chunky

The Plough was the closest, right opposite the main entrance, and the White Lion (also called the Hare and Hounds) was only a few feet more distant, being on the corner of Summerstown. We used to use the Plough when we were picking up the coach to away meetings. Then the was The Corner Pin, a two minute walk down Summerstown. The Pin is the only one still operating as a pub.

Just checked, and I hadn't seen that one before! Like you, I don't know those two on the ends, but the guy on the left looks vaguely familiar. Have to do some research, methinks...

That's interesting! I'll check that out, as there can't be many team pics I haven't seen... Don't think I've ever seen Alan Stapleton either.

That was the only major event I could find there.

This was the Redcliffe Showgrounds, rather the the better known Brisbane "Ekka". Bill Goode was a speedcar driver who became promoter at Redcliffe. While there was some bike action at Redcliffe, I think that is more likely to be cars they were talking about.

I agree, but it seems that it would have been okay for ONE bike, but not racing. A practice session would have got rid of the heavy grippy surface, wouldn't it?

So, what are the answers? It is an option, but generally, you don't want to go round and take off the top surface. If it's okay for one rider, then send them out for a practice session before the meeting starts. That should produce a better surface, and even provide better racing from the start.

Um, I think it's the trains or the book!

As I said earlier, he won his first Golden Helmet on a Rudge, and the next two on an Indian. We also know he rode a Harley...

Yeah, I mean an AFFORDABLE one, Steve! Strange thing is, I have an extensive book collection, mostly non-fiction. I was looking for a copy of Sir Thomas Beecham's autobiography, "A Mingled Chime". The cheapest I could find on Amazon was $80; I found a number elsewhere (various sites) that were less than $10! I ended up paying $8. I did find a copy of Elder's book (no longer available) for $60. Even if I can find one for $200-300, that is very manageable - and a helluva lot cheaper than forking out a grand!

I agree 100%. At least there was racing in the US prior to 1928, which is why some of them went to Aussie, but I would question British riders going there. That 1925/26 comment I made last night, when he supposedly travelled with Cecil Brown and Eddie Brinck; I haven't found - as yet - any trace of Brinck appearing there that early, and the earliest mention I have of Brown is 1926. Yeah, I would LOVE to get a copy of "The Romance of the Speedway", but even if I can find one, it won't be cheap...

That was Bob Sarkegian, who had an Indian dealership in San Diego. He was actually a pretty accomplished rider, often being mentioned alongside such legends as Ralph Hepburn, Jim Davis, and Ray Weishaar.

You know, I actually wondered the same thing! Maybe that should be 1926/27 instead? Thing is, perhaps he hadn't actually taken up "speedway" at that point? The trouble with the bios on the Hall of Fame is that they aren't usually that detailed, certainly not enough for people like us! I've actually been trying tonight, to find more specifics on his non-speedway career..

Yet again, I will attempt to redirect this thread back the original topic, if nobody has any objections? Although the dates here are not from the 1930's hopefully this will interest both Doug and John... I didn't know too much about Sprouts Elder's exploits on non-speedway tracks, but I was intrigued by this information from Aussie in 1927. On 12th March, 1927, Elder won the Golden Helmet at Maroubra, NSW. He rode a 4-valve Rudge at an average speed of 88 mph. Pretty impressive considering that this was his first ride on a concrete track! He returned on 9th April, and again won the Golden Helmet, this time on an Indian. Here he beat his fellow countryman, Eddie Brinck, with both riders lapping at 97 mph, and the rest of the field were nowhere. On this occasion, there was an additional 5-mile match race between the two Americans. Elder's bike gave up the ghost early on, and Brinck struggled to the finish line with a sick motor. Under the circumstances, Brinck refused to take the win, and suggested a rematch. This time, "Sprouts" won by inches. Eddie Brinck's last outing before heading home was the Golden Helmet on 14th May. Spencer Stratton won the first heat, beating Brinck by half a wheel, while Elder took the second. The final was a tense affair with the lead changing hands several times, but with half a lap to go, it was Brinck who was in front. Then Elder passed him on the outside, and held on to win by a wheel to complete his hat-trick, as they crossed the line at 97 mph.

Okay, a little sketchy, but... Elder's first love was horses, and wanted to be a jockey, but at over 6', that wasn't an option. He started motorcycling, and rode on both dirt and board tracks. With Eddie Brinck and Cecil Brown, he went to Australia in 1925/26, where he made an immediate impact. He met Johnnie Hoskins, which is why he came to the UK.

I haven't found anything yet - certainly not in any detail. Iris123 has done some research of his own on Sprouts, but there really isn't a huge amount of information that is readily available.

Serious question, John; do you REALLY think others are "offended" by Martin's comment?

Do you not know what "whimsical" means? Do you not know what "eccentric" means? I'm not sure you can accurately be described as whimsical, but you are certainly eccentric. No, this is not an insult...

Hey, the OLD BWitcher is back!

