Wessex Wanderer

I went to the first one Bob. All the way up from Weymouth for a rain off! Arranged my annual leave specially around the meeting as the highlight of a "Speedway week". We only got two weeks leave then so I was well "$(^%! off.

Not sure he rode for Hackney (or that late at all) - could be wrong though! He did ride non league for Aldershot and probably rode in PL matches about that time but I cannot remember which teams. Maybe Poole - just thinking aloud, the old memory box is not what it was!!!!

I think the Wimbledon pub was the Plough and it was also a great place on NLRC days. Packed out with Weymouth and Middlesbrough supporters before the meeting every year.

Definitely English. One of Lew Coffin's training school lads who made his debut for Weymouth near the end of the 1968 season. Teens/ early 20s in 1968.

Nationality was Cornish I do believe.

Don't know about Ipswich but Wal raced one match for Weymouth. He scored 3+1 at Rayleigh on 1 August. This was Weymouth's last team match until they entered BL2 in 1968. Wal had been brought into the team at number 1 in place of the programmed John Poyser. As John Pilblad was promoter at both Weymouth and Ipswich and as the inclusion of riders in team was somewhat "flexible" it is quite possible that he was an Ipswich rider whom John used as a convenient one match replacement. By the way, the original subject of this thread Tyburn Gallows also rode in this match, scoring 4+1 from the number 6 berth for Rayleigh.

Strictly from memory but I think the teams which entered the Metropolitan League that year and rode at least one match were: Weymouth, Ipswich, Newpool (combined Newport and Poole team), Exeter "B", Rayleigh (all definitely) and Eastbourne (possibly entered but did not ride a match). The fixtures were never completed. I don't think any single club completed all their fixtures. The league was part of the "black" organisation that year operating outside of Control Board jurisdiction. It all s tarted with lots of optimism but gradually fizzled out as the season progressed.

That will be interesting Shazzy. Always good to hear the facts behind a good story. I first heard it back in the 60's and have always more or less believed it although I am aware that much can be embroidered to make a situation more interesting and newsworthy. Must admit I have been guilty of that myself on occasion but the more coverage Speedway can get the better as far as I'm concerned. Bringing back the characters would be one way of attracting more people to the terraces. It is all too "correct" and "must be serious" these days.

Marcus was from the Channel Islands. Not sure which one though. Hugh Saunders pushed his bike from the ferry to the Wessex Stadium when he first came over to the training schools. That included going over a high footbridge which only had a stepped access each side! I think he was from Guernsey but not sure. He had started on sand tracks in the Channel Islands. The only other Channel Islander I can think of offhand was called Stefan Dunne. He was another Weymouth Training School rider (in the early/mid 60's this time) and I think he had some second halves at Weymouth too. Hope this helps.

For publicity. Real name Ray Humphreys. I believe he was an assistant hangman and was stopped by the control board from calling himself "Tyburn Gallows" so he officially changed his name by deed poll and was thereafter always programmed as such and there was nothing the authorities could do about it. Probably best known for his time with Canterbury. Almost inevitable I suppose that such a character would at one time be riding for Johnnie Hoskins.

He certainly did (win the Warners Grand National) - the first time Weymouth had won anything of any note at all. I drew him in the sweep on the coach but spent twice the winnings celebrating in the bar afterwards! As someone has said, he didn't take any prisoners on track. After leaving Weymouth he went on to have a decent BL career. A pity that he died so young.

I think he was a local lad so that would make him English. He may have been the one to switch to go-karts and became national champion but that is all from memory only.

In reply to post 7: Ht 1. Hammond (fell) replaced Cann 5. For Billman read Edwards 7. Hammond replaced Cann 10. For Cousins read Eadon, for Edwards read Innocent 13. Wickett replaced Cann All Stars scorers: Hammond 0, Edwards 5, Wickett 5, Eadon 6, Innocent 1, Billman 1, Harris 0, Cousins 2. The Hammond brought into the All Stars team was John Hammond Not sure about Lew Philp's involvement - he was programmed as All Stars number 3 but was replaced by Ray Wickett. Lew Philp was also replaced in his second half race so I think your information has possibly got reversed. As Starghost says, the Billman was Bill Billman. The Harris in this match was Geoff Harris. As before this is from a programme completed at the meeting, not official results. Sorry, no times recorded. Hope this helps.

Let me know the heat details you have and I will check them against mine. Match result was Weymouth 61 All Stars 20 and Pete Sampson won the second half. Again - all unofficial though.

