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Name
The Rider Part 1 |
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John says: I get pictures and
questions sent to me where the sender doesn't know the name of the rider or
wants information concerning our sports past and I don't have the answers! Any
help is appreciated because it would be wrong not to include historical items
just because we have no idea who the rider photographed is or what the subject is about!
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Please
look at each photo and see if you can name the
tracks, the year and rider(s) shown in the following photos? If you can, then send me an email
to
John if you can supply an answer or want
to make any points.
When a rider has been named, the picture will eventually be transferred to the appropriate
A-Z team
page along with your name and comment. Its a good game isn't it and I am
not charging a penny to play the game. |
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The Bogy Man! |
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Courtesy of J Spoor |
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John says: Don't you recognise the
rider's face. No? Nor do I! Happily, the following photos on
my Name The Rider pages are nowhere near as difficult as this one
so please scroll down and email me if you can help. |
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The man in black. George Charlton
says: Hello John, I came across this
photo on your Defunct Tracks
website and found it very interesting I have a
good pal Ivan Stevenson who has some
of his photos on your website, we came
across this topic, the man in black!
Ivan has a large collection of photos
from the 1920 era, he found a one very
similar and thinks it is of Les Blakebrough who rode for Stamford
Bridge and Coventry in the 1930s he
died in 1933 I hope this helps on this
matter.
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John says: I don't know the
identity of the man in black. When I put this
picture on my name the rider pages, I never thought anyone
would name him or even hazard a guess! You and Ivan
could be right but I would like to see Ivan's photo of Les
Blakebrough send me an image by email please
John |
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The Bogy Man is:- Les Blakebrough! |
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David Pipes has supplied "proof" of the
identity of the man in black he is Les Blakebrough. |
David Pipes says: The rider on the Name the Rider section on
your website is named as Les Blakebrough.
I was looking through the old issues of the Daily Mirror and
came across a picture of Les headed “The Bogy Man” in the
paper dated 18 May 1928. I am attaching a photo from the paper
(see above)
and I think that you will agree that this does confirm that
the mystery rider is indeed Les Blakebrough (1907-1978)
although the paper did misspell his surname.
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I am also enclosing a photo (see below) of Les in action and another
(see below) with
Les and his Douglas with “ball tyre” – probably good on deep
cinder tracks but not a very useful tyre on present day slick
track surfaces !! |
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Photo's courtesy of David Pipes |
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Name The Riders! |
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Courtesy of J Spoor |
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If the first photo is too easy then name
the team/riders in above shot! No I don't expect you to name
anyone in these two pictures but I am sure you will be able to
help me with the "Proper Name The Riders" photos that follow below: - |
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Doug Neath says: Hi John, Can’t help you with the
single rider, but I believe the team photo was taken at Belle Vue
in 1968 and is of the Russian side Leningrad Auto Club who rode
there in a challenge match on 27th July.
Their team consisted of:
Ivan
Andeev, Yuri Lomdotski, Gennardy Vyonov, Anatoli Belkin, Viktor
Katyuzanski, Genrikh Lemberg and Vladimir Kannunikov, though I
have no idea who is who in the picture.
Hope
this helps
Doug
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John says: Well Doug you weren't supposed
to be able to identify either the single rider in black or the
Russians behind the masks but thank you for the names of the
Leningrad team |
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Another
Bogy Man |
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Courtesy of John
Spoor |
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Another almost
impossible to name rider, unless you recognise the tip of his nose
that is! if you can name him please send me an email
John |
It was Tom Farndon!
in speedway regalia as revealed above |
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Another Bogy Man |
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Courtesy of David
Pipes |
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David Pipes says: Hello John, I recently came across this
picture of a speedway rider and thought that you might like to
include it in your “Name the rider” section of your website.
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So can anyone id
this rider John |
John Spoor says:
This is Les Barker in 1928 at the opening of Brighton Speedway |
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Bill (Smiler)
Henstock |
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Courtesy of Graham
Gleave |
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Graham Gleave says: This is a picture of a Nottingham rider Smiler
Henstock, his real name was Bill & was supposed to have had
a m/c shop in Nottingham. The person who gave me this photo
copy was a friend who bought it many years ago as his name is also
Henstock & says his family came from the Nottingham area. He
was wondering if anyone else knows any more details of this
rider.
