chunky

Still missing a decent football team, though...

I think there were probably a few Americans wearing them pre-1969, but the interesting thing is that while he was here, DeWayne Keeter wore an open-face helmet. As I said, the first pic I can find of a speedway rider wearing one is Briggo in April '69.

Okay, at the end of 1968, Briggo still wore a mask. Speedway Star W/E 11 April, 1969, there is a pic of him with a full-face helmet.

Briggo was wearing one in 1969, because he wore it at Wembley. Martin toyed with one on and off, but he was never a convert. Paul was a little later... Arthur Price was another early one.

Briggo certainly was one of the first, if not the first. However, Sid Sheldrick was another early one...

Then think of some more you can start!

Good call! Weird thing, though... We are talking about "beards", but how many of them could actually be classed as beards? Crutcher, Andrews, Cole, Broadbank, Roger Hill (I think he grew his in 1970), all they had was a bit of fluff on their chins! Strange when you think about it...

Sadly, neither... It was a little more inland, right off where the A13 is now.

I've said before that 1969 was a big turning point for me as far as speedway, and I have constantly studied it. That's how I remember Dave at Plymouth Alan Witt, yes, but Russ creeps in for 1969! Then there's dear old Terry Stone...

Dave Whittaker

Yes, he scored 9 points.

Howard Cole, Ken Eyre, Allan Brown, and Bob Andrews for a start...

While that was his best British Final performance, that was two rounds short of the World Final (Nordic-British Final and European Final). In 1965, he was 15th in the British Final, which qualified riders for the World Final directly, so he was one round shy. In 1967, he went out at the British Semi-Final stage, two rounds short of the World Final. In 1968, he went out in the British-Nordic Final, again two rounds short. In 1969, he qualified for the British Final, which qualified six riders for the World Final, but of course, he was unable to ride because of his injury - again, one round shy. In 1972, he qualified for the British Final - a round short again - as reserve, but didn't ride.

No, we know it's not the greatest racing track, but the fact that they were able to put the meeting on at all was fantastic. As I said elsewhere, speedway is often ruined by the weather. That's not going to change anytime soon, so we have to accept it. Constant whining about it is not the solution, but it seems to be what a lot of people want.

Jesus Christ! Lighten up, and stop taking everything so bloody seriously! The two of us had been joking about things this afternoon, and that's why I added the sentence about the miserable buggers who were complaining about the racing - and everything else. Anyway, if Doyle hadn't hit that rut, I don't think Zmarzlik would have caught him...

Well tell 'em!!!

Okay, let's end the season now, and give him the trophy... It''ll stop people complaining about the racing...

He GOT across him - then threw it away...

Well, crap...

Thanks, but I just got it back...

Thanks! I'll go for Wiffenden then...

Oh, you rub it in! Thanks!

LOST THE BLOODY STREAM!!!

I think Zmarzlik is a better bet...

You beat me to it. Speedway has been around for 95 years or so. For 95 years or so, speedway has been affected by the weather. Get used to it...