cyclone

Obviously Ward was passed fit this evening as he was ready to race and declared in the Torun team. Therefore the alleged back injury must have improved sufficiently to no longer prevent him riding. As he will be scheduled to return to the UK tomorrow he can no doubt be referred to a medic here ,should he suffer an unexpected relapse.

Thanks - look forward to seeing him riding for King's Lynn at Armadale tomorrow.

Was Darcy Ward listed in the Torun team for this evening before the match was postponed ?

Well done to the phenomenon that is Darcy Ward. Who cares a toss about his personality - it's what he does on track that counts, and it's an amazing feat to win it on an unfamiliar track at his first attempt.

Were High Beech not also involved ?

Correct and in the twilight of his career, he briefly turned out for Ashfield (51 or 52) and second halved at Edinburgh in 1960 and made a single team appearance. Like Dick Fisher, Peter Craven also appeared for Fleetwood in 1951.

Dick Fisher started at Fleetwood 1951, Ron Johnston rode for Sheffield in 1950.

Sure there was another one from Channel Islands called Terry Le Main(e?). around the 60's/70's.

Started his career at Motherwell in 1958 and I believe did 2nd halves @ B.V. (not sure if he got any team rides) before becoming a Monarch in 1960.

Did no one tell them he was a Manxman

Rode for Edinburgh 1948 - 54, then Belle Vue briefly. Nickname was "The Candy Kid" because he was a confectioner.

Remember seeing Kerry Gray ride against Monarchs at Rye House and was impressed by his performance. However was even more impressed by his after race wheelie when he clapped his hands together at the apex and still stayed in control. !

There's a Wisbech prog cover in Old Prog Gallery of www.speedwayswapshop.co.uk which has the following caption:- Wisbech vs The Rest (chal) 18/7/1948 : First ever meeting held in a Sports Stadium (since 1937, various grass & dust tracks in fields around Wisbech), Team name "Wizards", colours red & blue, acknowledges assistance of Fleetwood, Middlesbrough, Norwich, & Yarmouth in providing riders

Hyde Road was the best away venue for racing and atmosphere. Another venue I enjoyed going to was East Boldon during the Jack Millen era as the racing was so unpredictable.

Re Niemi & Shirra at Eastbourne, maybe it was a different meeting, but I was at an Eastbourne vs Coventry match where they had a run in. However Shirra never completed the meeting and the word was that Bob Dugard "intervened" in the pits and flattened Shirra who was out stone cold. Also recall an epic stramash at Coatbridge during the Tigers reign, when Canterbury came a visiting and after Derek Richardson had beaten Steve Koppe after a tousy encounter, Richardson went to shake hands and Koppe pulled Richardson off his bike as he passed by. All hell then erupted at the pits gate and Terry Casserly pinned some guy up against the fence with his front wheel and was promptly dragged off his bike and given a good kicking. Ah we do have fun !

Ron Johnston was a Kiwi who rode for Belle Vue, Ron Johnson was a Scotsman who rode for Australia, Crystal Palace, New Cross, Glasgow Ashfield and made his final team appearance in 1960 riding one match for Edinburgh.

It's been drawn to my attention that the 2nd mtg @ High Beech was on Sat 7th April, whereas on 9th April two meetings were held, one in morning & another in evening !. So which of these meetings do you consider to be the real thing ?

For what reason do you also rule out the Audenshaw meeting held on 3rd March, 1928, which was advertised as "Dirt Track Race Meeting", as pukka Speedway ?

Here is some more info. :- Holiday Cup @ Crystal Palace 13/5/1940, 6 pm. 12 hts + 2 semis + final Prog dets as follows 12ht Scores:- Langley (pencilled in as replacing R C Appley) (was this Bill Longley ?) 7pts Ken Brett 4pts Geo Craig 4 Alex Gray 1 P M Hart 9 Keith Harvey 0 Bob Hall 2 Ron Howes 3 Ron Johnson 6 Garrar (pencilled as replacing Jeffrey Lloyd) 2 Page (pencilled as replacing Wally Lloyd) 5 Mick Mitchell 5 Leslie Trim 1 Fred Tuck 5 Vic Weir 2 A A Windmill 8 The Final was Johnson ( r ) Windmill ( b ) Hart (w) Tuck (y) but result not entered ( either never run or spectator left before end). Re replacements assuming Langley was Bill Longley, was Page, Cyril Page ?, and who was Garrar ? .

Well here is a later meeting (Courtesy of speedwayswapshop.co.uk) - Speedway Swap Shop Old Prog Gallery

You would probably make more by advertising on eBay, but agree this would be time consuming if you advertised single items. Some folk advertise a whole season or 10/15 etc., instead. Alternatively try Nick Barber & Peter Holtom who advertise in Speedway Star Classified to buy collections.

Never ever seen a picture of Thrum Hall - believe it was a rugby stadium ?

Are you sure he's not English ??

My hunch was either Fleetwood or Wigan Poolstock .

Yup Neil Webb was an Aussie who rode a few matches for Monarchs right at the start of the Powderhall era. Surprisingly when I went to USA for 82 World Final he was racing in the minor card at San Bernadino. !!