Eric Boocock

[TonyMac]

ERIC BOOCOCK is the latest big-name star from the past who has put his life story into print.

 

BOOEY – AROUND IN CIRCLES (15.99 post-free, direct from Retro Speedway (see link on this site) – will be launched on Sunday week.

 

Booey will be signing copies of his new book at the World Speedway Riders’ Association’s Northern Lunch, to be held at The Wool Merchants Hotel, Halifax on Sunday, August 13 (1pm start). Tickets for the lunch, priced £14 each, can be ordered from: Terry Hardaker, 39 Ashfield Drive, Ovenden, Halifax, West Yorks, HX3 5PQ. Tel: 07886 323 451.

 

If you don't wish to attend the luncheon, but still want to buy the book there that day and get Eric to sign it, why not turn up AFTERWARDS – at around 3pm. Copies will be available from that time ...and Booey will be delighted to sign it for you there and then!

 

If you can't make it to Halifax, don't worry...just order a SIGNED COPY direct from Retro Speedway.

[Guest Jim Blanchard]

Who wrote this one then.

 

Not being disrespectful tmc but how come someone like Eric Boocock who never was as good as his brother and basically won very little in the grand scheme of things can bring out a book about his speedway exploits.

 

Is it not about time we had another 'auto' - biography written by Ivan Mauger bringing us up to date from the last one 'Triple Crown Plus'. Which was written so long ago now.

Edited August 8, 2006 by Jim Blanchard

[Tsunami]

Jim

 

With due respect, there are very few people in speedway who have achieved what Eric has and is still doing in Speedway. His brother may have been a better rider but that's all he was, a rider. There have also been better riders than Nigel and they still would not warrant writing and selling their life story.

Eric has done it on every stage in speedway and in his own way. You obviously have never been in his company and heard him spin his yarns and exploits, sometimes with Ian Thomas, and keep a group amused for ages. He has a roughness that some don't take to but nevertheless he is one of the great characters in modern speedway. Borrow his book and be entertained.

 

[TonyMac]

Well said, Tsunami.

 

And thanks, Jim, for stirring me into action...

 

Jim, your post is anything but respectful to Booey who is, unquestionably, one of the greatest servants to British speedway throughout his 40-plus years in the sport. He's done the lot and the only role he hasn't undertaken in all those years of passionate devotion to the sport is BSPA chairman.

 

For my money, Eric should have been awarded at least an MBE for his servives to speedway some time ago – and he's still in love with the sport today, assisting young Josh Auty at Scunthorpe. All this comes shining through in this excellent book about a man who clearly cares more about speedway than most.

 

Apart from winning the British Championship in 1974 (at a time when it was a damn sight harder to win than it is now), he was capped more than 50 times for England and rode regularly for GB when greats like Mauger and Briggo were also included in the Test team.

 

But perhaps what sets Booey apart from much of the rest of his era is that, for 10 consecutive seasons, he averaged at least 10 points a match for Halifax and was the top Englishman at one time. No other Englishmen has achieved this remarkable feat – not to mention the loyalty to one club.

 

And you'll see from reading Peter Collins' foreword to the book just how important a role Eric played in the development of PC as a rider and, in fact, the invaluable help Booey gave him in the pits on the day he won the World Final in 1976. And the tremendous efforts he personally made to help Peter retain the title in '77, when he had to settle for second after suffering his bad leg injury.

 

We could talk about his managerial success at Belle Vue, where Alan Wilkie's injury cost Aces the league title in 1978 and they finished runners-up on another two occasions, and the treble win at Hull two years ago and so on and so on. Oh yeah, and he managed the small feat (with Ian Thomas) of winning the 1980 World Championship grand slam with England (don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen again).

 

Finally, as Tsunami points out, Eric Boocock is also a genuine, honest guy with stacks of amusing anecdotes to tell. So why shouldn't he have the chance to tell his story just like anybody else? For your info, Eric didn't approach us about a book – he's too modest for that. We recognise what he has done for the sport over a very long period and decided to put the idea of a book to him.

 

The book is great value at 256 pages, contains more than 200 pictures (many from Booey's own collection) and is well written in collobaration with a respected and pukka speedway and sports journalist in Martin Neal, who writes for Backtrack and the Middlesbrough Evening Gazzette.

 

As for Ivan, you're quite right Jim...a follow up to Triple Crown Plus is long overdue and, in fact, Ivan told us last week that he is beginning work on his next book now, with either a 2007 or 08 launch.

 

In the meantime, why not read what a real character like Eric Boocock has to say, from both sides of the speedway fence...

Edited August 7, 2006 by tmc

[spin king]

Sorry Jim, but I too find that your posting is very disrespectful, Boey has been a great servant to the sport, as a rider and team manager.

He is blunt and straight to the point, but riders love him, and fans that have met or spoken to him will tell you he is great company.

[T'internet Dave]

Who is Jim Blanchard? - www.motorcycle-racing-fart.co.uk

[keepturningleft]

Booey was my first speedway hero at Halifax in the late 60's. It was obvious Eric was a real personality even in the days before todays endless TV interviews.

I can't wait to read the book!