chunky

I agree with frigbo on Ian Ross, and I also think that the Wimbledon junior from 1976 is probably Ian Williams - obviously not the one who used to ride for Swindon! Steve

Oops; sorry, Jim! I did know that was Ronnie, so I don't know what I was thinking... That's what I thought... Steve

You're correct Bob; now I had another look, it is Jochen Dinse. Steve

Berwick (1) 72-1 - Geoff Davies Cradley (8) 76-1 - Steve Bastable, I believe... Edinburgh (1) - Henry Harrfeldt New Cross (2) - Bobby Croombs Newcastle (1) - Peter Kelly is the rider Newcastle (2) and (3) - Brian Craven Norwich (1) - Wimbledon actually, and it's Gerry King Poland (1) - Henryk Zyto w/helmet. Could be Mieczyslaw Polukard with him, but not a great view Poole (2) - Antonin Kasper (Sr) guesting Rayleigh (10) v BVC - Taffy Owen on the inside, and Dingle Brown next to him Rayleigh (4) 68-1 - Dingle Brown Rayleigh (8) v Boro - Pete Reading is the Boro rider Russia (1) - Valeri Klementiev Russia (2) - not sure, but it looks like it could be Vladimir Sokolov Russia (4) - A young Boris Samorodov Russia (5) - Boris Samorodov again Southampton (2) - Looks like Brian Crutcher Swede (4) and fans - Rune Sormander Swede at Wimbledon (3) - Birger Forsberg Swindon (2) - Ian Williams in Y/B Unknown 2 - Sure it's Peter Moore Unknown announcer - Ken Tozer it is Unknown on tractor - Looks like a muddy Ron Mountford Unknown v Oxford 68-1 - Colin Gooddy is the Cheetah Unknown WC Round - Peter Craven leading Briggo, Bob Andrews outside, Ronnie Moore at the back Unknowns at Wembley practice - That's Mirac rearing at the gate Unknowns and wives - Ted Flanagan in the middle, presumably with his wife! Unknown signs for fans - Agree with Jan Holub West Ham (2) - Is Bettsy guesting Wimbledon (2) - Is neither Reg Luckhurst nor Gerry King; it's Norwich's John Debbage Wolves (3) - Tommy Sweetman with beard, looks like Pete Jarman with Cup, and it looks suspiciously like a young Howard Cole/Kid Bodie with them Steve

Having witnessed how our "World Finals" thread developed into a discussion about Jerzy Szczakiel (notice the spelling, Derek... ), plus a few Poles who rode in the UK, I thought it would be fun to start something more specific. There were some interesting points made and questions asked, but I often wonder what would have happened to Polish speedway if more Poles had ridden in the UK in the '50's and '60's, and more importantly, they had stayed for longer. Of course, I suspect that the Polish authorities may have been responsible for the latter, but that's just me being cynical. The first of the top Poles to ride in the UK was Marian Kaiser, who replaced the late Gerry Hussey in the 1959 Leicester team. Tadeusz Teodorowicz first appeared for Swindon in the same year, but as he had already "defected", and went on to become a naturalised Briton before his tragic death, I don't think that his case can be discussed in the same manner. Obviously, had he lived, things may have been very different... Kaiser was an immediate success, but was in turn replaced by Stefan Kwoczala for the 1960 season. Also in 1960, Coventry signed Henryk Zyto, who had a seemingly satisfactory season. However, both only lasted for a year before being replaced by Pawel Waloszek and Kazimierz Bentke for 1961. Waloszek ended the year as Leicester's top scorer, but his fellow countryman never quite got the hang of British speedway. By 1962, they had both gone too, leaving just "Teo", and if I am remembering correctly, we had to wait over 10 years for Antoni Woryna (1973) to appear. What if Kaiser, Kwoczala, Waloszek, and Zyto, had been able to enjoy and extended spell in British racing? Would they have really emerged as true World-class riders? Sure, they were always very capable, but were never able to master the western European tracks like they did those in the Eastern bloc. Like Zenon Plech, they were young enough, certainly, unlike Woryna and Edward Jancarz, who were both very much the elder statesmen when they received their opportunities. The same applies to Henryk Glucklich. What impact though, would their success have had on Polish speedway as a whole? Had Szczakiel been able to ride in the BL, we don't know how that would have affected his career, but I do feel that he was a much better rider than most westerners would have you believe. Of the Poles to start filtering through in the late '60's, I am certain that Andrzej Wyglenda could have been a great asset to British speedway. Very highly-rated on the continent, Wyglenda was never able to reproduce his known form on the international stage, yet few would disagree that overall, he was a far better rider - for a far longer period of time - than the much-maligned Szczakiel! I look forward to reading some of your posts... Steve

I agree. The strange thing is that people forget that it wasn't the ONLY thing he won. Jerzy had previously scored a maximum when winning the World Pairs Championship. Even though the final was in Poland, that was no mean feat, and the fact that he managed to win both the individual and pairs World Championships should indicate that he actually wasn't that bad a rider. Steve

Sorry I'm a few days late, but here goes... 1969 Wembley - My main memory is Torbjorn Harryson's horrendous crash. 1978 Wembley - What a brilliant performance from Jerzy Rembas, but what about Jessup's EF? 1981 Wembley - I can't add anything to what has been said... 1982 Los Angeles - Whatever anyone says, it was still a fantastic place to go for a final. 1983 Norden - Brilliant display by Muller; a worthy champion. 1985 Bradford - I took Keith Yorke up there with me to see Kelvin. 1987 Amsterdam - Made a nice little holiday out of that one. Steve

