"My Dad first took me to speedway in 1970. He hadn't been to speedway since the early 50s and was amazed to find that Jack Biggs was still riding (then for Hackney). Sadly it was the following winter he lost his life in a track crash home in Australia. I sometimes think that every time a speedway rider goes out on the track it's like they are buying a lottery ticket, the only difference being that when your number comes up, you lose. Jack bought a lot of tickets before his came up, but he must have loved the gamble right to the end."

"I liked the piece on Jackie Biggs: it brought back memories of watching the man himself, unaided, fitting an engine into his bike's frame in the car park outside the pits at Plough Lane (Wimbledon) in the mid to late '60's, or cutting his rear tyre whilst perched in the boot of his car, chatting with the supporters. I also seem to think he still had a knee-hook fitted to his bike in the Hackney years (1967-1970). Dingle Brown did an interview in one of the magazines a while ago, in which he told a couple of amusing tales about Jackie and his somewhat volatile character. Apparently he was a well-respected tuner of engines,too,in the days before the super-tuner era."

"I remember Jackie Biggs on a more personal level. He was like a second dad to me when living in London. My mother and father introduced Jackie to his wife, Sheila, and enjoyed many social times with him, including the time he came to our Guy Fawkes night and kindly made a 'special firework' for us. IT WAS A MINI BOMB which he set off behind our garden shed and left a huge crater as a result. Ray Cresp actually accompanied him on that night."

"Jackie Biggs.....my favourite rider when I supported the Harringay Racers in the early to mid fifties. Jack lived on Muswell Hill in North London, and he very 'generously' allowed my friend and I to wash his car, a 'woodies' estate car. I was at Wembley on the night Jack very nearly won the world championship, we had top price seats supplied by Split Waterman. As we know, Jack Young became World Champion that night with Split Waterman 2nd and Jackie Biggs 3rd. I was just ten years old....and I admit I cried!"

"My Old Man reckons Jackie was the best Solo Rider he ever saw. My recollection of Biggs death was January 1971 or 1972, I was 9 or 10 holidaying in Caloundra (from Melbourne). I believe it happened at the Ekka and the wording in the paper as I recall it was.....Biggs fell, hit the fence and rolled off onto his stomach; by the time help got to him he was dead. He was either 51 or 53 at the time. I'm working from childhood memory so I can't assure the accuracy."

"I first watched Jack Biggs in Melbourne along with Neil Street and the mighty John Dewhurst [probably the best aussie rider not to venture overseas]. Jack was always immaculate in himself and his machinery, we had access to a small training track and Jack / Neil and Phil Crump would be be there any time. Quite amazing for ten year old me to see world stars going through their paces.What a Champion Jack Biggs was......."

"My memories of Jackie are from the 60's, at Coventry. He always had time for the fans. My enduring memory is when he broke a couple of ribs riding away from home, (I forget where) and he turned up at Brandon on the Saturday with his wife's roll-on pulled up over his chest. It must have hurt like hell, but it shows the man's attitude to not let his team mates or the fans down."

"Firstly to the person who wrote this article, thankyou very much! Jack is my grandfather, I never met him and have only heard a very few stories of him from my Nanna (Sheila Biggs). It's fantastic to find a little more about his success and my family history. If anyone would like to share any stories or memories about my grandad Jackie Biggs, please email me and let me know. redmanj@optusnet.com.au"

"Have been reading supporters and friends memories of my husband. he was indeed one of a kind. Always generous with his time, to talk or help. I know, The hours that I waited for him to stop talking and make our way home. I wouldn't have had it any other way! Regards to all. Sheila Biggs,"

" I would like to add a personal memory of Jackie Biggs. Whilst riding for Coventry, Jackie broke a couple of ribs but was determind to carry on riding. He "borrowed" one of his wife's roll-on, and pulling it up accross his chest, continued . I have broken ribs in my time and can honestly say the pain is excruciating just breathing, let alone riding a speedway bike."

" I was only about 14yrs old late 50s or early 60s. I knew Jack and Barry when they had the lock up garage at the top of the avenue in Tottenham. Myself and my friend Les Sims used to be there all the time and we used to help them clean and wash bike parts, they were the real nice guys."

"I used to go over Hackney every Sunday during the close season (along with a few others including Tiger Beech) to help dear old uncle Len repair bits in the stadium, reclaim shale etc., Jack Biggs sometimes came to do a bit as well. The first week he was there he found out all our names without asking any of us and never forgot them always addressing us by name from then on. Some memory he had and some gentleman he was! I was in the queue at Wimbledon one night at the turnstile by the pits when Jack arrived, he called me over and got me to carry his bag into the pits, getting me in for free to see the match.The only time I ever got in for free at Wimbledon! He did the same at Halifax once, telling the guy on the gate that me and a mate of mine were helping in the pits that nig ht. A great man still sadly missed by all who knew him."

