Reviresco

Really Rob? I'm sure that when Georg was interviewed over the Foxhall PA in 1978 that he sounded decidedly Mancunian in his dialect. Teutonic Mancunian, but no doubt a Manc. What's that you say? Munich? Not Manc? Oh dear, my sense of humour does not sit well with you does it Rob....? Best not to look at some of my other posts in the Days of Yore side of the Forum - particularly the banter about the proposed Clacton-o- Sea track... Keep smiling .

Yeah, spot on guys, those would be Donkeys. I think I remember Keith Rodwell was a Suffolk musician who owned a music shop in the locality, was into speedway and was one of Doncs sponsors back in those times. mOgul, do you own the leathers, or summat like that? Just curious. I am looking for one of the sets of bike covers I had made up for Billy Sanders in 1983/84. They had kangaroos on one side with 'Australian Solo Speedway Champion' and the relevant dates, plus 'J&N' and 'Alan Belham Speedway', and on the other side the logo that Billy used of an image of him riding over the outline of a map of Australia, with 'Billy Sanders International Fan Club' circumnavigating (word of the day) the image. I had two sets made up and presented to him on the centre green at Foxhall as I was fed up with him turning up with John Cook's bike covers. One set went back with his mother, Bonnie, which obviously I have no issue with, but some other person has the other one, and I would pay a small fortune to get that back.

Was that the equivalent to Phileas Fogg (the rich English gentleman, not a bag of crisps) circumcising the world in 80 days back in Victorian times, Steve? John Hack? Wasn't he Georg Hack.s brother? Georg had very fast bikes when he rode for the Witches in 1978 & 1979 - he just had trouble controlling the speed and the power on a tight little track like Foxhall, I remember John Louis borrowed one of Georg's bikes in the 2nd Half of a meeting and, interviewed afterwards, JL said something like:- Georg described the bike as "schnell" which JL thought translated as 'snail' and the bike was therefore slow, but blooming heck it was fast. Believe Georg is running a personal fitness business or similar these days and the Spiller boys are training with him - may be wrong on that though.

Was that the 1st and 2nd bends or the 3rd and 4th bends like at the NSS ? And now Tac Sub? OMG you are motoring today BL65. A man whose humour level seems very much on a par with mine. We just better make (sea) sure that we do not destroy(er) the thread totally with our puns. I think we have been sailing close to the wind already and our piers may tell us to Frig(ate) off soon. Ah yes, Coventry Road on the south side of the Park, My elder brother had a big flat in Albermarle Gardens on the the north east side of the Park. That flat would be worth a flippin fortune now, but he burgered off to Canada about 45 years ago now. Albermarle Gardens was named after George Monck, the 1st Duke of Albermarle, who was a soldier, sea captain and statesman - not at the same time, of course, as even back then men could not multi-task - or that's what his many women told him - probably at the same time and while lying down in the buff. Coventry Road, you will know, of course Steve, was named after John Coventry, who was Lord Mayor of London in 1426 (nearly half-past two). His descendants, include - Vince Hill, Philip Larkin-About the poet, Lady Godiva, Peeping Tom and the late Jimmy Hill (and his chin) who all have come from (John) Coventry - or a john in Coventry, or have been to Coventry, can spell it , or have been sent there at some stage in their lives. 'macca56' an education in Pistory - history made fun and totally non-factual. I try and avoid my Doctor like the plague - well, at least until I have the plague - a bit like today - 'macca56' is not a well boy, sniff, sniff, cough, cough and he can feel the man-flu arriving shorty. Sorry Sidney, didn't mean to imply you are not tall... You been off yourself Sid, or you doing part-time or shifts these days - or just skiving? Roobins v 'Ammers could be a half decent meeting. At least the weather is set fair. Give Lewi Kerr a cheer from me. The lad deserves an ovation at each track after his prang last season. These guys really do risk life and lamb every time they swing their leg over .... a bike, I mean. Ex Witch Romance Chewi Tungate is going well at Reserve (and against his ex club in the PL) and his confidence will be rising past his knees soon - which aren't very far off the ground, but Ro is normally as short of self-belief as is his stature, which for an Aussie is unusual, but is quite endearing I think, I have a lot of time for the little fella and am very pleased that he is getting it together with bot the Robs and the Rebs. The OTA suits his style down to a 'T' - as in Tungate, so he should be a confident little soldier now and be whooshing out of the gate and away. As I said on another thread, a confident Master Tungate is a fast difficult to beat speedway rider. I would have him back at Foxhall in an instant, but riding at the OTA is probably the best thing that could've happened to him and his career, and may even boost him up sufficiently in his SGP Qualifier to see him progress. Enjoy yor day and the meeting tomorrow buddy.

