TonyMac Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 With son, Jason, having recently collected the GP crown, it seemed a good time to make his dad - Phil - our next 'main man' and our front cover subject for issue 5 - on sale around mid-November. Before he returns to Oz to escape our winter, Phil has agreed to be exclusively interviewed at length for Backtrack, so please let's have your questions to put to him. What are your memories of Crumpie from his days in the BL with Crewe, King's Lynn (briefly), Newport, Bristol and Swindon? Any special moments, great races or possibly even something a little more obscure to recall about the tough, formidable Aussie star? We usually prefer to avoid too much technical talk but as Phil was obviously at the forefront of the mid-70s four-valve revolution, we'll obviously be talking to him about his key role in the sudden emergence of the Street convertion - and how that led more or less immediately to Weslake's period of dominance. But what would YOU really like to know about Crumpie and his time in the sport? I'd be delighted to hear from you via this site... Tony Mac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 Asked my husband who can remember Phil racing for King's Lynn. His reply was can you ask Phil about his relationship with Howard Cole. He also remembers after he left Lynn and went to Newport, the match races (Golden Helmet?) against the Lynn number 1's (Terry Betts and Michael Lee) when he just blew them away using the "Neil Street Conversion". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevH Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 It would be interesting to know why Phil was (I assume) happy to ride every week at Somerton Park, while many others hated the track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiegal Posted October 19, 2004 Report Share Posted October 19, 2004 Phil Crump was and remains one of the most genuine people one could ever wish to meet.I regard himas a friend and I hope that is reciprocated. I took over an ailing and very badly disorganised Australian Team in 1984 my intro coming from my big mate Billy Sanders. I did not know Phil and was slightly apprehensive with dealing with such an experienced and class performer. It must be said that every dealing, each meeting, every social event I have ever had with Phil remains a genuine pleasure. It mattered not the distances we had to travel, the almost hopeless task we were faced with such a decimated team, he was always a total delightful guy to deal with.Never a moan,never a whinge, always that relaxed grin. I am sure that Tony Mac will enjoy the interview and the article will be as interesting,amusing,striaghtforward,honest and deatailed as the recent superb interview with Anders. I was obviouslyd delighted that Jason won the World title, but even more happy that Phil was involved and recieved some of the plaudits. A lovely man,a truly great racer,hard as nails, but one of the very best. SPIEGAL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted October 19, 2004 Report Share Posted October 19, 2004 Two that come to mind: 1) Newport coming to Swindon and Phil and Neil Street sompletely dominating on the 4 valves. Absolutely unbelievable. The match was then followed by hundreds of Newport fans marching round the greyhound track celebrating their victory. 2) Swindon v Cradley 1983. Cradley that year were possibly the best ever side and they came to Swindon and won 29-49. Crump scored a mximum though and was absolutely superb. On the Cradley lap of honour it was the Swindon fans that were on the greyhound track, chanting his name to a bemused looking Heathens side. It would be interesting to know if he feels he could/should have achieved more in the World Championships as he generally under achieved. Also, what was his opinion on the famous Carter/Penhall clash in 1982, seeing as he was the man with probably the best view in the stadium. Another thing that would be interesting to hear about is the time he refused to join Reading and stating that he would stay in Australia unless he could join Swindon. What were his reasons for that? Finally, does he feel like he has finally won the World Final now that Jason has done it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted October 19, 2004 Report Share Posted October 19, 2004 He probably won't want to talk about it, but I remember the time when he broke his thigh at Sheffield 1977 in the Best Pairs meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted October 19, 2004 Report Share Posted October 19, 2004 I'd be interested to know more about Crumpie's relationship with Billy Sanders. The two of them spent a few years vying it out to be Aussie no1 and I think they had a few coming-togethers. I also cannot recall them ever getting together for the World Pairs, which was strange because they were clearly their country's best at that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted October 19, 2004 Report Share Posted October 19, 2004 Well said Falcace, so many question that could put to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tape2tapevideo Posted October 19, 2004 Report Share Posted October 19, 2004 My question would have to be, Does he think he would have been World champion if there wasnt so many world class riders around in his time (there were probably 15 top boys in those days if not more every club had two riders worth going to see, now there is only about 6! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerblade Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 I'd be interested to know more about Crumpie's relationship with Billy Sanders. The two of them spent a few years vying it out to be Aussie no1 and I think they had a few coming-togethers. I also cannot recall them ever getting together for the World Pairs, which was strange because they were clearly their country's best at that time. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes, maybe it's a bit delicate, but did they ever really patch things up before Billy left us? I'd be interested to know how he felt about the 1976 World Final and then winning the WTC at White City a couple of weeks later. Phil and Billy were a World Pair in 1977 at Belle Vue, but finished bottom as Billy had engine trouble throughout - in one of my Ivan Mauger's Speedway Extravaganza books it says an engine blew up in the pits just as someone bent down to listen for any trouble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 I certainly would be interested to hear more of the Crump/Sanders relationship and I'm sure Tony Mac is well capable of handling it sensitively. It just seems like rather an untapped area. Was interested to see they rode together once at the World Pairs in 77, but never again. I would have thought a Crump/Sanders combo would have been in with a shout of winning the World Pairs in the late 70s/80s, but we never really got the chance to find out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 Will all the questions be about the past? If not it would be great to hear Phil's opinion of the GP's, are they good for the sport, do they put too much pressure on the riders, would he have liked to have competed in them and what does he think of the one-off tracks and the guy who who is in charge of them ..... hehehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Mic Posted October 22, 2004 Report Share Posted October 22, 2004 It would be interesting to hear some of Phil's thoughts concerning the County Ground @ Exeter. It is well known he was something of a master at the track - always went home with a hatful of points, no matter what the conditions, circumstances or what meeting it was. Thought it might be good to get an insight given so may riders loathing of the place & it's likely exit from the sport for good in the not too distant future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boywonder Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 Someone's got a "street conversion" jawa bike on ebay at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy moore Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Who did he rate as his main rivals when he rode and what was his favourite tracks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BilaHora Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 All I only ever saw Phil Crump ride once. It was in a open meeting at Brough Park, Newcastle, during 1984 and, if I remember correctly, he even won the meeting. If I had one question to ask Mr Crump it would be: "How did you manage to suppress what must have been an overwhelming urge to take young Jason over your knee and give him a spanking during those early tantrums in the Grand Prix series?" Regards BilaHora Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 "How did you manage to suppress what must have been an overwhelming urge to take young Jason over your knee and give him a spanking" <{POST_SNAPBACK}> hmmm ... isn't that what wives are for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMac Posted October 26, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2004 Many thanks for all your valued contributions and pointers. Have to say Phil was absolutrely great - a really nice bloke who, considering he is not known as a big public talker, welcomed me into his home to give some great insights into his brilliant career and the people who helped influence it. Obviously you'll have to read the full, in-depth interview in issue 5 when it's out in mid-Nov, but to summarise, he spoke openly and honestly about a great variety of issues, including: *His early days on the family farm in Mildura. *His BL days with Crewe, King's Lynn, Newport, Bristol & Swindon. *The Neil Street Jawa conversion and 4-valve revolution. *Those ultra-tough Aussie Finals. *His relationship with Billy Sanders, and the reason why he believes they fell out. *The Exeter track. *The trick to winning at Somerton Park, Newport. *His worst track in Britain. *Winning the 1976 World Team Cup at White City after KO-ing England at Ipswich. *The effect breaking his thigh at Sheffield in 1977 had on him. *World Championship regrets and what he thought he lacked to win the big one. *How he exploited the use of Nitro fuel additive to go faster for Crewe and in Oz. *Names the best rider of his era - and it ain't Mauger, Olsen, PC or Mitch! *Why it was a mistake to return to Swindon. *His early doubts about Jason. *The difference between him and Jason. *How helping Jason came at a price. *What he expects from his GP-winning son next year. .. and then there's more... Like Anders Michanek did for the previous use, Crumpie kindly signed some pics of himself, which we'll be framing up and offering as a prize for one lucky Backtrack reader. Anyone not yet subscribed.....? Tony Mac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frigbo Posted October 26, 2004 Report Share Posted October 26, 2004 (edited) TMC, i filled my online subscription in on Sunday, i've not heard anything back yet to confirm it's worked ok Edited October 26, 2004 by frigbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMac Posted October 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2004 TMC, i filled my online subscription in on Sunday, i've not heard anything back yet to confirm it's worked ok <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks for subscribing. If you email me your full name and address, I'll check it out. We don't confirm receipt of subs by email - perhaps we should in future? Cheers, Tony Mac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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