Miscellaneous Items part three


Courtesy of Adrian Pavey

Adrian thinks the picture dates from 1928,  Can anyone supply a name
Graeme Frost says: This is Syd Parsons making a lap record on his A.J.S. at Claremont Speedway, Perth, Western Australia in1928. Photographer: Stuart Gore

Frank Arthur

Pictures from Roger Stevens of an auction brochure from Australia

Frank Arthur one of the sports biggest stars during the early years.

Sidecars

These machines started racing way back and in the 1950's and 1960's the engines were often 1000cc Vincent V twin's although there were different engine size classes.  The cars were slung either side of the bike although they didn't ride against each other.  Perhaps someone can help me with this were UK combo's slung on the right side and Aussie combos the other way around?  I believe the bigger bikes were raced around the tracks in the UK counter clockwise to conventional speedway.  Help please John

Graham Bingham says: My Dad rode the " BURDUS VINCENT " to victory in the 1962 Australian Championship held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia at the Royal Exhibition Grounds.
He broke the 4 lap record by 1.5 sec in his first heat on his first visit to the track. He equalled the new record in other heats and then in the final in the record time of 75.8 sec.  for four laps over a 1/4 mile track. Not bad for his first visit to that track ! Dad started as a passenger in 1950 and retired in 1965.
He won several major events including two News South Wales Championships in 1961 and 62. you can see THREE PAGES about him

here >>>>  http://justsidecars.homestead.com/BillBingham.html

and some photos here http://picasaweb.google.com/101286578325983259468

Thanks for you interest and you help with my question, CHEERS Graham Bingham

Jack Parker


Courtesy of Kevin

Jack Parker showing the previous age riding gear. Heavy looking leathers and lace up boots obviously before the invention of the zip The bike has the straight through exhaust pipe no silencer and the steel shoe looks twice as thisck as the modern shoe

Pete Gay


France 1957  left to right, Alberto Sirven (Spain ) Victor Boston ( Promoter ) Pete Gay ( England ) Claude Boston ( France ) Bill McGregor England )

 

Pete at Long Eaton in 1970


Pete Gay in France

Irish Speedway

Was there ever an Irish League? Well no!  There were never enough teams operating at any one time.  The closest the Irish came to a league was 3 tracks, Shelbourne, Santry and Chapelizod.  I have exchanged a number of e-mails with George P Kearns the author of the following book: -

Send George an email if you want to buy his book
Courtesy of George Kearns

George P Kearns says: Hi John, I posted a signed copy of my book on Thursday last, so it should reach you soon,  
Ireland did not have enough tracks to form a league, the most we had at any one time were three tracks, Shelbourne, Santry and Chapelizod.  Pictures of old tracks, the only ones I had are all in the book and you are more than welcome to use any of them. 
The track in Ballymena is I believe still there and is now known as the "Showgrounds" The Tramore Horse Racing track is still there but only used for horse racing events. when the motor cycle race took place there in 1900 it was just like the West Maitland situation where the race was one of the side shows in a carnival {travelling}. The Navan track may still be in use, but I have no way of finding out 
 
In my dealings with people and/or groups that might have had information for me in relation to the above tracks, I simply gave up on them, because nothing of interest was coming my way.
 
The hardest part of my research was on my home ground.  A Councillor in County Waterford who expected to be made Lord Mayor of that county, was thrilled with my find and couldn't wait until she became Lord Mayoress when she would announce to all and sundry that Tramore, a district of Waterford, was one of the first places in the world to host motor cycle dirt track racing, but then she didn't get the job and now ignores my emails.
 
Motor cycle speedway, to he best of my knowledge no longer exists in Ireland, North or South.  Attached; the opening page for the site you are offering me, however if its not to your liking, please do do your own introduction.
As ever,
George

If anyone wants to purchase a copy of his book or chat with him simply use this link to email George

Bob Andrews

New Zealander Bob Andrews has kindly offered some of his pictures for enhancing the site with.  Big thanks Bob and if you want to share some of your legendary anecdotes please send them to me in an email John

World Championship Round


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

World Champs semi final Southampton Bob Andrews Barry Briggs, Peter Craven Ronnie Moore.( result P.C.  B.B. R.M.  B.A.)
24th July 1962  All progressed to the final at Wembley. Which P.C. won B.B. 2nd. and myself and Ronnie were joint 5th.
Regards
Bob.
 John Says: 5th place in a world final that must be your greatest ever moment in speedway?
Bob says:  Must have been one of them.  The other in Nov 1959 in Adelaide Australia being in a race with 5 others including Ivan Mauger and starting 230 yds behind him. Alas ....he beat me by half a wheel. Those were the days. Bob
                            .

 

Bob with the men in white coats
(Were they coming to take him away ha ha!) He seems happy about things


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

Bob at 71


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

This is bob riding recently aged 71

Silver Helmet
 


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

Silver Helmet winner at Eastbourne 1954 Bob Andrews.

Bob Andrews, British Lion


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

Bob and Gerry Jackson English Test team 1960 Sydney Australia

Bob at Wembley


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

Bobs Gold Bike


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

Well it actually belonged to Bruce Abernathy ( Wembley 1952?)
I asked Bob about the gold bike.  This is his reply: The Gold Bike was actually a p*ss take on the Ivan and Ole bikes. A couple of us in Auckland, had the parts plated. It was in fact cheaper than having chrome. The gold is only a liquid and it goes on extra thin so there are more gold bikes in Auckland than the rest of the World.  Ha.Ha

I have a set of leathers from Bruce Penhall that sits on the bike now, but looking for a polystyrene head for the body.

GB 1960


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

Can you name the riders: John
Bob Andrews says: From Left  Ronnie Genz, Cyril Maidment, Nigel Boocock, Brian Elliott, Ken McKinley, Bob Andrews. Peter Craven.

GB 1961


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

GB teams in that era contain commonwealth riders as well as riders from the UK.  From Left  Johnny Chamberlain, Ron How, Ronnie Genz, Ted Flanagan ( Manager. )Les Owen, Bob Andrews, Barry Briggs, Peter Craven, and Ronnie Moore on bike.

Bob at Wimbledon


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

Bradley Andrews


 Courtesy of Bob Andrews

This is my 11 year old grandson Bradley Andrews.  Bob

Bob and the Knight


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

Bob with  Sir Ole Olsen

Rotorua Reunion 2010


Courtesy of NZ's Bob Andrew

Seen here with Ronnie "Mirac" Moore at the reunion

Roy Trigg and Dave Gifford


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

Ivan


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

Ivan Mauger in checked shirt but who are the other two guys?
Bob Andrews says: Hi John, Ivan is shaking hands with Peter Pollett. Peter was top man at Aranui when Ivan was wathching aged about 10. Peter held the 1/4 mile speedway world record in 1951 at Palmerston North.N.Z. the guy at the back is ex. Solo and sidecar racer Alan Scarrott. Regards Bob


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

Ivan Mauger again. Possibly the most photographed rider ever and he still manages a smile for the cameras in 2010 shown here with Peter Pollett


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

Ronnie Moore, Ivan Mauger and Ian Hoskins


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

Bob Andrews, Ronnie Moore, Ivan with his new book and Peter Pollett


Courtesy of Bob Andrews

Ivan Mauger, Ronnie Moore and Bob Andrews

 
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