Malcom Simmons

[spiegal]

Frankly i would give a great deal to read just what Tony Mc has had to leave out for obvious legal reasons.

 

having said that (half way thorough) the book is an excellent read and well worth the investment. another good'un from the retro stable.

 

Simmo was a legend, he left out the alleged story of the telephone pole. Maybe not have been true but there again with Simmo who knows.

 

Wonder what happened to Bill "I'm from the Esat End...did you know that" Barker.

 

Now Tony mac that would be a book !!

 

Toodle Pip

 

Jimbo

[FAST GATER]

I Have now had my backtrack magazine for a week ,read it from cover to cover except the Malcolm Simmons bit ,like tigerblade i have never been a fan of his,but i thought i would give it a go, unfortunately he comes across as a very jealous guy ie. not wanting other English riders to do well, the Terry Betts no.1 thing and now wanting to spread the dirt on other riders, i will give the book a very wide berth

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have now finehed the book and was not shoked in the least by what Simmo ,said IMO he was no worse than many others of his era.He says quite rightly that he was lazy by nature and that was his biggest crime to me. Simmo was I am sad to say a fool in many ways but when I met him he was patient and signed his autograph ,he would also listen to what you had to say aswell.

[Malcolm Simmons]

I'm not very good with computers, but I thought I';d try and get a bit involved in this topic!!

 

Firstly I would like to thank everyone who has taken the trouble to leave a message reacting to my new book. I knew it wouldn't please everybody and I can understand those who have had a go at me, even if I dont agree with them all! I have had my say and it's only right that people can come back at me with their opinions. I can't promise to reply to every comment that comes my way, or to spend a lot of time on this site (I have a full-time job to do aswell!!!!), but I will keep looking to see whats being said about my book. Loved the comment by Moxey63, by the way!!! And thanks to those who've stuck up for me so far!

 

As I said, I just wanted to tell the truth as I see it now, looking back over my whole career. I think I have made a lot of admissions in the book, I know where I went wrong and there are a number of regrets, but we can't turn back the clock now, can we.

 

One thing I forgot to do and I want to try and put right now, is to thank Mick Potter. He was a bloody good sponsor of mine, providing me with grass-track engines, and I meant to mention in him in the list of thankyous at the start of the book. If your reading this Mick (I think he has a look on here from time to time), many thanks for all you've done for me.

 

It was great to meet and see so many old faces again when I launched the book at Cardiff. There was one embarassing bit when my old Swindoin promoter Riuchard Vowles came up and bought a signed copy. I recognised him straight away even though it's been 21 years since my one season with the Robins. I wonder if he's read that chapter yet! Sorry Richard and to all Swindon fans.

 

Cardiff was a fantastic success all round and I really enjoyed the whole occassion. The racing wasn't much cop, but the atmosphere was tremendous and they do put on a brilliant allround show. I think we'll have to find a horn-free zone next year though!!!

 

Peter Collins was sitting just in front of me and June and it was nice to see PC again. We both agreed that we would have loved to have ridden in such a great arena in our day. it was like being back at Wembley on World final night again.

 

Thanks again for your interest.

 

Simmo

Edited June 13, 2006 by Malcolm Simmons

[Custom House Kid]

I have not purchased the book yet but I think it will be on my shopping list!

I was very much a fan of Molly in 1965 when I was 9 but speedway past me by after West Ham closed and it is only recently that I have returned to the sport!

 

It will be nice to read what young Malcolm got up to. I hope there is a bit in there about his days with the Hammers

[FAST GATER]

I'm not very good with computers, but I thought I';d try and get a bit involved in this topic!!

 

Firstly I would like to thank everyone who has taken the trouble to leave a message reacting to my new book. I knew it wouldn't please everybody and I can understand those who have had a go at me, even if I dont agree with them all! I have had my say and it's only right that people can come back at me with their opinions. I can't promise to reply to every comment that comes my way, or to spend a lot of time on this site (I have a full-time job to do aswell!!!!), but I will keep looking to see whats being said about my book. Loved the comment by Moxey63, by the way!!! And thanks to those who've stuck up for me so far!

 

As I said, I just wanted to tell the truth as I see it now, looking back over my whole career. I think I have made a lot of admissions in the book, I know where I went wrong and there are a number of regrets, but we can't turn back the clock now, can we.

