chunky

Have a look here : http://www.cradleyspeedway.co.uk/riders/jimmycoy.htm

Besides, Wimbledon had already been closed for a couple of years before he even joined the BSF, so I honestly don't think that was the reason...

Really? That's a very bizarre comment to make! I'm still on here, despite Wimbledon closing. So is iris123. And cityrebel. And Robbie B. Come to think of it, MOST of us who are on here have lost our tracks, yet it's no cause for us to leave the BSF.

Not THAT amazing; people leave the BSF for various reasons. You yourself have done so - several times...

I'm friends with him on Facebook. I don't know whether he was "the" official photographer, but he always had a camera around his neck!

That would be Geoff, wouldn't it?

Ken Moss passed away a few years ago, and we lost Taffy Owen last August. Edit: Peter Thompson passed away last April. I thought so, but wanted to make sure before I replied.

Thanks for that! Must admit, he hasn't really changed that much!

Strange, but one thing that stands out in my memory is the appearance of Steve Waplington at Plough Lane in 1969. He was a Belle Vue Colts star, who was pressed into service by a short-handed Aces side at Wimbledon. He scored 9 points, and provided the only support for Ivan Mauger. He finished the season with a near 8-point average, and even had an outing for Young England against Young Czechoslovakia at Doncaster. He spent 1970 at Rochdale when the Colts moved over, and improved his average. He then retired at the age of 23, and seemed to be forgotten. Does anyone know what happened to him? I assume he's still alive? He really was one that impressed me, and I thought he had a bright future.

John, I've told you before, that is NOT the way to generate interest and discussion. All you do by posting questions, and then quoting and answering yourself, is to annoy people! If you have a genuine interest in someone, and want a discussion, you should do it the proper way. I will show you the proper way, if you give me a few minutes to ask about Steve Waplington...

Yes you are. His name was "Laurel"...

We've said before that the variety of meetings kept the sport fresh. In addition to the league and KOC, every track had a couple of individual meetings, at least one regional cup, plus things like best pairs and 4TT's. The real icing on the cake was being awarded a Test Match! Those were the days...

I remember that map on the back cover! In fact, I still have that copy. I also had a copy of the little Track Directory that was published. Makes very sad reading, eh?

Well, according to John, he's not going to be posting anything else on here, and is just deleting everything because he's in a strop. I reckon he'll be back again in a few weeks.

John emailed me a little while ago, and was deleting all his posts. Why, I have no idea...

John emailed me to ask what he needs to do to be accepted on here, and one of the main points I made was for him to stop deleting and hiding things. So, he immediately starts deleting and hiding things... You can't make this s h ! t up!

Chris Shears brought us the Chalfont sponsorship while we were still in the BL, and we dropped down in 1985.

That's what I thought; thanks!

He stayed with Hackney until he retired at the end of the 1970 season.

Dammit! I forgot about him! He was never a world-beater, but he was surprisingly decent. He averaged just under 5 in his first year at Newport, and the next three he averaged from 6.39 to 7.29. Very good second-string, verging on heat-leader in 1979.

Yeah, I just couldn't remember exactly when Peter came on board...

Are you sure you weren't just watching Arthur Nutley eating in the chippy???

If you don't get any answers, it's usually because nobody has an answer! He's certainly not someone I've ever heard of...

Maido took over in 1972. I can't remember exactly when he left, but it may have been when we went NL. I know he was still there in 1984.

You really didn't miss much in the way of Norwegians, but here were a couple who failed to make any impact. Jorn Haugvalstad rode four meetings for Halifax in 1980 - without scoring a point. Trond Skretting did a little better, averaging 3 1/2 points a meeting for Wolves in 1979, and having a few outings for Halifax in 1981.