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John says: So
can anyone shine a light on Bill Smiler Henstock, if so please
email me here John |
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Unknown Rider |
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Courtesy of John
Barter |
Please email me here
John |
John
Barter says: Jake Rennison the Canterbury Crusader |
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Unknown Rider |
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If you know who the
above chap is send me an email
John |
John
Barter says:Terry Small, Poole Pirates |
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Unknown Wimbledon
Rider |
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John Barter says: Hello John, You have helped me before, and I
hope you can again, trying to ID this Wimbledon Don's Rider,
Regards John
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John Skinner says:
If you know who this Don is please send me an email
John |
Mike
Ford says: Barry Lee |
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Unknown No1 Rider |
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Struggling to name the rider, can you help, Regards
John
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Hi John, hope you are well. Just a quick
note, the unknown no 1 rider pic on the 'name the rider part 1' is
Rick France of Halifax in 1975. Cheers, Steve.
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Unknown Weymouth
Rider |
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Struggling to name the rider, can you help, Regards
John
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Steve Baker says: The pictured Weymouth rider is Ricky Owen who
broke into the team in 1975 and did reasonably well. He got
injured early in 1976 and never managed to get his team place
back. Rode a further seven meetings for Weymouth in 1977 and then
disappeared from the scene, I presume he retired although he was
only 24 at the time.
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Unknown Coventry
Rider |
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Courtesy of John
Barter |
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John Barter says: Please can you help ID this photo, I think
maybe it's Tommy Miller ? not totally sure. Regards John. |
Steve
Baker says: there is a picture on the 'name the rider' part of the
web site I can help with, the picture you think is of Tommy Miller
I can confirm it is definitely him |
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Unknown Rider |
Could be Weymouth? |
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Courtesy of Norman
Johns |
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Please email me
John If you
know whom the above rider is |
Steve Baker says: "The unknown rider
could be Weymouth", is grasstracker Clayton Williams. Clayton had
a dabble with speedway in the late 70's although nothing came of
it and he went back to the grass. The picture is taken at Weymouth
and my guess is it was taken at one of Lew Coffins training
schools. All the best, Steve
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Name The Russians &
The Track |
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Courtesy of Nigel |
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Can you name anyone
on this photo and say which track is featured. All I can add
is that they are obviously USSR citizens touring the UK in the
1960s. John |
Steve Baker says: Hi John, I have some info on the picture
featuring the Russians, this is 1964, Great Britain v Soviet Union
at Coventry. The riders are Boris Samorodov and Gab Kadirov. The
guy in the foreground is Yuri Brianski, the guy in sunglasses and
hat is Aleksi Patenko both of whom were the Russian management.
Just behind Brianski is GB manager Tommy Price. I don't know who
the tall guy is.
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Name The Track |
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Courtesy of Nigel |
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Please name the track and the year
John |
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1950 Wembley |
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Courtesy of Graham Gleave |
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Track may be Wembley? Can you name
the riders and say the year John |
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Name the Rocket |
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Rayleigh or Rye
House |
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Courtesy of The General, who says: Hi John, I found this
photo in my grandad's photos years ago.
Not sure who he is, my grandparents were from areas around
Coventry, the back of the photo is from a Coventry photo
studio.
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John says: I
haven't a clue regarding the ID of the rider shown above. If
you know who he is please email me
John |
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Name These
Doncaster Riders |
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Sports Journalist: Paul Goodwin of Doncaster Free Press is
looking for some information, mainly the names of the riders
depicted in the Doncaster Team pic. So if you can
help, please email me with the riders names. I am sure
Paul would welcome some memories from Doncaster fans so please
email to me and I will pass it on to Paul
John
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Courtesy of Rob
Phinn |
Doncaster Pic: 1
John says: I think Gordon McGregor, Cliff Emms, Chris Harrison and
Ian Wilson are in this photo can you confirm and supply names for
the rest John
Steve Baker says 1970 team, Cliff Emms,
Mike Holmes, manager Joe Thurley, Chris Harrison, Hec Haslinger,
kneeling Dennis Wasden, Ian Wilson, on bike Gordon McGregor. If
you look closely behind Cliff Emms you can see some of the
opposition team and I would suggest, looking at their race
jackets, that this picture was taken at the first match of the
season, 29th March, a challenge match against the Sheffield Cubs. |
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Courtesy of Rob
Phinn |
Doncaster Pic 2:
This is Cliff Emms |
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Courtesy of Rob
Phinn |
Doncaster Pic 3:
This is Ian Wilson I think, but if you disagree please email me
here John |
Steve Baker says: I
can confirm that this is Ian Wilson |
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Courtesy of Rob
Phinn |
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Doncaster Pics 4:
This maybe Chris Roynon, but if you disagree please email me here
John |
Steve Baker says:
This is Dennis Wasden |
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Courtesy of Rob
Phinn |
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Doncaster Pic 5:
This is Chris Harrison |
Steve Baker says:
Hec Haslinger |
Doncaster Rosettes |
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Courtesy of Rob
Phinn |
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Hec Haslinger,
Cliff Emms & Terry Shearer |
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1936 Crayford |
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Matt Minch has sent me the above photo.
