BOBBATH

Just realised that I should have included Jack Biggs in the Newport team-thought people like Chunky, BL65, and Norbold would have been on my ass about that but maybe nobody cares about Newport any more

Wot about Newport then? Here's my favorite 7 : Phil Crump, Torbjorn Harrysson, , Sandor Levai, Dick Bradley, Peter Vandenberg, Jimmy Gooch, Alby Golden....

Sorry I pressed the reply thing twice B)

BTW -was there anybody out there in forumland who was at the June 1968 Brit Semi- Final at Sheffield that I mentioned-maybe I am the sole survivor.!!!!!!!!!! BTW -was there anybody out there in forumland who was at the June 1968 Brit Semi- Final at Sheffield that I mentioned-maybe I am the sole survivor.!!!!!!!!!!

Reckon Eric Boothroyd should be in the Halifax team!!

Thanx Third Man- I meant to say Bill Andrew was a tough s.o.b. but pressed that glasses avatar thingy by mistake -as previously mentioned I'm a technopeasant and didn't know or couldn't be bothered to change it back!! BTW Bill Andrew was indeed a tough s.o.b.-but a good rider though!!

Great to hear, how old is Reg now??

Re the preceding-yup Sheffield was a great venue and great track, close to the pits you could talk to the riders, many very approachable- I recall a British semi-final in 1968 and chatting to Dave Younghusband. Just got off my ass and got the program(doesn't everyone wish they'd kept all their meeting programs!!). I see it was 27th June 1968 , Dave ended up with 9 pts.-not sure how many qualified for British Final, but the top scorers were Briggs with 14, then Bill Andrew( he was one tough s.o. and Norman Hunter both with 13. Nigel B. was 4th with 11. Looking over the program there were some wonderful riders at that meeting- Vandenberg, Squibb, Harkins etc.etc. Wish there was time travel , then I could go back and see the meeting again!! Anybody else in forumland who was there??

Apropos ( I like that word-is it a word?) of the preceding photo of Sheffield Tigers, I gotta say my favorite Sheffield race jacket of all time was the one used in 1965 of a square within which was a fierce looking tiger face-see Speedway Star front cover of June 16th 1965 (Jack Kitchen and Dick Fisher featured, shaking hands on what was obviously a very cold day). I always looked forward to seeing Sheffield as visitors to Newport and was also privileged to visit Owlerton on a few occasions. Great stadium, great track, great people, great team...

Chunky, I can't believe I omitted the Wasps of 64- thanx for reminding me-I hope this does not mean I am becoming (more) senile!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad to see this thread-in the greatest year ever(1965 of course) I recall the following teams that showed up with all the riders wearing smart team colour jerseys over their leathers and under their race jackets-Exeter (green and white quarters), Wolves (amber) and Poole (blue and white quarters)-they all looked great andI can recall thinking I wish all teams did that. I also remember some individuals wearing jerseys -Ivor Brown in his spotless white springs to mind- he wore this jersey whether riding for his team or as an individual. I seem to remember Ivor getting quite a few bookings at Newport in 1964, a great and controversial rider -we used to like to see him because he was so (un)popular with the home fans!!

Just wondering -did any forumlanders ever see Arthur Wright ride, or come to that Arthur Forrest-or are we all too young??

OK you got me- I'll take out Venus and Serena, if you take out Judy

Arthur Wright was before my time-but I knew he was a big star with Bradford and the bro-in-law of the Black Prince. Another guy who was one of the oldest World Finalists still around. Riders like Arthur should never be forgot-can anybody now update the oldest surviving World Finalists FFS- I know the indestructible Split is top of the list but the great Dick Bradley must be there or thereabouts.

Wonderful thread -glad to hear Peter Vandenberg mentioned. I also recall John Boulger's debut for Long Eaton in 1967- I'd never heard of him and couldn't believe mthat he scored that many points in his first meeting. Can anyone recall(BL65 maybe) where he first appeared and what he scored- I think it was an away track??

Sadly folks , I still gotta go with the Williams family. Two world champs with Fred, more world finals with Eric Williams than with Les, and Ian in his one World Final did better than Phil Collins. So there.!!!!

