salty

Slightly surprised Smolinski didn't make it, good show by Rymel. Congrats to all qualifiers.

I've heard worse theories.

Was really looking forward to this GP, but was very disappointed with the quality of racing. The track was far too slick and rider who tried the outside run just went backwards. Why does Olsen persevere with this type of track? Surely he must see that it serves up heat after heat fo largely processional fare. I am struggling to recall any heat where the leader was overtaken after lap 1. As for the Crump/Pedersen incident, I've seen them being given both ways. Personally I thought Crumpy was ahead and Pedersen turned left on him and Nicki should have been the one excluded. But not an easy call. Millard seemed in better form than usual, just thought it was funny in Nicki's 3rd ride (I think) when Millard didn't recognise that he was at the back of the field until Tatum helped him out.

Just got a Dvd off e-bay which has 7 different meetings from Blackbird Road. Dating between 78 to 83, haven't watched them all yet, but good to see the Collins brothers et al in their pomp.

With the Final at Zielona Gora you would imagine it would favour the Poles, maybe even a Brit may reach the Final this year?

Like many others I thought it was shaping up into a cracker before the rain came. Good to see Tomasz getting the win. The bias towards the inside gates meant that the points were clustered up, will be interesting to see how things go in the next one. Lukas showed he can still motor round these continental circuits and he was good value when being interviewed. I know it's old ground but Millard was absolutely on form last night as usual. Hans Christian Andersen in gate 1 of Heat 4, countless errors, the usual cliches and getting Bjarne and Puk mixed up in heat 20. Then banging on a about a countback between Puk and Zagar even though Puk had an extra point... When will Sky do the decent thing and give him his own show.

Sorry Bobbath it was a 5-1 the other way and the Heathens won 42-36.

I know the first match I ever saw was Cradley v Newport on 28th September 1968. Still have the programme so I would have to check that to see who was in Heat 1,(pretty sure it would have been Graham Coombes and Chris Julian for the Heathens) but could well have been a couple of the same riders you saw in 1964 Bobbath. Just got home and checked and lo and behold in White was Jon Erskine (taking a RR ride for Jimmy Gooch) and Y/B was Cyril Francis. Alby Golden was also riding in the meeting.

If memory serves he arrived about the same time as Kevin Doolan and there wasn't much between them on initial form.

Anybody know how Nigel Sadler is keeping?

My first season watching back in 1969. Mike Gardner (Cradley reserve) got fenced by the one and only Garry Middleton on the first bend. Gardner sprung up and started to run across the centre green towards Middleton who had stopped on the 4th bend. Gardner stopped after about 10 yards then ran back and collected his crash helmet. Ran the length of the track and when he reached Middleton bought the helmet smack down on his head. That was the night Middleton supposedly drew a pistol out of his toolbox and threatened Roy Trigg and was smuggled out of the stadium in the back of Uncle Lens car. With excitement like that no wonder I became hooked.

Who did John Davis transfer to Sheffield from? Was it Poole during the season they hit money troubles? I know he spent 1984 at Plough Lane.

I know he wasn't everyones cup of tea and wasn't known for his overtaking but at least he could hold his own on the world stage.

Looks like it will be an interesting read as ever. John Davis should make an entertaining subject. We remember the bleached hair and medallions from the end of his career, but from memory his rise to the top end of the sport was quite methodical, breaking through to World level by about 1977?. He certainly was a good gater who was ideal for a track like Wimbledon. What would we give for a rider of his ability to be part of the current British set up?

As I mentioned on one of the Backtrack threads that should read 1986 Boston.

Excellent issue as always, just like to make a point about the Kevin Jolly article. Good overview of his career, but I am almost certain that he rode for Boston in the NL before he moved to Plough Lane. A programme I have for the 1986 season at Wimbledon confirms he rode at Number 1 for Boston and mentions that he was on loan from Mildenhall. Can it be that Kevin's year riding for the Barracuda's was so traumatic that he has wiped it from his memory????

Belle Vue unknown 68-2 Ken Moss?

Can't believe the amount of moaning about this meeting. Fair play to the Poole promotion, whilst they are not everybodys cup of tea at least they PROMOTE!! think most people understand that to put on such an event then costs are bound to be higher. Would have liked to see maybe Gollob and Holta taking part, but will be interesting to see how Sajfutdinov fares. My only complaint is that its a week to early, as I'll be in the Poole area the following weekend.

Can confirm that this meeting was a double header with Leicester (Midland Cup semi). The Speedway Yearbook quotes the crowd as "near 20,000".

Can't have a thread like this without mentioning the 3rd Owen brother, Ritchie. Can remember him at Ellesmere in the mid 80's I think?

I would like to know what influence Ole has over track surfaces at the GP's. Common feeling is that he is the man responsible for the slick surfaces, maybe he can tell us if that is true and if so why does he feel that slick surfaces are best.

Agree with those. I would also venture Cradley 71-1 Malcolm Ballard 73-1 Dave Harvey Either 72-3 or 72-4 is Mick Handley

I moved down to Kingston Poly in 1981 and was a regular at Plough Lane for the rest of the decade. First match was the 38-38 draw against Cradley which was a pretty good start. I used to love the smell of the bikes coming up through the wooden terracing on the first bend. The free pint I invariably got from Doris on the bar, the idiosyncratic announcing of Ken Tozer who would often not notice that a rider was missing from the parade. The guy in the beret on the pit gate. Enjoyed the Russell Lanning years when you really felt the club was being promoted. Fav riders.. Malcolm Simmons, Kai Niemi, Toddy, Nathan Simpson and Terry Mussett. Always feel a bit guilty that finances (or lack of them) dictated I rarely went for the last 2 seasons. You never know a change of ownership or policy with the GRA and there might be a return in the future.

What about a Collins Brothers special?

Do enjoy these threads about these riders from the late 60's and early 70's and finding out how they are nowadays. The only problem is when I see their name on the latest post I do have those few seconds of worry in case the reason there is a thread about them is to impart sad news. Of the last 2 veterans mentioned I remember Geoff Mudge when he was in the Poole title winning team of 69, didn't realise he continued riding in the UK for so long. My main memory of Norman Strachan was the beautiful, careful way he wrote his signature compared to the normal scribble.