star ghost

It was definitely Laslo Paddy Mills ran the Brafield Flying Foxes and had trouble which caused his license to be rescinded. The team nearly moved to Earls Barton, but the split caused the S A L a lot of trouble. Neil Roberts was skipper of the Southern Rovers, the team formed by the remains of Brafield. His son is doing the rounds nowadays

I also heard that. I think it was in the area of Sheffield where the family business of the late Fred Rogers was also situated I also heard it was in Birmingham however

I know the first chances came Sandor's way at Belle Vue but they came to nothing really. He also rode at Brafield (I think) and Stoke in the Provincial days. In 1964 Sandor came into the Norwich team at no. 8 when George Major left to return to the "Black" Provincial League". He also rode a number of times at non-league Rye House with some success that season. This gave him the first real breakthrough. Sandor was a no-nonsense rider and was referred to as "taking no prisoners" on or off track. His best night for the Stars was a 9 point score at Coventry. Following the demise of the Stars Sandor rode with some distinction for Newport, Ipswich and Cradley that I know of.

I was informed last year that Sandor was back in Hungary for a holiday. I have heard nothing since however. When, incidentally, did he ride for Halifax as I don't recall this

I think this was at Plymouth but the name escapes me at present

I only got 9 and I have read your books too. I have never heard of Racer Harris ???????????????????

Peter Bailey's car crash was on a night the Bees were to ride Kings Lynn. I still have the "Tape-a-Sport" cassette tape of the meeting

Pedropete ---- This seems to be an ongoing debate about Peter Craven being off a handicap on that fateful night. It has been pretty well discussed by many people who were there and many who were not tthere. The general outcome of this was that George Hunter made a dream gate and Peter Craven missed it for once. As to be expected Peter Craven tried to pass and I recall that someone said that George Hunter had machine trouble at the fatal moment. The meeting reports of the time do not say any handicap was in operation on the night nor does the match programme for the night say so either.

Putt wore an all over pink suit didn't he????? when he did one of his stunt acts at the Empire Stadium one night. I think I read it in "The Wembley Years History" book

This caused almost as big an incident as the Disqualification at Wembley did From memory T C got the blame for this one, or do I recall wrongly

I thought it was 1929????????????????/ Cheers

I have read the article and found it interesting anyhow. Most of the items in the series of books would interest anyone who appreciates the History of Speedway. And "poor old Norbold" has never claimed to have seen all the "Farndons" of this World has he???? And he is only old in knowledge

I think Mauger also turned out for Eastbourne in those days

Well Norbold - I'll add Bill Simpson, Jimmy Heard, Ronnie Rolfe and Charlie Cheshire, all members of Southern Area Championship winning teams at the Rye House track.

The Speedway Researcher Website is updated regularly as and when info comes in from the members of the group. Some tracks have an A - Z of the riders but some have not as these have not been completed as yet.

not too bad, andout

Very interesting photo's on Bob's site. 1954 - who are the riders here? I can pick out Jimmy Gleed, Gil Goldfinch, Peter Mould, Bob Andrews and Ronnie Sharp. Is George Bason there? maybe Webb, Albery and Pankhurst?

I remembeer Simmo at an earlier event to commemmorate Speedway's entry into British life. He rode an olden-day bike against the great Jack Parker at the event staged at Hackney Wick's track. The G O M of Speedway conned him good and proper that day. Hopefully the weather won't be as cold this year as it was then.

From memory I think that in the 70's Speedway did in fact try the Middle East with a Touring Group racing at some Stadiums out there. I don't think this has been tried since then though. It would make a good way to spend the Winter if the expenses were picked up by the rich Nationals out there

I thought Eric Gunderson and some other riders were injured and couldn't continue with their rides in a World Cup Final at Odsal a few years ago

As Kevin says Why make the reserve take over for the rest of the meeting. He may need to replace a rider who has suffered a knock or machine trouble and will be o.k for a later ride. The reserve should be to replace any rider unable to take his place in a heat. It may be an advantage then to put a "top" rider at Reserve and use him "as and when". At least that would be more sensible than playing the "Joker"

I suspect this can be added to all the other claims made about Johnnie Hoskins Archibald Leitch designed the Grandstands at various football grounds. I think he did the one at the Wellesley Ground, Great Yarmouth. It is reputed to be the oldest stand now in existence. In the early post-war days an aerial photo of Custom House adorned the front cover of the programme.

Results from Harringay 28 October 1959 Gooch & Mountford replaced Genz & White for N X 9 heat Challenge Match - Harringay 28 New Cross 26 1 Tebby, How, Mountford, Goody, 72.0 H 5 NX 1 2 Biggs, Briggs, Gooch, Dunton, 70.8 H 8 NX 4 3 Williams, Unstead, Trott, Hagon, 72.8 H 11 NX 7 4 Biggs, Mountford, Goody, Dunton, 71.0 H 14 NX 10 5 How, Unstead, Trott, Tebby (f), 73.2 H 17 NX 13 6 Gooch, Williams, Briggs, Hagon, 72.6 H 19 NX 17 7 Unstead, Biggs, Trott, Dunton, 71.6 H 21 NX 21 8 Goody, Hagon, Williams, Mountford, 72.0 H 24 NX 24 9 How, Briggs, Tebby, Gooch, 72.4 H 28 NX 26 Harringay - Ron How (2',3,3) 8+1, Jim Tebby (3,f,1) 4, Jack Biggs (3,3,2) 8, Danny Dunton (0,0,0) 0, Alf Hagon (0,0,2) 2, Ian Williams (3,2,1') 6+1, Dan Stevens (reserve) did not ride New Cross - Barry Briggs (2,1,2) 5, Jimmy Gooch (1',3,0) 4+1, Jack Unstead (2,2,3) 7, Reg Trott (1',1',1) 3+2, Ron Mountford (1,2,0) 3, Colin Goody (0,1',3) 4+1, Bill Wainwright (reserve) did not ride The meeting also included Greyhounds (1 race), Stock Cars (3 races) Trotting (3 races) and a "Brilliant firework display" It was run to raise funds for Local Charities in the Hornsey, Stoke Newington, Tottenham & Wood Green Boroughs.

The Dagenham Girl Pipers appeared at the firs one night and it poured with rain. The main event was the Harlem Globetrotters on a European Tour including Meadowlark Lemon and the "All Star Dream Team". The D G P had to do an interval display on a big plastic sheet and they spent some time sliding about on the deck. At the end of the night Billy Bales, Harry Edwards, Ove Fundin and Aub Lawson put on a demo race. The local U S A F personnel were hanging on the fence with eyes dragging on the shale, they said "Man, them guys must be crazy"

Keith Harvey was allocated to Norwich along with Fred Strecker of Stoke. Fred brought his mate George Dykes with him and George then joined the Stars. Other allocations were Challis (Birmingham), Weir (Bristol), Appleby (Hackney), Lovell (Edinburgh) and Clarke (Harringay) as far as I can tell.