According to "The Complete History of the B.L." : ....................................M......R......P......CMA 1988....Wimbledon......5.....16.....18.....4.50 1988....M. Keynes......15.....56.....85.....6.07 1989....M. Keynes......26....124...184....5.94 1990....Eastbourne...34....177...287.....6.49 Unfortunately, I don't have any stats from 1991 onwards, but I do recall Tony being a fairly competent rider. He also did a bit of grass-track; I remember going to see Maxine Hill racing somewhere out Caterham way, and Tony was there too. Steve

It was pretty brief, but according to "The Complete History of the British League", this is it: .................................M.......R.......P.......CMA 1970 Doncaster.......31....125....156.....4.99 1971 Birmingham.....31....107....118.....4.41 Steve

Yep, I'm pretty sure it was the 1978 I-C Final also, as that is Ila Teromaa. Steve

That's right. Ricky flies for Angel Flight, a free Australian air service for non-emergency medical patients, and charities such as the Red Cross. You can check out their website at www.angelflight.org.au. Steve

The pork and stuffing sarnies -and the pork scratchings - at Cradley!!! Steve

I just hope Justin Elkins never gets a pilot's licence, then... Steve

He died in 1995. There is quite a bit of stuff on him online, and obviously, he led quite an eventful life. Sad, but thanks for checking. Well, he was getting on in years when Wimbledon were still running. Steve

Perhaps the most notable was Flight Lieutenant George Pepper, DFC & Bar. He was awarded the Dinstinguished Flying Cross in August 1942 after shooting down a Ju-88. Pepper was involved in the destruction of several enemy aircraft, including three Dornier 217's in a single battle. George Pepper was killed in a training accident on November 17, 1942. He was testing a new Bristol Beaufighter at Rochester in Kent. Although already mentioned, Frank Charles lost his life in a gliding accident over Dunstable Downs, on July 15, 1939. It appears that Chris Julian was killed in his home-made gyrocopter sometime in 1997. Of course, the original "Great Dane", Morian Hansen, is another of note. Hansen received his flying certificate on 12th October, 1935, at the Herts and Essex Flying Club at Broxbourne (apparently, many other speedway stars were doing the same at this time). He joined the RAF in 1939 (one of the first, if not THE first Danish airman to join the RAF), and on 4th February, 1940, he was promoted to Pilot Officer. On the night of 25/26 July, 1940, in the skies over over Dortmund, Hansen's Wellington shot down a Messerschmitt 110. This was the first time a British night bomber had downed a German night fighter, and on 7 July 1941, he was awarded the DFC for this action. Also receiving the George Medal (for an unrelated incident), Hansen later set up flying schools in Denmark, at Kastrup and Skovlunde. Steve

He was born in Birmingham, on October 3, 1928. Steve

Derek actually started out in the early '50's, perhaps even the late '40's. Yep, he was around a long time. Steve

OY!!! I represent that remark!!! Of course, I didn't have a beard then... Steve

I had a couple of mugs of Bovril yesterday! Oh dear, Jim; you've just gone way down in my estimation... Steve

Yep, from a blood clot after a routine hip replacement. Jim was a good friend. Steve

That's why I had the angry face, 'cos of that damn idiot grabbing the hose! Steve

REALLY!!! Steve

I treated as a joke... Really? I think you may actually me confusing me with someone else, because I really can't remember doing that. Of course, my mind may be going... I seem to remember that; that was at WFC, wasn't it? Dear old Jim Tebby was a great footballer, and I think it was at that match where he scored a beautiful goal from the edge of the box in front of the West Bank! Anyone know if Viv's still with us? Steve

Okay smart-arse... Anyway, I never did get any of Wally's recordings. However, one of my most cherished possessions from the 70's is an LP of the 1974 World Final, narrated by Chris Carter! How many of you remember, or even had knowledge of, that? Other memories? There are : The London Cup! Viv Harwood and the Speedway Riders XI Alan Weeks doing the BBC commentary for the Wills Internationale The Wills Internationale Don Clarke writing for the Sunday Mirror Going to Hackney for the Bonanza Best Pairs, and getting a free stick of rock Best Pairs meetings Ronnie Greene, Charlie Knott, Charles Ochiltree, Bill Bridgett, and Liz Taylor Steve

I know it's your thread, but stop hogging the damn thing, Tony! You keep beating me to it... Anyway, others are : The VW Grand Prix Paul Dowdall beating Eric Boocock in a second half in 1974 Being passed on the roads by riders driving at 90 mph Being passed on the roads by cars with speedway sun visors and stickers Test Matches The dreaded "rider control" (can't say we miss that, though - just a memory) Having to queue up to get in to a meeting WCQR Norway having more than one rider and, in the same vein... Riders representing their own countries, and not being allowed to switch just 'cos they have a poxy licence Getting home, and having to get shale out of your clothes and your hair Bowyer's meat pies at Wimbledon Supporting riders who were older than me! After Radio Luxembourg, listening to the results on LBC (that's for us Londoners) Kids who pretended they were speedway riders by sticking their foot in a crushed coke can Mrs. Dorothy Charles Batson When riders weren't scared of racing at Exeter The 50-points limit Further to your point, Tony, when the British Final meant something... The dear old JAP Meeting riders at Watford Gap services on the way home from a Saturday meeting Getting to Wembley six hours before the meeting started Colin Richardson clocking 60 seconds dead during the 1977 NLRC Steve