mervjankefanclub

I remember when I was a wee laddie getting up early on Saturday mornings with my auld Grandpa and watching B&W repeats of the likes of Champion the Wonder Horse and the Lone Ranger Zorro was another favourite, but he wasnt a cowboy Another thing about the TV westerns, from any era, is that most of them had really catchy theme tunes

If I remember right Derek Cooper won the final at Long Eaton, whilst representing Glasgow......not too sure if he rode in any quaifiers though

Kym Mauger had a couple of short lived spells with Glasgow in 1982 and 1986. I also seem to remember Eddie Ingels got married at the Newcastle track in 1984, with Kenny Carter as his best man, plastered up broken leg and all

The junior Grand Prix was part of a double header at Glasgow aswell. I think the majority of them were that season.

Dont know if you got it Steve, but I sent you the Glasgow details.

Gollob once again shows his mastery of a bike ...........he even had the cheek to have a look back and still go on to win.

.....and I will tell you something else, Havvy must be onto a right few quid from that bet What are they watering the track for, cant they not just wait for the tide to come in

So all the GP donkeys, like Nicholls, feel at home

I may be wrong, but I thought I heard Pearson say tonight there would be two Brits in next years SGP. Cant remember which Brit was being interviewed, but Pearson asked the question, could he be one of them? You can probably tell I wasnt paying too much attention But I am pretty sure thats what he said, but surely they wont nomiate two Brits.

Whoa back, whoa back, youre at a bad age now, remember

Might be a bit sketchy Phil, but I dont think Dave Jackson ever returned to the UK. Baxter and Bridgeford both went on to ride for Rye House and Tony Primmer had spells at Milton Keynes and Eastbourne.

You wouldnt kick Steady out of bed ...to each his own Sods law the night, I usually have a wee flutter on AJ, but didnt tonight and to make matters worse I had a quid on Holta @ 100/1 and a wee five spot on Bjerre at tens ......oh well, thats the gamble

Thats him, thanks for that Arnie. In actual fact one of the snaps accompanying the article actually features Greg Hancock lining up at the tapes alongside Cirello.....and the average age at Costa Mesa must be double 22 1/2 these days

Jesse Finch, what happened to him, I remember reading about him years ago in the US Speedway mag, and was being touted as the next big thing. Him and another rider who's name escapes me, it was something like Triton Cirello Any Stateside fans looking in?

Sunbrite Division One clubs also took part in the H.E.A.T four team championships of the early 90s aswell, 25yearfan. With both divisons one and two finals being held at Alwalton on the same afternoon. I think this started in 1991 when the NL and BL amalgamated. If I remember right H.E.A.T also sponsored them right up until 1993 or 94

Was it the same one, MM? There was another rider called Andrew Buck, who came from the north east area, he was a junior rider at Cleveland Park during the mid to late 80s if I remember right.

He rode for Scunthorpe in 1984, Star Ghost. Before that he was a Peterborough rider from around 1978, I think he actually came from Peterborough. He joined Eastbourne when they dropped down to the NL in 1985 after appearing for them in the BL a few times. Pretty sure he had a bit of a falling out with the Eagles promotion at one time, refusing to ride in a meeting

......about 6ft 10", VV In all seriousness big Andy wasnt a bad rider, considering his size and shape. He didnt exactly fit the profile of the stereotypical speedway rider, but he adapted well enough. I think he was prone to the odd strop or two was he not

Eddie Argall was an Aussie, Ian. Brady is obviously a Scot and so too was Mackie, I believe. Not too sure about Robinson, but I get the feeling he was from south of the border

Thats right Bob, not long into SKYs TV coverage the White helmet was changed to Green and the Y/B to plain Yellow, and all for reasons best known themselves. Like Parsloes says it is more difficult to distinguish a Green helmet cover from the Blue, than it would be White from Blue And as I said the SGP and SWC still use the white helmet

Stiffy Aston, quality! ....obviously things were a little more innocent back in the day There was also Gruff Garland up here at Glasgow and I am sure there was rider who went by the excellent name of Ettiene Oliver, Who was maybe a South African who turned up at Coatbridge

Some of these old names are brilliant What about Stan Bear, dont think he has had a mention yet

I remember Glasgow trying to sign a young German in the early 90s by the name of Tommy Dunker, that takes the biscuit

.....makes even less sense when they still continue to use the white helmet colour for the SGP and SWC But I agree, the white and the yellow and balck helmet covers should return to league racing.

More or less picks itself I think, although his powers were on the wane, the fact that Ken McKinlay was still around in the early 70s makes him eligible and the others mentioned are a given, ie; Jimmy McMillan, George Hunter, Pogo Collins, Bobby Beaton, Bertola Harkins and Kenny McKinna. With a nod to the likes of the Templetons, Benny Rourke, Chas and Martin Mckinna, Scott Lamb and wee Colin Caffrey Looking forward to reading it though, especially what auld Jimmy Beaton has to say, what a character he was I think it is safe to say that if it was wasnt for him the Tigers would have folded many moons ago. The hard work and money he has ploughed into Scottish speedway down the years should never be underestimated. How the club survived the Craighead Park years I will never know.