Bee

Ngel Boocock double haeder 1968 and thnk he followed it up same year with another

JACK GERAN – EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW One of the most colourful and popular Aussies to grace the British scene, Jack Geran was fortunate to avoid serious injury in a career spanning 20 years. We caught up with the Exeter Falcons legend at his Devon home, where he reminisced about his great friendship with Neil Street, his friendly rivalry with Ken McKinlay, riding in front of 70,000 at his only Wembley World Final appearance and his trophy-winning days with Oxford in the 60s. Ahhh But was it included in the Intervew that when he came over with Neil Street he was initially allocated to Coventry.

Yep remember those pictures and they were at Coventry as well presenting Midland Riders Championship If I remember right.

Yes Great News. Was fortunate to interview and speak with Nigel for many hours when he came over for the Golden Greats, both at a forum the supporters club organised....I was the one asking all the questions most of the time Met up with Nigel then at the Windmill and went through old times, and hooked up with him several times at tracks when he was here. His daughter contacted me around that time as well when she realised I'd got quite a bit of footage and stuff of Nigel and I sent a copy out to him as he had nothing at the time himself. I'm sure some of the stories will be of those that we discussed and more hopefully. He was the reason I started following speedway in 1960/61 onwards I was a massive Boocock fan, and remain so. I won't go into the things he told me here, as it may spoil what is revealled in the Interview. I am hoping to get a copy hand delivered to me by a friend come Christmas here in the Philippines. Good work TMC.

Will there be any live coverage on the Internet by Sky or anyone else???

what actual time does it start and is there any internet coverage today? thanks

Very true comments - thank you. I always support the Brits/English as that is what I am Even at World Championships and Grand Prix's regardless of who else I admire and support as a rider.

Thanks Iris and sorry guys typo error....it should have read MORE not ORE - LOL.... I just think that Speedway on TV is a good thing and a must. I'm thankful of it anyway. Of course everyone has the right to express an opinion so those that want to have a dig at me, that is fine... ok OFF TO WATCH THE SPEEDWAY

I'm sure I'm not the only person living overseas now and who's enjoyment of speedway is restricted to that information and boards like this I can find, and now Internet TV....It was hard work listen to speedway on the Internet to listen to the Bees and Swindon is 2007. The fact that I have only this year been able to get enough broadband to take in speedway streams this year to watch the Elite League, Grand Prix and World Cut from Sky sports and their crew, of Nigel Pearson, Kelvin Tatum, Chris Louis and Keith Millard and bimbo Charlie Webster. From Justin tv showing Polish league and Swedish league meetings From here in the Philipinnes where we pray to the gods that we won't get hit with a typhoon and FACE BLACKOUTS Especially when there is speedway is on. Saturday swc was washed out, and they were delays. The meeting was re-stsged on the Sunday morning. OLE OLSEN was there as FIM Track CURATOR. He announced that he and track staff took the decision to leave the surface alone and see how it sits at 11pm. He was right on this occasion to let it naturally dry. Where as the was wet stuff on top this soon cleared in the first five heats and the racing got better with outsidelnes coiming and even some dust risng! We got some terriffic races up until the stoppage at heat 19. Clearly the Aussies were playing for time and wanted it off. No problem with that. The others wanted it on. AFter further delays and grading they finally it going, and the Poles won by a point. The Aussuies were unlucky but that is the way speedway is. The meeting was completed against the odds in fromt of a large crowd. Everyone should have bee happy.....I was. WE SAW A GOOD MEETING. TO READ COMPLAINTS ON THESE BOARDS IS SOMEWHAT CHILDISH IMHO. Guys moaning about SKY PORTS + CUTTING OUT AND RUINNING THE RECORDING OF THE LAST FEW HEATS. WE CAN NOT CONTROL THE WEATHER OR THE TME IT TAKES TO CLEAR WATER DAMAGE TO THE TRACK. The Race Drector and the local track staff did an brilliant job. It would have been so much easier to just call it of period. i'm not an OLSEN FAN AND HATE THE SLICK TRACKS he produces on far too many occasons. But it all went right here. I hate also reading thread after thread the SKY need to out Tony Milliard and Nigel Pearson, along with Tatum and Louis. I DO WISH AS WELL that CHARLIE WEBSTER WAS A LITTLE ORE UP ON THE SPORT and did try to stop barging in to get riders interviews when they clearly are having bike problems or team talk...We don't need every hear winner interviewed imho. - WE NEED TO GET OFF THEIR BACKS.....TO HAVE THIS COVERAGE IS GREAT AND LET THEM RAMBLE ON A BIT IF NEED BE ABOUT MOLE! You'd all MISS IT if they pulled out!! I wish too they get off Lyons lack, leave Scott Nicholls alone, forget any difference he and Harris may have had....its over and passed history now. Youngsters were blooded and they will benefit long run. I wish some fans would grow up and stop the silly allegations going on about Poole and Joe Screen, and varuios promoters lowering themselves to this standard of protest about rules manipulation.... Just get on with it and enjo t, as I do my speedway again ftom 8000 miles away at god forbiding times in the early morning.... Thanks

Hate to say it. But he got it right in poland for the restaging, although the rain at the end was beyond anyone's control

Well I'm in the Philippines at 1.15am and that is not going to stop raining and dry up, or be anywhere near ready to race in 45 minutes your time, so I'm going to bed.....

