Terry

Greg Hancock Scott Autrey Bruce Penhall Sam Ermolenko Billy Hamill

Riss didn't even break the tapes, it was Jan O. Pedersen. Mr Magoo was the ref that night!

Why do these threads always go off tangent so quickly? Steve asks for one rider and straight away it's a list! Anyway, mine would be Peter Craven.

If he did finish outside the top 8 he shouldn't get another wildcard. It should go to Bomber..He's the future

..and is it wrong of me to secretly enjoy watching him not have things his own way in the world championship?

I was thinking of doing the same. I'm actually surprised they're as big as 2/5. Although I did have a stupidly large bet on them at a similar price a couple of years ago and Hampel got injured in his first ride and they lost to Sweden, so there's always a risk. At least teams can bring in reserves now, and the Polish U-21's are pretty decent too!

Well done to Doyley. Fantastic start in the final, almost Nielsen-esque!

Mauger 72 Olsen 75/78 Penhall 81 Gundersen 84/85/88 Nielsen 89/95 Jonsson 90

I remember that Overseas final. Jeremy allowed Chris Louis (who also needed points to qualify) ahead of him, while keeping Screeny behind him. Otherwise Chris and Joe would've joined Billy Hamill in a 3 man run-off for the last 2 places. I think Doncaster was married to Chris's mum at the time, so he probably would have got an earful if Chris had missed out! I think Sam Ermolenko and Greg Hancock also allowed Josh Larsen ahead of them in his last race. Everybody's at it!

I agree, but Penhall just made it so obvious. Trundling along at the back popping wheelies. At least Olsen waited until the last bend.

I remember the night Olsen fenced Bo (Ole could be a dirty git sometimes!) It took about half a dozen trackstaff to restrain Bo on his way back to the pits. There was talk of Olsen playing a part in getting Bo banned for a month the following year because Bo signed in late for a world championship qualifier at Vojens. I don't think they were the best of friends, although I recall Ole slowing himself and Erik Gundersen down in the 82 Inter-Continental final, so that Bo could get the 2 points he needed to go into a run-off for the last world final place..so they must've made up by then! As you said he had a great style for a tall man (so much more graceful than Michael Lee!) And boy could he overtake. The only rider to get the better of him during 1980 at Waterden Rd was Bruce Penhall. I was really pleased for him when he finally qualified for a world final in 84, although he was a Swindon rider by then. I even made a rare trip abroad to watch him (as well as Wiggy) at Ullevi. They both did quite well with 9 points (I think) apiece.

That's weird, my list of unseen champions is exactly the same! My last live meeting was Cardiff 2003, so I only saw Pedersen, Crump and Gollob before they won.

Seven men for one season, a great read. It was a shame we lost half the team to Ipswich the following year.

Hackney Hawks 1980: Petersen, Plech, Thomsen, Thomas, White, Willmott and Jankowski..Wooden spoonists in 79 to runners-up, with only one change (Jankowski for Bobby McNeil.) Hackney Kestrels 1988: Galvin, Loram, Louis, Mogridge, Whittaker, Thomas and Rolls..2 draws and 2 defeats (both by 2 points) all season, with an all British team.

No, the Vic Harding lounge was on the third bend. The café was on the second bend, just after the souvenir hut at the top of the big steps.

Well done Pawlicki, Poles dominant tonight..Some decent races, but I've seen much better racing there.

Oops

Well it took 22 heats, but what a race!!

The 1977 Hackney team was pretty bad: We'd lost Dave Morton early on to a broken leg. Zenon Plech's Polish club wouldn't release him and his replacement Jerzy Rembas never showed up. Barry Thomas, Keith White, Tony Featherstone, Steve Lomas, Bent Rasmussen and Vic Harding who joined late on, with the usual back up men Laurie Etheridge and Ted Hubbard filling in sometimes. Apart from the usual excitement from Thommo and what looked at the time, but wasn't to be, superstar potential from Keith White it was a pretty dull side..Every Hawks line-up before and after was better.

tmc mentioning Len's lucky 50p reminded me of the time my sister, who would've been 8 or 9 caught it, but some guy snatched it from her. My dad steamed in and the next thing they were rolling about in the dirt fighting over the coin..thankfully my sister got her 50p back! Some more Hackney memories were; Taking your life in your hands crossing the A12 when the stadium entrance was at the front, past the toy car factory. The little blue 3-wheeled car that sold monkey-nuts. The dark and creepy toilet next to the back straight café. Sseeaaannnn Will-mott la-la-la-la-la ringing out from the second bend gang!

Pawlicki £200 less.

It probably won't last, but for now I'll bask in the moment.

Fabulous from Fast Freddie!!

Fantastic race between Freddie and Jason. Hard but fair.

Lindgren £200 more.