Grachan

13 - or possibly Pierre Brannefors?

You're probably right, but originally I had 3 Gundersen, followed by 3 Neilsen followed by 3 Jonsson and it all looked a bit predicatable and unlikely, so I thought I'd try to think of one less obvious winner. Per was a bit inconsistent sometimes, so I thought I'd put Jimmy in as my 'Mark Loram'.

Bearing in mind I have no memory of injury to anyone. 1973 - Anders Michanek (Jerzy Szczakiel) 1974 – Ole Olsen (Anders Michanek) 1975 – Phil Crump (Ole Olsen) (The year of the 4 valve I think) 1976 – Ivan Mauger (Peter Collins) 1977 - Peter Collins (Ivan Mauger) (If it's good enough for Ivan then it's good enough for me) 1978 - Peter Collins (Ole Olsen) (Despite disaster at the British GP, Coventry) 1979 - Mike Lee (Ivan Mauger) 1980 – Mike Lee (Mike Lee) 1981 - Bruce Penhall (Bruce Penhall) 1982 – Bruce Penhall (Bruce Penhall) 1983 – Kenny Carter(Egon Muller) 1984 – Erik Gundersen (Erik Gundersen) 1985 - Erik Gundersen (Erik Gundersen) 1986 – Erik Gundersen (Hans Nielsen) (Erik does him again! Unbelieveable – and after Hans had led throughout too) 1987 - Hans Nielsen (Hans Nielsen) 1988 - Hans Nielsen (Erik Gundersen) 1989 - Hans Nielsen (Hans Nielsen) 1990 – Jimmy Nilsen (Per Jonsson) (Taking into account how well the GP seemed to suit him when it started and remembering that I thought he had a good chance that year.) 1991 – Per Jonsson (Jan O Pedersen) 1992 - Per Jonsson (Gary Havelock) 1993 – Hans Neilsen (Sam Ermolenko) 1994 – Tony Rickardsson (Tony Rickardsson) A bit of Swindon bias, perhaps, but based on reason and logical argument naturally.

Not sure about Hans Neilsen winning more at the expense of Erik Gundersen either. My image of a typical GP from that era - Neilsen the best rider all night, Gundersen just scrapes though to the final. Gundersen wins it.

One more go - Peter Craven?

Is 61 Soren Sjosten?

Maybe. I've already thought of that! Perhaps they added it later??!? Then again, maybe it's not Oxford!

I'll have to think about this one when I've got a bit more time. I know Ivan Mauger reckons that he would have won in 1976 instead of Peter Collins and Peter Collins would have won instead of him in 1977. I don't think Dave Jessup would ever have won though.

I'm referring to picture 63 here by the way. Just noticed everyone else is on about number 60 In 60, is one of the Poole riders Odd Fosengen (or something like that). All old Poole phots seem to be of Odd Fossengen (or something like that).

As if!! No, easy one for me that as I used to go to Reading every week at that time. It was a simple mathematical equation. Racer + Falling off = Tony Briggs. No sweat. Is that definitely West Ham then? I was wondering if it was Oxford as it looks like the corner of the old (but still standing) hanger style bar on the fourth bend. There used to be a wooden stand just after it too. I'm only guessing though.

53 is Tony Briggs. 55 - Steve Gresham 57 - Martin Ashby Don't know 63 either, but I love the picture. Any idea what stadium that is? They're certainly close to the riders!

40 - I've seen that one loads of times. It's Zenon Plech, with possibly John Titman behind. (as above: 24 - Hans Neilsen, Chris Morton, Jiri Stancl 30 - You've already got that one. Ha ha - revenge for number 52! Peter Collins & Doug Wyer. 35 - Sportak on the back & stars on the arms. Got to be John Davis. 38 - Looks like Briggo's crash helmet so I'll say it's him. Don't think it is though! 39 - Grasping at straws here! Is that a White City race jacket? Looks like number 6 on the back? Er..... Trevor Geer.)

