Bryn

As an aside to this thread, and not really relevant to "Years gone By" I can certainly put forward TWO candidates for the SHORTEST serving team captain and BOTH rode for Oxford in this year's Conference League! Our regular skipper Chris Schramm was unavailable for our last home meeting, a double header against firstly Carmarthen and then Buxton. Ben Barker was appointed skipper for the Carmarthen match, lost the toss for gate positions and so, in my managerial role, I sacked him on the spot on the basis that he was a "useless to**er!" Craig Branney was thus handed the job for the Buxton match and yes, you've guesed it, promptly lost the gate toss - result? Instant dismissal!

Great suggestion although it might be better as..., Beer, Bikes, Bundy and buggerall sleep!

ANOTHER memorable trip indeed.... seem to recall said Glasgow supporter was, in fact, a Policeman by occupation!

And, in conclusion......(think I MAY have related THIS bit on another thread a little while ago btw!) So we had, eventually, made it to Vitek's hotel and we grabbed a few hours kip (after a couple of beers - purely for medicinal purposes you'll understand, to settle the nerves! ). In the morn, after breakfast, came the next problem! No one on the coach had any Czech money! And it was Sunday! No banks open! And the start of the meeting was fast approaching and we had to leacve shortly for Pardubice! I asked Vitek to get as much Czecho cash together as he could - think the exchange rate was something like 44 Czech crowns (or whatver!) to the pound so I said we'll work on 40 and, lo and behold, we had enough for a tenner's worth for everyone. That upset one couple who wanted to change up fifty quid each! Still they settled for the tenner each - we went to the meeting (bloody hot it was too I seem to remember - the weather that is so thirst was duly quenched at regular intervals! The coach left straight after the meeting and, guess what, EVERYONE still had LOTS of Czecho money left despite paying to get into the meeting and feeding / watering themselves at the stadium! So we stopped at a BP service station on the outskirts of Prague and everybody piled off the coach. The shelves were emptied of various bottles of different sorts of liquid - one called Wodka or summat - and several crates of beer were ferried back to the coach by "the lads at the back" so they could partake in an all night party whilst we headed for home! They were somewhat shellshocked to find, on coming to in the morn, that at least three of the crates of beer contained the Czecho equivalent of Kaliber Alcohol Free ale! The look of disgust on their faces when they realised what they'd been drinking all night was a real picture! As you'll probably guess, the drivers decided to "head their own way" home....we reached France eventually! "We know the way from here!" they said.... "er why did that last sign we passed say something like Paris 167 Km the way we're heading and a sign on the other side of the road say something like Calais 132 Km then?" I politely inquired! "&7^^ger! - we must have turned the wrong way onto the motorway!" HALLELUJAH!!! A swift U turn later at the next exit and we were, thankfully, heading towards Calais! Boy those white cliffs of Dover were a sight to behold I can tell you! Ah yes, I remember THAT trip well - get the video folks!

