shazzybird Posted November 5, 2004 Report Share Posted November 5, 2004 She is protesting too much innocence here Give her a shovel dig a bit deeper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jim Blanchard Posted November 6, 2004 Report Share Posted November 6, 2004 (edited) The first time i saw Ronnie Moore ride.. Speaking to him in the pits afterwards and still remember the incredible stage presence he had. I felt as though i was in the presence of a movie star. I know what you mean Sandman. I felt the same way. I said to him at the VSRA dinner this year that he did have that effect on me and I guess many others. That he had an 'aura' about him like a movie star when he was racing and he would give me 'goose pimples'. He is quite deaf now and he just looked at me and said, "I really hope they keep having these do's". I am not sure if he heard me - or was just embarassed. It was both sad and amusing at the Golden Greats night I organised last year when Briggo had to keep getting up and shouting in Ronnie's ear all the questions from the floor directed him, as he usually answered the question - the one before though.... I am still in awe in the man's presence. Edited November 6, 2004 by Jim Blanchard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onceadon Posted November 6, 2004 Report Share Posted November 6, 2004 I remember when John Davis, on his debut for the Dons in 1984, crashed on his way to the tapes...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandman Posted November 7, 2004 Report Share Posted November 7, 2004 The first time i saw Ronnie Moore ride.. Speaking to him in the pits afterwards and still remember the incredible stage presence he had. I felt as though i was in the presence of a movie star. I know what you mean Sandman. I felt the same way. I said to him at the VSRA dinner this year that he did have that effect on me and I guess many others. That he had an 'aura' about him like a movie star when he was racing and he would give me 'goose pimples'. He is quite deaf now and he just looked at me and said, "I really hope they keep having these do's". I am not sure if he heard me - or was just embarassed. It was both sad and amusing at the Golden Greats night I organised last year when Briggo had to keep getting up and shouting in Ronnie's ear all the questions from the floor directed him, as he usually answered the question - the one before though.... I am still in awe in the man's presence. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> My memory of him is his last racing season in England.. His aura was hard to explain. I just felt I was in the presence of a great man. He spoke little, chose his words carefully .. I dont know, anything I say cannot do him justice.. You articulated it perfectly, all I can say is I agree.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jim Blanchard Posted November 7, 2004 Report Share Posted November 7, 2004 Sandman, another amusing strory re - Ronnie from the Golden Greats night. My daughter Sarah 'stage managed' the event, as fortunately for me that's what she does for a living. She also fell under the RM spell. She recalls fondly that because of his deafness - which she was unaware of, during the briefings she gave to the riders of what we expected them to do, and when - Ronnie would simply smile at her and sip his glass of wine oblivious of her instructions. She wanted him to follow her and after no response she just picked up his drink and moved it to where she wanted him to be - and he just followed. "It worked every time", she says. A great night to remember and of course the last time we was to see and speak to Junie Briggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted November 7, 2004 Report Share Posted November 7, 2004 The first time i saw Ronnie Moore ride.. Speaking to him in the pits afterwards and still remember the incredible stage presence he had. I felt as though i was in the presence of a movie star. I know what you mean Sandman. I felt the same way. I said to him at the VSRA dinner this year that he did have that effect on me and I guess many others. That he had an 'aura' about him like a movie star when he was racing and he would give me 'goose pimples'. He is quite deaf now and he just looked at me and said, "I really hope they keep having these do's". I am not sure if he heard me - or was just embarassed. It was both sad and amusing at the Golden Greats night I organised last year when Briggo had to keep getting up and shouting in Ronnie's ear all the questions from the floor directed him, as he usually answered the question - the one before though.... I am still in awe in the man's presence. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes, I know what you both mean about Ronnie Moore's presence. I felt it too at Wimbledon on the night of their return to speedway when he was the guest and I spoke to him after the meeting. Actually, I also had my problem with his deafness, which, like Jim, I found both amusing and sad. I asked him to sign my own copy of "Two Wimbledon Legends", which, of course, he did. I then presented him with a copy of "Speedway in London". He went to sign it and I tried to explain to him that I didn't want him to sign it, I was presenting it to him. It took some time and some sign language, but we eventually got there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the brick Posted November 7, 2004 Report Share Posted November 7, 2004 i remember dave lanning in a gorllia suit at eastboure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted November 8, 2004 Report Share Posted November 8, 2004 Does anyone else remember when that fabulous Russian international side toured the UK in the mid-sixties? I saw them ride in Edinburgh (I think it was 1964, but it could have been 1965). It was a memorable experience, largely because they looked so different to the home riders. For a start, they all rode ESO machines, at a time when the Brits were all on JAPs. They had clip-on handlebars, which we had never seen before. They wore two-piece leathers. The team included, from memory, Igor Plechanov (a man with a constant smile and enormous speedway talent), Gab Kadirov, Gennady Kurilenko, Yuri Chekranov, Viktor Trofimov and, perhaps the hardest man in speedway at that time, Boris Samorodov. At that time nobody ever went to Russia - certainly it was about fifteen years more before I did. The Russian team manager was invited to introduce his team to the crowd, which he did in a very formal way... "Mr Plechanov, Mr Samorodov etc." I suppose none of us had ever seen a Russian before, and we were all left desperately looking forward to them coming back again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jim Blanchard Posted November 8, 2004 Report Share Posted November 8, 2004 (edited) Ian, I dont myself as I gave speedway the 'elbow' for a few years at the end of 1963 with no more Peter Craven and no more New Cross. I did get to meet Igor Plechanov at the same Golden Greats night previously mentioned. A really nice and friendly man. http://freespace.virgin.net/ove.fundin/Ove...vBoris__450.jpg A picture of Igor Plechanov and Boris Somorodov with Ove Fundin Modern Ukrainian web site - a venue Ove recently visited. Might be some 'old Russian boys' in the pictures. Russian anyone? http://www.speedway.radiorivne.com.ua/turbina/vet.htm The Jack Nicholson look alike is Jerzy Szczakiel (I think) Edited November 8, 2004 by Jim Blanchard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted November 8, 2004 Report Share Posted November 8, 2004 Yes, I remember seeing them at Wembley in 1964. It was great seeing them ride, though the outcome was a bit of an anti-climax as Great Britain won 73-35; only Plechanov and Samorodov put up any show at all. GB's three heat leaders, Briggo, Ron How and Booey, each scored 16 points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted November 8, 2004 Report Share Posted November 8, 2004 Ian, I dont myself as I gave speedway the 'elbow' for a few years at the end of 1963 with no more Peter Craven and no more New Cross. I did get to meet Igor Plechanov at the same Golden Greats night previously mentioned. A really nice and friendly man. http://freespace.virgin.net/ove.fundin/Ove...vBoris__450.jpg A picture of Igor Plechanov and Boris Somorodov with Ove Fundin Modern Ukrainian web site - a venue Ove recently visited. Might be some 'old Russian boys' in the pictures. Russian anyone? http://www.speedway.radiorivne.com.ua/turbina/vet.htm The Jack Nicholson look alike is Jerzy Szczakiel (I think) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks for the photos Jim. Does anybody fancy starting a campaign to bring back the old black leathers? To me, they always seemed a bit more business-like than the fashion-statement gear that riders wear nowadays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scunny Stag Posted November 8, 2004 Report Share Posted November 8, 2004 It has been great reading through this thread and in particular the car-cleaning and car-crashing stories from my new friend Jim. I can't get close to that but I can remember when Scunthorpe raced away at Canterbury and Rye House on consecutive night and didn't lose either match. Okay they didn't win either, both 48-48 if I remember correctly, but considering that in 15 years of racing Scunthorpe often had problems going two matches unbeaten at home it was a standout weekend in my speedway watching. I also remember being allowed to miss two days school as a 15 year old to help Jamie Hildreth at a two-day Ivan Mauger training school. I'm not sure why Mum let me, because they were the only two non-sick days off school I ever had, but I'm eternally grateful (not that I can remember too much about the days :-)) I remember helping New Zealander Greg DeKok in a Scunthorpe Junior team match at Boston when I was either 15 or 16. It was a full 13 heat match and afterwards in the bar I had my first pints of beer. I also remember Kev Armitage and his dad mixing it with Charlie McKinna on the Ashby Ville centre green. Finally I remember giving up my job as a 17 year old at British Steel to help Scunthorpe Speedway. My