speedyguy

I saw him driving stock cars at Wimbledon about six or seven years ago.

Whoops! I used to be in touch with Prof Franz Renisch and Trude Jaeger. Sorry I have the Vienna stadium name wrong - what was the name of the Vienna track in the 1940s and 1950s?

Thus goes one of the sport's oldest venues. Memories of Fritz Dirtl, Karl and Leo Killymayer, and Josef Kamper especially. A sad time indeed for Austrian speedway.

I am fairly certain that Maury McDermott came from the Battersea-Clapham area of south London. When I knew him from the late 1950s, besides his speedway career he also worked as an electrician. His main speedway rider pals were Stan Clark, Pat Flanagan and Al Holliday. As has been mentioned, Maury died some years ago.

Let's not forget the legendary speedway promoter Mike Parker, who set off the sport's revival in 1960 with the Provincial League, was originally a driver and promoter of midget car racing in the 1950s.

His one-time mechanic Al Holliday (ex-California, Eastbourne and Rayliegh junior) is still about. They were co-promoters with Stan Clark at Rayleigh in 1964.

As mentioned before, Eric Linden. Then there's Jim Stenner Basil Storey John Wick Cyril J Hart Peter Arnold They all chronicled speedway happenings during the years of the 'great depression' circa 1953-60.

Do you mean Keith Gurtner?

Speedway journalist Eric Linden.

This point needs some clarification, especially as I understand that it has been raised on another discussion group. It refers of course to the press conference at Wimbledon Stadium in September 2001 (time marches on). I am completely at a loss about this and what I am supposed to have done wrong. I was in the company of former Wimbledon co-promoter John Smart, speedway historians Denys Jones and Peter Lipscombe, and former rider Al Holliday. I think the only question that I raised (and I made myself known) was "what crowd break even level was needed to make the venture worthwhile?" None of my colleagues asked me why I raised the question or chastised me for so doing! After the launch, then promoter Dave # Name Removed # made himself known to me, we shook hands, and have been friend ever since and greets me whenever we meet - more especially when I raise a memory about his father, the Southampton and Oxford star Bert # Name Removed #. Another who was present and spoke to me afterwards was former Dons' captain Ray Morton - and, as I recall it, he thought that I raised a good point. So, perhaps Steve Ribbons can clarify this matter of 'party spoiling' and also, if he reads this, the more recent commentator (not on the BSF this time) who also seems to vividly remember this affair. Maybe they also remember that fact that for more than four years, throughout the season there was more than half a page coverage on the Dons, often with colour photos by Ian Perkin, in every Friday's edition of the paper I work for, while the Tuesday edition always covered any weekend matches and news, plus giving a brief insight into the next match. A pity that this reply is lost in a debate on 'Spain and Speedway' - it would be better in the "Dons at Plough Lane' but as the subject was raised here by Steve Ribbons. it also needs my answer on this thread. John Hyam aka speedyguy THIS HAS BEEN MOVED TO GENERAL DISCUSSIONS 'DONS AT PLOUGH LANE'.

Argentina has a long history of speedway, going back to the late 1920s when UK-based riders like Frank Varey, Eric Langton and the American 'Sprouts' Elder were among many who raced there. They also competed in neighbouring Uruguay.

All I can say is - "Shame on Poole!" for this action. Do those banned Lew Coffin REALLY know about his contribution to speedway and grass track racing?

You do mean by that bringing an established club from elsewhere to Milton Keynes? Something like Wimbledon FC to MK Dons happened. Not suggesting soemthing similar for speedway? IMO a relocation can only be five miles from an ancestral home...as my main reader will doubtless tell you.

