waiheke1

An awful final, not the greatest line up, but the first world final i attended and Muller as you say destroyed the field. I think a GP series on the big Polish tracks of today would have suited him immensely. I'd suggest his mid-table placing in the 81 world final gives a pretty fair indication of his ability in comparison to others of that era.

Agree with this list. Sanders vs Crump is interesting. I'd be inclined to rate Crump the better rider - both for longevity and peak ability- but Billy unquestionably had the better world final record, which is the ultimate measure. If we were to throw in other Aussies from the modern era I'd have Doyle at three, and Holder just behind Adams. Where to put Darcy is a real question mark, probably I'd have him behind Doyle.

If he had won even 3 in a row i think he would be considered more or less unanimously englands greatest post war rider. As it stands id rank him below Tai and the other PC, but i know others who would still rank him top

Can you confirm your father's and grandfather's names, and also their sponsor's name?

Yeah, was thinking more 70s/80s/90s . Cost to digitalize wouldnt be huge, and i reckon there would be a matket... As a southern hemisphere based speedway fan, obviously a digital version would be preferred, but understand the need to be commercially viable. Have bought Tonys books in both forms. For a minor sport, it is fortunate to have two magazines of such quality, as well as an array of good books.

Tony: any chance of Retro speedway producing a digital version Phillip: any chsnce of digitalizing the speedway star back catalogue?

Highly recommend most of those mentioned by Martin Mauger. Til the can ran out - Chris Morton A hell of a life (kelly moran) - Brian Burford.

Thats pretty bizarre. Hopefully you can help the OP out then

Agreed, not a sustainable solution. But, without wanting to sound like a parrott, it is about "flattenning the curve." Reducing the peak will help ensure hospital beds for those who need them, which will reduce fatalities both from covid and other illnesses.

Dude, seriously, have a word with yourself. Normally i agree with you, or at least your logic, but no need for name calling, especially when you are deliberately misrepresenting his point. I know several health professionals, from ground level to senior strategic all say one of the big issues is people comparing to the flu. Corona is more contagious, has no vaccine, higher morality rate, higher rate of serious cases. There's a good reason governments are imposing lockdowns, despite the impact doing so has on their economies - and that's advice from health experts, not due to the media. No one is down playing the annual deaths from flu. But this new virus has potential to cause far more. Stay safe, stay well all.

For me, i work 99% from home anyway, so main impact has been my relocation to singapore - which was meant to happen 1 march but hr were slow with paperwork- is delayed. Has impacted a couple of my team members as well, who were both meant to take on short term overseas assignments. Schools closed for 4 weeks starting today, as NZ goes into lockdown mode. Only essential services to remain open. Our borders closed to foreigners a week or so ago. Fortunately live close to the beach, so took kids boogie boarding this evening, and if weather stays good will take them out kayaking tomorrow. Stay safe all

I'm in nz. We normally do our supermatket shopping online. But now large numbers are doing that, there are waits of several days for delivery, and then half the items don't get delivered as "out of stock." So, we're ending up having to go to the supermarket more often than we normally would...

very interesting - perhaps adds weight to my suggestion that Hancock is underrated? Tbf, I can see an argument that Pedersen, who was a whisker away from a 4th world title, ranks higher but Gollob? And this from people like Norman and GC, whose opinions I respect. Gollob is an interesting one. I'd rank him 2nd of the post-war single world champions - behind Peter Collins (and possibly Mike Lee.). But can you justify someone, no matter how talented, who won 1 world title over someone who won 4? I can just abour rationalise it. I'd rank Penhall ahead of Hancock, given he retired with two titles at such a young age. And while I rate Penhall ahead of Peter Collins, I could for sure see an argument the other way. And there would be valid arguments for Gollob ahead of PC. But... Gollob has ridden in the same era as Hancock, in the same format, and won 1 title to 4. There haven't been years when he was unlucky not to win, unlike say PC who but for injury would likely have added a 2nd title, and would probably have won two under a GP format. better to watch - without a doubt. More naturally talented - yes. But rating him ahead of Hancock seems to me like rating PC ahead of Mauger.

Surely people can stock pile them - just whack them in the freezer? Crumpet shortage not yet hit nz...

Ricko, Crump, Hancock, Pedersen, Gollob. Pretty clear cut imo.

Well, i guess he is probably the worst 4 times world champ of all time.... I think if anything he is under rated, 4 world titles but few would include him when discussing the top 10 riders of all time. Not my favourite rider, nor impressed with his reactions to a couple of incidents on last few years, but still think he's for the most part a genuinely nice guy, and a true speedway legend. Wishing him a well deserved and happy retirement.

rsarjant above confirmed that he does?

Agreed, very odd logic. Any of the 15 could win a round, but only 3 or 4 the title, so would be bizarre if you didnt get a better price for the round on the title favourites...

Internationalspeedway.co.uk has heat by heat results, and dont show him taking a ride

Cant see it being anyone outside the 3 favourites. Tai pretty good value imo.

agreed. they would make zero difference to attendance in Auckland, and I suspect close to nil in Melbourne. tbh even as a speedway fan, Gundersen and Nielsen would be no bigger draw cards for me than Woffy and Zmarzlik. As for these changes, what a load of crap. Having got rid of the SWC, arguably the best event of the year, now seems they want to stuff up the GPs as well...

just going back through some old stars. none other than mr Rising referred to that t20 of the 81 overseas final as "speedway's version of nepotism came into force". and then reference also to "strange happennings between signals and eriksen " in heat 19 of the IC final which saw Eriksen secure a reserve spot for the final having fallen and recounted, but still finishing 2nd ahead of signals who "fell" and lee who fell earlier in the race. obviously common, as a week later in the embassy internationale it is mentioned that Olsen allowed Nielsen to pass him in a "somewhat dubious" heat 9, helping ensure Nielsen's victory (scarcely needed in the end, Nielsen finishing with a max 15, 3 ahead of the runner up)

surely ermolenko, king, cook were better at wheelies than Hans? my recollection is the Americans were renowned for them (Schwartz being something of an anomaly style wise amongst them)

I'd say Carter is the obvious comparison, with injuries and refereeing decisions hampering them. After the 81 world final, who would have predicted that neither would make the podium in any future world individual final.