Boy DO I remember THAT trip! Turned out the furthest the two coach drivers had ever been before was France - er NOT a good start! Anyway after a night ferry crossing to Calais, the drivers told me that their office had the route all planned and that we would be crossing over the Czecho border by going via Dresden - I politely suggested we'd be better off heading towards Nurenberg but they said they knew where they were going - if only they had! Needless to say, after the usual hold ups on the autobahns we eventually reached Dresden, they took the wrong turning and suddenly we were hopelessly lost - and it wasn't going to be the only time THAT happened! Somewhat foolishly we asked a rather elderly German lady who we spotted in her front garden for directions to the border - needless to say we didn't understand a word she was saying - nor did she us! Somehow we made it (eventually!) to the border and there hit more trouble when the drivers insisted they sort out 'the necessary' rather than me. Turns out that an argument developed over the use of a border guard's pen or something - result being we were kept waiting for quite a time! At least we had some light relief as we passed into Czecho with many, shall we say. "ladies of the night" who, apparently, had been purged from Prague, displaying their wares as they say on the roadside as we passed! By this time I was cream crackered as they say and needed to get some sleep, my last words to the drivers befure getting that shuteye being, "whatever you do, when you get near Prague DON'T head into the city, take the ring road and wake me up!" Wake me up they did and, looking out the window I couldn't help but notice that we'd stopped on a bridge over a pretty large river...yep we were in Prague! Someone appeared to have nicked all the roadsigns as a prank I guess...we turned left, right, left again and....whoops we were heading towards Wencelas Square it appeared! A Czech Army guy wasn't a happy chappie when one of the drivers yelled at him rather than ask for help - he got his gun out (the army guy not the coach driver!) and we skiddaddled pdq! Bt more luck than judgement we were eventually heading in the right direction towards Bohdanec but, you've guessed it, we missed the turning! Eventually we re-traced our route and found it...as we turned right it appeared the road was closed! The coach drivers said, "right that's it! We can't go any further, we'll have to sleep in the coach!" At that point I pointed to diversion signs but THOSE took us towards a Bailey Bridge over a river! We stopped again - and, thankfully International Rescue (in the form of a Czech police car containing two coppers and a poodle - er yep a POODLE honestly!) were soon on the scene and, somehow we conveyed to 'em that we were lost (er suspect they guessed that!) and, very kindly, they gave us a police escort to Vitek's hotel. We arrived, I seem to recall, circa 3am on the Sunday morning, the day of the meeting - having been due to arrive at least SEVEN hours earlier! On opening the door the first person I saw was Josh (Larsen) - he couldn't sleep apparently - and he muttered something like, "Hey guys, you're late!" Cheers Josh! As I surrveyed the bar area Gareth Parry (from Frequent Flyers) and at least some of his party were still up and, looking somewhat the worse the wear I seem to recall as he gazed at the multitude of empty Budwa bottles on the table in front of him he kept muttering something about them all only costing a total of around twelve quid! TO BE CONTINUED.........

Good to see you've recovered from last year in time for this year's championship rounds Ozyace! Cya at Gosford..... and Newcastle..... and at Gillman...... AND at Mildura!

Can't recall if it was THAT particular Hackney / Wimbedon clash Ken but do remember what you are referring to! Must say, before explaining how that blank space came about, it was agreed (within reason!) between the two promotions in those days that neither would worry too much about what one said about the other - afterall it was all about pre-match build up. Sadly, in modern times thanks to the "football mentality" of some, I doubt you could do it. Anyway on that particular occasion, people should firstly remember that there were no such wonderful things as personal computers, emails etc etc. I can't recall the name of the programme printers we were using in those days but I seem to remember that they were based near London Bridge. I used to have to compile the programme and write any articles using a somewhat ancient portable typewriter and literally pin those articles, together with any photos etc to the relevant page where they were to go. (probably haven't explained that too well but I'm sure people will get the idea!) and would normally get the programme in the post by the midday collection on the Saturday by guaranteed delivery so that it would arrive at the printers first thing Monday morning. (thank goodness times have moved on!) I had been promised a photo to fill that particular space you refer to which SHOULD have arrived in the Saturday morning post - yes there WAS such a thing back then! Anyway it didn't arrive! Undeterred I thought, "OK it'll be here first thing Monday and I can deliver it and the rest of the programme to the printers on my way to work in the City." Monday came, the postman came....the photo didn't! Snookered! (for want of a better word and remembering this is a family forum!) and late for work already I simply HAD to use a bit of ingenuity!

I'll be jetting out of Heathrow on Nov 15th but will be back circa Feb 5th - see you in the warm Jessie!