You can be 100% sure that the track will be different on Saturday night.

The lads did us proud. The decision to go with the youngsters in the QUALIFIER was 100% correct. The did a great job in Poland too. But, as a few have said I'd have named Nicholls in that team and left out Bridger. I may have included Kennet too and left out King who was good at Peterborough but maybe not ready for Poland. But you have to give the kids a break and a chance sometime. So no real moans from me. They were not expected to qualify so to take it to the wire was a damn fine effort.

I remember Tommy Roper at Halifax, Belle Vue and Oxford for that matter. He did improve over the years. However I always remember him at Belle Vue with Jim Yacoby and thinking at the time that they were a dirty pair of ******* as there always seem to be incidents with them. It was nothing really hard but fair is what I recall today. Your right about Oxford though he didn't like it there.

Me too

Hi guys. Some may know I have been working on a History of Brandon piece that I have just started to get back to in the hope of one day completing it! I had 100's of pictures and stuff, but had to get rid of it all when I moved here to the Philippines. As you can imagine I'm now desperate to get hold of items and stuff again. Does anyone out ther have any pictures downloaded on the Internet, or able to scan and email me of Coventry riders during the 60's and 70's - thats where I'm at in the progress with History of Brandon. If you can help it would be greatly appreciated can credit the source as well, as when I get this latest stuff written and ready I will be putting it up on the Internet for all to share. Thanks in Advance Bee

That is terrific that Smolinski made the cut. His not returning IMHO was a BIG loss to Coventry in 2008 nd this year as well. Will be good to see him (albet for me on DVD) at Coventry. Some surprises eliminated. Although I'm not that surprised that Schlein missed out. I still think he needs improvement at this level to make it to the Grand Prix.

Absolutely mate 100% when I get my web site done I'll ad a banner link for them as well.

WOW Starghost your my hero! have just done a search for Speedway Researcher and by God your right. I had not seen this before, and it will help me TREMENDOUSLY put together seasons 65 onwards. I can not thank you enough.

I should add - I am going to put all I have on the web and will post details when I have that done, then it will be work in progress and I will appeal for pics and info to add from early days. Should keep me busy in my retirement. LOL

Thanks Bob.... Like I said I lost and/or sold a lot of memrobilia and reserch work already had for 65 onwards When I moved to the Philippines. I was lucky enough to have had what I did and posted here on a floppy disk (remember them lol) I had a complete collection of all of Coventry's programmes from 48, books, mags (speedway stars complete collection from Vol 1 # 1 through tl the colour covers came out in early 70's.) Stenners and handbooks, pictures badges rosettes, and about 500 videos of matches .....So much stuff. Really regret having to sell it all, but no way could I transport it all here. Of course I still have memories but not all the research and details. I have though recently gotten the 'bug' back big time and I'm currently trying to work on some stuff.... including more receny years that I missed altogether since being here. I am buying up DVD's of Coventry and having a friend bring them over once a year. That makes it good for me at Xmas (when he comes) and I have caught up with the Bees over last 2 years have all of 2007 matches and 2008. Will get 2009 this year and get 2006 as well. I am writing up 2007 at the moment and about to start writing up 2008. It will be a case of working backwards from there.

Les Owen

Pander was only at Oxford. Great Dane was lived up to. Very good rider indeed in his day.

That would be in the days when you had Biggs (Joined you from Bees) and Vandenburg (class rider) Alby Golden, Geoff Penniket, Bob Hughes, Jon Erskine and Dick Bradley ex Saints, wasn't it? Not a bad line up, and good at Somerton I recall. Ron didn't like the place though! Crashed there and broke his thigh ....'69 wasn't it. I think Newport if I remember correctly as well is where Les Owen was originally allocated (not Biggs) but he refused to leave Coventry, or he'd quit. Other arrangememts were made (think Biggs) and Owen eventually was allowed to stay at Brandon.....Ahhhh memories. I really liked Vandenburg as a rider, I only remember him though at Wasps and later Wolves, not his Saints days. Alby Golden was past his best I think. As was Bradley. Biggs was one of my favourites at Brandon as a kid.

I think it is important that we should encourage and develop British riders in the UK. But, as I said I would not ban any overseas riders at all. Just make the terms of employment clear on residing in UK, or covering their own flights etc from their pay here. (Which many wouldn't do) After all if I went as a brick layer to Germany ala Auf Weidersehen Pet. They would not pay for my flights back an forth to the UK every weekend would they You make some good points though and interesting to read.