WembleyLion

Hi David Would you mind letting me know where you stayed in Linkoping as I am hoping to do a Vargarna, Filbyterna, Griparna trip if the fixtures fall into place. Many thanks Eddie

There is an Arthur Sheene in the A to Z of riders on the Coventry website which suggests he rode for them in 1929.

I seem to recall a second halfer at Belle Vue by the name of Brian Bentley (I think). I also recall that he rode for the Aces twice but something like seven years between each meeting. Many a second half at Wembley in 1970/71 also saw a number of other riders invited to take part in the second half only. I remember seeing John Louis for the first time on one such occasion and such was his rise to stardom that by 1972 (in his third full season as a Speedway rider) he finished joint 4th in his first World Final also at Wembley.

There is also Carl Ringblom who is listed as one of the Honorary Vice-Presidents of Commissions and Panels at the FIM. So far as C Ringstrom is concerned I have only managed to find another meeting where he was the FIM referee - the 1979 Commonwealth Final at White City where his surname is actually spelt Ringstroem. More dectective work needed!

Christer rings a bell but I'll need to check when I get home this evening.

Hi Tony - yes indeed and did you look at the Korskro (sub menu of Esbjerg) picture showing the old long track that you once visited and the three newer tracks which have subsequently been built. The 80cc meeting I saw was on the middle sized track of the three. Regards Eddie

Frenchy I went to Coventry v Cradley Heath on 23 April 1977 which was abandoned after 8 heats - details as follows:- Coventry 26 Ole Olsen 3 3 = 6 Alf Busk 2* 2* 3 = 7 + 2 Mitch Shirra 3 X = 3 Tommy Nilsson 0 0 = 0 Alan Molyneux 1 3 = 4 Dave Mortiboys 1 0 0 = 1 Frank Smith 3 1 1 = 5 Cradley Heath 22 Bernt Persson 0 1* = 1 + 1 Steve Bastable 1 2 2 = 5 Bruce Cribb 2 X = 2 Arthur Price 2* 2* = 4 + 2 Anders Michanek 3 3 = 6 Dave Perks 2 1* 0 = 3 + 1 Bob Valentine F 1 F = 1

I guess it depends what you are looking for. If it is a nice weekend away at an easy to get to destination (with some Speedway thrown in) then I would certainly recommend both Copenhagen and Prague.

After Freddie and Hans the other two choices were always going to be the subject of much debate.

I know what you mean Rob but in fairness today's FIM official announcement refers to them as Wildcards. Regards Eddie

Sadly it's one of the venues that I was unable to get to as I was a too young to travel across London on my own back in 1972. It looks as if it was a great venue though! If I'm not mistaken the reporter was John Stapleton.

It will certainly be a little later than it was last year (announced 7 November 2008). I think they are still undecided about the fourth rider to join Freddie, Hans and Tai. I well remember that Matej was unofficially 'announced' last year and then come the official announcement he was no longer featured so until such time as we get the official announcement we'll not know for sure.

I wonder what is taking them so long to decide - I guess they can't agree over the 4th rider to join Freddie, Hans and Tai.

... and the night before the World Final at Wembley in which Peter Collins also rode of course. I remember seeing Timmy that night at Hackney finishing a long way behind the others - he was not given a second chance.

Ah that would have been Nicholls following the 'coming together' with Bomber in Gelenskirchen in 2007. Edited as I was beaten to it - must be quicker to hit the reply button in future.

Yes 20,000 that day as well - see the recent Ole Olsen youtube thread also in the years gone by section.

Now officially confirmed!

Got mine at Rye last night - Uncle Len seemed to be signing a fair few copies of them.

With the top eight now known and Freddie surely being a nailed on certainty and Hans probably being an almost nailed on certainity who will get the two remaining slots?

Congratulations Crumpy - well deserved!!

David - did you see the Collins v Michanek KOC Final run off in 73 - I understand it was a great race. I too enjoyed watching Anders and he was one of my favourite big names of the 70's.

Leigh has been a credit to the GP series and I can fully understand why he has taken this decision. Not many become World Champion and Leigh certainly ranks very high amongst those who didn't quite make it.

No Swindon tonight so here are the Middlesbrough v Rye House details:- Middlesbrough 32 1 Steve Wilcock 2* 2 2 = 6 + 1 2 Brian Havelock 3 F 2 = 5 3 Mike Spink 1* 1 = 2 + 1 4 Geoff Pusey 0 2* 1 = 3 + 1 5 Mark Courtney 3 3 3 = 9 6 Martin Dixon 3 2 0 1*= 6 + 1 7 Bernie Collier 1 0 = 1 Rye House 28 1 Karl Fiala 1e/f EX = 1 2 Peter Tarrant EX 1 1 = 2 3 Bob Garrad 3 3 2 = 8 4 Kelvin Mullarkey 2 2* F = 4 + 1 5 Kevin Smith 1*3 3 = 7 + 1 6 Andy Fines F 1 = 1 7 Ashley Pullen 2 0 3 0 = 5 Heat 1 Havelock, Wilcock, Fiala(f awd), Tarrant (f ex) 70.0 5 - 1 Heat 2 Dixon, Pullen ,Collier, Fines (f) 67.2 4 - 2 / 9 - 3 Heat 3 Courtney, Mullarkey, Smith, Pusey 66.4 3 - 3 / 12 - 6 Heat 4 Garrad, Dixon, Spink, Pullen 67.0 3 - 3 / 15 - 9 Heat 5 Courtney, Pusey, Tarrant, Fiala(e/f) 67.6 5 - 1 / 20 -10 Heat 6 Garrad, Wilcock, Fines, Havelock(f) 67.6 2 -4 / 22 - 14 Heat 7 Smith, Mullarkey, Spink, Dixon 66.4 1 - 5 / 23 - 19 Heat 8 Pullen, Havelock, Tarrant, Collier 68.4 2 -4 / 25 - 23 Heat 9 Courtney, Garrad, Pusey, Pullen 65.8 4 - 2 / 29 - 25 Heat 10 Smith, Wilcock, Dixon, Mullarkey(f) 66.8 3 -3 / 32 - 28 Heat 11 Fiala(f/ex) heat not rerun due to waterlogged track! I went to this one on the Rye House coach as part of a northern trip with Workington the next night to follow.

I can do this one for you when I'm next home of an evening so if you do not mind waiting a few days (due to me being at Lakeside tonight and Swindon tomorrow) I'll do just that. As I recall the score was 32v28.

Yes indeed, Leicester were the 'support act' in the Midland Cup or something similar. The Bees won 53 - 25 I think.