These are the dates I've compiled so far.... OZ DATES……. 6/11 - Gosford Opener (NSW) - Bathurst Showgrounds – NSW Longtrack Champs - Mildura (Vic) - Gillman (SA) - Gold Coast – Labrador (Qld) 13/11 – Gatton – Queensland Solo Champs (To be confirmed) 20/11 – Gosford (NSW) - Gillman (SA) - Latrobe – Tasmanian Solo Champs + sidecars 27/11 – Wagga Wagga Showgrounds – Aus Longtrack Champs (NSW) - Broadford – Practice (Vic) 4/12 - Gosford – Mick Poole Open (NSW) - Mildura – Victorian Solo Champs - Gillman – Sidecar Shootout 11/12 - Wingfield – SA Under 16 champs (Vic) - Renmark – Riverland Solo Champs (Vic / SA - not sure which!) 12/12 – Broadford (Vic) 18/12 – Gillman SA Solo Champs 29/12 – Gosford – Oz Solo Champs Rnd 1 (NSW) - Somersby - Oz Under 16 champs practice (NSW) 30/12 – Somersby - Oz Under 16 Solo Champs (NSW) 31/12 – Somersby – Oz Under 16 Team Champs (NSW) 1/1 – Newcastle – Oz Solo Champs Rnd 2 (NSW) 5/1 – Gillman – Oz Solo Champs Rnd 3 (SA) 8/1 – Mildura – Oz Solo Champs Rnd 4 (Vic) 12/1 - Gosford – NSW Sidecar Champs (To be confirmed) 15/1 – Mildura – Victorian Sidecar Champs (Vic) - Redcliff – 2005 Jack Daniels Oz Longtrack GP (Qld) 22/1 – Mildura – Sidecar Shootout (Vic) - Gosford – NSW Solo Champs (To be confirmed) - Gillman – Jack Young Cup (SA) 29/1 – Tamworth – Oz Under 21 Champs (Qld) 5/2 – Gillman (SA) 12/2 – Gosford (NSW) - Gatton 13/2 – Broadford (Vic) 19/2 – Gillman (SA) 26/2 – Gosford (NSW) - Broadford (Vic) - Murray Bridge – SA Sidecar Champs 5/3 – Gillman (SA) 12/3 – Gosford (NSW) 26/3 – Murray Bridge – Oz Sidecar Champs qualifying (SA) 27/3 – Murray Bridge – Oz Sidecar Champs (SA)

Had a bit of fun on the IOW mike last night putting out 65th birthday congratulations to none other than ex-Oxford, Cradley Heath & Brum rider George Major who's now the Wightlink Islanders training instructor. Yep George is now officially an OAP which is somewhat hard to believe!

Phew! Having checked, it WAS Boston! Must have been too busy downing copious numbers of cartons of peas and mint sauce to notice that I was there rather than Brough Park!

Blimey! My memory MUST have been clouded by the amount of champers I downed that night! I feel sure we certainly rode SOMEWHERE on the Sunday (and got mullered!) but where the hell was it??? It MAY have been Boston but, hey, don't quote me on that! In my defence I've got to say that having now reached "Old Git" status, the old memory cells do tend to play tricks when trying to remember events of 20 years ago! Well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! Am also obviously suffering from "Bundy withdrawal symptoms" but at least I can start treatment for that come the middle of November!

Hackney legend Barry Thomas founded the Iwade training track with his brother - Ivor John Thomas!

Was there for both meetings and quite a few others of course. Travelled up on the team coach for the cup final, Hackney having "borrowed" the one Mildenhall used to use in those days. Now the management had hidden a crate of champers in the boot which was broken open en route to where we were staying in Newcastle after the celebrations had begun in the Berrington Lough bar. My abiding memory of that particular journey was Kevin Teager, who had never previously tasted champers downing copious amounts and commenting, "this isn't bad - tastes like lemonade!" The celebrations continued long into the night (or rather morning!) at our Newcastle hotel but, alas, we had a match against the Diamonds at Brough Park on the Sunday. Kevin Teager was ill throughout the day and, needless to say, we didn't do very well in that match!

If ONLY the Crayford team had those directions the first time we went there! ALL got totally lost but, somewhat hilariously and a really unforgettable moment was when four Crayford riders vehicles arrived at a crossroads simultaneously each travelling in a different direction! Have many happy memories of my visits there.

OK bare with me and I will see what I can find, the DGB ones are complete as they are, but will look out the oldies. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Er.... Ken..... you're a married man now mate! Fancy asking Shazzy to bare with you!

Glad to be of help. You might find the following website more than useful! http://www.ausm.info/ Cheers