Sadly it's not in Wales but is part of the Malaga Province in Spain. It exists. My brother-in-law lives there and Ray Rocket has also been in the region. A rough guide is that it's in the mountain region behind the seaside towns of Fuengirola, Benalmadena and Marbella. There is a rail service from Malaga if you are thinking of a holiday there - suggest you book in at the Hotel Victoria. I have stayed there - wonderful but it's expensive. It would seem too, , the correct spelling is RONDA not as I have been quoting Rhonda. P1928 please note! PS: If you want to go there, try this link: http://gospain.about.com/od/andalusia/qt/howtogettoronda.htm

We were told that Russell Paine was expecting some news last Tuesday (April 8 2008) on the prospects for his track following a meeting with local offcials. Nothing has been forthcoming. The last Post on his website was in March this year. It read: "March is now an extremely critical month for us as if there is to be the tinyest of possibilities for us to open, we must make some progress in the next four or so weeks." A while back, the usually lucid Steve Ribbons also assured (?) us that fears for the venture were unfounded. Isn't there now a need for some further assurance for those of us who have, for many years, followed the various speedway promotional efforts in Spain to know what is happening? It is a subject in the public domain (there is a website). Time for a further comment, please.

Like you, I remember George Flower as one of the original Yarmouth riders in the late 1940s.

April 17 1946. New Cross 46 The Rest 37 (Challenge) Heat 1: Ron Johnson, Phil Bishop, Ron Clarke, Jack Parker (ef), 61.8 seconds. PS: I was told that I had been taken to a Crystal Palace match in 1939 but have no recollection of this meeting.

Just had a look on Russell Paine's Spanish website. As they say, 'the silence is deafening' in regard to a meeting last Tuesday (April 8) between his local councillors and himself in regard to the venture. Or, is it a case of 'no news is good news'? Sadly, I don't think it's the latter. By the way, I cannot find out any more about the midget car-sprint car track (possible speedway) in Rhonda. But I am trying...!

I stand corrected! Good luck with your venture.

Add in former Southampton captain, West ham, Wimbledon and Liverpool rider George Bason. And what about Jack Baxter (Australia and Tamworth) who married the widow of Arthur 'Bluey' Wilkinson.

Isn't this getting rather like a faoius Disney character championship!

I can't afford a call to Spain! Surely that's why Paine has a website - to keep people updated?

I believe his is now living in Australia.

It was last Tuesday (April 8) that Russell Paine was due to meet the local council in Spain regarding his track there? Did anything transpire - if only to let us know the meeting did or did not take place. Where's his 'spokesman' now?

FROM THE SOUTH LONDON PRESS, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2008::: THE HARTS OF COPPULL TAG Wilson 40 pages, many photos, soft cover £3.50 plus 50p P&P A Whiff of 'R' Promotions Ltd, 117 Church Lane, Chessington, Surrey, KT9 2DP IN 1946, Wimbledon Speedway was mesmerised by the spectacle of legtrail rider Oliver Hart, writes John Hyam. The Lancastrian only stayed one season with the Dons, but when greybeards meet to discuss “who was the greatest thrillmaker the club has ever had?” most times the name of Oliver Hart surfaces. Dennis Gray, a Dons team-mate, remembers: “When Oliver Hart was on the track the other riders would go the pits gate simply to watch him.” In his first home match for Wimbledon on April 22, with seven points from three rides in a National League match against Bradford, Hart was leading heat 11 when he crashed and broke his wrist. He made an exceptionally fast recovery and was back riding by May 6. At the end of the season, Hart was Wimbledon’s second highest scorer, only the experienced England star Norman Parker finished ahead of him. Hart loved Wimbledon - and the Dons’ fans loved him. But he had a problem getting to matches. Early on a Monday Hart, who lived in Coppull, Lancashire, would travel by train from Preston to London, stay overnight, then return home on Tuesday. It meant two days away from the haulage business he ran with his rider-brother Ron. There was a solution, with a triangular transfer at the start of 1947. Bradford rider, Australian Bill Longley who lived in Lewisham, moved to New Cross. They let Les Wotton moved to Wimbledon while Hart replaced Longley. Author TAG Allison first saw speedway at Newcastle in 1946 and it produced a lasting memory of the leg-trailing artistry of Oliver Hart. A highlight of 1948 for him was a holiday in London, which had five tracks, but Harringay was the one he chose to visit because Hart was riding. The book deals with Hart’s career from pre-war days in 1933 until his retirement in 1952. It also includes the career of his twin brother Ron, who rode at northern tracks in the late 1940s and early 1950s. And there is a poignant mention of a third speedway racing Hart - their brother Stan who died after crashing while riding for Belle Vue Merseysiders at Birmingham on August 25 1937. The book also traces speedway history from the mid-1930s to the early 1950s. It is a must for all speedway libraries.