speedyguy

I have been told that the action scenes for the film 'There Is Another Sun', as was the case with 'Once A Jolly Swagman' were shot at New Cross. Personally, I don't recall this but in the years 1950-1952 I was doing RAF National Service far from London and did not have much time to keep in touch with speedway in those years. As response is now dragging on, it would seem the matter will remain one of speedway's great mysteries.

Thanks for the details of Gerry Hussey's British speedway career. As usual, further queries now arise. Why did he miss the 1957 UK Season and I thought he was killed in March 1959. I have a note that reads: "Former speedway solo rider Gerry Hussey died as a consequence of a midget car crash which happened on Friday, 06 March 1959 night at Rowley Park track in Adelaide, SA, Australia." It appears that Hussey died in hospital the next day March 7 1959. Any clarification would be appreciated.

An unhappy match for Charlie Bourdon. He had a fall and a non-start in the league match. His name never appeared previously in any Bristol or Middlesbrough meetings or subsequently. Charlie is only shown as two starts in the match and does appear in the second-half so he must have been paid a guaranteed four starts for the meeting.

After starting with West Ham in 1953, what other tracks and the seasons was Gerry Hussey involved with? Thanks.

There was a Steve Collins who was a member of the late 1950s Chiswick Nomads' training school team. He could have been the 1960s second-half rider at New Cross. Not sure if he was the same guy as rode second-half at Wimbledon in 1970s though.

Thanks for the Post. Still hunting down the good man...!

I have lost contact with Ron Webb ('Spiderweb') in South Australia. Can anyone help me please? Thanks.

When debate takes place in regard to speedway films, it usually involves 'Once A Jolly Swagman.' In 1951, there was another speedway film 'There Is Another Sun' featuring Maxwell Reed and Laurence Harvey. The topic is currently underway on http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/index.cgi The main thrust of the debate is 'were the action shots taken at Walthamstow'?

I think Don Godden used one!

Rather belatedly the 2008 review of 'Out Of The Frying Pan' has just been posted on http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/index.cgi along with a suggestion that copies of the book appear to be available as second-hand copies on both Amazon and on ebay. The review is carried on London Speedways more for its historical worth than as an up-to-date book review.

That's about the same admission money as I paid at New Cross, also in April 1946. Agree with the rider costs but would add that they then also had machine maintenance and travel money on top of their points money. A clean sweep of a 12 point maximum, two second half wins, equals £18. Start money - I think this was £1 a start in NL Division One. That would be race earnings of £24 in 1946 - what's that worth today?

A massive job currently underway on http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/index.cgi is listing the team squads for the London clubs. One section already finished is 1929!

Years ago - at least 20 - I met Nat Gould at the Crystal Palace. He rode speedway there in the 1930s - the open meetings. He said that the layout of the athletics track was virtually the same as the old speedway. He based his comments on the landscape of the area, especially what outside properties could be seen, and also in regard to where trees were positioned in the park. There's also some comments on the Crystal Palace speedway history to be found on http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/index.cgi

Bernie Randall was a name appearing in 'Speedway Star' between 1956 and 1962.

It's last editor was Cyril J Hart. The Gazette was then owned by Doug Falby, business assistant in the late 1930s to pre-war promoter and rider Arthur 'Westy' Westwood. I wonder if anyone can remember who some of its contributors were - one was Frank Stein who had some "family" links to the 'Speedway Star' writers Jack Brodie, Bernie Randall and James Oldfield (among others!!!).

Are Rye House, High Beech and Arena Esses/Lakeside the tracks that cause most concern for inclusion on --- http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/index.cgi High Beech is served - virtually - by London buses and the tube network. I have in younger years walked to and from the venue after riding out on the underground to Loughton. Rye House - virtually above north London and the land of the Spurs football club - on the same railway line from Liverpool Street. Arena Essex - well served to the Lakeside shopping centre from London (green line buses??). It would need a good reason not to include them as London Speedways IMO.

Yes it was wonderful reading about Zena Lamb!

Then I suppose the same criteria - if somebody decides that it's near enough it's okay for both the London Speedway site and books like 'Speedway in London'?

How did they decide eligibility for the London Cup and London Riders Championship in the 'good old days' then?

My favourite 'Speedway Star' writer of the late 1950s was the one-and-only Basil Storey.

I will have to check with my copy of 'Speedway in London' to verify all this new data. It has also raised concerns as to whether Crystal Palace (Penge and Anerley UDC) and Wimbledon were also bona-fide London tracks. More importantly, it also gives doubt as to the validity of both the London Riders Championship and London Cup in the sport's early days. If the culling of clubs advocated for the London Speedways was to be followed, I can only see these as genuine London tracks - Catford, Harringay, Hackney, New Cross and Stamford Bridge...and the Chiswick training circuit. http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/index.cgi

Now included on http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/index.cgi are the London team squads for 1929, 1932 and 1946. Various members are compiling lists, hopefully, for a complete listing through to 2008. Sadly, it will take time.

Just added, thanks to Bobby Andrews: photos of Bob Andrews and Tommy Sweetman in their days with SAL California-in-England in the mid-1950s. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway

A new speculative debate on http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/index.cgi concerns an American who turned up at Stamford Bridge in 1932, known as Alvin J Franchetti. Consensus has it that it was the American midget car driver Alvin 'Spike' Rhiando who in his time rode speedway on tracks in East Anglia in 1932 and 1933 while in 1937 and 1938 rode on speedway fairly often at Dagenham. It would seem he never made the team at Stamford Bridge. Does anyone have records of Franchetti aka Rhiando in second half events at the Bridge?

Now added to the site are four photos of bikes used by Australian riders in the late 1940s and early 1950s. They include Jack Young of Edinburgh's 1951 world championship-winning bike. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway