BOBBATH

BL65 , I agree with Sidney really enjoyed reading your post-many memories. If I could add one comment-some old NL riders who didn't do so well in 1964 got a new lease of life in 1965- the best example being Jack Biggs with Newport (wait a minute when I think back ,he might have been the only example).!!!!. What a thrill it was for me to visit BL tracks like Swindon, Belle Vue, Wimbledon and West Ham for the first time. Didn't get to Coventry or Oxford till 1967 and 1968. Too bad Norwich closed before I got that chance.

I'd like to go back to see the 1955 World Final that Peter Craven won.

Yeah BL65 I went to about 32 meetings in 1965- to Sidney the Robin-missed Charlie Monk winning Easter trophy or Internationale -but was there when Charlie who looked like a cert to qualify for the World Final, just missed out at the British Final in September at WH. Reckon he would have done well if he'd qualified. A damn shame that he didn't. What a year though!!

No apology necessary Spiegal -confusion may have been caused by the obit. for a Noah Jack Geran- who despite the unusual name is no relation. It reminds me of what Mark Twain said when he heard his obit had been published while he was still alive "Rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated" I sent the list of the 16 oldest World Finalists to Reg and was pleased to note for him that he's younger than all of them!! Reg is still enjoying life to the full I might add and is interested in everything and always has trenchant comments on current political events.

Speedway's golden year in my view-no question it was 1965-first year of BL and watching the PL stars meeting NL stars for the first time-and there were some great surprises. Still got my programs from that year!!

Sounds like the end of an era Roger-always liked visiting Paris(Ontario not France!!)

Don't cross Jack Geran off the list just yet!! Just heard back from Reg Fearman who confirms that Jack is living in a retirement home in Exeter following the recent death of his wife Janet. Hopefully Jack will stay on the list for a long time to come.

Hi Rogerandout-saw your post -hate to tell you this but maybe you are old!!) you are probably younger than me though. Anyway will buy you a beer next time I see you at Dundas track P.S, when are we going to have another official Canadian Speedway Championship- I keep looking at the CSRA website but no luck so far!!

Re Jack Geran-trying to check this out there was an obit in the Exeter Express in I think 2007 for a Noah Jack Geran but surely not the same guy particularly since Jack is listed in the Members directory of the WSRA issued in 2013. Will contact Reg Fearman to see if he knows anything as Reg keeps in pretty close touch with folks.

This is news to me re Jack Geran and I hope it is not true-can anyone confirm this ??

Fair enough gustix

Without adding extra work-there are some interesting names here -Bob Andrews, Arthur Wright, Jim Lightfoot (Capn. Jim)-Tigerowl, is there any way you could add another 6 to the list of 19-making 25-maybe even Briggo could make that list. I find this all very interesting particularly since I am getting uncomfortably close to the age of some of these names!!!! Aagh!!!!

I cannot compete with these answers-the ones I have seen ride are Moore, Fundin, Briggs, Knutsson, Mauger, Olsen, Collins, Lee, Michanek , Penhall, Gundersen,Nielsen. That is 12. Clearly I have to get out more!!!

I got thinking about how many of the 19 riders listed, I had actually seen ride.. There are 8 of them: Bradley, Taylor, Boothroyd, Bales, Nygren, Geran, Moore, Fundin. Would be interested in the numbers other forumlanders can put up-I'm sure there are a hell of a lot who have seen more than 8-would be interested if anybody could claim all 19. P.S. Re Iris 123 post re World Cup survivors-somebody might be interested that the last player who participated in the 1930 World Cup passed away on 30 Aug. 2010-his name was Francisco Varallo(Argentina) who was aged 100-died 80 years after the tournament , amazing (Thank you Wikipaedia and their section on the 1930 World Cup)!!!!!!!!

Thanks so much Tigerowl-echoing previous comments there is amazing longevity for these riders who were involved in a dangerous sport-and in Split's case some dangerous other things as well!!!. Lets hope this list stays this way for a long time and we don't need to update it for a good few years. The rider in this list I saw most often was Dick Bradley who rode for Newport in the mid sixties until the injury that ended his career-still a heat leader at 40 years of age. Also Happy 89th today to Eric Boothroyd-and may he have many more.

Since this was last discussed, we have sadly lost a few of the 18 (16+2 reserves) oldest world finalists e.g. Cyril Roger, Fred Williams, Brian Elliott etc. Can anyone figure out an updated list-guess that old reprobate Split is now top of the list.

Wot about Tom and Brian Crutcher!!!!

Does anyone out there recall this era?? I remember an article in the Star or Post at the time that said something like "Brian Brett- in the winter he cleans windows , in the summer he cleans up at speedway" and Brian was a top guy in 64-65. I also recall Ron Bagley being a taxi driver, Tommy Roper running a hairdressers shop(which I think became a chain and he did well), George Hunter being a long haul truck(lorry) driver, Jim Lightfoot being a panel beater(does that job still exist)?? Any other thoughts re this. I have not posted for a while because the topics are after my time which ended with the sixties-maybe we should have another section that is titled "Really Old Years gone By"!! Norbold,. Iris 123 may recall this era plus others of course.

Mike and Jon Erskine(latter much under-rated in my view)

Wilf and Alan Jay?!

Yeh, Camilla was the top scorer that year!

Saw the movie "An Education" with Carey Mulligan-a recent British movie- and this cool guy takes the sexy schoolgirl to Walthamstow dogs-great view of the track and the art deco entrance. Wish I'd thought of that venue for a date but sadly not to be-good movie by the way with excellent acting!!

Thanx Split for mentioning Nero and the Gladiators a group I hadn't thought of for years, I remember buying their record "Entry of the Gladiators". Followed the link you listed to wikipaedia and sorry to see "Nero" passed away a few years ago. As I recall, their records were on the Decca label-saw them on TV way back and thought they were cool-still do God bless 'em!!

Actually it was Brian Crutcher who beat both Bert Roger and Wally Green for Div. 3 Match Race championship. Also it might be true that he was the one great train robber (1963) who never got caught-you know when they all played monopoly with the real stolen money and left their fingerprints on it-there was one guy who had the sense to wear gloves-Ronnie Biggs told me it was Brian. He reckons however he was not on the grassy knoll-that was Howdy Byford!! This will be my last word on this subject(you'll be glad to know) and on this rapidly deteriorating thread!!!

Hi iris, thanx for remembering my classic threads from quite a few years -you didn't mention my jewish speedway riders thread though!! Anyway all the best for 2016