BOBBATH

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)!!

I don't even know what HMX means. Does anybody recall my favourite photo of all time-the one of the 1964 British Final with Brian Brett, who was the leading qualifier and hot favourite to get to the World Final sitting on his keyster at Wembley after falling in his first ride. He looked bemused thinking I've lost my chance-which indeed he had. I assume the photo must have been taken by Alf Weedon who gets my vote as the greatest photog.

Excellent topic. I started reading the "Star" in 1964-also the monthly sister publication "Speedway Post' when that started up . I also got hold of some old Speedway News' from the fifties. My chief comment is the way the usage and vocabulary of the English language has gone down since that time. There were some very erudite writers then e.g. Phil Reading ,Eric Linden, Paul Parish and dare I say John Hyam.,-now not so much. I also enjoyed the Star when it was black and white-while it had black and white team pictures-you had to imagine what the team colours really looked like until you saw the team ride in person. I enjoyed that..I read a Star a few year ago and the standard of written English was lamentable-maybe reflecting the dumbing down of the population in general. Thanx for posting this gustix -I greatly enjoyed seeing the old covers.

Despite your excellent post BL65 I still reckon Monk had it over Colin. If I may retort (as Samuel L. Jackson said in "Pulp Fiction"!) in PL days Charlie bested Colin in most seasons-the averages I will be quoting are from Matt Jackson and may include K.O Cup , regional leagues as well as Prov. League . In 1962 CM ave. of 7.8 (Neath) v CP 6.6 (Stoke), 1963 CP9.7(Stoke) v CM 9.1 (Long Eaton). 1964 CM 10.9 (Glasgow) v CP 10.1 (Hackney). Also in the PLRC Final, Charlie was runner up to Ivan Mauger and Colin scored 7-note also Roy Trigg came 3rd in that meeting. Also in that year Charlie apparently beat Ivan more times than any other PL Rider. Further in the Prov. League averages published in the "Star" on November 13th 1964 Charlie was second to Ivan with an average of 11.60 (although I recognise that these averages excluded bonus points and were straight points divided by meetings -not CMA's). Colin was 8th, just ahead of Jack Kitchen. Now to the great year of 1965 where the Prov. League riders were up against the top NL riders for the first time.. Charlie was easily the top ex -PL rider with 10.3 average(Matt's figures again). After Charlie the ex-PL guys were placed as follows in order-Eric Boocock, George Hunter, Ivor Brown, Bill Andrew, Dave Younghusband , Pete Jarman, Jack Kitchen and only then Colin. Interestingly Ronnie Genz was just above Eric Boocock. Also that year of course Charlie won the Internationale (what a surprise that was) at Wimbledon-not a track he was particularly familiar with and missed out on the World final by a fall in the British Final at West Ham-after going thru' all the qualifying rounds without dropping a single point. Colin didn't make the British Final that year. I realise Colin had some good years post 1965-although in 66 he and Charlie were just about even-also that Colin's best year was 1967-his World Final year. Thus -very good rider though Colin was - I rest my case for Charlie, I would also put Ronnie Genz up there considering his years in the NL.. Great debate though and I enjoy greatly remembering these super years of the mid sixties.

I agree with this, looking back at my old programmes -on Friday October 9th 1964 (another dark and stormy night) Newport beat Hackney in the PL 51-27 at Somerton park. Poor old Colin got zero points from 3 rides and in Heat 9 was tactically substituted and replaced by Roy Trigg. Roy won that heat, scored a 15 point max. then won both his races in the second half. Colin pulled out of second half. In the second half final Roy, beat Dick Bradley while both Jon Erskine and Geoff Penniket had e.f.'s. This always stuck in my mind even without consulting the programme and that was one of the reasons I always preferred Roy to Colin. I also reckon Roy deserved to get to a World Final and think he would have perhaps performed better than Colin in his only appearance. Roy trig a great trier and fan pleaser!!