BOBBATH

I should have mentioned Leicester also-I still think Speedway at night was the most evocative-Sheffield stadium when lit up was beautiful, the lights on the shale etc etc.There was a pub right near Leicester stadium, going from Blacbird Rd I think you went up a little hill, all residential streets and there was a pub a block or so before the main front entrance-anyone remember that? Glad to see CH got a few mentions from others.By the way speaking of smells-there was a street of nasty smells on the way to Hackney-slaughterhouses or something-anyone recall the name of that street??

I always recall Bill Andrew and Peter vandenberg going at it in a Newport v Poole match in 65(Wasps won 41-37)

OK I was a Newport person-but my favorite away track was definitely Cradley Heath. Why? Because of the great people.I recall going there in Oct 1964 on a supporters coach for the 2nd leg of the PL Knockout Cup-Newport lost the meeting but won by 2 pts. on aggregate.After the meeting we all went to a pub near by-would anyone recall the likely name?? -it was full of Speedway people and they were great. CH was always special to Newport-the opening meeting in 64 was against CH(we lost 38-40)-everyone hated Ivor Brown and CH in general-but the CH people were wonderful. There was nice food at the stadium(pork sandwiches??)-it was a misty October night in 64 and everything was perfect-I went back several times to CH-the last for old times sake in the 90's from Canada. Not the same tho'-too many ghosts present.In the sixties weren't there stone seats in front of the bar near the pits??.I regret greatly the loss of Cradley speedway and its wonderful history. Having said that I think the classiest track I visited was Sheffield(are u there TigerTom)-perfectly prepared-again super people.Anyone else have memories of favorite tracks visited-I realise its too much to hope for that any away fans would recall Somerton Park with affection-but you must admit that there was wonderful camaraderie among speedway supporters of that era-home and away. I would be particularly interested in Railwayend's thoughts on this-plus of course all the usuals(even you Brian Hamilton!!!!!!!!)

English I think

I recall Tim mainly as an Exeter rider, but in 1966-I think-he was transferred to Newport.I recall being at Long Eaton when Newport were there and talking to Geoff Penniket who told me on the previous weekend Tim had a bad crash.What happened after that-and did Tim ride for other trax besides Exeter and Newport.Is he still around?A nice guy.

BrianH -think it was in a track speedcar crash that Gerry Hussey died. Graham Warren- I think-but stand to be corrected- was that he was on his way to win the 1950 World Final, won 2 rides, fell while trying to pass eventual winner Fred Williams(who had home track advantage) then came back and won his remaining two.He finished third-then at some point he had an accident which I reckon knocked the stuffing out of him and was never the same againand that's why I brought his name forward.

This sounds great-wish I could go -any chance of pictures being taken and posted-it would be great to see the former riders as they are today.Hope everyone has a good time. (P.S. to Norbold can you go and measure the height of the riders to see if anyone there is taller than Graham Miles!!!)

That's right I'd forgotten that Jim married Howard's sister-are they still married-does Howard visit very often from -where is he now Aussie or-he became a teacher I think.

yes yes-its almost as bad as disputing that Graham Miles was not the tallest ever speedway rider!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This gives me another thought how is John Hart??-thought that he had passed awa, but must be getting mixed up with Jack Kitchen.John H rode for Cradley H. was he also with Sheffield for a time??. P.S. to Brian Hamilton-for shame for shame,Brian, everybody but everybody knows Kid Bodie was Howard Cole!!!!!Keep smilin' everyone in forumland.

Remember James Bond of Wolves in the mid-sixties-whatever happened to Jimmy??

I agree with you starghost-after I did my post I thought of Billy Bales.

Yes that was Ray's trade mark-as you probably recall he got somewhat portly towards the end of his career!!.

Do you think Les Owen of Coventry figures in this list-"Muscles "was doing well in 62-63 then he had a terrible smash up.Wondered if this in fact affected him in later life and contributed to his tragic death.

Was interested to see the name Tony George-I saw him ride as ,I think ,reserve for Exeter at Swindon in BL in 1968-the last meeting I saw at Swindon before I emigrated.He looked really promising-didn't he then ride for Plymouth in Div 2-sort of lost track of him after that-didn't even know he had an accident-when was that then??

To me the three champions of this thread must be 1)Torbjorn Harrysson-should have been World Champion 2) Arne Pander 3)Sverre Harrfeldt-I know these guys had great careers but I reckon they would have done even more-and while I'm on the subject -farther back -what about Graham Warren?? Yet again Norman Hunter who I thought was just about to achieve his potential in 1969.Thanx for making me think of this my Illinois friend!!

Hi Railway End- I think I used to stand on the opposite side from you, I know after a couple of years they changed where the starting gate was-I reckon you must have been on the side where there was glass fronted bar(a club you had to pay to get in) upstairs above the terrace.I was at the side where there was seating and then a bar behind the stand(separate little building)-I even joined the Newport County Supporters Club to get in.Great days-I even liked Whitbread Trophy beer then-aaagh!!! I recall when Wayne Briggs came with Edinburgh in Prov. Lge.-it was the second meeting I ever saw-Wasps won 42-36 I think(July 1964??).They were a good team , and good as Wayne was I reckon George Hunter was the star of that team

Guess we must have been in the same crowd that night Railway End-hard to believe its that long ago.

I think I saw Wayne involved in a bad accident in Newport in 1964-perhaps a Britain v Overseas Test Match--and I think he was never the same after

Railway end -do you know what happened to the other second halfers, Peter Harris,Alan Jones and Fred Powell-do they still live locally??

Yes but who is the tallest guy on the list.Seriously was glad to see Derek Timms name-I recall him for CH -anyone know where Derek is these days??

Whatever happened to Wayne-great PL rider-came 2nd I think in 1963 PL RC-is he still around??

Thanx guys-after Bob left Newport were all the other teams Div 2-where is he now, I thought he could have made it as a Div 1 rider because he was very competitive with the Wasps Brit Lge. teamn 1965/66. A great trier in my view.

Anyone know where Bob is-he was a rising star in the late 60's-seem to recall him getting his first max. Don't know what happened to him-I think he went somewhere else after Newport-Swindon??,Poole??.Anybody in Forumland know

Thanx dantodan-its a great website one of the best around-I reeally enjoyed the visit.