 

One thing I forgot to do and I want to try and put right now, is to thank Mick Potter. He was a bloody good sponsor of mine, providing me with grass-track engines, and I meant to mention in him in the list of thankyous at the start of the book. If your reading this Mick (I think he has a look on here from time to time), many thanks for all you've done for me.

 

It was great to meet and see so many old faces again when I launched the book at Cardiff. There was one embarassing bit when my old Swindoin promoter Riuchard Vowles came up and bought a signed copy. I recognised him straight away even though it's been 21 years since my one season with the Robins. I wonder if he's read that chapter yet! Sorry Richard and to all Swindon fans.

 

Cardiff was a fantastic success all round and I really enjoyed the whole occassion. The racing wasn't much cop, but the atmosphere was tremendous and they do put on a brilliant allround show. I think we'll have to find a horn-free zone next year though!!!

 

Peter Collins was sitting just in front of me and June and it was nice to see PC again. We both agreed that we would have loved to have ridden in such a great arena in our day. it was like being back at Wembley on World final night again.

 

Thanks again for your interest.

 

Simmo

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Simmo hope you will post some messsages again on this and other topics.

[moxey63]

Loved the comment by Moxey63, by the way!!!

 

Simmo, I was of course only joking.... give us a couple of quid and i'll delete it

 

Seriously, though, you were such a stylish performer in the days when every side had at least one out-and-out number one. I also remember the interest you created when you returned for King's Lynn at Belle Vue in '93 - at the age of 47! Didn't you also want to help Poole out a couple of years later?

 

I remember you during the times when speedway was at it height - the 70s - and you will remain one of the icons of that time.

 

I will purchase the book, as I like a bit of controversy. I loved John Berry's Confessions and hope your book is in a similar vein.

[Dekker]

It was great to meet and see so many old faces again when I launched the book at Cardiff. There was one embarassing bit when my old Swindoin promoter Riuchard Vowles came up and bought a signed copy. I recognised him straight away even though it's been 21 years since my one season with the Robins. I wonder if he's read that chapter yet! Sorry Richard and to all Swindon fans.

Not seen the book, but it wouldnt explain how a rider could get to june with a 9.5pt EL average and shows great skill in guiding jimmy nilsen around the track suddenly turns into a novice who ends up in the NL the next year by any chance

 

Biggest cheer at swindon year after was the story that in his his first ride for Hackney Simmo scored 0 at Milton Keynes cos he didnt turn his fuel on

[frigbo]

Not seen the book, but it will be no surprise to any Swindon fans of the mid 80's to know Simmo was working his average down to go NL in '86.

 

Biggest surprise to me is that he says only the 0 V King's Lynn was fixed.

 

His last 6 scores were 2,2,3,3,5,0

[moxey63]

Simmo was working his average down to go NL

 

Hey! Swindon fans, do you think Lee Richardson's using your club the same way? Maybe he'll be Premier in 2007!

[salty]

Having got this book yet, I'm hoping it might find its way to me for Fathers Day.

Personally I would much rather read a book that told the truth warts and all than a bland, ghosted autobiography. I think Simmo should be applauded for having the guts to be so honest.

[Gresham]

Will be buying this book it looks a good read.

I do feel supporters are being naive if they are surprised by revelations mentioned in this book.Averages are fixed every year,because of the stupid rules imposed by the governing body.Riders have to look out for themselves,or they will be out of work the following season if their average doesn't fit.Speedway has to be one of the easiest sports to rig.It is also a lot easier to bet on speedway these days.Averages & results are fixed all the time.I don't blame the riders.They are just pawns to be manouevred.I am expecting some more 'revelations' to come out in the near future.There's a whole new world out there for some,& i'm affraid it's a darker shade of grey!

[Malcolm Simmons]

Thank you for the comments, I'll try and respond to them...

 

Firstly, thanks to those with positive messages and glad you are enjoying my book - Fast Gater, spiegal, etc. Fast Gater seems to at least recognise what I was trying to do with the book and how honest I wanted it to be.

 

semion - Obviously, you don;t live in the real world. If you think I';m the only one who did 'favours' for riders then you are mistaken. It takes more than one bloke to make these 'deals' in the pits. You call me a cheat, but I can assure you I wasnt alone.

