Canadian Star

Talking of "Ghosts" DD who writes your stuff for you ?

DD You ever heard of "Ghost Writers" ?

Tony's best spell as i remember was at Bradford where he had a very good relationship with the promoter there Jim Streets, what was that like ? He also had a very up and down relationship with Cyril Crane following Kings Lynn ll's move to Boston in the early 70's, but came back and did well later in his career, what was Cyril really like ? Is it true that he went into his local branch of the TSB and asked them for a set of leathers like Ray Wilson had at Leicester ! Nice Guy who i met a few times, real enthusiast, his equipment was always immacculate.

I have seen the trophy that PC would have won for winning the second half final that night. The current owner regards that as one of his best victories away from Saddlebow. The crowd gave him some stick that night and on subsequent visits, although he insists it was purely a racing incident certainly not caused by any of his actions. I think the trophy was put up by the leather company, and it certainly is an impressive one. Can anyone remember what actually happened (i wasn't there obviously) i believe PC was in second place at the time.

How did he get along with Cyril Crane ? The suggestion is they didn't see eye to eye especially over money !

Looks like Webbo to me !

I have now read Malcolm Simmons book and think it is an excellent read, brutally honest and i think gives us a better perspective of Malcolms thinking both at the time and with the benefit of hindsight. I should dearly love to be at Kings Lynn on Wednesday to see the two greatest riders ever to have spent a significant time with the club together again. I always thought that Malcolm got his style from Ken McKinlay, who interestingly enough won a number of individual meetings at Kings Lynn in the late 60's, certainly Malcolm's style was similar, and i don't ever remember him getting out of shape on the track. I am sure there are many more stories that Malcolm could tell, that the legal department wouldn't allow, especially about Bill-"Wanna buy a raffle ticket"- Barker, and a few others besides. The only significant other area that he doesn't reveal is his relationship with Martin Rogers towards the end of the 1974 season, and what if any other reasons besides getting out of Terry Betts shadow persuaded him to leave Kings Lynn. I suspect money and Cyril Crane-which Malcolm does elude to, are at least 2 of them. Any way if you want a good read, go out and buy the book.

I always thought Colin Cook was a terrific racer, any one know what happened to him ?

Allan Brown Kings Lynn i think around 1970

I don't particularly mind that the meeting is planned for Reading, it's just that it seems so biased that suddenly now BSI (Bull**** International) operate Reading, the World Cup miraculously moves there. I know Reading had the world cup many years ago, the meetings weren't bad other than the fact that the track was often slick, which seemed to suit the opposition more than the host nation. A similar situation occured at Coventry, and although the Kings Lynn track suited the riders, i accept the location was hardly central for most supporters. It seems to me that the 2 best venues for this meeting would be Poole or Sheffield, or Peterboro as a third, can't really see why it has been changed other than to make money for the new Reading promotion. These events are "shared" but staging has its "benefits".

So now you've found him, whats he doing, give us an update

I believe this may have been Howard Cole, his father Howard Cole senior was a renowned frame builder, engine tuner, and certainly Howard junior was a mascot somewhere. He went on to become an exceptionally good speedway rider who on his day was capable of beating anyone, in a career sadly blighted with some serious injuries.

Steve i am sorry but you've lost me, but i have to agree with your comment, which time has allowed me to forget, that they did also bring a certain new lifestyle with them. In many people's opinion, an influence that began the demise of a former world champion. Getting back on topic i am not saying that criticism isn't allowed, but the suggestion that because some of these riders didn't become world champion then they're no good, that is negativity. They were what they were, nothing more nothing less, they came, gave it a go, some made it some didn't, they were mostly colourful characters. In some peoples opinion they were nice guys, in others they were bad eggs, depending on your tolerance of mind altering substances, a situation that is tolerated, seen as exceptable behaviour in North America, a situation i find difficult to understand having lived here for 2 1/2 years. The suggestion that Lance King was in any way unsuccessful, i find laughable, anyone who becomes world number 3 has to be taken seriously. There were a number of unsuccessful Americans, who were unable to adapt to larger tracks than they were used to at home.

Not all Americans, just like English,Welsh or Outer Mongolians for that matter were successful. Did they add something to the sport ? they certainly did. I remember going to Kings Lynn in 1979 to see an American select take on the Stars, it was a great night, with Kelly Moran and a host of others putting on a show, mixing with fans and generally having a good time. Amongst others was one Steve Columbo, i think he rode for Birmingham at the time, he wasn't particularly impressive, but gave it a go. I think this thread is pretty negative, generally speaking and particularly around the late seventies and early eighties, the American contingent brought a lot of excitement, and glamour to our sport. They weren't all as good as Bruce Penhall, but i don't think back then you would have found many fans saying anything other than good things about them.

Ian Turner, used to cause great amusement in the seventies by regularly turning up in a donkey jacket, much to Terry Betts's amusement who sent Ian a photograph inscribed "sponsored by Wimpey". This was mainly because the second half finalists at Lynn in those days all used to be given "rally jackets" every week to the point where Ian fancied something "different". He was also notoriously shy of publicity and recognition, preferring to let his actions on track do the talking.

Dennis Sigalos was undoubtedly one of the best riders ever to have ridden at Saddlebow Road. I can remember in the early 80's, i think he went 27 races undefeated there at one time, when you consider the opposition included Dave Jessup and Michael Lee when arguably they were at there peak, that was quite incredible. Both he and Bruce Penhall were incredibly talented, combined with the fact that they were both extremely wealthy, they were fitting titanium parts to there engines before this had been done to any degree. This combination gave them an edge over there competitors, although they probably would have been successful anyway, the money did help. I have to say that they both did contribute highly to the success of the sport during that period, they were hugely popular personalities, who were great with the fans.