Great point Mr M. Maybe the Gavstar is including his wildcard selections too in his bold predictions?

Thanks Steve. No malice or modern day comparison intended by me, of course - well, maybe the comparison bit. I seem to re-call that too about the Boro track. In cricket, of course, I remember when Essex CCC used to play at Valentines Park, Ilford and Southchurch Park, Southend-on-Sea. The pitch at Ilford was affected by pollution and the Southend pitch was certainly affected by the tide, with spin coming into play when the tide came in over those massive mud flats that were exposed when the tide was out past the end of the longest pleasure pier in the world - a bit like a batter, who may be in when he's out (of the pavilion), but could be out when he's in (the pavilion). Good old Essex CCC, so poor, that they used to have to drag the scoreboard from their Chelmsford HQ around the county whenever they were playing at another venue, as they could only afford the one. Times have changed a bit now, but they have under achieved badly since the halcyon days of Fletcher, Gooch, Lever, East and my South African cousin, Ken McEwan. Southchurch Park used to have an aviary in it, if memory serves. They had some very exotic birds in there - a bit like in The Only Way is Essex. I never saw a duck in the aviary, but there were plenty on the cricket wicket. Essex CCC - another great reason, apart from bad motoring memories, to hate Kent (spit). Morning Sidney. You're out and about early buddy. Hope you have an enjoyable day, and leave that nice young Doctor alone, eh?

Can't see that anyone else has posted this yet, so: British SF Scunthorpe, Friday 13 May: Harris; Auty; Wilkinson; Stead; Howarth; Bates; Garrity; Lanham; R Lambert; S Lambert; Kerr; Mear; Hall; Robson; Kennett; Morris (1st Reserve: Tai Woffinden - no, only joshing...)

I didn't really Dave, but I didn't have anything else to contribute (not for the first or last time) so I'm just pleased that you carried it on from my post and raised me - as they say in some card game or other - with Ellesmere Port's notable exploits . OK then, as the OP was referring to LCFC''s fantastic achievements, I'll counter bid with, Ipswich Town FC: 1960-61 = promoted as Champions from Football League Division 2; 1961-62 = Crowned Champions of Division 1; 1962/63 = finished 17th in Division 1; 1963/64 = relegated after finishing 22nd and bottom of Division 1 - (some would say, unkindly maybe, never to be seen again, and currently mired in the second tier for a 15th consecutive season).

Yes, I believe that to be the case too and, with his grass commitments (that's racing on, not puffing on) you can understand a 17 year old kid saying that - in fact quite a mature head on young shoulders. I believe Shanes is further forward as a speedway rider than Hume at the moment, but both would be cracking investments for the future of the club - if CL is interested in that of course - his asset signings ain't been great to date. So, too early, and possibly damaging for Hume. Mountain is a great shout too - got a lot of time for him, but is there an undisclosed issue which prevents Ipswich signing Mildenhall riders - and if so will that change now that James Easter is involved? TBH, I have not seen Ritchings ride for the Witches this season and cannot comment - but would guess at both - off the pace and not good enough. I honestly do not think that he is a speedway rider. (that's 'full stop') That's a great sponsorship for both Shanes and specsavers (where I spent three hours this afternoon), but that may suggest a link up for James with Poole Pirates, especially as he is from Dorset - Drat, Drat and Double Drat - in fact, Triple Drat - Curses, Foiled Again - Mutley, Do Something! (I wonder if their Store Manager meant to say that they were helping James ' set his sights on further victories'?) Sorry, Scotsman, is my admiration for young James' talents not as well hid as I'd hoped? Triple Drat again...... Oh well, it was worth floating the idea again, but please let us know if you change your mind any time in the future - PLEASE. (PS: I see that your attempt at this season's Beat The Bookie GP competition was only slightly worse than mine. Shows you I don't know what I'm talking about - but most people knew that anyway) Don't forget the Pairs, Fours and PL Riders Championship (if Danny doesn't have a pre-booked Polish commitment on the day...) I would be inclined to change it immediately (and with Master Shanes, the entertainment levels would triple in one lap - sorry, my admiration is peeking through again). Please refer to reply to Post above, but yes, basically you are right, lose to the Rye Mouse Rickets in the Cup and that's the Witches season gone up in a puff of smoke by 9pm on Saturday week, 14th May 2016 - that is why changes have to be made now, imho. Maybe Kevin Hawkins wasn't joking when he said he wanted to put himself out in Heat 15 at the OTA last Friday and we will see him back on a bike this season - a retrograde step, imo. Currently, and the way CL rode at Oyster Card's Testimonial, getting CL back on a bike wouldn't be the worst idea - and maybe his dad could still swing his leg over too. (For those of you in the slightest bit interested - my transport woes have brightened over the past 24 hours. I bought a cheap air compressor from Argos and inflated my deflated offside rear tyre and bought a new fuel can from Wilkinsons (other depart mental stores are available). Having charged my flat battery, I then managed to fire up the old Seat Leon's engine and even drove it up and down my drive for a foot or two. Plus, the DVLA have agreed that I can drive my car on the public highways again, as long as I can acquire insurance and get said car an MOT and then tax it. So, Yipee, I may be able to get to Foxhall next Thursday using my own transport, carrying a dozen blue clappers with me.)