main aim was to bicycle 10,000 miles in 7 months raising money for the club. I'd also hoped to cycle to every Stags meeting. Then on 13th May 1985 we ran our last meeting for nearly 20 years. My knees still remind me of the time everytime I step on a bicycle or spend much time with my knees bent. I hope you will excuse me if I still get a little excited about the return of the sport in town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted November 8, 2004 Report Share Posted November 8, 2004 Seeing the Russians at Wembley is one of my earliest Speedway memories, ( was only 9 at the time), I remember one of them, Vitaly Shilo? crashing, either at the start or going over the start line, may have finished his career, never heard of him afterwards. We also went to the 2nd or 3rd Test at Coventry, the Russians went much better there, the score was a lot closer. A few years later in the early 70s, remember seeing New Zealand v. Poland at Exeter, Plech & Mauger were awesome, both breaking the track record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandman Posted November 9, 2004 Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 back to Ronnie Moore, I think a sign of how tough the man is, just the fact he survived that crash in NZ, and is up and about to this day considering the horrific injuries he sustained, is a huge testament to his greatness.. they didnt call him Mirac for nothing..if i were to have one hero, it would.. is... would... is be him.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted November 9, 2004 Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 Finally I remember giving up my job as a 17 year old at British Steel to help Scunthorpe Speedway. My main aim was to bicycle 10,000 miles in 7 months raising money for the club. I'd also hoped to cycle to every Stags meeting. Then on 13th May 1985 we ran our last meeting for nearly 20 years. My knees still remind me of the time everytime I step on a bicycle or spend much time with my knees bent. I hope you will excuse me if I still get a little excited about the return of the sport in town. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Scunny Stag you gave your job up for British Speedway!! in my book that makes you a number one fan I can sympathise with your track closure as we lost our track in 1987. Good luck for the future xx Out of interest how much money did you raise back then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted November 9, 2004 Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 Plech & Mauger were awesome, both breaking the track record. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I always enjoyed watching Zenon Plech race. I've always wondered why he didn't go further in the sport - did he pack it in early? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted November 9, 2004 Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 He was a nice fella always smiling thats what I liked about Zenon Plech Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevH Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 He was a nice fella always smiling thats what I liked about Zenon Plech <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Blimey, nothing to do with his butt then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jim Blanchard Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 back to Ronnie Moore, I think a sign of how tough the man is, just the fact he survived that crash in NZ, and is up and about to this day considering the horrific injuries he sustained, is a huge testament to his greatness.. they didnt call him Mirac for nothing..if i were to have one hero, it would.. is... would... is be him.. I can only agree with that too Sandman. Its funny, but I remember, Ronnie was class personified, dignified, absolute class. Ove was the highly strung 'love or hate him' superstar, sure to excite, with a ruthless will to win, to take no prisoners attitude. At any cost. Barry Briggs was somewhere between: Gung Hoe, ripping and roaring with bravado but a unquestionable brilliant skill. Then there was my own personal favourite: Peter Craven. A rare talent whose style of throttle control was so adept the left leg was best lifted out of the way, as now used by most of the best of the best today. PC was a little intense at times, but quietly self assured as a competitor can be, when knowing he could on his day, take on the worlds best and win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 rich I too remember the crash that finished Vitaly Shilo in about 1964. I was sitting just off the 4th bend. The other three riders were crossing the finishing line and all of a sudden I saw splinters of wood fly up from the 4th bend fence. Vitaly had ridden into the fence almost head first and everyone knew he was in a bad way. The Russians refused to allow him to stay in hospital and he flew out back to Moscow the following morning. You are right I don't think he was ever heard of again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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