27 July 1962 - Best Pairs at Weymouth: Line-up: Weymouth: Buster Brown & Lew Philp, Eastbourne: Frank Bettis & Bill Osborne, Exeter: Roy Bowers & Bob Innocent, St Austell: John Stallworthy (replacing George Major) & Roy Taylor, Weymouth: Ken Vale & Alby Smith, Plymouth: Lew Coffin & Ivor Toms (replacing Ray Wickett), Neath: Ray Harris (replacing Glyn Chandler) and Jon Erskine, Rye House: Pete Sampson & John McGill (replacing ????? Jones). 1. Brown, Bettis, Philp, Osborne, 76.2 2. Taylor, Innocent, Bowers, Stallworthy, 74.4 3. Coffin, Toms, Smith, Vale, 77.8 4. Erskine, Sampson, McGill, Harris, 76.8 5. Brown, Innocent, Philp, Bowers, 74.4 6. Taylor, Osborne, Bettis, Stallworthy, 74.0 7. Erskine, Smith, Harris, Vale, 74.0 8. Coffin, Sampson, Toms, McGill, 76.0 9. Taylor, Brown, Stallworthy, Philp, 74.6 10. Osborne, Bettis, Bowers, Innocent, 76.2 11. Sampson, Smith, McGill, Vale, 77.8 12. Erskine, Harris, Toms, Coffin, 72.4 13. Osborne, Bettis, Wilcox(res for Vale), Smith, 76.6 14. Erskine, Brown, Harris, Philp, 72.4 15. Taylor, Freeman (res for Coffin), Toms, Stallworthy, 76.0 16. Innocent, Sampson, Bowers, McGill, 75.4 Other Races: John Hammond (Y), Stallworthy ®, Graham Locke (, ??? Cumming (W), 79.0 Smith (Y), McGill (W), M Wilcox(, Freeman ®, 78.6 Top Scorers Race: Brown ®, Erskine (, Osborne (W), Sampson (Y) Won by Osborne (75.8) - other places not recorded. These are not official results but were as recorded in a programme at the meeting. Locke, Wilcox and Erskine rode in blue - seems that translates into a smiley, typed as a B in brackets!! I'm not technical enough to put it right!!!! Hope this helps.

I think (strictly from dodgy memory) that he rode for Reading in 1968. He was one of their heat leaders (again I thinK) and possibly their first captain.

Seem to remember him riding for Middlesbrough in the PL too. Also rode for a visiting team in a Challenge match at Weymouth (double figures I think) so he was not shy about travelling the length of the country just for a few rides. Typical of the many unsung heroes who never make it to stardom but are just as essential as the superstars.

He certainly did BOBBATH. Rode for the Royals in 1962 and 1963. Took over the captaincy in 63 following the retirement of Buster Brown. Did not ride in the "black" year of 1964 because he remained first and foremost a grass tracker and could not risk losing his licence. In Speedway he is mainly known due to the very successful training schools which he ran for years at Weymouth. Almost all southern riders gained at least some of their early experience under Lew's tutelage. Although his Speedway repuatation does not match that of his grasstrack one (where he is a legend) his contribution to Speedway through his training schools was huge. Although very much a veteran now he still looks very little different to how he did in the 60's and it is always a delight to talk to him and his wife Betty when they visit Weymouth.

Agree with Czechero there Kev - also 99% sure he was Aussie.

I think he was a regular for the Rockets that season. An Australian who was an effective point scorer at NL level. Quick check of my records shows him scoring 11+3 (7 rides) for the Rockets on his only appearance at Weymouth (6 September). Not sure if he returned to the UK in subsequent seasons.

Ian's post reminds me of a "memorable" disagreement at Weymouth in 1974 when Eastbourne were the visitors. Kelvin Mullarkey went inside of Mike Sampson on the then 2nd bend with Mike coming off. On the next lap there was Mike waiting for Kelvin to come past and as he did so he just dragged him from his bike! Kelvin was not one to let a little thing like being dragged from his bike when at full throttle bother him so he immediately "retaliated". They were parted and "escorted" back across the centre green with much shouting and scuffling by the two and their various helpers until they got back to the pits where things really kicked off with a general free for all involving anyone who wanted to join in! From then on Eastbourne were always regarded as "the enemy" at the old Wessex and Mike could always expect a very hot reception from the Weymouth supporters.

Sverre Harrfeldt definitely. Also: Tony George, Steve Taylor, Alan Emmett, Rob Lightfoot, Mac Woolford - all with excellent starts to careers ended much too early by injury. Sadly there must be a lot more in this category.

As well as his league career, Bob was a regular in the Weymouth Royals non league teams from 1962 to 1964. After retiring at the end of the 1974 season Bob was General Manager of Weymouth in 1975 and was responsible for bringing Martin Yeates, Brian Woodward and Vic Harding to the Wessex. He was at one of the public meetings about revival of Weymouth in 2002 but I do not know of his current whereabouts.

Stan was one of the most popular ever Weymouth riders but would not have put any of my 7 out of that team. Now if it were a "personality" team he would be right in there along with the likes of Barry Duke, Geoff Swindells, Kelvin Mullarkey, Richard Evans etc (oh - and Wiggy too of course but then he would be in any team, any time). All these names are making me quite nostalgic.

Hi Trackman I did a "Best Ever Team" for the 50th anniversary programme. It was (in riding order): 1 Martin Yeates, 2 Simon Cross, 3 Simon Wigg, 4 Tony Lomas, 5 Brian Woodward, 6 Steve Schofield, 7 Vic Harding (Capt). Neil Street was Team Manager. Personal opinion only and very difficult to leave out the likes of Danny Kennedy, Malcolm Corradine, Malcolm Shakespeare etc etc etc etc. Great fun drawing up the list and even greater fun "discussing" it over a pint with other Weymouth old timers.