How about Colin Cook, Howard Cole, Arthur Price, Kelven Mullarkey all great characters, be interesting to know what they have done since retirement. Gary Middleton and Gary Guglielmi are 2 obvious others that come to mind.

I have to say that Ivan committed that major (pardon the pun) sin in England of being too successful. However i have to say also that i have 2 distinctive stories to tell and they are thus. Firstly an old friend of mine who is a former rider from the early days of speedway who quoted Jack Parker as saying that he saw Ivan one night in the pits at Belle Vue Manchester completely pull the telephone off the wall when in Ivans own opinion he had been excluded unfairly from a race, this horrified Jack, who came from an age where people in England just didn't behave that way. Having said that certainly in the early seventies Ivan truly was in a league of his own as the averages at that time certainly confirm. Also i had seen Ivan on several occasions completely obliterate the opposition at King's Lynn although this i had viewed from a position on the 3rd/4th bend. In 1979 i made a point of sitting in the grand stand at Saddlebow Road in line with the starting gate where i witnessed a display that i had never seen before or since, in each of Ivan's opening three rides he missed the start and yet still made it to the first corner in first position. I have never before or since seen anyone gain such acceleration once releasing the clutch lever as Ivan did that night, and this illustrated to me just how much Ivan had an advantage over his rivals in technical ability from the starting gate. In fairness also i went to the Golden Great's meeting at Coventry in 88 or 89 and Ivan gave me and several thousand other people his autograph which today i treasure and certainly the Ivan Mauger i saw that day was nothing like some magazine articles have often unfairly portrayed. He is weather anyone agree's or not the greatest of all time, statistic's prove this and certainly the promoter's both during his riding career and since would do well to listen to, he certainly made a lot of sense to a lot of people. Sadly a lot of BSPA members then, as now, resented being told how to run there business's, particularly from someone who had done so much to line there pockets over a number of years.

Can't say that i never noticed that at Kings Lynn, one of the bigger tracks

This has been a great debate, for me though it goes like this. The 3 greatest riders of all time are Mauger Fundin and Nielsen, in that order. No one has mentioned how much more difficult it was for Mauger in 1968/69/70 when qualifying meetings and finals were held on tracks prepared differently, not raced on regularly, and given to the locals (Rusians and Poles) ahead of time for practise. At that time Ivan did not have any mechanical advntage, everyone was riding the same machine, all he had was determination, guts and an extraordinary ability at the starting gate. Ivans level of dominance at that time was incredible, i remember coming home from King's Lynn, Ivan having scored yet another maximum, and eveyone commenting "Ivan's in a class of his own". Ivans British League average was over 11 points for several seasons, compare that to the others. Fundin also had no mechanical advantage over his rivals, people from Norwich tell me that Ove would turn up without a bike of his own, and go out and score a maximum, his fifth world title in 1967 he was lifted on his bike for each ride, this guy had guts and a determination to win at any cost. I would say he was dominant at a time when arguably there was the most competition from other good riders-Briggs,Moore,Craven and others. Nielsen for me was incredible, at Kings Lynn his ability to come from the back was amazing, his total dominance was amazing, he probably had a mechanical advantage over his rivals, for some of the time, but he certainly had some high class opposition in Gunderson, Jan o Pedersen,Ermolenko and several others. What i am saying here is that Nielsen had a complete mastery of riding any track in any condition and come from behind to beat anyone, the other 2 riders i mention did most of there work from the front, Hans was not an invincible gater, just an incrdibly talented rider.

Trees, a lot of your theories are correct, i have spoken with people connected and envolved with Hevingham. The pub owner at the time was the problem, not sure if Cyril still owns the land or not. According to people in the know Cyril certainly did ruffle a few feathers, and there is definately an opinion that people on the local council were connected with the football club and didn't want competition for peoples leisure spending. In one very envolved persons opinion it might take a lifetime before new people are on the council and in the planning department, who are not biased, or have memories of Cyril's somewhat cavalier although enthusiastic approach. Unquestionably there is more than sufficient interest in the area to make any new venture a viable proposition, in fact i would suggest a very lucrative opportunity. Obviously the place should have been the showground,sadly there you have the 57 old farts syndrome, and after all these years the houses are now too close as they are at Peterborough. I am firmly of the opinion though that there will be speedway again in Norwich sometime, its just waiting for someone with enough perseverance and diplomatic persistance to finally succeed where the other 28 attempts failed.

YES,i can definately confirm that article was written by a very dear friend of mine Mr Ken Jackson of Briston in Norfolk. He is describing what a social event it was to go to Norwich on a Saturday night. Norwich as we know was an incredibly well supported venue, people travelled from very long distances to see there heroes every week. I will contact Ken and see if i can get the Full Monty so to speak.

At Kings Lynn in the late sixties early seventies we enjoyed some terrific 2nd half racing with the likes of Arthur Price, Ian Turner, Russell Osborne, Tony Featherstone, Kelven Mullarkey and David Gaen all giving tremendously exciting racing, no one ever went home early. In those days there was often 5 riders in a race, Ian usually wearing a check helmet cover coming from the back of 25 yards, Kelven was always a fence scraper, great days. Over the years we have all seen so many riders come and go, one other rider particularly sticks in my mind "wild Rick Jones" he was very spectacular, i remember him jumping out of the gate one night and heading Richard Hellsen for 3 laps and then falling in his excitement on the last lap. Why dont we bring back the old second half, i am sure people would want to see it again.

Just about everyone agree's that the 1981 world final at Wembley was the greatest world final ever. I know cause i was there ! There aint no doubt it was a terrific meeting i still have the tape and when i get depressed about the weather i watch it and recall an incredible occasion before an incredible crowd. Question is what happened after that, and what can we learn from it, why are we unable to attract anywhere that number of people to a meeting nowadays ?