BOBBATH

Howdy Byford was another Japanese POW-still miss "The Champ"!!!

Think it will be tough to beat Len's record. Got a photo recently from Reg Fearman of him with Split Waterman , looking hail and hearty, living in Spain and in his mid nineties. Norbold refers to list of oldest World Finalists-anybody got an updated list they can post here-with Cyril Roger gone I reckon Split must be top of that list although good old Dick Bradley (one of my favourites and well recall the accident with Clive Featherby which ended his career in 1964) must be pretty close to the top , ditto Olle Nygren.

Glad to see this post was so popular-indeed I don't really know if Jim Squibb rode before the war-I was thinking of the years post war. Was wonderful to see other stalwarts posted as contenders e.g. Colin Goody. Enjoyed reading all the posts. One question-in 1967 (I think) I was at the Wimbledon v. Exeter meeting-there was a Golden Helmet (or maybe Silver Sash) race after the League match-Olle Nygren was the champ and defending his title against the top Exeter scorer =-the Exeter rider won against the odds- I think it was Jim Squibb but it may have ben Colin Goody-does anybody recall this and who won-maybe Norbold 'cos I think he was there and I bought him a beer(which you still owe me Norman!!) Glad to see this post was so popular-indeed I don't really know if Jim Squibb rode before the war-I was thinking of the years post war. Was wonderful to see other stalwarts posted as contenders e.g. Colin Goody. Enjoyed reading all the posts. One question-in 1967 (I think) I was at the Wimbledon v. Exeter meeting-there was a Golden Helmet (or maybe Silver Sash) race after the League match-Olle Nygren was the champ and defending his title against the top Exeter scorer =-the Exeter rider won against the odds- I think it was Jim Squibb but it may have ben Colin Goody-does anybody recall this and who won-maybe Norbold 'cos I think he was there and I bought him a beer(which you still owe me Norman!!) As a techno peasant can't figure out why my previous note was posted twice- I don't understand this modern technology and in fact have only now just started banking online-wot happened to all the humans I used to deal with!!

Somebody will know the answer to this (Norbold, BL65??) I'm back on Jim Squibb-I recall he started a riders strike in the 1963 PL Riders Final at Belle Vue -wot I can't remember is whether he was in the 64 PL Riders Final-whether he qualified or not. BTW the 1964 PL Riders Final sounded like a hell of a meeting-I avidly read in the Star about the various Riders chances-I would have given anything to be there-sadly a lack of the needful prevented my attendance. Was any forumlander there.. If anybody said which meeting could you back in time to watch-what would it be-that would have been mine.(actually that might be a good thread to start)!!!

Yeh, sorry folks, I was thinking of just Britsh leagues and should have made that clear-sorry for the confusion!!

I have wondered who were the longest riding riders in the Leagues after 1946- say to the 1970's I don't know the answer to this but other forum landers undoubtedly will. Here are my two candidates - Jimmy Squibb and Ken McKinlay- I think Ken kept riding to the mid 70's and Jimmy seemed to be around for ever-the great swashbuckling Cap'n Jim- where are guys like this nowadays!!

I have wondered who were the longest riding riders in the Leagues after 1946- say to the 1970's I don't know the answer to this but other forum landers undoubtedly will. Here are my two candidates - Jimmy Squibb and Ken McKinlay- I think Ken kept riding to the mid 70's and Jimmy seemed to be around for ever-the great swashbuckling Cap'n Jim- where are guys like this nowadays!!

Was thinking about this the other day. Two come to mind- Harry Edwards , who I thought because of his terrible experiences looked older than his age, although he kept riding thru 1963 I think. Maybe ended up with Wolves and also think he may have been the younger brother of Bert Edwards. The other is "The Champ" Howdy Byford who I do remember seeing ride. In the late fifties or early sixties the Star serialised his memoirs. I think he was born in 1919 and kept on riding into the mid sixties.- I think I saw him ride for Hackney and Kings' Lynn. Were there other ex POW's riding and does anyone recall the two I mentioned-am relying on other forum landers of my approximate age(102) to post to this -ok ok I know you are younger than me Norbold and probably BL65 also!!!

