Tsunami

stevehone Unfortunately I don't know why Rolf was called the Bullfighter. He was always just Rolf to us. Gordon and his wife Margaret used to be Newcastle fans who packed their bags to live in Manchester to be full time with Ivan. Margaret's dad stayed up here and stayed around speedway for a long time. One of Ivan's other mechanics was Tony Shelley who like Gordon and Margaret were big followers in the Newcastle Supporters Club in the early 60's hence how I know them all.

Ian I can't really remember which year but there was a period when he looked very jaundiced. Peter Kelly once told me he bumped into Ivan in Manchester in the Winter and his only line of conversation was Speedway. One thing he always did was practice, practice, practice. After a meeting he would fill the bike up and just go round and round Brough trying every line. He would throw the bike in from further and further up the straight such that he was often just passed the start gate and still made the Ist bend OK. None of the other members of the team followed him as they would rather be in the bar. His chains had always to be in oil and he used to bollock Mike Watkin for not putting his in oil. His obsession paid off mind.

Remember when Ivan first came across to Newcastle, he was accompanied by Rolf his mechanic. Ivan bought several bikes and travelled and slept in a square Bedford Camper van. He went to as many tracks as he could get rides, building up a couple of bikes from the others trying everything out such as handlebar positions, seat positions and setups. He was methodical to the point of obsession until he was happy with everything. When he rode with his bars down everyone in the Newcastle team rode with their bars down. With the introduction of Eso's he would ride one ride with it and then revert back to one of the Japs. Initially his scores for home meetings were ef,3,3,3 until he eventually got the thing to work. It was great to see a great talent develop on the Newcastle strip.

ML Haven't seen the article but he is the promoter of the Extreme International Ice series as well as one on the leading riders. The event seems to be very successful, if you read the attendance firgures published in the Speedy Star.

I thought that Ivan was trying them out 64/65. I knew Briggo was also riding them at the time and they originally were not very reliable. Ivan used to use them for 1 ride per home meeting and for a while his scores were ef,3,3,3.

iris123 Kathrine Tickell played the Northumbrian pipes at the opening of our new Sage building (looks like a silver peanut) beside the Millenium Bridge. She looks a bit Sheryl Crowe ish and is probably the only female exponent of the pipes. A nice local lass.

Graham I had information that Birmingham was going to open in 2005. I did not know the venue but just assumed it was Perry Bar. Was the 'Wheels' the last possibility or is it still possible for Perry Bar.

J of D I had heard you were a bit if a bike.

BilaHora

BilaHora Yes. but now you have the opportunity of visiting your favourite city twice, GP and your birthday.

Let me explain Bryn Whacko Aussie Jack was an early 90's rider who rode at Newcastle. Aged about 50 looking, he had a beard and long hair and could have been out of ZZ Top. He was a bit of a cult(sp) figure looking like a jolly swagman. Best of luck to him and pleased that he is still getting the burn.

Kevin H Van Halen, Skin and Ugly Kid Joe at Gateshead 1995.

BilaHora Not sure whether it is open on a Sunday, I would doubt it. Your right that the Golden Chip is worth a visit. The guy who runs it is a car rally fan but I have tried to convert him with no success.

BilaHora Yes, we used to do that when coming from Old Meadowbank. It was on the right coming south and we used to park the car across the rode so we could keep an eye on it. Riders used to also stop there. With the new bypasses you miss out on these sort of places, fortunately the Robert Smith fishshop in Berwick is close to the track and not affected by any bypass.

Onceadon In the early sixties me and a mate used to do a speedway tour for about 12 days. We did them for about 4 years and had a great time. We travelled about 2500 miles each year in my Austin A40 Farina and slept in it every night. We used to wash by the road side as well as going to the baths. Given that a lot of the tracks were in London we 'lived' on th North Circular a lot staying in the bus 'pullins'. Each morning we used to get stared at by the bus passengers who thought we had the milk delivered as it was by the side of the car. A likely tour was as follows with changes each year. Apols if I have got any track on the wrong night. Mon Newcastle Tue Long Eaton Wed Poole Thu Oxford Fri Hackney Sat Coventry Sun Rye House Mon Exeter Tue West Ham Wed Poole/Wimbledon Thu Sheffield Fri Newport Sat Belle Vue Not sure if 'she' would let me do it now but it would be great fun as well as tiring.

rich I too remember the crash that finished Vitaly Shilo in about 1964. I was sitting just off the 4th bend. The other three riders were crossing the finishing line and all of a sudden I saw splinters of wood fly up from the 4th bend fence. Vitaly had ridden into the fence almost head first and everyone knew he was in a bad way. The Russians refused to allow him to stay in hospital and he flew out back to Moscow the following morning. You are right I don't think he was ever heard of again.

Lioness What's it like to have SA's second best rider ?

Whacko

BilaHora Makes you wonder. Suppose there may fears that the attendance for Cardiff could be affected with an alternative to go to. I can understand Poland getting an extra GP but it's surely not the same with Sweden.

tmc He struck up a great friendship with Mike Watkin who he rode with at Newcastle and maintained their friendship afterwards. Mike of course was nicknamed "Mudlark" Watkin for also being unbeatable in the wet conditions. Must have been the only team that used to look forward to s**t conditions.

Garf The incident report does seem to have the usual Shovlar/Poole spin about it. But I won't comment cos I didn't see it.

Well done Rory, British through and through. Nearly KB, next year for certain. Lasse the year after.

GO GO GO KB.

I remember him riding for Plymouth and at New Cross. Good hard rider who must of scared the life out of other riders with his devilish looks.

Christophers Dad Hope that's the end of your recent probs. Good luck to you and Christopher in the future.