World Final Memories

[barrow boy]

I have just watched one of my christmas presents from my son a DVD of the 1981 Wembley World Final. At the time he was 7 years old and due to him needing the loo I missed several races whilst having to take him. Ever tried getting through thousands of spectators twice right from the front behind the starting gate to the very back at the top and back down again holding the hand of a little one. When I eventually got back to my original place I found out that I had missed probably the best ever race which was of course Bruce Penhall's hunting down of Tommy Knudsen in heat 10. Now I've finally seen it and boy what a race but there were several other fine races to in a meeting consisting of Penhall,Olsen,Knudsen,Gundersen,Neilsen,Carter, Lee, Morton,Jessup,Muller etc.Certainly seems to have been a bit better standard than todays standard of finalists don't you think? Would anyone else care to share any World Final memories with us.

[barrow boy]

I put this topic in General Discussions because I thought it might attract more interest there and I hoped it would interest the older fans and advocates of pre GP days. However the powers that be thought otherwise.

[barrow boy]

No memories then anybody

[Gemini]

Ah..... I'm feeling sorry for you.

I can't understand why no-one has replied but perhaps it's because the topic is being covered all the time on different threads.

It's no good asking me for memories as I've gone senile, but as I've said on another thread I don't think the classic 1981 Wembley Final was really as good as everyone says. And yes I was there and have watched the video several times since.

The best thing about Wembley was the journey there, decorating the car and seeing all the others heading up the M1. Happy memories.

[KevH]

The best thing about Wembley was the journey there, decorating the car and seeing all the others heading up  the M1. 

I'm surprised you ever got there Gem.

[barrow boy]

Ah..... I'm feeling sorry for you. 

I can't understand why no-one has replied but perhaps it's because the topic is being covered all the time on different threads.

It's no good asking me for memories as I've gone senile, but as I've said on another thread I don't think the classic 1981 Wembley Final was really as good as everyone says.  And yes I was there and have watched the video several times since.

The best thing about Wembley was the journey there, decorating the car and seeing all the others heading up the M1.  Happy memories.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank god somebody cares.

[Grachan]

Shouldn't this be in 'Years Gone by'? (Ducks for cover)

 

I went to a few World Finals over the years. The first one was in 1975 at Wembley when Martin Ashby was reserve and didn't get a ride when someone touched the tapes. Outrageous. There was also a bomb scare which everyone chose to ignore.

 

Next one was 1976, when I went to Poland with Tee-Mill tours and survived on a diet of bread rolls and gherkins for a few days. Poland at that time was another World, and the Poles in the town wouldn't speak to us at first because they thought we were German and then, realising we were English, swarmed round us as though we were heroes. Main memory of the meeting isn't Peter Collins winning, but Egon Muller coming of.

 

1978 next. Ole wins at Wembley. Oddly I don't remember this one as clearly as 1975, other than Jan Andersson being a bit rubbish in it.

 

The next one I went ot was 1981. Wembley again. There really was something special about those World Finals at the Empire Stadium. It was an amazing place to watch speedway.

 

I start to lose track after that. I went to Bradford in 1985 when Erik won and 1990(?) when Per won it. Bradford was good, but it was no Wembley. I also saw Egon Muller win in 1983 and still say he doesn't get enough credit for that. He was senstational that day, homer track or not.

 

Also went to Vojens one year, when Per Jonsson fell off and Erik, once again, did a number on Hans. Not sure of the year. 1988 I think? My main memory of that is that I didn't pack very well and had to keep borrowing clothes from my girlfriend.

[sjw ministerofport]

Hi Barrow Boy, 1981 was a great final. Bruce Penhall was as always great and I wished he had stayed in speedway for more years than he did.

Wembley finals were always wonderful occasions and it was a travesty when speedway was banned from the twin white towers.

And as Grachen pointed out 1975 was the year of the bomb threat, I didn't see anyone leaving because of the warning.

I'm not sure which final it was but I remember Phil Crump fans being outraged by the improper way the track watering was done, so they took the fire hose of the staff and turned it on them and I think a couple of policemen got a good soaking, all in good fun though.

I still think the one off World Champoinships were the best and truest way of finding athe champion, but I also love the GP series. I think it's a pity we can't have both.

[norbold]

I went to all the Wembley finals between 1963 and 1981 and also the 1971 final in Gothenburg.

 

The one I remember most was the 1967 final. I had taken a group of college friends to see it. Most of them had never seen speedway before and, as I was a big fan of Ove Fundin, and as our college was in Norwich, I got them all to support the great man. As Grachan has said on another thread, he wasn't expected to win as it was felt that he was a bit past it by then and Briggo was the hot favourite. But, of course, Ove did win, making five titles altogether, the most wins at that time, and cement his place as a permanent candidate for the "greatest ever".

 

It was a great feeling when he did win, especially as my non-speedway friends got very excited. I don't know how many of them went on to watch speedway later on, but at least for one night they were fully absorbed in the atmosphere that only speedway can give.

 

Oh yes, and, as I have said elsewhere, I agree with Gem about the 1981 final.

[Ian]

The one I remember most was the 1967 final.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You and I both, Norbold. A wonderful meeting, fabulous atmosphere. And, if I'm not mistaken, the drama of a run-off between Ove and Bengt Jansson to decide the title.

 

The other terrific thing about these Wembley finals was that there always seemed to be a handful of riders whom you never saw on any other occasion during the season. The Russians and Poles were by far the most exotic. The League of Nations which the Elite League has become has robbed us of that pleasure.

 

Was this not also the final where Barry Briggs suffered a hand injury?

