chunky

He rode for Ipswich in 1969 and 1970, but I can't find anything else. Steve

I think you may be talking about Janice. Short girl? Her friend was Jenny, I believe. Steve

I remember quite a few with huge chests! Sorry, we seem to be digressing... Steve

Fortunately, I wasn't there, but it still had a profound effect on me, the same as Tommy's tragic death did. I'd been talking to Vic in the Wimbledon pits the night before. Steve

Welcome Colin; it's great to hear from you! Don't you think we're all sad too, though? I still remember you winning the NLRC there 30 years ago, and posting a time of 60 seconds dead in one heat. Can't believe it's that long ago.. Steve.

Absolutely... Don't forget, Dave Fairbrother used to help him also. Before Eddie, it was Alf Jarrett, who used to stand at the top of the steps going up to the Pit Bend terracing. Then, there was Alan, who used to wander round selling the magazines... Who remembers the prize bingo in the grandstand??? Steve

Then there were Alan Cowland, Tony Childs, Geoff Hughes, Steve Chilman, Murray Burt, Leif Soderberg, Garry Middleton etc. Of course, before them were Messrs Harrfeldt, Nordin, McAuliffe, plus Ronnie Rolfe, Keith Whipp, and Roy Trigg. Steve

Now, you're just being cynical... So, other memories from Plough Lane include Mick Hines and Steve Koppe trying to punch each others' lights out, and Eric Broadbelt getting a little upset at our treatment of him after a couple of dust-ups with Roger, and actually hitting one o our supporters, Ian. Then there was the underwater GP Final; boy, did it rain that night! Nathan's first full maximum (against Edinburgh), when Roger shut off to let him get the lot. Eddie getting carted off to hospital when his chain snapped, and wrapped round his leg. Think that was in the Golden Helmet against Phil Crump? Ken Tozer's announcements, including 'Slim' Jim Tebby, and 'Hedgehopper' Trevor Hedge. "With a 2-4-6-8, who do we appreciate" etc A junior race one night, with Rocky Coutts, Ian Silk, Graham Crook, and Ian Fletcher (pretty sure it was them), and none of them even managing to get out of the second bend! Steve

Yeah, remember Viv, who also used to play in goal for the Speedway Riders XI! You probably recall Ken Archer, who worked in the pits at Wimbledon, Hackney and White City, and the Chaplin family? All good friends of ours. From about 71 to 75, I didn't go much. My dad was busy, my mum had lost interest, and I wasn't really old enough to go on my own. As I said, it was when Tommy was killed (I still remember picking up the Daily Mirror that morning, and seeing the headline), that I started going again. I went the following week for the challenge against Swindon, and after that, missed very few home meetings in the next 13-14 years. It is great to have a few of us swapping memories and stories on here. Steve

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