Here's a list of Oz racing dates I've compiled from various sources: OZ DATES……. 6/11 - Gosford (NSW) Opener - Bathurst Showgrounds – (NSW) Longtrack Champs - Mildura (VIC) - Gillman (SA) - Gold Coast (QLD) – Labrador 13/11 – Gatton (QLD) – Queensland Solo Champs (To be confirmed) 20/11 – Gosford - Gillman - Latrobe – Tasmanian Solo Champs + sidecars 27/11 – Wagga Wagga (NSW) Showgrounds – Aus Longtrack Champs - Broadford (VIC) – Practice 4/12 - Gosford – Mick Poole Open - Mildura – Victorian Solo Champs - Gillman – Sidecar Shootout 11/12 - Wingfield (SA) – SA Under 16 champs - Renmark (VIC) – Riverland Solo Champs 12/12 – Broadford 18/12 – Gillman SA Solo Champs 29/12 – Gosford – Oz Solo Champs Rnd 1 - Somersby (NSW) - Oz Under 16 champs practice 30/12 – Somersby - Oz Under 16 Solo Champs 31/12 – Somersby – Oz Under 16 Team Champs 1/1 – Newcastle (QLD) – Oz Solo Champs Rnd 2 5/1 – Gillman – Oz Solo Champs Rnd 3 8/1 – Mildura – Oz Solo Champs Rnd 4 12/1 - Gosford – NSW Sidecar Champs (To be confirmed) 15/1 – Mildura – Victorian Sidecar Champs - Redcliff (QLD) – 2005 Jack Daniels Oz Longtrack GP 22/1 – Mildura – Sidecar Shootout - Gosford – NSW Solo Champs (To be confirmed) - Gillman – Jack Young Cup 29/1 – Tamworth (QLD) – Oz Under 21 Champs 5/2 – Gillman 12/2 – Gosford - Gatton 13/2 – Broadford 19/2 – Gillman 26/2 – Gosford - Broadford - Murray Bridge (SA) – SA Sidecar Champs 5/3 – Gillman 12/3 – Gosford 26/3 – Murray Bridge – Oz Sidecar Champs qualifying 27/3 – Murray Bridge – Oz Sidecar Champs

Seems the LECH and / or local strange brew was already taking effect judging by the phonecalls I've received from some unknown hostelry there throughout the evening! Arena-Essex proggie editor Alan Sargent plus King's Lynn's "Big Mick" and two mates have already been waylaid and led astray by IOW fan Sharon!

Absolutely spot on Dave. As someone who was there when Mark took his first ever competitive rides as a 16 year old I've got to say that, over the years (and its a fair number of them now!) he has been one of THE top riders in the world and, without doubt one of the most entertaining in terms of providing thrills galore with his skillful passes from the back.

The following has been posted on the "Yahoo List": "I am sorry to have to break the news that my father, Mike Gerrie passed away on Thursday 2nd September, after a heart attack. He was 54. Mike was the large blind supporter - an Edinburgh fan as a boy who then followed Speedway in London at White City, Hackney, Rye House, Wimbledon and Arena Essex regularly, plus visits all over the country and abroad for meetings and GP's. Some of you will have been lucky enough to have known him personally and many fans will have seen him all around the country at various tracks during his 40 year love affair with Speedway. It would be fair to say that whatever track he visited, somebody came up to him and said hello - be it fans, riders, referees or promoters, he had many friends in Speedway. During the last few years he suffered from ill health, but still went to as many meetings as he could, including Cardiff & the recent Speedway World Cup, and only on Saturday was at Rye for the Conference League Riders Championship. He collected Speedway videos and also never missed a Sky Sports broadcast and would often watch the repeats too! He followed Speedway by listening to a commentary and relied on myself and other friends, plus the cheers and boo's of a vociferous crowd to tell him what was happening, not to mention to roar of the bikes - and 'that' smell. I am pleased to say he passed on his love of the sport to me. That is something I will always be grateful for and always remember him for. There will be services in both London and Edinburgh in his memory. Please contact me off list for details. No flowers please - a donation to the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund would be far more appropriate. My thanks to all that helped him enjoy his passion up and down the country. RIP Dad. Al Gerrie" Having just got home from the CL double header, and having known Mike personally, I am deeply shocked and saddened at his tragic and untimely passing as I'm sure others that knew him will be. He was an amazing character and I, for one, won't forget him. My sincere condolences to Alisdair, the rest of his family and friends. R.I.P. Mike Bryn

A fair few of them have been seen at the TWO "former rider reunions" Pete Seaton and / or Glynn Shailes have arranged at Oxford this year.

And who, specifically, would you be referring to Wolfcrazy? IF you're referring to Christopher's dad I think you are way off the mark bearing in mind their attendances at Oxford this year / background. Don't tar ALL riders fathers with such a generalisation. There may indeed have been a few of that ilk over the years (AND I've come across 'em believe me!) BUT the vast, vast majority od dads / mums are only interested in helping their sons (and in some cases daughters as far as speedway is concerned!) do their best in the sport their CHILD has chosen to participate in.

Flippin 'eck - ME too! Could have had a forum (er, IF it had been invented!) convention that night!

Not sure if John actually married Roly's mum if you see what I mean!