Ok tsunami, wot a memory- I reckon you saw the League Meeting which the Diamonds won 34-44. I missed that, I was at a girlfriends house-she lived near Somerton Park but I have forgotten her name-obviously I had my priorities wrong(not the first time)- I recall we were in her folks front room and I could hear the sound of the bikes-I can remember thinking WTF am I doing here-I could be watching the speedway!! A question-were you at the Poole WC British Semi Final in 1965. Reason I ask-me and my mate hitch hiked there and met at Poole RailwayStation some Newcastle fans who were travelling all over-if it woz you I owe you a beer(or was it the other way around??)-there were 3 of you and you were going back by train- me and my mate Ian Terrar had no dough and decided to try and sleep at the station waiting room-we got turfed out and spent the night in an empty house-never again, now I won't stay in a place where you can't get a martini served!! Great days...

I agree with you cityrebel. I always recall going to West Ham in 1967- I was working a summer job in Basildon. Every Tuesday I would go from Laindon station to Barking and then on to Plaistow. I would have a Wimpy's near Plaistow station(or maybe Barking) then would walk down to Custom House to save the bus fare. As I remember I would go down Plaistow High Street , then Greengate Street and then Prince Regents Lane. I had a buddy who lived in Gwendoline Ave(off Harold Road) near Plaistow station. Great people (Bill Fullick and family)-true cockneys who lived in tough circumstances(don't we all)!! Many years later after the demolition of the stadium , and for old times sake, did the trip to Plaistow and then the walk I always remembered. Could have been a mistake-the demographics of the neighbourhood had changed unbelievably-feral youths hanging about-felt most uncomfortable.-walked on down to Victoria Dock Road(I think) then caught a bus to the DLR station and then back to West End. After this trip felt quite depressed-where did all the working class families go, the salt of the earth East Enders. The history of the East End has gone, so I'm glad the roads have been detailed to commemorate West Ham speedway. Maybe we should bring back the Kray brothers to sort it all out(just kiddin' folks)

This is what I like about this forum-to know that there are other folks besides me who keep all sorts of statistics. When I was in school people would give me a hard time as being a stats nerd and loner and I often felt like I was the only one-glad to see I'm not and that at last I have found a home with like-minded people!!! Its a big deal to me actually! BTW from my bastion of advanced nerdism -didn't Cyril Quick also ride for Poole and Wolverhampton as well as Bristol??? This is an example of why people hated me-pass my anorak please!!

What about the Williams family- Fred, Eric and Ian???

Yes BL65, I indeed woz there-still have the progs(looking at the Newcastle one right now).. The Newcastle meeting was called the McAlpine Challenge Shield. Really Newcastle were invited back to Newport for a revenge meeting as the Diamonds were the only team to beat Newport at Somerton Park in the PL that year. Wasps won 54-48, as BL65 states. Mauger scored a 15 point max for the Diamonds, Bill Andrew scored 9, Ken Sharples 8 and Pete Kelly 7. For the Wasps Dick Bradley scored 12 from 5 and Geoff Penniket(unusually) was second highest scorer with 10 (beating Pete Kelly and Jack Winstanley in his only race win). Wot a great team the 1964 Diamonds were. A wonderful evening was had by all- I might even have had a pint(or three)of Whitbread Trophy in the Supporters Club bar afterwards!!! Hard to believe this was 52 years ago. This thread brought back great memories. P.S.While I'm at it, whatever happened to Whitbread Trophy and Watneys Red Barrel beers-on my last trip over they were unavailable-maybe went out at the same time decimal currency came in!!!!!!!!

Was sorry to see Dave died-I recall him at West Ham in 1966-great announcer- did a lot to publicise speedway I felt

I also have to go with McKinlay, Boocock and How-interesting thread though

Thanx folks for clearing up Geoff Mudges' appearances at Rye. That's the great thing about this forum because I was under the misconception that Geoff came over from Australia and immediately started riding League Speedway. Does anyone know whether while he was appearing at Rye did he also ride for Poole in the PL or was he basically second-halfing at various tracks??

What was the final table for that year-I'm assuming Sunderland were bottom and either Sheffield or Edinburgh were top??