|
Post by bernielagrosse on Aug 3, 2023 0:49:18 GMT 1
Just finished reading Jim Henry’s book. He has gone into great detail on the period from opening White City in 1928 to closure in 1968 giving a summary of each match, home and away, raced first as Whir City, then Lions and finally post WWII as the Tigers. It was certainly more informative on the period pre 1964 that I was familiar. Only two points of negativity, he could have done with a proof reader and in describing the clash between Bo Joseffson and George Hunter in the Tigers v Monarchs match, he was under the impression that it was Hunter himself who demolished the starting gate post rather than his riderless bike. I was there just behind the starting gate so I got a good view. Well worth the read.
|
|
|
Post by coombes on Aug 3, 2023 9:02:00 GMT 1
My hazy recollection was that it was Hunter that hit the starting gate post. Does the book say that Hunter limped away? Again my recollection was that he was carried off.
|
|
|
Post by benbulben on Aug 3, 2023 10:06:47 GMT 1
I was standing a few yards in front of the gate and my equally hazy recollection is that the bikes tangled just short of the finish, hit the fence and Hunter's bike bounced off the track , flew through the air and whack ! Starting post was snapped. I think Geordie was prone on the track. Did the starter fellow Simpson not get a broken leg as he tried to escape ?
|
|
|
Post by coombes on Aug 3, 2023 10:43:01 GMT 1
An even hazier recall - Alan Robertson the starting marshal claimed Hunter hit him and that he saved him from a worse injury. This would square up with the bike hitting the starting gate. Jim Hendry is working on the next book covering the Hampden, Coatbridge, Blantyre and Workington years and I'm helping him with the Hampden section.
|
|
|
Post by bernielagrosse on Aug 3, 2023 14:58:08 GMT 1
It just goes to show how memories vary, but it was definitely the bike that hit the starting gate. Don’t know how the riders got on. It’s well worth the read. Good to hear there will be a follow up.
|
|