garry288 Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 you cant knock smudgers bulldog spirit, so many times he could have walked away from the sport when no one would give him a team place, one of the best riders seen around odsal where his lack of gating prowess didnt matter, good luck smudger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted March 25, 2006 Report Share Posted March 25, 2006 (edited) He is also very popular here in Germany,where he has been given the name Andreas Schmidt by some fans Wish him all the best and hope to see him over here before his farewell meeting! Remember last year at this time,Andy was late for an open meeting at Güstrow.They held the meeting up,giving us updates on how far away he was.He arrived,jumped out was within minutes out on the track and came pretty damn close to winning the thing.But i think everyone knew it was worth waiting for Smudger because he was the most entertaining rider there.That sort of sums his career up for me Edited March 25, 2006 by iris123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted March 25, 2006 Report Share Posted March 25, 2006 You assume too much Young Hawk. There is a copy of my birth certificate in the British Museum and Subedei's was carved on tablets of stone. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I've only just seen this! But I can confirm that Ron's birth certificate is in The British Museum as the oldest known example of a birth certificate anywhere in the world. On the subject of Smudger, I've always admired him. He has been a great servant to the sport. His long run in the Grand Prix against all the odds is surely testament to this...Maybe never up there with the best of all time, but certainly, for other reasons, deserves to be right up there as one of the all-time greats of speedway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob B Posted March 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2006 Wish him all the best and hope to see him over here before his farewell meeting! Its not a farewell meeting, its a testimonial Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Dixon Posted March 25, 2006 Report Share Posted March 25, 2006 Andy is one of speedways hero's for me. I remember first seeing him in the winter training school at Hyde Road. He had just come off the track and was watching the racing, Alan Legge(former second halfer and photographer at BV) asked him if anyone had 'snapped him up yet' to witch he replied, no. But he wasn't there for nothing, he was on the fringe of a team place come the start of 1982. Anyway, to cut a long story short, i reckon Andy would have gone that little bit further if Hyde Road had not had to close, he just couldn't get to grips with the tight Kirky Lane circuit. Although he was never a GP star his record of qualification from Lonigo speaks for itself. Its a over used phrase i suppose but if anyone deserves a testimonial for services to speedway its this fella!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted March 25, 2006 Report Share Posted March 25, 2006 Its not a farewell meeting, its a testimonial <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yeah i know.Just stating that i hope to get a chance to see him again before he finally calls it a day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngy105 Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 3 times British Champion is testament to how good Andy was in his prime. Can't think of any other Brits to manage it (sure I'll be corrected on that one). All the smudge...see you in September Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted March 28, 2006 Report Share Posted March 28, 2006 Mark Loram has also won it three times and, in the days when it was open to Australians and New Zealanders, Barry Briggs won it 6 times and Ivan Mauger 4. Look at the company that puts Smudger in though - three World Champions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngy105 Posted April 23, 2006 Report Share Posted April 23, 2006 Mark Loram has also won it three times and, in the days when it was open to Australians and New Zealanders, Barry Briggs won it 6 times and Ivan Mauger 4. Look at the company that puts Smudger in though - three World Champions. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Not bad company to keep is it. What was Andy's pre GP World Final record. As far I can recall I only remember him riding at Munich in 89 when he finished on 10 points (I think) and Pocking in 1993 and can't remember what he scored there. Would seem Smudger enjoyed riding in Germany then???? You should see the Belle Vue 2005 Review DVD and count the number of times Smudger performs the cut back on turn 2......surprising nobody cottoned on to it. None of them come close to his double pass on Janniro and Kylmakorpi in last seasons EL Play Off Final....absolute class....if anyone didn't see it grab a copy of it. That was Smudger and Speedway at it's best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 They were Andy Smith's only two pre-Grand prix World Final appearances. He scored 10 in both. He came 7th in Munich and 5th in Pocking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binthere Posted May 6, 2006 Report Share Posted May 6, 2006 One of my first recollections of Andy was when he was wearing a Newcastle Diamonds race jacket in a challenge match at Belle Vue. Although Newcastle were going off the tapes and Belle Vue from ten yards behind Smithy, in one heat, kept in front of P.C. and Mort. No mean fete even though it was pouring down with rain. Andy was obviously delighted. (Yes current day riders, your predecessors actually rode in the rain!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T'internet Dave Posted August 10, 2006 Report Share Posted August 10, 2006 Does anyone know the line up for Andy Smith's testimonial? What is the date of the meeting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.speedway-grasstrack.tk Posted August 10, 2006 Report Share Posted August 10, 2006 (edited) Whiss one the riders for this meeting ok? Greats, Henk, www.speedway-grasstrack.nl ( Holland ) Edited August 10, 2006 by www.speedway-grasstrack.tk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big lebowski Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 Meeting date as per the official Belle Vue website is 17th September. Can't wait for this one. Any supporters from Andy's other british clubs coming to this one? Anyone know the line up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob B Posted September 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 The lineup has been confirmed for Foxy's Fun Day at Belle Vue, Sunday 17th September, 4pm start. Jason Crump Greg Hancock Mark Loram Billy Hamill Simon Stead Charlie Gjedde Travis McGowan Steve Johnston Gary Havelock Billy Janniro James Wright Oliver Allen Richard Hall Rusty Harrison Ricky Ashworth Tai Woffinden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzie4388 Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 Woffinden wont be riding surely he ll be riding for scunthorpe vs sittingbourne that day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PanthersChamp06 Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 Good chance for Richard to proove his current stunning form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big lebowski Posted September 9, 2006 Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 Notice the one big name missing from the line-up ? That's right - Andy Smith. He was on centre green at Belle Vue on Monday. Sure he said he'd fractured a vertebrae in his back ? At least that's what I thought he said. Gutted won't see him riding, but I'll be there anyway. Hopefully we will see him racing back in an Aces jacket next season. Great line-up. A good mixture of young & old & all good racers. Should be top racing & a great day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob B Posted September 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 Yes I think he said he will be out for the rest of the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozyace Posted September 10, 2006 Report Share Posted September 10, 2006 If Smudge is out for the rest of the season, would it not be a perfect way to retire? I don't really know how smudge is doing fitness wise (his points seem ok) but it would be sad for Andy to go out on a sour note. Anyway Smudge i'll see you on the sideboards sometime in Oz again, all the best with the testy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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