Number 6 - that's definitely Carl Askew going down on the inside. I remember the moustache on the crash helmet. 7 - Kenny Carter, Mike Lee, Egon Muller 9 - Penhall, Carter 11. Bruce Penall (Cradley Heath) and George Best (Belle Vue) 14 - Barry Briggs? (He used to wear those boots anyway!) 17 - Sigalos & Morton 24 - Hans Neilsen, Chris Morton, Jiri Stancl 30 - You've already got that one. Ha ha - revenge for number 52! Peter Collins & Doug Wyer. 35 - Sportak on the back & stars on the arms. Got to be John Davis. 38 - Looks like Briggo's crash helmet so I'll say it's him. Don't think it is though! 39 - Grasping at strws here! Is that a White City race jacket? Looks like number 6 on the back? Er..... Trevor Geer.

Hmmm, not sure, but, looking at the leathers, riding style and the manner of the accident, I think number 43 shows Neil Cameron and Barry Crowson. As a rough guess I'd say it was from about 1976. As for number 42 - I seem to remember Roy Carter wearing very similar leathers to that. It looks to me like the crash he had with Bob Cooper at Rye House, also around 76. Is that better, Gem?

One of 43 is, I think, Barry Crowson and Graeme Stapleton. No 42 - the words Dave & Gooderham come to mind and won't go away. No 46 - Mike Fullerton, Les Rumsey & John Barker (I cheated on that one - it's in Mike Patrick's Superstars of Speedway) 52 - Paul Tyrer?

Sigalos-Peter Collins-Wigg-King. England v USA, 2nd Test, Swindon, 1983, 58-50. The powers of my anorak are particularly strong on this one, cos it was the first speedway video I ever owned and I watched it endlessly. It was a betamax too. Nice one Falcace! I guess Chris Morton is closer than John Davis then. Ah, Betamax videos. I had loads of them. First meeting I had was the re-run of the 1981 final off World of Sport (never, said Dickie Davis, have they had so many requests before for an event to be re-shown).

Probably right Steve. Given a choice of Davis or Morton I'd go for Morton in Red I think. Probably wrong though...

1982 final - Rider number 3, inside no 12 (??) and 13 (Penhall) is Mikael Starostin. I know this, because he's got his name on his bum. Throughout the commentry Dave Lanning keeps referring to him, saying he had to borrow a pair of boots to ride in the final. While on the subject of IDing 80s riders, can anyone identify the riders in this here photo from Motorcycle News a few years back? Not sure why, but I think it's Lance King on the inside.

Hell of a home track advantage they must have up there then!

I really hope Jason can do it. Whoever wins, though, it's an excellent climax to this years GP. Who could ask for more. It seems a long time ago now when, after the first round, everyone - myself included - assumed Tony Rickardsson was going to walk it.

I also remember Christer Sjosten died from a brain haemorrhage (not sure how to spell that so I've copied you WATigerman!!), uless that was Christer Lofqvist as I always get the two confused. The main thing I remember about Soren Sjosten was that he was incredibly small. Also, according to my old books I have lying about, he was a former wrestler. I can also tell you his full nameid Soren Willy Ernfrid Sjosten, which amuses me for some reason. Christer was the younger brother and also rode for Wembley, Exeter and Coatbridge as well as Poole. Oh, what the hell. I can give you their birthdays too! Soren - 12/12/38 and Christer - 2/9/48.

I must admit I was a bit disappointed when the team was announced. I reckoned that England were going to struggle anyway so best give the youngsters a try out. I still don't think that would have been a bad idea, but I must say a team that I thought (admittedly from someone who watches PL racing and doesn't have Sky, so doesn't get to watch much EL) looked a bit old-hat came up with an excellent result. Middlo's horses for courses theory worked well it seems. Obviously the England manager knows more about Speedway than I do. Now there's a turn-up!

Trust me, Tigerblade, you're not!

It's a bit of a coincidence, you putting that link up today. Yesterday I was having a lunchtime read of the Speedway Star and a guy I work with noticed this and commented on it. Then he said: 'I used to know a guy called Kevin Holden.' He was amazed that I'd heard of him and knew about his accident. Apparently he went to school with him. Next time I see him I'll show him the site.