BOBBATH

Anyone in Forumland see all three , Cyril, Bert and Bob ride. I didn't see any -although starting in 1964 just missed out on Cyril. How would you rank them-maybe Cyril #1 , guess Bob had a bad accident which cut his career short. Would be interested in any memories.

Any Prov. League fans remember Geoff, I recall him as a middle order rider for Newport in 1964(was with Long Eaton in 1963 I reckon) and then in the BL in 1965-not sure about 1966, but am pretty sure he was riding in 1967 for Poole-partnering Gote Nordin. Recall him scoring a max for Newport-maybe in 1964, I also think I recall he had an accident and lost part of a finger. Had an armchair style of riding. One of the stalwarts of speedway that we shouldn't forget-anyone know how he is doing these days, I think Vic White was in touch with him for a number of years.

Do you mean they've changed the track layout, I have fond memories of the Abbey Stadium-first visited in 1965, last visited in 1972. I used to get there by driving along the M4 and turning off to Acton Turville and then going across lovely country-via Minety (where Mike Keen lived) Malmesbury, Cricklade ( maybe not necessarily in that order)-last time I was over tried to duplicate the journey but the roads had changed and got lost despite helpful instructions from people I asked. One year stayed at the Blunsdon House Hotel-think it may now be a Best Western . Was there (or still is ) a pub called the "Cold Harbour". Think it is too bad how many of the British pubs have closed. We have pubs in the Toronto area that are more British than the British ones-one near me called "The Owl" where I sometimes go and watch English football.

Well done Tracy, how could I omit Poole-even worse I omitted Swindon of the NL-I must have Covid and its affecting my brain cells!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve your post got me thinking about the tracks in my first year -1964. There were 7 tracks that year in the old National League-they've ALL gone (Belle Vue of course continue to operate but not at the 1964 track). There were 12 tracks in the Provincial league-only 3 still operating at same venue- Sheffield, Wolves and Newcastle )Depressing thought ain't it!!

Great idea Steve-about how long did Ivan live there??

Yup, but I finally got to that one on a trip back to UK in the nineties

You are so right Philip. On my last ever visit to Wimbledon, 2nd July 1966 v. Exeter (Tommy Sweetman beat Nygren in the Silver Sash race) we were in the grandstand-think we got a meal there-must have felt flush- but being behind the glass totally destroyed the atmosphere-couldn't smell the Castrol R for example and it was a bit too genteel for me. Never agin, I want to be standing close to the fence.

What was the nearest pub to Plough lane and where were Dons fans most likely to go??

Going thru' my old Vintage Speedway mags, came across an interview with Barry under the tile of "Speedway's Happy Hippie". It was in Vol. 7 #4--winter 2000. A large part of the interview was to do with Barry's health-in 1999 a lump on his neck was diagnosed as a malignant tumour- a secondary tumour- he had a major operation and had a big dip in back of his neck which his long hair covered. He said his life had now taken on a new urgency and the interview ended with the interviewer saying" he intends to enjoy the rest od his life as much as he can and the sort of year he had in 1999 makes that a decision a sensible one". The irony is that the interviewer was Bob Radford and that 20 years afterwards Barry is still around but Bob is the one who has gone. Who would have thought it. Life is such a crapshoot.

You are right Salty, but I went to all of those-I was referring to the only 3 tracks operating in 1968 (in the British League) that I never went to-never got to Monmore Green, Brough Park or Saddlebow Road. I might have worded my post confusingly. Sorry for any confusion.

In this lockdown-which I hope will end soon (note to andout -don't know where you live in Ontario Roger but here in York Region I still can't get a haircut- I look like Rasputin FFS) I have been going thru' my old speedway stuff-greatly enjoying reminiscing. In the Vintage Speedway magazine of summer 1998 (holy cow that's 22 years ago already)-there is a great article-as per the title of this post. It was written by a forumlander John Hyam (or Gustix as per his nom de plume) Great essay John- you went to your first speedway meeting in 1946 so you are a shade older than me-I was born in 1946-just ahead of Norbold). What struck a particular note with me was that you went back to the site of the stadium-now the woebegone Bridgehouse Meadows park and as you say, and I can well believe you ,realised that was a mistake. I had a similar experience I went back to the site of Somerton Park, Newport, in about 2008-now has housing on it but you can still see some remnants of the old track gates- like you I wish I hadn't gone. There are 3 tracks still going that were around in 1968 when I left UK. Brough Park, Monmore Green and Saddlebow Road. I understand the first two are shadows of their former selves, I have thought of taking a trip over and visiting these venues- but I remember seeing pictures of them full of fans and frankly I think I would be depressed (even more than I usually am) to see them in their current state with low attendance. Anyway gustix-just to let you know that I reckon you yourself are now part of speedway history and have incredible knowledge-at least you gave it a shot in the SAL ( I think) and I respect your opinion and your posts (even if sometimes a bit off-topic)-if other forumlanders don't like 'em they don't have to read 'em. But I enjoy 'em. Keep up the good work.

Well done BL65-excellent research or excellent memory- Big thank you for clearing this up and taking the trouble to find this information.

