salty

Sad he's leaving the sport, but glad he's fit and healthy. Loved watching him celebrate the title this year and have really enjoyed his riding over the years.

Saw him riding for Cradley at the start of 1981. It was sad to see him struggling so much, Peter Adams ran out of patience and replaced him with John McNeill. Prefer to remember the quality rider he was in his pomp round Owlerton.

Brafield still operating....http://www.spedeworth.co.uk/venue.php?name=northampton Sorry to hear of Pete's passing. RIP

Superb footage. Thanks for posting.

Funnily enough I watched some footage of the 1982 Overseas Final the other day and was struck by how many helmet colours were off within a lap or two. One of the things that have improved over the years.

I remember when K's were located at Richmond Road before they moved to Kingsmeadow, which incidentally used to be Norbiton Sports ground. Ironically I used to play there and we lost it as our pitch when the K's took over the site. Dont know the full details but it does appear they have been shafted. As for Plough Lane I'm glad the football team are back home, just a shame it's took so long and it has been at the expense of the dog track. Plenty of villains in this story not least RCP who have presided over so many stadium sales as owners of the GRA.

Sportspages closed its doors in London about 15 years ago. The one in Manchester, I believe closed following the Arndale bomb. Pretty sure the shop owner John Gaustad passed away a couple of years ago. I spent many an hour browsing away in the shop in London. Edit. Just checked my copy of "Speedway in London", which was purchased from Sportspages, and indeed it is autographed by Mark Loram.

Think it was at Kings Lynn? Just checked - the Dow Diamond Trophy at the start if 1975 ended with 5 riders tied on 12 points. 4 man run off with Jim McMillan eliminated on fastest times. Except they made a mistake on the times (which was only realised after the run-off) and John Louis, who won the run-off, should have been the one placed 5th. Matters righted by a wee bit extra in Jimmy Mac's pay packet.

They can't all have got maximums? Just checked - Airey got beat by Alby Golden in heat 2. when Cradley won 64-14 it was none other than Gundersen who missed out. Airey and Gundersen - what's the odds?

My first Speedway hero. 1969 was my first full season and Bernie quickly became the darling of Dudley Wood following his arrival from Coatbridge. His Cradley career sadly petered out in a plethora of missed meetings, but in the early 70's our Bernie was, for us, the greatest. So close to winning at Wembley in 1972. RIP

Can't begrudge BZ that win. Fantastic ride to win the final. Hope he goes on to win in Torun.

The packaging is definitely the issue I reckon. I subscribe to a monthly Music Mag that has been consistently late by up to 2 weeks in recent months. Changed from clear packaging to paper this month and arrived on time.

Looking forward to reading Triggy's account of that night at Cradley. I was there as a wide eyed 7 year old, but standing on the second bend was obviously unaware of the gun incident. For the onlooking crowd the abiding memory of the night was Mike Gardner whacking Middleton on the head with his crash helmet following an incident near the end of the meeting, after which the nearest anyone in the crowd got to seeing Middleton was a blanket in the back of a car as it inched out of the stadium.

Previously every point counted towards the title. According to Bellamy to ensure the riders keep riding throughout the meeting they change it so now they don't. I work with kids with Severe Learning difficulties and even they would see flaws in that logic.

Newcastle 1982? The year they got Joe Owen and Bobby Beaton on relatively low averages as they came down from Hull.

Maybe I should have put "generally attributed to"!

Close. It was Gary Player - I think!

Sadly I didn't start going to Cradley until the end of the 1968 season, by which time Ivor was injured prior to his retirement. So I never got to see him ride. I guess the major hate figure for any young Heathen at the start of the 70's was Ole. I suppose as a young kid we were very black and white so it was probably more hate than respect. Not only did he ride for Wolves, but he was bloody good. The local paper also never seemed to miss an opportunity to sing his praises, whilst our Bernie was never given the same plaudits - or so I felt at the time. By the time the Penhall/Carter rivalry came around I was a bit older and never really bought into it. In fact I quite liked Kenny. In later years I probably like to see riders like Pedersen and latterly Lindgren get their comeuppance, but that's a long way from hate.

I remember that feature, Steve, I'll have to dig it out. Having said that, it is just opinion. I think Ivan would have probably bagged more titles in the early 70's, but that would be counterbalanced by possibly not winning in '77 and'79? But who knows, riders tailored their approach to the format that was in place at the time and we'll never know how it would have looked under a GP system.

Really sad news. RIP Wilkie.

Teromaa was signed during the 1979 season to replace Stevie B who was transferred to Birmingham after a major bust up with Dan McCormick. Ila only rode a couple of times in 79 as he was cup tied. The success of the team in 1979 meant that it fell foul of the points limit and Schwartz had to be loaned out. As for Sid's point about reserves, that was the price you paid for having a strong top 4 and why Dave Shields was so important in 1981. To be fair to Nigel Leaver and Paul Fry they came later when teams had to track a junior (if I remember correctly).

They certainly were a strong side as evidenced by their winning of 2 Cups. I think by the end of the season they were the best team in the league, but injuries to Erik, Kristian and Stevie B earlier in the season cost them. Imo a stronger septet than the one that finally delivered the league title 2 years later.

Would have to agree, I loved my Speedway in the 70's. Particularly enjoyed the Johnny Boulger years at Dudley Wood watching Stevie B develop. The all conquering team from 1983 meant that a lot of home matches were less than entertaining.

Pete reached the grand old age of 78 yesterday. Pete Smith that is, not Murray.

Dave Morton, Belle Vue?