chunky

Rather you than me! certainly wouldn't want to try that these days - if it's even still there, of course... Yeah, long time since we've seen crowds like that. So, tell me Iris, when did you start going to Wimbledon? My parents actually met there! My mum started going in 1950, and my dad in 1958. I was three weeks old (1962) when I first went, and it has stayed with me ever since. Steve

As I asked before, WHO ARE YOU??? I got an email from Johnnie this morning. We stay in constant touch. Olaf is now living in Oregon, or somewhere out west, I believe. COME ON VACLAV!!! Jesus just seemed to disappear, but that was WAY back. Mick the Gut is living down in Hackbridge. Don't know if you know, but he married Barbara Upson, and they now have a bunch of littl'uns. The others, no idea what happened to them. You mentioned Paul; I'd forgotten about him and the lovely Angie. Then, there was Mick's mate Steve Brewer, Ian 'Mini' Cooper, Gareth Mays, Jock, the Umneys, Linda Bell, the Bond family, Alan, Margaret, and Gary Hammocks (Steve Hone used to hang out with them), Larry Rose... Steve

The food was expensive, but you know, they were damn good! Hey, do you remember the little kiosks under the bends that sold sweets? I used to love the rolls of "bitter cherry" and "bitter orange" they used to sell. Made by Trebor, I seem to recall. They used to put seats on the dog track. You remember seeing everyone walking down Blackshaw Road? For some reason, those single bike racks seemed wonderful to me, especially when the riders used to zip past us on the motorways! Oh, and Iris, you forgot rattles and rosettes... Rakers...Blaze Away... You remember the torchlight parades? Badges with year bars... Steve

WOW!!! Hey, what about the night Paul Dowdall beat Eric Boocock? Kelvin Mullarkey decking the starting marshall... Terry Mussett demolishing the fence from the pit gate to the back straight... Maido coming off on the third bend...any given week... Our juniors, Rocky Coutts, Roland Duke, Martyn Charles, Keith Yorke etc... Second halves, often with a guest "star"... Neil Cameron completing four laps... Steve

Where do you want me to start??? Do I know you? I was a Pit Bend Loony! Doesn't get any better than that, does it? Watford Gap...sigh... What about the night we spent at Watford Gap on the way home from Belle Vue? We thought there was something wrong with the coach, but Steve Hickmott had picked up an old road sign and put it under one of the seats. We never gave it a thought that it was the sign that was making the noise! By the time we got back, it was time to jump on the coach down to Eastbourne for a 4-Team Tournament! Strangely enough, it was Tommy's tragic death that got me going again. Who was or wasn't responsible doesn't matter; poor Rudy was never the same after that. Saw him at Peterborough a few years back, with the Hines boys. Fortunately, I wasn't there, but I had been talking to Vic in the Wimbledon pits the night before. My wife doesn't really understand, but she knows when I start getting all sentimental and teary-eyed! OK, what are my memories? Let's look at the 60's (when I were a nipper), and some of my earliest memories were of Olle "white-boots" and Mike 'Zoomber' Coomber! I also have some very fond memories of the 1969 season, when Ronnie and Maido came back. On to 1970, and I can remember us winning the KOCup at a very wet Belle Vue! The last time I saw Tommy was when he won the 1975 laurels with a 15-point maximum. My memories of 1976 are very strong, if a little mixed, obviously. Then, it was wonderful when Roger beat PC twice in one night, and from the back at that! Oh, and the last heat 5-1 Roger and Eddie got over Olsen and Shirra to get us the draw... Yeah, Mick Hines beating Penhall in heat 13... Oops, I missed Colin winning the NLRC in '77... Simmo and Anders getting a last heat 5-1 to get a draw at Hull on Royal Wedding Day. Of course, the NL days were good, like when we won up at Glasgow, or when we drew the KOCup semi at home to Poole after losing the first four heats 5-1... Abusing Andy Galvin and/or Craig Boyce! Worst memories? Tony Briggs and Todd Wiltshire's almost identical crashes on the back straight... Obviously Tommy, but also losing Gary Everett in at Lokeren. Now look, you've got me started... Steve

His last World Final was in 1979 (which he won, of course), and he wore coloured leathers then. Steve