Hi John, just a quick note to let you know how greatly I appreciate the work you do-I often find myself referring to your great website-and I am sure other forumlanders feel the same way.

This is a retort to everyone who thinks they have to eat veggies and drink no alcohol.. I have ordered a case of whatever it is that Split drinks and am following his dietary recommendations of eating bacon and eggs for breakfast ever day. Split-live long and prosper!!!!!

Maybe Alan Cowland -he always wore white boots

Good for Henry-he must now be one of the oldest surviving World Finalists -maybe third behind Split and Dick Bradley!! Any others older than Henry?

Good to read about Tim, I always associate him with Poole-I recall he was transferred to Newport in I think 1966 but unfortunately he had a bad accident and didn't appear too much for the Wasps-glad he's still enjoying life.

Don't think Jim Squibb ever rode wearing glasses

I'm thinking here of two people in particular-the grandly named Mrs. Dorothy Charles-Batson of Wimbledon-she would often have letters published in the Speedway Star in the sixties, also Irene Prichard(?) who was quite prominent in CH activities. Since a considerable time has gone by they may have passed away. Does anyone out there remember them? Another person who springs to mind is Snowy Beattie of West Ham (I think)

I'd forgotten Dave Lanning(RIP) -how could I have done that-going back to 1965-,he had about 2 pages in the Star- I think he made a lot of his "news" up. What amused me was that he would always have foreign riders, e.g. Swedish riders speaking in pidgin English-sort of like Manuel in Fawlty Towers.. For example he would have Knutsson saying something like "I try gate but always hate rain she stop me win"". Anybody got other examples of this pidgin English stuff that Dave did!!!! . Also in my innocence I thought Speedway Star had an army of writers-only many years later did I realise that half of them were Eric Linden!! Also who was Frank Drake the Exeter correspondent-presumably a take off of the name Sir Francis Drake(although the latter was apparently a keen supporter of speedway!!!) God bless 'em all. This is a great thread which I am enjoying very much!!

From reading old Speedway magazines I would say Basil Storey-also of course Eric Linden, plus Philip Rising and Paul Parish

Gotta get my two cents worth in on this one. No question that #1 is Ken Mckinlay #2 George Hunter, #3 Tommy Miller; #4 Jimmy McMillan #5 Doug Templeton/Gordon McGregor/Bert Harkins Ok that's more than 5 -so sue me!!! Great riders all..

I was waiting for this-as an expat Welsh guy in Canada-clearly the top three are the Williams brothers-Fred, Eric and Ian . For 4 and 5 (excluding Leo McAuliffe) I gotta go with Cyril Francis(god bless him-now quite ill) and then Ivor Hughes -who I saw at a WCQR at Long Eaton(1966 or 67) and clearly was greatly improving -who knows what he could have achieved!!

OK-recognise these are guys I saw pre-68 but nevertheless was aware of their accomplishments until the mid 70's (we oughtta have a thread titled maybe "Many years gone by"!!!). #1 no question has to be Fundin #2 Michanek #3 Knutsson #4 Sjosten #5 Nordin-never got to see some of the others mentioned

Good point Split

No question-but for one fall Graham Warren would have done it-12 from 4 completed rides in 1950 I think

I of course remember Ray very well-riding for Long Eaton-one of the NL guys who did well in the BL 1965. A very nice and unassuming gent- I hope he is still with us . I always recall he would put up a good show at Somerton-unlike I might add, some of the former NL heat leaders who just gave up on what I admit, was a tough track to ride. God bless 'im.!!

But Norbold I still do speak like that-thought we all did !!! Actually its the Klingon language.......

Sorry gustix but have to say of all of Norbold's speedway books which are without exception excellent(you can put my cheque in the mail Norman)!! , one of his most enjoyable ever is "Pie, Mash and Prefabs"-wonderful read(on second thoughts make it two cheques)!!