fatface Posted July 6, 2003 Report Share Posted July 6, 2003 Oh come on... No brainer! Nigel Booocock look at his record over a great number of years - 17 at Coventry. England International and Captain. OK Never World Champion, but a great rider, with a great record. Of course Peter Craven would be up there too, sadly his career ended so tragically. The other PC as well was a great crowd pleaser and a World Champion. But, Booey outlast them all in terms of overall performances at league and International level. He won WTC medals as well, and would have been British Champion more than once had the Kiwi's not been in the race too! Would've....could've...... Obviously Nigel Boocock is an all-time hero for Coventry. But his record at the very top level cannot compare with the likes of Peter Collins, Peter Craven, Jack Parker, Mike Lee, Freddie Williams. I'd love to say Chris Morton - he's my all time hero - but I'll judge this with my head not my heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight_Lady Posted July 6, 2003 Report Share Posted July 6, 2003 his record at the very top level cannot compare with the likes of...... Peter Craven, Jack Parker.......Freddie Williams. Gee whizz Falcace you didn't look that old when we met, yet you remember all those golden greats What was it that Rod Stewart sang ....."You wear it well" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted July 6, 2003 Report Share Posted July 6, 2003 Oil of Olay ML. I've read a lot and those guys mentioned all come across well, both in terms of their records and abilities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted July 6, 2003 Report Share Posted July 6, 2003 Oh come on... No brainer! Nigel Booocock so are we talking about British riders that were consistent and good team men or are we talking about riders with that 'x-factor' that could realise their potential?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lioness Posted July 6, 2003 Report Share Posted July 6, 2003 That depends on the individual and how they define 'best' rider Steve..... there are arguements on both sides imo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIWIPIRATE Posted July 7, 2003 Report Share Posted July 7, 2003 I think when you look at the actual achievements of British riders overall, then Peter Craven must be the ONE.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgm Posted July 8, 2003 Report Share Posted July 8, 2003 Michael Lee,achieved it all by the age of 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 8, 2003 Report Share Posted July 8, 2003 And then what happened....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgm Posted July 9, 2003 Report Share Posted July 9, 2003 He was led astray !? Whatever happened it does not diminish his achievements-It would be like saying Jimi Hendrix was not a great guitarist,at least Mike stopped before he travelled all the way down that rode-I do not condone Mike Lee after he went off the rails but on the track -he was the greatest british rider ever in my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted July 9, 2003 Report Share Posted July 9, 2003 In a strange sort of way it is a compliment when people talk of Mike Lee as a wasted talent. After all, he won the lot - World Final, World Pairs, World Long Track, British Final, World Team Cup. So, when people say he wasted his talent, they are saying he had such rare ability that he could have won all of the above again and again and again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 9, 2003 Report Share Posted July 9, 2003 I agree falcace. That is the real tragedy of Michael Lee. He could have been the greatest rider of the 80s. It would be interesting to know how Nielsen and Gundersen would have fared had he still been around and whether Nielsen would still be one of the leading candidates for "greatest rider of all time" or whether Lee would have eclipsed him..... But (sigh) we'll never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted July 9, 2003 Report Share Posted July 9, 2003 It was also sad to see him coming back in 1991, when clearly he was past his best. I remember seeing him in the early 80s going to Halifax and wiping the floor with Kenny Carter and doing the same at Belle Vue against Chris Morton. Not many could do that, British or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest denisthemenis Posted July 9, 2003 Report Share Posted July 9, 2003 Surely all these topics 'Best .......' are purely subjective as its impossible to equate riders from different era's and machine technology and abilities. Mike Lee and his off track problems were irrelevant where speedway skills were concerned. So realisticly, we have to come to a conclusion of a selection of riders who were the best of British. Therefore, we have to include: Tom Farndon, Jack Parker, Freddie Williams, Peter Craven, Mike Lee, Peter Collins, Kenny Carter, Mark Loram. (not sure about Nigel Boocock). This list is not based on anything other than time scale and not in order of abilities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted July 10, 2003 Report Share Posted July 10, 2003 With respect to Michael Lee - who is the greatest ever footballer from the UK? I'm sure 99 percent would say George Best, yet he is also someone else who is seen as someone who 'wasted' his talent. This is rarely seen as an issue, however, when judging how good he was and neither should it be with Michael Lee who is definitely the greatest British rider I ever saw. The only one to come close is Peter Collins...... oh, and Martin Ashby of course! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff. Posted July 10, 2003 Report Share Posted July 10, 2003 As people have said "best" is very subjective. If you were using set criteria for determining the best rider such as World Championship record then it is easier to put a name to it, but then based on that it would be Peter Craven and Freddie Williams. If you were going for longevity and the time a rider spent at the top, or thereabouts then riders like Booey would be considered. Back to speculation, for what it's worth, but I do believe that if Mike Lee had not gone off the rails he would almost certainly have gone on to be the most decorated British rider of all time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 10, 2003 Report Share Posted July 10, 2003 And everyone seems to have missed out Tommy Price. Surely, if longevity is the key, then there is no doubt that Jack Parker would be the greatest ever. Arguably the best - or at least one of the best three - British riders in the very first year, 1928, and still arguably the best (in fact, almost certainly the best) British rider twenty years later in 1948. The only interruption to being accounted the best probably coming during Tom Farndon's hey-day, c. 1932 - 35. He even beat Malcolm Simmons fifty years later in 1978 on a very cold day at Hackney! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derwent Posted July 10, 2003 Report Share Posted July 10, 2003 It totally depends on what criteria you mean by "best". In terms of sheer excitement and the "how did he do that" factor, then Kenny Carter was the king. For sheer raw talent and making it look easy, then it'd have to be Michael Lee. For sheer professionalism and application, it'd have to be Peter Collins. My speedway watching only goes as far back as 1970 so I didn't see the likes of Peter Craven ride. There were lots of great riders in the 70's who would be worthy candidates for this accolade - Tiger Louis, Gordon Kennett, John Davis etc etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryce Posted July 10, 2003 Report Share Posted July 10, 2003 Not forgettting Dave Jessup. Surely the unluckiest rider ever in terms of costly engine failures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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