YANKEE DOODLE DANDIES....

I've already written about American speedway riders Sprouts Elder and the late Kelly Moran on this blog, and it seems that just like me, speedway poet Ian Paterson also found the Stateside riders compelling.

Some pre-war names who graced the show

Were Elder, Milne and Lamoreaux

But fifties Yanks who made their mark

Were based at Dublin's Shelbourne Park

Then Leicester signed up DeWayne Keeter

(He never was a World beater)

The next who tried to make his way

Scott Autrey (Mauger's protege)

Soon Uncle Sam produced a crop

They flew across the pond non-stop

Like Penhall, Hamill and Hancock

To face an English culture shock

Now training tracks in USA

Have all but closed I'm sad to say

The fear of civil litigation

Speeded their annihilation

And just to show why these Americans built up such a following over here in the UK, Ian gives his view in rhyme too...

The Yankee guys are elegant in TV, clothes or leather

But half the bloody English boys can't string two words together.

So if I was a sponsor with money in the bag

I know which ones I would choose to fly my firms flag.