spin king

I think we all know that Michael was possibly the most talented British rider of his generation or ever,but the guy threw it away pressing not just the speedway self destruction button, but it also seems in life general, which I find sad. I was really looking forward to reading the interview in the Star, but after reading it three or four times over I still have trouble understanding it, and I wonder whether or not mentally he is okay. In say this if he can get his life back on track and his head in gear surely he could employed to give advice to younger rider on how not do things, but I am afraid that he might not be capable of this.

While glancing through this week's Speedway Star, I noticed that there was a rider riding for Zielona Gora, called Andrzej Huszcza. Is this the same rider that rode for Leicester in the 80's if so the guy must pushing up for 50.

Yes Sheffield is where my Dad use to watch him along with Clive Featherby, who at the time was my Dads favourite rider.

I never got to see Billy Bales myself (to young), but my Dad, by all accounts he was quite spectacular a bit like Peter Craven another rider I never got the chance to see who I would have love to have seen. I believe that Billy's son Ray rode as well not as good but I did see him ride for Leicester in the seventies.

Surely has to be Crumpie, mind you anybody other than other than Mr Charisma, Tony Rickardsson.

Sheffield (1) Shawn Moran (2) Kelly Moran (3) Chris Morton (4) Jan Pedersen (5) Bernt Persson (6) Doug Wyer (7) Reg Wilson If I can't have Jan Pedersen, who only rode for us on loan for us one season from Cradley Heath, then I would go for one of my back up squad of Sean Wilson, Simon Stead or Peter Carr. The team was more impressive than what I thought.

If you are talking colourful and entertaining, don't think you could go far wrong with the Moran brothers always gave value for money.

I suggest anybody who is in there late thirties eearly forties look in the mirror and then take a look at a photograph of yourself 20 odd years ago. You look very different don't you, trouble is we all get older, if you have ever been to an old school reunion you will all know the bext looking ones are the one that change the most.

I visited Halifax quite a few times as a Sheffield fan, some are fond memories with us winning, some not so good as when we lost. I remember the actual ground being a bit odf a dump, but the track raced quite well, with its long straights and tight banked bends.

No information on this but some how I think I remember this being considered sometime ago.

Don't totally agree with Tony Briggs, he was half decent, but injury curtailed his career. Always remember he could not gate to save his life.

My memory is not what it use to be sorry. :oops:

Yes Grachan, this meeting was indeed at Sheffield....... I was at that meeting, was a pretty bad crash, remember Crumpie going into the fence and breaking his leg, and Ashby flying through the air. After that I don't think Crumpie did much at Sheffield, or not as well as he had done in the past. He certainly let it be known that he did not like the track. If I remember Ashby was never the same again and only rode one more season.

Nobody from my track Sheffield, but then nobody from Wimbledon was that good around our track. I remember that Mick Hines was possibly the worst visiting rider around Sheffield that could remember. Mind you unlike James Grieves he never managed to be injured when his team visited Sheffield.

Sorry disagree with this Steady Eddie was good, but In my opinion Zenon in his prime was brill.

i think we are in agreement what a truly nice person he was.. his sense of humour was second to none, always laughing and joking, but what a racer he was! had his peak happened after the iron curtain fell, what a difference that would have made. Edward Jancarz comes to mind as another. really talented, hence the nickname steady eddie..lots of style and full of talent. their system was harsh, from what i understand, they had to be married before they could leave the country. kids were a plus to ensure their return. also the money they earned went directly back to their country, and they were given a small stipend to live off. that is what i heard anyway. was much tougher for them, then others.. Zenon, rode his last season in Britain at Sheffield, although I think we got him when he was on downslide of his career , even so he was still a useful second string. Like everybody else I wonder how he would have fared today where Poland is a much better place to ride and to come from. If dare Zenon in his prime was as good if not better than the Great Pole Gollob,

Did Weislaw Patynek ever ride beyond his debut for Sheffield ? (at Eastbourne). I seem to remember him injuring his back and not riding for the Tigers after that - I don't remember seeing him ride at Owlerton No he did not rode one meeting at Eastbourne away and fell and broke his back. The other rider that came over with was called Jan Zabek, who for me featured in one of the best rides I have ever seen. I think was on the first lap on the third bend and he came off,he promptly dusted himself down and got back on the bike, and by the end of the race had passed the third placed rider, who I believe was Mick Hines of Wimbledon. He took three laps to catch with him when Hines was half a lap in front of him. I believe this was the 1980 season, and was the only season that he rode, with an average of around 5.95. Pure Magic

Further back than me I can only just remember 1971, and I am approaching 40.

Never heard of those two you must go back along way.

Aaln Wilkinson

Sorry Cheatehawk, opps Cheetahawk.

Yeah think you have your Gary's mixed up, Gary Middleton last rode in England for Leicester in the 1977 season.

That very interesting will pass on this information to my Dad.

Yeah I seem to remember my Dad telling me that they predicted that he would be the next big star but never realised his true potential.

Can anbody tell did a rider called Howard Cole ever ride for the Heathens.