Terry

Try digging at the winning post at Aintree! I suspect you're thinking about Shergar.

Yeah Mark had a couple of decisions go his way that year although he fully deserved his title. Watching that last round in Bydgoszcz was, I think the most nerve-shredding three hours of my life, he certainly didn't make it easy for his fans! Am I right in saying that he didn't really enjoy his year as number 1 with all the pressure on him? He seemed quite relieved when it was all over to me.

I bow to your greater wisdom. My dad was a Harringay fan before Hackney re-opened in the early sixties. Wasn't there speedway at Stamford bridge at one time?

My first speedway memory is a rider in yellow leathers flying from the tapes. I'm pretty sure it was Dag Lovaas in 74. Being born in 68 I'm sure I was taken to the 'Wick' before then by my speedwaymad father (who used to tell me you could watch speedway at a different track in London every day of the week just after the war.) I think I can count on the fingers of one hand the amount of meetings I missed between then and 91. (I went to most matches in 96 at the new track but it just wasn't the same.) I didn't used to go to many away meetings, maybe three or four a year. Always used to go to Rye House too, Sunday at 4:30. It always seemed to be sunny there in those days! I remember the year we nearly did the double, with the Rockets winning the NL and the Hawks coming second in the BL, (curse those pesky Racers!) I read something quite interesting in Kelly Morans book 'a hell of a life' (great read by the way) Reading had a tough away match coming up at Halifax and Dave Lanning told Jiri Stancl to stay at home and he booked Kelly as a guest. He top scored and Reading got a draw. So I claim a moral victory for the Hawks

Mark was certainly one of the most skillful riders I've seen. The only time I can recall him getting it wrong was when he knocked off Tony Rickardsson in the Swedish gp in 2000. He was lucky not to be excluded. I always thought Darcy also had great bike control, and was one of the last great team riders. If anything I thought Chris Holder was less in control when they rode together.

Briggo's Golden Greats meeting the previous evening in Landshut was a hell of a lot better. At least that made the weekend worthwhile.

How about the 89 final in Munich? The worst final ever in my opinion, and also the worst line-up. At least Rickardsson livened up 91 a little!

I think he's wearing his 87 leathers. He wore plain white with orange flecks when the season started. Just noticed a young (and slightly tubby) Paul Hurry in that photo!

Obviously signing Malcolm Simmons on such a big average in 86 meant losing a couple of riders, with Trevor being one of them. He wasn't happy to be dropped, having been our number 1 since our move to the NL. As you'd expect from such a class act Simmo was practically unbeatable round Waterden rd. I think it was a couple of months before anybody beat him. I remember Richard Pettman as being a useful reserve but no more than that. Yes he stayed for our year in the BL. With his experience and gating skills he could still beat the best when in the mood.

Another thing that sticks in my mind about that year were the superb displays of team riding by our skipper Andy Galvin. When young Chris Louis moved from reserve to partnering Andy in heat one we would be almost guaranteed a maximum start. Louis said Galvin was his biggest early influence. Being handed the captaincy that year was the making of Andy. He was always a decent rider, but was a bit of a playboy and didn't take his racing too seriously. I know he was undecided about dropping down to the National league after doing well in 87, (including a couple of 'tasty clashes' with his old mate Lance King!) Obviously everyone at Hackney was delighted that he stayed with us, though at the same time sad that we had to lose Roland Danno, who was very popular. If I remember correctly Belle Vue offered Hackney £25,000 to buy Andy during 1990, although he broke his thigh at Rye House and was never the same rider after that.

It was strange to have a team of Englishmen in 84 after being brought up with foreigners in the British League (there's a contradiction in terms!) It was certainly a shame to lose Bo Petersen (surely Hackney's best ever rider?) Of course we had Thommo to help with the transition, but we hadn't a clue about the other six! After such a great 88 it was a sickener to lose three of our stars to Ipswich, (or the Twitches as Birdbrain used to call them!) Losing Loram was especially daunting although we did replace him with the only rider who could replace him in Steve Schofield who was absolutely brilliant. I always felt sorry for 'Schoey' because Hackney won in 88 when he rode for Poole, and Poole won the league in 89 and 90 when he rode for Hackney!

28 years ago even! What a year that was, 2 draws and 2 losses (both by 2 points), and British 1-7

As far as I can recall he was on his second bike after being knocked off by Hans Nielsen and was frantically signaling to the ref just before the off. He was able to jump back on his number one bike for the second restart. Fate was certainly smiling on him that day.

So far, so good I hope you haven't spoken too soon!

Sam Ermolenko stopped in front of Billy Hamill on the first bend from a tapes start in the 93 final and wasn't excluded.

Great race! Young Gollob looks good.

1. Woffinden 2. Hancock 3. Doyle 4. Iversen 5. Pedersen 6. Janowski 7. Zagar 8. Holder 9. Kildemand 10. Hampel 11. Lindback 12. Zmarzlik 13. Jonsson 14. Harris 15. Pawlicki

The original and the best.

Thoroughly enjoyed that. Particularly the banter between Middlo and Davey which I found hilarious!

Funnily enough, that's what first attracted me to crown green bowls..

And the less said about Steve the better!

I must take issue with you regarding Dave Kennett. He rode for Hackney from 71-76 and it must be said, he wasn't very good. He was a definite second division rider. In fact it was strange how good Gordon was compared to Dave and Barney. Not at all like other racing brothers.

I hear what you're saying, but I just can't get my head around riders like Cook, King and Barker, being as good as Wyer, Wilson and Davey.

I think what made Scott Autrey so good was the fact he could ride any size track. He held the Exeter track record for many years and also Wimbledon where he won consecutive spring classics, with world final line ups. I would have him above Ermolenko simply because there were a better calibre of rider in those days. The same reason for Sigalos.

It's all about opinions Sidney. I don't think anyone would have the same order.