Thank you Philip, I always enjoyed your writings in the Star also. Hope you are keeping well.

Yup it was, in my innocence when I first started reading the Star in 1964 I was amazed by the number of journalists they seemed to have. Does anyone know if Eric also wrote the Danny Carter "Gossip and Gas" column-was he Danny as well??. Also anyone know who wrote the Exeter reports-surely it wasn't a guy called Frank Drake (I think it was a nom de plume derived from Sir Francis Drake). Also any news on Robin (or Ross) Martakies-think he was a local Newport journalist who used to do the Newport match reports-think he moved up to Cumbria in later years?? Also anyone know if Frank McLean is still alive-he wrote the Belle Vue reports?

I seem to recall that Dent Oliver "looked after" the England team for a while, but agree re John Berry's comment that it was often just the home promoter

Extremely sorry to hear about Bob Radford-liked him a lot. If any of you kept the 1964 Speedway Stars a young Bob had a letter published in the Readers Letters column. I think Bob was from Swindon, it referred to a proposal he suggested for the Prov. League-it would be called The Captain's Trophy and would be the captains of each track e.g. Doug Templeton (Edinburgh), Jack Kitchen (Sheffield) etc. racing against each other-it was because supporters in the southern Prov. League Tracks might only get to see these Northern Captains once a season. Before you ask what's the date of that Star-don't because I don't have it after all these years. The age of 70 is too young to die these days. Anyone know about the other journalists mentioned in my previous post.-anyone know if it was lung cancer.

Was wondering is Eric still with us-if not when did he pass away?. What about Howard Jacobi, Robin Martakies, Bob Radford, Paul Parish et al

That reminds me of the joke" Man comes home and says to his wife "What would you do if I won the lottery?"" She answers "I'd take half and leave you!!" He says ""Well I just won $100-here's fifty bucks now f**k off". Sorry Steve but when I read your post I just couldn't resist it !! Keep smilin' and keep well all during this weird time.

How about Bill Landels for Edinburgh-he became Scottish Champ one year-bit of an upset result. I think Bill emigrated to Oz-anyone know if he is still with us? Maybe Mike Watkin for Newcastle could be another?

Wot about Norman Storer- I know I know he rode for Long Eaton and then when they closed he went to Leicester (same club-different track)-but it does say club not track-does this count-also maybe Bob Jamieson of Halifax, perhaps Bert Kingston also??

Steve, just want to clarify your last post re the best speedway year (1965 of course). I just want to respectfully note that in 1965 both the Golden Helmet and Silver Sash match races ran in tandem. The Golden Helmet was a best of three races on the holders and challengers home tracks. If after two meetings on this basis there was a tie, a third best of three races at a neutral track occurred. This was a continuation of the Golden Helmet Match Races which were in the old pre-amalgamation National League. The monthly challenger was nominated by the promoters committee ( I think). The competition you refer to which involved the highest opposition rider against the holder -if they met in the same meeting -was the Silver Sash. This was a continuation of the pre-amalgamation Provincial League match race championship. The Golden Helmet was run on a monthly basis so in 1965 there was a Golden Helmet championship in each of the months of May, June, July, August, September, and October. Barry Briggs won every one over 2 legs-the guys he beat over 2 legs -(nobody took him to a third leg decider) were in order; May- Charlie Monk: June -Ken Mckinlay (I saw the second leg of that at Newport on June 11th): July-George Hunter: August- Nigel Boocock:, September- Sverre Harrfeldt: and October- Olle Nygren So Barry kept the Golden helmet over the close season and was the holder when 1966 started. I was interested to see that Charlie Monk was the first nominee for Barry to ride against-this shows the high regard which Charlie was held in-but also maybe because the logical first PL challenger would have been Ivan Mauger who unfortunately had an accident very early in the season and was unavailable As regards the Silver Sash that year-that was competed for far more frequently ( 7 times in May alone) of course depending on the schedule, there were various holders-in order Pete Jarman, Olle Nygren, Jim Lighfoot,, Ken McKinlay, Bob Andrews Eric Boocock, Jimmy Gooch and Colin Pratt-who was the holder at the end of the season. I got to see one of those races. In the Newport v. Wolves fixture on April 19th Pete Jarman was the holder, Jack Biggs was the highest Newport scorer -so the Silver sash match race was Pete v. Jackie- Pete won. Pete Jarman was the first holder in 1965 because the pre season champ was Ivan -who lost to Pete by default because of his injury (see above). The only reason I know all this is because I kept (and still have) The British Speedway Handbook -1966 Edition which covered the 1965 season. Hope this post brings back some memories of other forumlanders who can say about 1965 "I woz there"!!!!!

And hopefully he'll have many more-he's probably still in better shape than most of us (certainly me)!!

Who is the lovely man-'cos I don't know-I think the photo of the guy with the moustache is Mike Patrick-the photog??

I defer to the experts- if chunky and andout agree clearly it must be a historical fact!! (Hi Roger if you play golf (I don't)-you must be happy the golf courses in Ontario are opening this weekend!!)