"I was just a kid about 12, when Jackie used to arrive at the track at Poole in mid sixties I think. I can remember him taking his bike off and he used to carry his bag and he let me push his bike to the pits. Then he would sit on his stool and i can remember him cutting the corners off the grips of his brand new tyres. Because I was only a kid I asked him why he was doing it and he said to get a better grip. He would let me stay there until racing started, give me a couple of programmes and some elasticated goggles that they wore so that meant I got in free. I used to do that quite often when he was riding at Poole. I can see his bike now. All the chrome was lovely and shiney. By what i can remember he was a bit of an idol amongst the fans. With the money I saved from getting in I would spend on chips and eat them on the bus on the way home. Also I used to do the same with Ronnie Moore when he used to come down to Poole to ride. Two great speedway riders and men. "

"My dad John (now deceased) used to continually tell me about how good Jackie Biggs was and how well he could get a bike going, from what l can gather they were quite good friends and used to always be at Tracy's speedway in Melbourne. In dad's latter years he would always tell me about 3 bikes that Jackie built, they were a bit different, from what he said they had the tank under the seat? Dad searched for one of those bikes for many years and thought he had finally tracked one down in Bendigo only to be disappointed once again. He gave up in the end, if anyone has any news or knowledge of these bikes l would love to hear about them. From what l can gather they were put together in a garage in Preston or a garage near the Flemington show grounds."

"I am 75yo. My father who raced midgets at Olympic Park pre-war started taking me to Maribyrnong Speedway from about 1948. Dad said Bill Rogers was the best rider he had seen but changed his mind when Jackie Biggs returned from England after his first season away. In those days they had handicap raced over 4 laps for solos and Jack was always the back marker. He was often giving starts of three quarters of a lap and still winning. He beat the current at that time world champ Vic Duggan in a match race series and completely thrashed Aub Lawson at the same track. He had the petrol tank under the seat and I believe he was the first to do so. Was I a fan?, ABSOLUTELY. He made speedway solos for me. To see him last in a field of seven in a handicap with a lap to go made the hairs stand up on the back of your neck watching him overtake the whole field. Boy the crowd loved it. I note my son Jim wrote a previous article on this site. I think he was wrong about the cause of Jack's death. My memory of the facts told to me was that Jack fell off and was hit by a novice rider's bike. Probably that is why these days professional riders will not ride against novices and I think that is written into their insurance policies."

"Stan Best, I think your right about Jackie's death, my father always told me that Jackie fell off and was run over by a novice rider he was teaching. my memory also tells me that my dad said Jackie told him that when you are in a handicap race, with novices let them go out first and you come last. "

"Greg McNeil, now there is a blast from the past. I believe Jack's life was taken at Bendigo Vic. An accident involving Tony Melrose, I believe. I also remember Len Biggs, and he had a son called Alan Biggs, so the name lived on. I can remember buying a Jackson cam (for my JAP) from a person who had a lot of Jack's Speedway gear, but cannot remember his name. I also remember your Brother John, coming to Tasmania with Neil Street, a long time ago, I believe that John was (17) at the time. God to read some posts on here, yes Jack was a legend for sure. "

"I knew Jackie Biggs when I was a kid, his workshop was at the top of Elmhurst Road in Tottenham. He was a terrific bloke, I used to mingle with him often. He also used to take me home in East Finchley where his wife Sheila would feed us, very nice lady. He used to work there after the garage closed where most riders would have their engines rebuilt by him. The most helpful man you could ever wish to meet and fondly remembered."

" Greetings from Canada-I recall Jack at Newport. Got a second lease on his career -in 1965 he was a heat leader at Somerton Park and top scorer in 1965 -first year of BL. He was the comeback hero of the season-can still see him beating the then top guys. Wot a rider"

"We lived up the street from Jackie and Sheila in West Preston Vic and my twin brothers would race their mates around the park across from the Biggs house on push bikes. Jackie was full of enthusiasm for them drifting and sliding around. We all fell in love with the sound of his red hot straight out JAPs and with Jackie's help and encouragement built our first mini bike out of an old scooter, some gal water pipe and a Victor mower engine. Top bloke, he inspired and ignited a life long love of motorcycles in us. PS. l am sure he would be happy......just bought a Rocket lll."

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