He thinks the year will be 1936. Can you name the rider and
confirm the year John |
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Riders Dates Of Birth |
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The above picture of a Birmingham team
appeared in a Swedish magazine. I like the artistic
enhancements of the photo assuming it was an enhanced photo and
not simply an artwork. |
Swede Tomas Junglander says: I was recommended by a
friend of mine here in Sweden to contact you.
I am interested in the date of birth (year/month/day) for an
number of former English riders competing for Birmingham in
1952
The riders are: -
Bill Jamieson
Do you think you can help me with some of them.
Best regards Tomas
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John says: If you can supply the dates of
birth I will forward them to Tomas
John |
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Colin Jewes
says: Name the Rider, pt.1. - Brummies in Sweden, 1952,
I’ll leave someone else dig out the
d.o.b’s of the Brummies squad in the touched-up colour photo, but
advise that the chap in the civvies isn’t promoter Les Marshall
but is Team Manager Phil ‘Tiger’ Hart.
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Mystery Rider |
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Mireille says: Hi John,
I've been looking through your site about speedway and thought you might be able
to work out who the mystery rider is. From some photos on your website, I wonder
if he might be wearing the number 1 Sheffield tabbard. This picture was found in
Chesterfield. I bought a picture frame today at a jumble sale in a Catholic
Church. It contained a photo which I have attached. I searched the net and
decided the man pictured must be from speedway racing. I wonder if you may
assist me in discovering his identity.
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Can you help? If so send me an email
John |
Col Greenwell says: This
is Sheffield's George Wigfield. Scanned
from the book "Roar Of The Tigers.70 Years of Sheffield Speedway." |
Dave Gifford says: Hi old mate,
the rider depicted on your web page wearing an early Sheffield racejacket
and a white helmet cover is George Wigfield who rode for Sheffield in 1929.
here is another picture of George. giffy |
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Picture
of George Wigfield, courtesy of Dave Gifford
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1932
Syd Edmonds
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Picture courtesy of Vestry House Museum,
London Borough of Waltham Forest.
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Can you name the other guy, in the suit and hazard a guess
at the year and track
John |
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Peter Edmonds says: Hi John, I have just
gone through your website re Defunct UK Speedways and the Name the Rider
Page Part 1. Syd Edmonds was my uncle and his brother, my father Dick
Edmonds was I believe his mechanic. I will go through some old family
photos and see if I can find any other photos. I have a copy of
the photo on your website and on the back is the notation “ Being
presented with the ‘Star Newspaper Bronze Trophy as ‘Track Champion’ at
High Beech speedway in 1932.” There is no record of the presenter.
Eventually Syd went to live in Verwood, Dorset and had a break-in and
his mementos, trophies etc were stolen and never recovered. He
passed away in Verwood circa 1990.
Peter Edmonds. |
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Alexander, Mac, Or Is It Barry
Briggs?
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Alan Ribbons says: Hello John, I am trying to find the name of the attached speedway rider, and if possible
what club he rode for, and wondered if you could possibly help? or suggest another source. There seems to be some form of emblem on his helmet, but
I can't identify it. He must have rode for one of the London clubs, as the
picture was given to my mother in law who lived in Clapham Common at the time,
and other than public transport, she didn't travel much. I guess the picture was
taken in the early 60's, and we think his name was Alexander, but was known as
"Mac"
Many thanks, Alan |
Alan Ribbons
says: Hi, I contacted you a while ago about a speedway photo we had, and you
kindly posted it on your "Name the rider" page under Alexander or Mac? I have
got some more information, and apparently the photo was taken in Australia.
approx 1964-1965. |
Michael Roll says:
Hi John, The person I think is Barry Briggs is in Name the Rider Part 1. The
heading is Alexander or Mac? Your excellent site has brought back some very
happy memories. I hardly missed a meeting at Bristol between 1949 and 1955.
I do hope we get speedway back in Bristol. Michael |
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Petula Clark & Bob Oakley |
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Photo Courtesy of Alf Stradling
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I know its Petula Clark famous song
"Downtown" on the back but
who is the rider
John
John Somerville tells me it is Bob Oakley.
(Southampton , Wembley,) He came 3rd in the 1952 World Final. |
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Mystery Men, MysteryTrack, Year Unknown
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Courtesy of George Winstanley
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John says: Can you add any comment for this photo.