Haha, probably slightly better going italic than Italian, Knowle, or maybe I should underline that that is too bold a statement and strike through my comment?

Romford Bombers who didn't exist in 1968, finished third in British League Division Two in 1969. Ipswich Witches - didn't exist in 1968 - eleventh in BL2 in 1969 - sixth in BL2 in 1970 & BL2 Cup Winners - third in BL2 in 1971 & BL2 Cup winners - sixth in the BL in 1972.

Being an Essex lad by birth, Norman, I know a bit about the attempts to bring speedway to various parts of the county over the years, and was involved in bringing the sport back to Essex, at what is now Lakeside, after the closures of Romford and Rayleigh. I understand that the reason that speedway did not occur at Clacton-On-Sea was not because the application was turned down, but that they had an issue with the third bend, with (sea) water seeping up through the sandy sub soil and causing issues on that bend, even though there had been declarations by the promoters, Sponge Bob Squarepants and Patrick, that the track was suitable for racing. The problem persisted after the Clacton Cockleshells had to abandon their opening meeting when riders, including the then World Champion, Tide Woffinden, declared the track unsuitable for racing. Attempts were made over the next few weeks and months to get speedway up and running at the track, but despite the best efforts of track curator, King Canute, no signs of speedway were ever seen at the track. Waves of protest letters were sent in by disgruntled fans who had attended the Grand Opening Meeting, but after the promoters had had a word in everyone's shell like, the dissatisfaction levels ebbed away totally, like Castles in the Sand.

You want more time Baldy? For what? Do you want to have more time to think about stopping going, or more time to work out why the current Witches side has started the season so poorly after, probably, being the best prepared pre-season with their Italy jaunt? Or more time to consider why the club has gone back so far since the halcyon days of 1970 to 1984 (plus a couple of years in the EL, including the grand slam year)? Or why there have been so few Thursday meetings so far, or why CL's proclamation of Interactive Fans' Involvement has not got off the ground yet? Or just more time, on this earth, in bed in the mornings, or at the bar? Without meaning to be nasty to the lad: Will Ritchings improve if he rides four heats in every match for the Witches this season? Will he start looking like a speedway rider, rather than a motor bike rider on a speedway bike? Will he benefit from the Two Louis' tutoring - like Heeps and Tungate have(n't)? My answer to that is: No, I don't think he will. A record of beating two opponents (Peter Karger and Zach W) in twelve Premier League heats to date is, frankly, poor and converts to a real average of 1.00 - a third of his assessed average. Now convert all of the Witches riders MA's by a third and what do you get..... Well, it would be a team that finishes last in the League by some distance. Should CL give him more time? Maybe another home meeting. Should CL use the two week break in fixtures to bring in a new No. 7? Yes, he should. Who should CL bring in as a replacement No. 7? Well, you know my answer to that ..... Master James Shanes. Why Shanes? Because, even if he then only replicated Darryl's scoring to date, I can guarantee you that James would entertain the backside off of you whilst he is doing it. Would he fall off more? Undoubtedly. Would he score more points? Most probably. Would he do that while racing in a style that is different and would catch your eye, bring a smile to your lips and a feeling of good will to all men? Oh yes sir he would. Would he improve and be a great asset for the Club to sign? Bet your little cottons. Right, that's my latest 'We Want Shanes' post done and dusted. Off now to see if I can get any air in my offside rear car tyre. Oh, and I am not related to James Shanes, I do not sponsor him, he does not owe me money, I do not know his family - or anything similar. I just think he would be a perfect fit for the Witches and we would have fun watching him develop into a British international over the next ten years. In fact, when I get my car sorted out, and the DVLA lets me drive again, I am driving to Dorchester, kidnapping the little fellow and bringing him to Foxall with me. If Carlsberg made speedway promoters - macca56 would probably be the best speedway promoter in the world... well, maybe Suffolk - then there's Mr Jolly over at West Row - OK, probably the best speedway promoter in my own mind. That'll do.