Ah, Trevor's finest moment... It was just that I wanted to clarify that Ivan wore black leathers at the World Final. So did Maido. Ronnie was more commonly seen with the two yellow/one red stripes on both arms and legs, as shown on pages 18, 36, and 79 in the above book. Briggo also wore them occasionally (p18 and p76), and so did Hasse Holmkvist (p40) and Geoff Maloney (p51). They weren't uncommon at the time, and I thought they looked pretty smart. Steve

Don't forget guys like Clive Hitch and Pete Munday... Steve

Sorry, but I think you mean VIKTOR Trofimov. Vladimir (Viktor's son, I believe) came a few years later (reserve for the 1987 World Final etc). You're right though, Viktor was a very accomplished rider who could perhaps have achieved a little more. Steve

I believe that to be the case also. Steve

We stayed in Groningen, Steve. Breda is too far south. Steve

Right again, Iris; PC did have some green leathers, and you're right about how often he changed them also! Don't forget that Roger Johns had some predominantly green leathers, both early and late in his career. Steve

I was there also. Which trip were you on, Steve? Can't remember if you were with us on tufty's trip... Steve

I said I could be wrong... Actually, Dave's book is one I don't have; better see if I can find a copy! Steve

Sounds like you've been doing the same as me, probably from the British Speedway Handbook! That's exactly what I found... Actually, I found a couple of pics from 1968 of black leathers with simple stripes. In response to an earlier post, I can't recall Jimmy Mac being sponsored by Smith's Crisps (but I could be wrong), but I know Brian Collins was sponsored by Smith's in the '70's. Don't forget Ole Olsen and Soda Stream! Steve

He may well have worn black leathers at Wembley in 1972, but he definitely wore them in 1969. Steve

He also owned some yellow leathers, I believe. Steve

Looking back, it does seem that they were the first two to really advertise on their leathers in 1969, although Ivan still often wore black (as he did in that year's World Final). Referring to the main point of this thread, another one who stood out was Alan Knapkin, with his yellow leathers. Garry Middleton and Jimmy Gooch also had light blue and white leathers. Steve

That's right, Iris, and it would have to have been around that time, as Maido retired at the end of '71. Again, I'm pretty sure that Ivan and Briggo would have been two of the first with sponsorship (Jawa amongst others) on their leathers. I'll have a look through some old books and magazines and see what I can find. Interesting question! Steve

Leathers were predominantly black until about 1971/72. Of course, there had been odd riders such as Nigel Boocock (blue), Mike Broadbanks and Greg Kentwell (red), Alan Cowland and (much earlier) Ken Le Breton (white) who deviated from the norm. Mauger and Briggs were two of the first riders to sport multi-coloured leathers. As mentioned, Leicester were among the first to have "team" leathers, back in 1969. Wimbledon had a sort of team outfit in 1970 or 71 (can't remember which), with leathers which were black, with yellow and red stripes on the arms and legs. Then there were other teams (West Ham, for example) who kitted the team out in football jerseys. There were a number of individuals also who often wore these, including Charlie Monk, and Bernt Persson. Other "individual" tastes included Olle Nygren's white boots, Sture Lindblom's bow tie, and Ken 'Casper' Cameron's unique body colour! Oh, and talking of fashions, don't forget those riders who wore scarves. I think Neil Collins was probably the last of that breed. Steve

Sorry, but time to put the record straight - again. Cliff Anderson WAS ridng in 1975, appearing in 24 matches for Crewe. Steve

You are indeed correct. He rode for Ringwood in 1954 and 1955, with some appearances for Eastbourne in '55 also. Steve

Oxford 2 71-1, is Ronnie Genz, I think, if someone can confirm? The Oxford rider on the inside of Ken McKinlay is defintely Colin Gooddy. The Wimbledon unknown would appear to be Reg Luckhurst. It was posted earlier, and probably missed, but the Mildenhall unknowns 1976 are Bob Coles leading (definitely), and I believe Fred Mills. Steve

Hull 1 71-1 Reg Wilson Reading 1 71-1 Josef Angermuller Oxford 1 71-1 Oyvind S Berg Oxford 3 -71-1 Colin Gooddy Sunderland 1 Russ Dent nearest camera, looks like George Barclay on left Eastbourne - It is Reg Trott leading Graeme Smith One other thing Wolverhampton's Mick Powell is actually BILL Powell. Steve

I saw Roger's mechanic, Ron, at Wimbledon a couple of years ago. He said he hadn't heard from Roger in years; seems he became something of a recluse. Steve