 

Star Lady - nice comments, thanks. I'll be signing the book at the Kings Lynn/Rye House match on Wednesday night, so hopefully you will be there with a lot of other fans who followed the Stars n my day. I've asked Bettsy to come along and he has agreed, so it will be a like a mini reunion.

 

Tigerblade - I never said i'd do a rider's testimonial and not turn up. If I agreed to be there, I was. As for guest apearances, again if I agreed to take the bookingthen I'd do it. I think you must be thinking of the times I wouldn't got to Newport and Bristol for the reasons explained in the book. But I DID go to those tracks for official team matches for Poole, it was open and individual meetings that I missed when I wasn't contracted to appear. What happened around the 84 British final is also fully covered in the book.

 

spiegal(James) - telephone poles? - enlighten me...I don;t remember????

 

 

tiger74 - I wasn't jealous of other riders, all I meant was that if an English rider won the world final it would mean the best sponsorship deals going their way instead of mine! Take PC as an example...if I was really that jealous of him, would I have helped him with my twin carbs set up before the 77 world final?

 

Custom House Kid - great to hear from an ex-Hammers supporter, as I have very fond memories of my early seasons with West Ham. There are a couple of whole chapters in the book covering this period of my career, with about 20-odd photos, inc Hurri-Ken, Sverre, Norman Hunter and all the other boys.

 

moxey 63 - thanks. Yeah, I did talk to Pete Ansell at Poole about a come back but it was those damned averages again. I think I was about 0.2 too much for them to fit me into the team. I woulkdn't put the boot in on Lee Richardson. I've had a go in the book about his poor GP performancesbut everyone goes through a rough spell in their career in the league and he can come through it at Elite League level.

 

Dekker - Ha-ha!! Glad I gave the Swindon fans something to cheer any way. I must have been thinking of the Robins when I forgot to turn on my fuel tap! At least you appreciated the help I could offer Jimmy in his first season.

 

frigbo - another Swindon fan, I see. I did cover this business and admitted the average situation affected my results during all of the last month of the 85 season. It all came down to that last match, which explained the big fat zero. I've said how selfish I behaved and felt ashamed. I just hope that speedway fans in general will not remember me for what I did for one month at Swindon and forget the good things about my other 30 years in the sport.

 

Keep the banter coming...

 

Simmo

[Ron Butler]

I was considering buying this book until I got a flyer [with order form] from Retro-Speedway. Far from encouraging me, the flyer put off.

 

Made a tasty snack for my shredder though!

[Mr. Clemens]

For me Malcolm Simmons was one of the most immaculate, consumate, stylish speedway riders around in his day who gave me a great deal of pleasure to watch racing.

 

As for skullduggery taking place here and there in speedway I am sure it did as we saw it in action at Halifax one balmy saturday night or was that barmy!!!

[FAST GATER]

I was considering buying this book until I got a flyer [with order form] from Retro-Speedway.  Far from encouraging me, the flyer put off.

 

Made a tasty snack for my shredder though!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is it not true that all those riders that split the money for rider of the night final were cheating the public.I was in in the pits during many matches in the 70's and you saw things going on between riders all the time.They would not consider it cheating merely doing a bit of business.To hammer Simmo for his crimes mainly admitting them is more than little harsh

[Ron Butler]

I'm left wondering, Fast, why they have been brought into the public domain. Is there a creditable reason for so doing?

[salty]

I was considering buying this book until I got a flyer [with order form] from Retro-Speedway.  Far from encouraging me, the flyer put off.

 

Made a tasty snack for my shredder though!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Any reason why you took exception to the flyer?

Have to say it did the job in our household, leaving it near the kettle for a day resulting in my better half picking up on the hint and arranging it to be presented by the kids on Sunday morning.(the book that is, not the flyer)

Edited June 18, 2006 by salty

[Star Lady]

I'm left wondering, Fast, why they have been brought into the public domain.  Is there a creditable reason for so doing?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Why shouldn't they be in the public domain? These things obviously happened, no one has denied them! Or do you come from the fans pay their money and should be kept in the dark brigade?

[JC!]

Any reason why you took exception to the flyer?

Have to say it did the job in our household, leaving it near the kettle for a day resulting in my better half picking up on the hint and arranging it to be presented by the kids on Sunday morning.(the book that is, not the flyer)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Snap!

[tony159]

Got the book at Cardiff .

 

Have read it now .

 

Great read and totally honest .

 

Best Speedway book too date , well worth reading .