photo of him and Sverre that someone took for him that day. Well Sverre looks a little older, obviously, but there no mistaking him, he ain't changed that much and he still has that unmistakable smile that charmed all the ladies at Custom House. Steve had a good chat with him, and Sverre told him that he is enjoying retirement to the full and just messing about on his boat most of the time. Whenever I think back to those days at Custom House, it's always Sverre that comes to mind first. I hope he enjoys a very very long and happy retirement in return for all the pleasure he gave me and many other " Happy Hammers ".

Come back Spiegal...all is forgiven ! The suspense is killing me

TOMMY PRICE...but that was in an era when most riders were as hard as nails. Or The whole of the DUGARD family, from Grandad to Grandson. And they still are from what I've heard, they've just mellowed a bit in old age ! ! !

Thanks for the welcome CHK. I am really glad that I have signed up to this forum, it will give me something to do and people to talk to during the lonely close season without my "speedway fix". ( Along with the Arena forum of course ) I am very impressed so far with this forum, it's content and the people on it. Very professional.

I'm sure the whole of Australia will be well chuffed that the new World Champion is British. That must be why he was carrying an Aussie flag... and they just love us Pommies don't they ! Born here he may have been, but he will be the first to tell you he is an AUSSIE. Having said that, he deserves to be No 1 in the world, shame it had to be under such wierd circumstances. I thought that they were going to give him the trophy while he was sitting on the ground having "stacked it" celebrating.

Yes, but the Grand Prix format also really produced a bit of an anti-climax with Crumpie being crowned before he even started that farcical re-run "God knows how many times "race. At one stage I thought that they were going to end it all there by presenting Crumpie with the trophy while sitting on the deck having just "stacked it". After that you virtually knew that he wasn't going to risk going all out to get into the Final. While I am glad he won it and agree deep down that this year he deserved it, I cannot agree that the Grand Prix is that much better than the old way of qualifying rounds and a FINAL. That of course is the personal opinion of someone classified as one of the " 'ol farts brigade" who has enjoyed his speedway since his first meeting at West Ham in 1964, or maybe someone who likes the World Champion decision to go to the last heat ! ! !

And current Arena Essex supporter as well. Pity I can't have both race jackets up on screen at the same time. Thanks for the welcome Norbold.

I know it's a bit late to reply to this topic, but I am a newcomer, just registered today. Dear old Tyburn Gallows was a second half rider for some time at West Ham in the sixties...he most often looped at the sarting gate or fell at some stage of most of his races, or was wexcluded for some misdemeanour. But he was a total entertainer who never gave up. I can remember him actually lining up for the West Ham Hammers at no 7 reserve spot on 17 October 1967 in the last British League match of the season against Long Eaton Archers. He had two rides, but retired with engine failure in both. I still have the programme amongst my collection. It's just taken me 20 minutes to find it and make sure. I would have been 13 - 14 years old at the time and we always looked forward to seeing whether Tyburn would actually complete a race. I always wondered what happened to him. They really were fantastic times and thank God I still have the memories of those great days at Custom House.