[Grachan]

Was this not also the final where Barry Briggs suffered a hand injury?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That was 1972. In 1967 he came fifth with 11 points. It was the last chance for Briggs or Fundin to stake their claim for 'best ever' before the Mauger era kicked in, with Fundin coming out on top.

[Gemini]

There you go Barrow Boy - there's a few replies for you.

I'm surprised you ever got there Gem. 

Oh Yes.... I do seem to remember us always heading South which would be down. Told you I had gone senile.

We also used to go to Wimbledon for The Laurels and The Internationale....which would be down again I suppose. But on the other hand we regularly attended the Riders Championship thingy at Hyde Road, Manchester, when we would be heading North. See...I'm getting the hang of this now.

Great day out at Belle Vue with a trip to the fair afterwards.

[barrow boy]

Shouldn't this be in 'Years Gone by'? (Ducks for cover)

 

I went to a few World Finals over the years. The first one was in 1975 at Wembley when Martin Ashby was reserve and didn't get a ride when someone touched the tapes. Outrageous. There was also a bomb scare which everyone chose to ignore.

 

Next one was 1976, when I went to Poland with Tee-Mill tours and survived on a diet of bread rolls and gherkins for a few days. Poland at that time was another World, and the Poles in the town wouldn't speak to us at first because they thought we were German and then, realising we were English, swarmed round us as though we were heroes. Main memory of the meeting isn't Peter Collins winning, but Egon Muller coming of.

 

1978 next. Ole wins at Wembley. Oddly I don't remember this one as clearly as 1975, other than Jan Andersson being a bit rubbish in it.

 

The next one I went ot was 1981. Wembley again. There really was something special about those World Finals at the Empire Stadium. It was an amazing place to watch speedway.

 

I start to lose track after that. I went to Bradford in 1985 when Erik won and 1990(?) when Per won it. Bradford was good, but it was no Wembley. I also saw Egon Muller win in 1983 and still say he doesn't get enough credit for that. He was senstational that day, homer track or not.

 

Also went to Vojens one year, when Per Jonsson fell off and Erik, once again, did a number on Hans. Not sure of the year. 1988 I think? My main memory of that is that I didn't pack very well and had to keep borrowing clothes from my girlfriend.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If this topic should be in years gone by so should a lot of other topics that have been allowed to stay in General.

[barrow boy]

There you go Barrow Boy - there's a few replies for you. 

I'm surprised you ever got there Gem. 

Oh Yes.... I do seem to remember us always heading South which would be down. Told you I had gone senile.

We also used to go to Wimbledon for The Laurels and The Internationale....which would be down again I suppose. But on the other hand we regularly attended the Riders Championship thingy at Hyde Road, Manchester, when we would be heading North. See...I'm getting the hang of this now.

Great day out at Belle Vue with a trip to the fair afterwards.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank you.

[Grachan]

If this topic should be in years gone by so should a lot of other topics that have been allowed to stay in General.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I really wouldn't worry about it so much if I were you.

[fatface]

OK here's mine...

 

1983 - What a stitch up! It seemed Muller was on a 600cc engine compared the rest. I think he was only one on a GM, it was when they first came out. As Kenny Carter said to the TV interviewer: "Ole Olsen's got summat fastest bikes in t'world and he's just gone past him like e's dropped a chain. Ee's makin' us all look stoopid! Get yer cameras on that bike!"

 

Muller never looked like winning the world title before this and never after. I remember the track being soaked at the interval with Muller and Gunther Sorber keeping an eye on proceedings. Too much was weighed in Muller's favour for me to ever give him credit for this one.

 

1985 - Gundersen's dive around King/Moran in heat 20 was breathtaking. Sam Ermlolenko was also great fun that day - he was a rank outsider going in. Otherwise, racing not brilliant.

 

1987 - Atmosphere free. Nielsen dominant on day 2. My cousin trying to buy Roman Jankowski's body colour with "Ze English pounds"

 

1990 - Best final I went to. Gustafson, Jonsson, Moran all produced some superb stuff. It was good to be at a night time final too.

 

1992 - Couldn't believe Havelock won it. But he put together the starts and fair play to him. Racing wasnt great, but they did well to keep the meeting on. There was a huge deluge after about heat 4? I've never seen hailstones like it - some were the size of gobstoppers! The fire engines rode in and pumped the water off the track - very impressive it was too!

[barrow boy]

I really wouldn't worry about it so much if I were you.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But it may have been more popular in General, just like all the others including yours about 1986. Mine covers world finals in GENERAL. Get it, general? Incidentally as suggested I sent a PM to a moderator seeking an explantion but to date I have not yet received a reply.

[Grachan]

But it may have been more popular in General, just like all the others including yours about 1986. Mine covers world finals in GENERAL. Get it, general? Incidentally as suggested I sent a PM to a moderator seeking an explantion but to date I have not yet received a reply.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I do tend to agree with you to be honest and I'm as puzzled as you are. I'm just saying don't let it get to you.

 

1983 - What a stitch up! It seemed Muller was on a 600cc engine compared the rest.  I think he was only one on a GM, it was when they first came out. As Kenny Carter said to the TV interviewer: "Ole Olsen's got summat fastest bikes in t'world and he's just gone past him like e's dropped a chain.  Ee's makin' us all look stoopid! Get yer cameras on that bike!"

 

Muller never looked like winning the world title before this and never after.  I remember the track being soaked at the interval with Muller and Gunther Sorber keeping an eye on proceedings. Too much was weighed in Muller's favour for me to ever give him credit for this one.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Hey, Falcace. You know tha Mike Oldfield song 'Moonlight Shadow'? Well....

[fatface]

I do. Did Egon do a cover? If so, please, please do not put that on You Tube.