chunky

And I saw them both at the 1976 WTC Final at White City... Steve

Actually, no; iris123 was correct! I am currently reading Mr Jacobs' excellent Speedway in London, and I hope he won't mind me quoting him. This was at the end of 1953: "At the end of the campaign, Young asked for a move from West Ham because he felt the track was too big and more a test of speed than skill. As he was probably the most skilful rider around at the time, he wanted to ride at a track where he could use this to his advantage, In a desperate bid to hang on to his services, the West Ham management agreed to shorten the 440-yard circuit to 415 yards and Young agreed to stay." Steve

Although I never went to West Ham as much as you did, I do echo your sentiments. Funny you should mention Christer and Sverre, but they were great to watch there. I was at Christer's debut, which was also the night Sverre broke his arm... What I also remember is the cold wind that used to blow across from the river! Steve

You beat me to it! Incidentally, for those who thought it was Alan Cowland because of the white boots, I can tell you that most of the 1963 Exeter team wore white boots; the boots seemed to be a part of the team uniform. Steve

Well, it's about South Africans, rather than Zimbabweans... Steve

I certainly get what you are saying, and I will admit, a yellow star on a red background is my absolute fave symbol! Here in the US, we have a burger chain called Hardee's, and that is their symbol! Thing is, I can't get my head round the "team" claim, when it isn't a team. Of course, we will ALWAYS have our memories... As far as the grandstand lights being turned off, there are a hundred more things I could have listed! "With a 2-4-6-8..." Mrs Dorothy Charles Batson Dumping bags of sawdust on the track and riders donning overalls. Terry Mussett demolishing the entire 1st and 2nd bend fence. Decorating the coaches (that was one of my jobs). The St. John's Ambulance collection. Mick Hines smacking Steve Koppe. Those wonderful "bitter cherry" and "bitter orange" sweets (Trebor?) from the kiosk between the 1st and 2nd bends. Stella and Ernie Middleton, Vera and Ernie Day, and the entire Chaplin clan. Hanging over the pits wall. Johnsy beating PC twice on his way to a maximum. Trudging out of the stadium after the meeting being called off after six heats. Playing darts for Wimbledon 'B' during the close season. The two-minute klaxon. "Hedgehopper", "Slim Jim", and Mike "Zoomer" Coomber. Spending the night at Watford Gap (coming back from Belle Vue) because of a noise the coach was making. Steve Hickmott and a couple of others had stolen a road sign, and left it under the seat, and we had all forgotten about it! Steve

You know, I would just like to echo the sentiments of iris and cityrebel. I am a lifelong Dons fan. I was born into speedway (I am very much a speedway supporter in general), and I really was born into Wimbledon speedway. The fact that there is a team of individuals thrown together to "represent" my team sadly means nothing. If ever - and I know this will never happen - a WIMBLEDON team returns to the area, I will again become one of their biggest fans, even though I am 4000 miles away. Without a "team", and without somewhere to call "home", it is not WIMBLEDON. The Dons really were a huge part of my life, and the memories I have of a lifetime of support means that they still are. A nice gesture perhaps, but a one-off like this has no place in my memories of Wimbledon. Wimbledon is Huxley, Moore, Jansson, Wiltshire, and Burrows. Wimbledon is the Pit-Bend Loonies (I was one). Wimbledon is Ronnie Greene, Ken Tozer, Viv Harwood, Ken Archer, and the Lannings.. Wimbledon is parking down Blackshaw Rd. Wimbledon is the sounds and smells while walking through the car park. Wimbledon is Alan Graham and Epsom Coaches. Wimbledon is the Internationale and the London Cup. Wimbledon is eating Bowyer's steak and kidney pies in the grandstand. Wimbledon is "Blaze Away" and the torchlight parade (there's one for the old 'uns...) Wimbledon is all my scrapbooks, photos, and programmes. Wimbledon is following the Dons to Hackney, Hull, Belle Vue, and Berwick. Wimbledon is British League, National League, and Conference. Wimbledon is Alf Jarrett, Eddie Toogood, Dave Fairbrother, and Alan Bowman. Wimbledon is winning the KOC three years in a row, and giving up four 5-1's in the first four heats against Poole. Wimbledon is taking the "special" from Tooting Broadway, and checking the line-up in the Evening News. Wimbledon is the greatest thing that I knew, and the thing that now tears me apart. Wimbledon is no more... As I said, if a team comes back to the area, then yes, I will feel it is Wimbledon again, but as it stands at the moment - and has done for all these years... Steve