Well, if you guys are claiming Kildemand and Woffinden as reps of PL sides, I will claim Jarek Hampel as Ipswich's rep. What, injured you say, and missing the first part of the season? Perfect rep for the Witches then.... EDIT: meant to say how pleased I am with Romance's early season form for the Rebs. He was always going to go well at home as the OTA suits his riding style well, and it should help build his, sometimes fragile, confidence up and boost his form on his less favourite away circuits. A happy, confident Chewi is a very fast and stylish speedway rider. I've been very impressed with the way he handled the two meetings against his former club and the professional manner he has commented on social media. Well done Rohan, keep it going buddy.

Well, we could always do a swap deal involving Tom and Darryl, P89?

17 June 1983 - Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg - Australia's heat against Germany - and I would have added a bit of spring to Billy Sanders' bike to enable him to bounce straight up from his, uncharacteristic, fall to enable him to complete his 18 point maximum and be crowned World Pairs Champion. A title he fully deserved that day. (I might have chosen 04 September the same year, and found a way of nobbling Egon Muller's bike so that he wasn't so blinking fast that day. Having already sneaked into Dennis Sigalos' workshop a few days before the Final and nicked his best bikes, I had already eliminated one of Billy's biggest rivals for the Title..... .) I know that a certain someone had already started - and then probably deleted, a thread about 'horse harness racing', but I hadn't realised until very recently that trotting races were held at Foxhall Heath - just can't find the blinking info again now - blinking memory cells.

No, not heard or read anything just wishful thinking and, as beerhut says, its gotta happen one week, maybe.

In twelve heats over the Witches three PL matches, Darryl Ritchings averages 1.00 (excluding his one bonus point). 0,0,0,1+,2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0 Chin up son, the ' baldyman clangers clappers' will be a catalyst to a better atmosphere, which will roll like a wave on to the track and inspire the riders to post a 20 point KOC first leg advantage on Thursday week. Plus we will have the first instalment of CL's promised Interactive Fans Activities to look forward to. (Looks from the forecast as if this Thursday night would have been perfect for watching speedway.......)

Cracking memory and description of the incident skydog. I was up on the 3rd/4th bend terrace so a long way away from the clashes. I remember Bill was on the outside of UJ and him coming off his bike twice in almost identical incidents on turn 1. I think its great that two sets of supporters can see an incident in two totally different ways. All part of speedway's rich pageantry.

Maybe Guy has spoken to Marcus Evans since then and has seen how you can use a sports club to offset tax in his other businesses? Shanes? Just my opinion of course which a few others share and I would say that he was the most exciting rider I watched last year. Guess you have included this race in your assessment? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAjAS3ivT_s Think his talent on a bike hasn't been fully tapped into yet and the kid certainly has a lot of bottle. That was a post from the heart. The decline of the speedway team's stature, mirrors that of the football club. I used to be proud to say that I was a supporter of both. When you lose that pride in your team, you often walk away...

He did have a habit of thumping one or two Steve. He was known as the 'Pole Basher' by the Witches fans for a while in the late 70's. He certainly clouted a 'Swindon fan' after one heat at Blunsdon when the guy jumped onto the greyhound track and started giving Bill the w@nker sign. Bill stopped and beckoned him over, inviting him to get on his bike and show Bill how he would do it better. The guy had a pint in one hand and that was obviously not his first of the day, and he moved closer to the track until he was within range for Billy who, still sitting on his bike, threw a quick right hook to the guys jaw, knocking him backwards and into the grasp of the advancing security staff. I also remember Bill taking a dislike to Uno Johansson at Smallmead in 1982, when Johansson took Billy off in the first two attempts to run a heat. By the time Bill had dusted himself off and walked back toward the pits, Johansson was sitting on his bike by the pit gate - but wasn't sitting on his bike a few seconds later after Bill had unloaded another one of his famous right hooks. Bill decided to walk out of the meeting before he was thrown out of it, I think. He had been a boxer, of course, during his school days and knew how to look after himself in need.

My thoughts too... I think old age has caught me Sidney. I remember Fred playing on at a great age and he always came across as the wise old uncle enjoying his time playing with his young nephews and, as you say, he was 64 when he made he semi final in 1978 - with his brother passing away a few weeks after. A golden age for snooker. I was a massive fan of the nugget especially with his Romford connection and haven't take too much interest in the sport since Hendry took over his mantle. There was an interesting link between Steve Davis and Bily Sanders in that Steve could often be seen in the company of one of Billy's sponsors. A top five in men's tennis is difficult, but as for my favourite five, I would go for: Murray, Borg, Roy Emerson, Mansour Bahrami and Guilermo Vilas. Stefan Edberg would be my No. 6.