Getting back on topic... Here is a preview of the AMA National Championship, from the Los Angeles Times on 1st July, 1934. NATION'S LEADING BIKE STARS COMPETE TODAY IN COLISEUM CLASSIC "Roaring motorbikes will claim speed-hungry fans this afternoon when the first national short-track championship title ever to be awarded by the American Motorcycle Association in open racing will be figuratively hung up in the Coliseum. Twenty of the nation's speedway aces will have their first shot at the title in sixteen events this afternoon. Tomorrow night twenty other flat-track stars will burn gasoline and rubber on the Coliseum oval for championship points. Tuesday night the ten high-point winners in each of the two cards will be matched in the finals. In addition to the championship laurels a gigantic cup posted by the A.M.A. for the champion, and a hefty percentage of a $3000 purse determined by points earned will be the material rewards for risking life and limb in turning up limit speeds four four laps of the track in each event. From the opening flag every speedway dare-devil will turn his motor loose to garner as many points as possible in each race, assuring the fans hair-raising action from the start. Lloyd (Sprouts) Elder, hailed by many as the greatest motorbike pilot who ever lived, will be on hand this afternoon to demonstrate that there is nothing fictional about his English, Australian and American wins that rate him an international champion. On the same card there will be such aces of aces at flat-track sprinting as Al Chasteen of Oakland, "Bo" Lisman and others. With District Inspector W.F. Cannon as director-general, the meet is being staged under A.M.A. sanction by the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, with proceeds to benefit widows and orphans of State traffic officers, and their convention. Official representatives of the A.M.A. in charge include Fred Ludlow, supervisor; Al Koogler, referee; Merrill Anderson, starter. and Charles Moist, head pit steward. A new brand of thrills for those unfamiliar with the sport is guaranteed as the 275-pound bikes are broadsided into turns at a mile-a-minute clip with no clutches or brakes to aid the rider. No other type of racing puts such a test on individual skill and daring every split second the rider is on the track." Lineup 27 - Sid Chambers, 2 - Byrd McKinney, 84 - Eddie Spadafore, 70 - Snooks Blankenburg, 4 - Sprouts Elder, 63 - Cliff Self, 49 - Chico Duarte, 10 - Burton Albrecht, 64 - Lou Casazza, 13 - "Bo" Lisman, 3 - Miny Waln, 19 - Bert Lewis, 65 - Ed Jones, 47 - Pete Coleman, 90 - Ray Holt, 83 - Frank Servetl. Reserves - Bud Johnson, Jack Burris, Manuel Trujillo, Lou Branch.

Of course, my mum knew Mrs B, but although I did meet her on occasion, that was much later (and I was a kid). A wonderful and very unique lady, Mrs B... The Speedway Star actually published a photo of my mum with Ronnie Moore.

If I could make some suggestions, Junior... Firstly, it would appear more genuine had you used bold. Secondly, I would suggest using "cannot" as opposed to "don't". Do you have any information about this Jens fellow, as I do not seem to recall him?

The Sydney Showground/Royale (556 yds), Brisbane Ekka (465 yds), and Perth Claremont (640 yds), were all largely circular, but as you can see, none of the fit into the 1/5 or 1/6 mile category! The Sydney Sportsground (418 yds) was closer to the size stated in the article, but it was a conventional oval shape with long straights.

Tthat's one of the reasons I find these cuttings interesting; there seems to be a lot of misleading information. The way the articles read usually, it appears that the journalist isn't totally familiar with the sport, and tends to rely on hearsay. However, some of the writing is poor, and it is difficult to gauge whether the size and shape of the tracks refers to England and Australia, or just Australia. Thing is, we know that British tracks DID vary in length (NOT all one-fifth or one-sixth of a mile) and that the vast majority of them had noticeable straights. We also know that certain Australian tracks WERE more circular, with virtually no straights, but tended to be larger. To me, it comes down to lazy reporting...

Some more Sprouts Elder now. From 1st July, 1934, this was published in the Fresno Bee. One of the main reasons for posting this is another couple of new names. Lamoreaux And Elder To Race Again Thursday "A rematch between Lloyd (Sprouts) Elder and Wilbur (Lammy) Lamoreaux will be offered to Fresno racing fans Thursday night at thecwerkly short track motorcycle races in the state college stadium sponsored by the Night Speedway Association. The return meeting between the two champions, Elder with the distinction of being world's champion and Lamoreaux, the national champion, was arranged after Lamoreaux made the statement that he would have beaten Elder except for bumps throwing him out of line on the finishing stretch. Elder took Lamoreaux's measure in the two-lap match race by a narrow margin, while Lammy came back in the scratch final to beat the former by a scant margin. At any rate, one of the riders promises to bring the national championship honors to the Fresno track with him following that event in Los Angeles. It lasts until Tuesday. Garland Johnson of Pasadena also will step into the limelight at the stadium with a special time trial to determine whether he will be moved into a scratch rider's position. Johnson will be given a flying start for the one-lap time attempt and in the event his time equals that of a scratch rider he will lose the five-yard handicap ordinarily allowed him in handicap races. A host of other riders will back up the list on the program. Putt Mossman, sensational trick rider who gave exhibitions in trick riding last week, will be entered; Mossman won the final handicap rave last week. Other riders included on the program will be Frank Servetl, Lou Casazza, on a new J.A.P. motor; Al Owen, Otto Lauer, Bud Laughlin, Oliver Clow, Wilbur Woldit, Ed Spadafore on a new Crocker Special, Ed Jones, Ray Holt, Leonard Andres and Burton Albrecht. A new loud-speaking system also will be installed for the show."