chunky

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

You beat me to it... Steve

Thing is, there have been many other riders who have retired mid-season - for a number of reasons. Okay, he was a high-profile character, but it is a rider's right to retire... Steve

Belle Vue, Oxford, Doncaster, Glasgow, Leicester, and several others... My five would be: Ken McKinlay Jim McMillan Tommy Miller George Hunter Gordon McGregor Steve

Dom "McGinty" Perry was one of my mum's all-time favourite riders. Another name I remember from the early 70's was George Fitzgerald; he was one of the top names at Shelbourne, but I am unable to gauge the abilities of the Irish other than Dom Perry. Steve

Spot on, my man! I can't add anything to that list - or that explanation... Steve

You should look up George Pepper DFC; apart from being a very good speedway rider, he was a well known RAF fighter pilot who shot down 18 enemy bombers. He was killed on a test flight. Nice to see Gary Ford mentioned. He lost his life way too young... Steve

What about Trond Skretting and Jorn Haugvalstad??? I would go for: Harrfeldt Eide Lovaas Holta Gunnestad Steve

Steve

Can we talk about flat-track here??? After all, this is the BFTF according to gustix... Steve