Sidney the robin

Were you surprised how Hans mastered Hyde Rd NW ??? i was i went from being a real doubter of his to being a real fan.My wife who went with me regularly said to me once does this rider Nielsen ever lose at Oxford superb rider great team rider to.It is no exaggeration to say that Hans in another time could of won 8 world titles great rider a great example to any young rider coming up.

Not by me Steve watching him everyweek was a joy he was a passive man even now he watches regularly such a quiet guy .Martin and Kilb were the men for me lucky to have seen Briggs,Ashby, Kilb, Broady., Crump( snr and jnr) Autrey, Adams , Doyley Swindon have been really blessed over the years.

The 1983 BLRC was a terrific memory for me Gundersen, Nielsen, Lee at there best Lee having a duck egg first time out( got filled in) then was on fire afterwards.Lee always seemed to have a patchy record at Hyde Rd i don't know why he was the same at Halifax but when on it Mike could be awesome at the Shay.

Was so disappointed with our authorities Iris they never helped Mike in his quest to get some track time in.For me if he had of rode for Wimbledon he would of been good around there.It would of been so interesting to see if he could of mastered the big tracks.

He certainly was with Ray/John Louis in the 1975 British Final that was one of my biggest disappointments in speedway .Reserve for the special night i remember supporting Ray and Tommy Jansson on the night though willy was one of my alltime favourites.

You see Bast practice there Iris?? what was your opinion of him.?

Kennett for me along with Crump senior was one of the strongest and fittest riders i ever saw ride he could force his way through on the line.See a picture of him the other year and he still looks fit and healthy would of loved to see him move to the Abbey terrific value there always seemed like a quiet guy.

One thing that i found strange NW was when Briggo made a statement saying that Hyde Rd was not one of his favourite tracks amazing really .Did you ever see him there at his peak 6 BLRC wins??

Silver for me is a guy who i have total respect for how long has he been around donkeys years.?? Met him last year at Swindon for the youth meeting got him to sign a picture for me what a nice chap he was the enthusiasm still oozing out of him. My trips to Hackney speedway were great days don't think i ever see Swindon win there .?Iris you being a regular visitor to Plough Lane must of been special? it was to me i loved the stadium the history of it was special can always remember the pits being smokey there.

He won your meeting Terry the Superama one year Martin, i loved Hackney as a track looking back though it was dangerous with all those posts.Thommo looking back over the years took some chances there and he has to go down as one of the best in/ out racers i have ever seen great from the back lovely chap as well.

His opinion holds up very well for me Iris a man who i had great respect for Berry or Chapman ??? no comparison eh!!! John was a legend in my eyes a chance was lost when we didn't let him revamp speedway in the uk and nothing has really changed since.

Such an interesting point NW,i felt as examples Jessup, Kennett, Davis were never really great at Hyde Rd even Hans in his early days was vulnerable at Hyde Rd.Hans later disproved that he ended up being awesome there have to say Carter, Gundersen are probably the best riders i have ever seen there just behind a PEAK Collins funny how the northern fans viewed some of the Southern softees.

Totally right H Gould remember Simmo commenting once about him saying he had great aquipment like Ivan but was not half the rider.Yet he sold himself very well and always had good sponsorship over the years.Remember Simmo saying that all the number 1 riders got together and told each other what they were being paid Davis always earned well.

Davis was a two time world finalist won a world team cup medal in 1977, he also qualified for 15 British Finals 1976-91 ( missed out only in 1990). Not a rider i liked but i certainly respected him, over the period i saw him ride at Reading often as a TEAM they underachieved.Andersson, Hunt, Davis all of them were never really team riders remember Andersson usually getting the best gates.He did teamride well with Jonsson though so could do it.Remember one year Peter Glanz getting really frustrated with Davis he said riding with him was like riding against another visiting rider.

My main memory of John Davis was that he had terrific aquipment ( wealthy dad).I see alot of him at Reading and for me was not really a team rider usually gate and go he also seemed to struggle to hold the line often after gating he would leave a hole and get passed.But Chunkies figures don't lie he was a class rider for a long period longevity wise very impressive.

I must say Chunky i did see Davis win a manpower meeting at Reading and he was the bollocks he was on fire that night.

Davis was a very decent rider but for he me was me never ever an overwhelming number one rider ever.

Louis, Sanders Davey, Mauger, Sjosten,PC were pretty good those days are long

Those days are gone Steve maybe the averages were false !!!!

1968 Leicester Salty Wilson ( class) Michanek, Boulger some heat leader trio yesteryear was so different than today.

Never saw alot of Anders piston just at the Abbey, really liked Watson a classy stylist.Newport with Puk, Kornielsson ( etc) unearthed quite alot of talent in the Premier days Smart( still mixing it today??? box office so exciting to watch.

God you would never think of Ronnie being that way inclined such a gentleman really Eide was a tough rider classy.

How about that guy Henricksson at Newport Pinny?? what was he like remember him also can remember a young charging Puk.

Brilliant picks Reidar Eide and Charlie Monk also should be mentioned.

1./ Halifax 2./ Swindon 3./Ipswich 4./ Sheffield( 1973) 5./ Barrow (1973Joe /Tom Owen.