I doubt it, but you never know? Which track and who are the riders and
what was the year? |
Mike Willis says: Hi John. The rider on the left I think
is Ivor Brown who always rode in a white jersey. Ivor moved from Yarmouth to
Cradley Heath when Yarmouth closed and did not ride for any other club. His race
jacket looks like the green and white Cradley heath CH and his helmet cover
looks like white so the track won't be Dudley Wood (Cradley's home until 1995).
Regards, Mike. |
Steve Baker says: On name the rider 1 the pic you have as Mystery
Man Mystery Track is I believe Wolverhampton. The rider already
identified is indeed Ivor Brown of Cradley and I think the other
guy is Eric Hockaday. Before Monmore Green was re developed by
Ladbrokes there used to be a back straight stand across the front
of which was a totalizer board and if you look closely just above
the rear wheel of the bike in the foreground you can just make it
out in the distance. The pits have always been on the first bend
at Monmore and as the pic is obviously taken from there it all
seems to fit. So, checking through results from the sixties I
reckon this pic was taken just after heat 1 of the BL match
between Wolves and Cradley on 4th June 1965, a race won by Ivor,
so he is clean and Eric was last, so he is covered in shale!
That's my bit of Sherlock Holmes deduction done for now! All the
best Steve
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John says: My thanks for the comments
from Mike Willis and Steve Baker and to George Winstanley for
sending me the pic |
Dear John, you
have a photo in mystery rider no 1 that Steve Baker says is Ivor
Brown at Wolverhampton.I believe this to be incorrect. He states
that the pits have always been on the first bend. This is correct
but when Ivor Brown rode at Wolverhampton the pits were between
the dog track and the safety fence of the speedway track and the
riders were by the dog track for safety reasons. Now to where the
track might be,it could actually be at Cradley as the riders came
off the track on the third bend, and up a ramp .The gates behind
Ivor Brown are the pit gates from the back straight riders
car-park. The images in the background that are referred to could
be the houses in Dudley Wood Road.
yours faithfully, Les Burden
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Fred Fearnley |
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Courtesy of Adrian Pavey |
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Fred Fearnley, astride a
Douglas DT machine. The bike says this is 1929 - 1933 ish
can you help me with any info about Fred. I assume he had a
UK team place somewhere. Do you know his team(s)? John |
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Name The Team
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Courtesy of George Winstanley
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John says: This is Jack Winstanley. What team race
jacket is this and what year? John |
Colin Jewes says: The picture of Jack Winstanley, is
of him in the Sheffield Tigers race jacket of 1961 & '62. They were the only
team with numbers on the front of their race jackets |
David Beecroft says: Reference the photograph of Jack Winstanley under "Name the
Team" in the "Name the Rider" section. Colin Jewes says it is Sheffield as they
were the only team with numbers on the front of their jackets. This is not true
as Bradford Panthers also rode sometimes like this and other times in yellow and
blue quarters. In fact I have never seen a photograph of them wearing the
jackets always on the front of their programmes with a panthers head. Did these
jackets actually exist? Also Jack Winstanley rode for Panthers in their open
season of 1961 although he started it at Sheffield and was back there in 1962.
The plot thickens.
Regards
Dave |
John says: Well Dave, We hope for further clarification. If anyone else can
help send me an email John |
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Courtesy of Colin Greenwell |
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More Numbers On The Front
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Courtesy of Colin Greenwell |
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John says:
Looks like at least two teams had race-jackets showing numbers on the front.
Sheffield and Bradford
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Bill James? |
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Picture Courtesy of Mike Kemp |
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Can you identify, the rider, the track and the year John
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Jim Henry says: If you look at the back mudguard you'll
see the guy's name on the plate - looks like Bill James to me |
John says: I cannot make the name out on
the mudguard Jim must have better than 20-20 vision. |
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Mystery Man |
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Picture Courtesy of Mike Kemp |
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Can you identify, the rider, the track and the year John
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Lee Dunton's Photo 1 |
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John says: Danny Dunton's son Lee Dunton
has sent me the above photo.
It is Harringay
1950.
Lee says: The two Racers are Nobby Stock and Vic Duggan but we need the
Birmingham rider's name
John |
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Lee Dunton's Photo 2 |
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Courtesy of Lee Dunton
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Lee Dunton has sent this photo of his dad Danny
Dunton so with one name start, can you name all four riders
John |
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The contents of the site are © and should not be
reproduced elsewhere for financial gain. The contributors to this site
gave the pictures and information on that understanding. If anyone has
any issue or objections to any items on the site please
e-mail
and I will amend or remove the item. Where possible credit
has been given to the owner of each item. |