I was a big Borg and Davis fan, Sid, but have warmed to McEnroe over the years.

I had a fleeting thought last night that multumessy thingy's comment about the new sponsorship being sufficient for CL not to be financially bothered this season - not running on Good Friday and the like,and possibly Guy Nicholls taking on the club next season, may have been closer to the mark than I had thought. Well done Gino, particularly after his hospital stay recently. Good lad. Keep that up and a visa should be no problem for next season. Agreed, it is galling seeing riders that have been let go doing as well as they are, but I guess that is why they were released, to ride at more favourable tracks and to gain confidence. Romance has tweeted that he is pleased to be at a home track he enjoys racing on this season. (Must say, well done to Rohan for being very professional with his recent tweets.) I noticed also, that the Ipswich Team Manager has said (joked) that he wanted to put Rohan in Heat 15 on Friday - presumably for Ipswich... No worries Scotsman. There's always another speedway meeting on a Thursday - or Saturday - or Thursday fortnight - well, sometime, hopefully. There's a clapper with your name on it - well, not your name, as I don't know what it is, it is just labelled: 'The Inveresk Moanarch'. Hope that will do? P.S. - no reply from Ed Sheeran yet. Probably too busy duetting with Taylor Swift or something...

Great post, Downsman, and apologies for overlooking the 71 Double winning side. My dad was born and brought up in North London and was a massive Arsenal fan until the day he passed on. He was born in 1909 and told me that Charlton were a big rival back when he was a' jack the lad bachelor' and that the Gunners and the Addicks would play home and away on alternating Saturdays, so he would go and watch his beloved Gunners one weekend then go to The Valley the next, and cheer for the away team - whoever it was, I missed off a lot of sports events for my 1971 review (thank god), but that was the year a great Ajax team won the European Cup, Frazier beat Ali in the first of their monumental three fight series, the first ever One Day International cricket match was staged - by accident really, after a Test Match against England was abandoned due to rain, Eddy Merckx, one of those 10 famous Belgians that you get asked to name now an again, won the Tour de France, Lee Trevino won both the U.S. and British Opens, Specify won the Grand National and Mill Reef won the Derby, John (Jackie) Stewart won the F1 title, Wales won the Grand Slam, John Newcombe and Evonne Goolagong won Wimbledon in an era when Aussies dominated tennis, and in speedway, Ivan Mauger won the British title, Ole Olsen won the World title, Great Britain won the World Team title - with Mauger, Briggs and Airey in the side, and Poland won the World Pairs, with the much maligned Jerzy Sczcakiel accumulating 15 points. I remember events of 1971 far clearer than those of 2001 or 2011. Enjoy your stadium legends tour with Charlie George. next weekend. Should be great fun. Charlie is 66 two days after I am 60. Maybe best not to bring up the Keegan head-butt or the 'V' sign flicked at the County Ground. (Not sure Charlie can do a 'V' sign since he lost a finger in that lawn mower accident.) Thanks Sid. I was there, of course, in 1977. That was a 'shock' win on maximum points and I have the back page of the Express from the following day with the report of his win. Gee, speedway was big back then. Won it with a five ride max if memory serves correctly and signalled his elevation into true world class and led to his first appearance in his first World Final. Billy never really bothered with individual meetings that much, as he was so much of a team oriented rider - again, John Berry would disagree. I think he won a Golden Wonder Olympique, a few Golden Sovereigns and a 16 Lapper and a Star of Anglia - and a few back in Oz, but, apart from his world title exploits, I far prefer remembering him in team and pairs events, being part of three British League title winning sides, two of which were Doubles and a couple of British Pairs titles, admittedly at Foxhall, with John Louis. Oh, and of course a World Team title in 1976 with Crumpy in the Aussie team together, with Bill getting a maximum in the Qualifying round at Foxhall and Phil top scoring with 11 points in the final at White City. I think they would have celebrated together that night, and long into the next day too. I'll drop you a PM when I am able to make it down to the Abbey and look forward to a chat and a half a shandy. Hopefully Romance (Rohan Tungate) will still be in the side then, as I have a lot of time for the lad, despite what some at Foxhall say. He certainly did OK against them on Thursday and Friday. Thanks Steve. Appreciated, and glad you enjoyed my rather long ramble down Memory Lane.