Thing is, while I find the team kevlars busy, that doesn't really cause me the confusion. In the old days, everyone looked the same in black, but it was easy enough to recognise most riders. Likewise the full face helmets. In the late 80's. there were a lot of riders wearing Bell Moto III's, and again, it wasn't difficult to identify everyone. I really think that it is down to the "generic" riding style that everyone seems to have adopted, and it's not just a case of the cornering; even the body positions on the straight all seem the same now. Also, speedway riders used to be a much wider variety of sizes and shapes than they are now. Compare some already mentioned here, like Broady and Schoie, and "Big Arthur". You had Les McGillivray, Eric Boothroyd, Andy Buck, Graham Miles, Peter Craven, Norman Strachan... Sigh... Steve

...and going to Church makes you religious, right? So that means that standing in a garage makes me a car then??? Steve

I can't believe nobody has mentioned the best looking rider from Oxfordshire: "Baby-Face" Dot Cowley! Oh well, I don't suppose many of you are old enough... Steve

Absolutely correct. Ronnie spent his first few years riding for Australia, and his early World Finals were as an Australian. Steve

Well, PC was from Cheshire anyway!!! Steve

No, I am not going to start a new series of threads gustix-style, but I am adding this one purely for my esteemed colleague Norbold! Vic Huxley Ronnie Moore Ade Hoole Mick Handley TOM FARNDON Steve

Oh dear.... And you think Ron Preston was born in Lancashire??? Steve

Maybe - at a stretch - for Yorkshire... Steve

Even though I prefer using historic boundaries (hence Middleton, Oldham, and Eccles), Chris was just too obvious! Don't forget Graham Clifton, Robin Adlington, or Ginger Lees... Steve

Ron Preston David Blackburn Garry Middleton Trevor Oldham Declan Eccles Steve

Of course, Poland are a dominant nation these days, turning out a constant stream of class riders. Even back in the 50's and 60's, there were a fair number of Poles who - I feel - could have graced the British scene - including Marian Rose, Wlodzimierz Zwendrowski, Edmund Migos, Edward Kupczynski, Zbigniew Podlecki, Joachim Maj, and Konstanty Pociejkowicz. Steve

That was Lars Jansson. I think you will find. I am positive Lars-Ake Andersson never rode in the UK. My top five would be Igor Plechanov Boris Samorodov Rune Holta Andrzej Wyglenda Art Pechar (although he rode in the UK, I am sure he never rode league) Honourable mentions for Lubos Tomicek Sr, Valeri Klementiev, Timo Laine... Steve

I think that may be Frank Lawrence... Steve

Ivan would vote for "Christ Almighty, Torre!" Steve

Zoltan Adorjan Sandor Levai Robert Nagy Antal Kocso Pal Perenyi Steve

Exactly. People don't always get it; while there have been MANY superb up-and-comers in sport over the years, it is the attitude, determination, and dedication - rather than simple ability and talent - that makes one successful. Yes, Bast was "good", but he never did anything to show us that he had the desire (or the capability) to become a world-beater. If we are going to judge him by his performances on his home track(s), then 15-year old Martin Dugard's feats on the Eastbourne training track would put him up there alongside Rickardsson, Mauger, and Fundin! Hell, Andy Campbell was a world-beater on a 100-yard concrete track! Steve

I was at Plough Lane that night. It was the week before the Inter-Continental Final, and despite some crazy rumours, Bast and Penhall simply had a few laps in preparation for White City. Of course, a spin round Wimbledon was no real help preparing for a track like White City... Now, regarding Mike Bast's potential on European tracks, it is all conjecture. On that appearance at Wood Lane, Penhall wasn't much better than Bast, and look what happened to him! There have been MANY riders who started their career - or European career - very poorly, but went on to become very successful, and as iris says, Mauger is the prime example. I don't doubt Bast's overall ability, and I don't doubt his dedication - to the American scene. I think he had the potential to become world-class, but not the desire; for him, it was all about the money. I think the same could be said for his brother Steve. The other American who I think COULD have made a name for himself in Europe (and mentioned earlier by Sidney) was Jeff Sexton. Steve

Quite a few choices here... 1 - Jiri Stancl 2 - Toni Kasper 3 - Roman Matousek 4 - Lubos Tomicek Sr 5 - Lukas Dryml Honourable mentions for Zdenek Kudrna and Jan Holub Sr... Steve