Post by PLUSTAR on Jun 5, 2010 17:36:34 GMT 1
« on: September 27, 2009, 10:26:52 PM »
Questions from John Houston
Question 1: What made you become a speedway promoter?
IH: I was born into speedway in West Maitland, Australia, where my father staged what is recognised as the first speedway meeting as we now know it. I was also the Wembley and West Ham mascot and rode the tracks on miniature bikes class in real red leathers. As a result, speedway was in my blood and I became a promoter while I was still in the RAF in Canada as a trainee pilot in 1945. I was asked either to sign on in the RAF and finish my pilot training, now very advanced, in England, or accept an offer by my father to promote speedway in Glasgow. I chose speedway and named the Glasgow Tigers in 1946 while on compassionate leave from the RAF. I was finally demobbed in the close season and lived in Glasgow thereafter.
Question 2: With the cost of stadiums. White City, Hampden and Coatbridge do you think landlords went over the top?
IH: The landlords at White City used to play snakes & ladders with our rent, usually in the upward direction. But it was the hefty entertainment tax that crippled us finally.
Question 3: Who was the best rider you ever signed?
IH: The best rider I ever signed? Frank Hodgson was purchased from Newcastle for £1000. This was the highest transfer fee I ever payed. Otherwise, my best riders were all local discoveries who had never ridden for another track. Tommy Miller was the most sensational of them all. In 1950 he rose from novice to reserve to breaking the track record in his first season, scoring the first maximum for Scotland against England led by the great Jack Parker. He broke the Wembley 3 lap record the same season beating Tommy Price and Freddie Williams, two world champs in the process. He dominated the 2nd division until 1953 for Tigers was then transferred to Motherwell and later, Coventry. Next was Ken McKinlay and Jim McMillan and later George Hunter, Dougie Templeton and Bert Harkins. Reider Eide and Bernt Persson rode in Norway and Sweden before they signed for Edinburgh and do not count as my discoveries. My last discovery was Dag Lovaas of Norway for Newcastle. It is impossible to name the best as they all had their seasons and many became world finalists, but Tommy Miller saved the Tigers in 1950. There was also Junior Bainbridge, an Aussie I signed in 1947 who was a great favourite of mine.
Question 4: Did you give the starting marshall a verbal warning after starting the race when the pipe-band was still playing on track?
IH: The starting marshall usually has his back to the track when at the tapes. It is the Referee who lets the tapes go up and George Grinton had very poor eyesight. He was an old man and should have been retired years ago.
Question 5: How many tracks did the Hoskins family run?
IH: The Hoskins ran the following tracks. Johnnie Hoskins ran West Maitland, Newcastle (in Oz) Sydney Royale and Clairmont in Perth Oz. Wembley, West Ham, Bradford and Canterbury. I ran Glasgow White City, Edinburgh, Coatbridge, Cowdenbeath, Newcastle, Palma Majorca, Bulawayo and Salisbury in Rhodesia. I also discovered Glasgow Ashfield and Hampden Park where I was a partner of Les Whaley until I sold out to Jimmy Beaton.
Question 6: Bert Harkins is one of the good guys in the game do you get on well with him?
IH: I am very fond of Bert Harkins. I gave him his chance to become a rider, and it took a long time, but he had the guts to make it. He became very good at Coatbridge and went on to ride for Wembley and Wimbledon where he injured his back in a crash with Reg Luckhurst.
Question 7: Do you think we should bring back 13 heats and a second half like before?
IH: As for 13 heats and a second half, the sport now costs too much money to promote and ride in. Adjust the running costs so that both promoters and riders can make money. I advocate smaller engines in speedway frames. Speed in itself is now the answer. That is why I had 250cc Bultaco engines in Majorca.
Question 8: Which country are you living in now? Is the poll tax high?
IH: I live in New Zealand . We do not have poll tax here
Questions by Garry Moore (MJFC)
Question 9: Apart from your father who did you admire most of all the great speedway showmen?
IH: Reg Fearman
Question 10: You have been involved in speedway all your life, is there one rider who stands out from all the many you have watched and been involved with?
IH: Apart from Tommy Miller, Bluey Wilkinson
Question 11: If you could change one thing in speedway today, what would it be?
IH: The overheads, running costs
Questions from Herbie
Question 12: Was Reider Eide really as difficult to deal with as was depicted at the time he was with the Monarchs and Wembley?
IH: Yes I did have many strong words with him, all over money he wanted for doing nothing
Question 13: What do you reckon was the biggest stunt you ever pulled while promoting?
IH: My biggest stunt was to sign up a yogi named Kitao to help Tigers beat Birmingham who were allowed to sign a foreign rider when foreigners were banned to division 2 tracks. We won at home as he lay on his bed of nails in the centre of the arena. This was in a National trophy match staged in 1953 at White City.
Question 14: Were you ever a sleeping partner in the Glasgow promotion at any time when you were involved with Edinburgh (ie did you really have a foot in both camps at the same time? Did that present any difficulties to you?)
IH: Yes, I had two sleeping partners. The first was Trevor Redmond at White City who had to be flown up from London every meeting. He sold out to Les Whaley and I became his sleeping partner at White City and Hampden Park. I did not get on with him however, and sold out to Jimmy Beaton (I also promoted at Motherwell for a short season in 1958 where I discovered George Hunter).
Question 15: How many hats do you reckon you had burned on a centre green over your life as a promotor?
IH: I cannot remember how many hats I had burned at White City, I would say at least 20!!
Many thanks to the Legend that is Mr Ian Hoskins for taking part!