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Halifax Dukes Riders Of The Past


Sajenkin

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Ok guys

I was at a recent meeting of folk who are desperate to see the return of speedway to Halifax or Bradford, and was reminiscing about the old days at the Shay.

I recalled a rider that failed to turn up for a second season after a promising debut, the reason being that he had broken his arm in a hang gliding incident.

Any ideas who it was? At first I thought it was a favourite of mine, Tormod Langli, but was quickly disabused of that particular misconception! I know he was my kind of rider - the no-nonsense type, no respecter of reputations.

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Ok guys

I was at a recent meeting of folk who are desperate to see the return of speedway to Halifax or Bradford, and was reminiscing about the old days at the Shay.

I recalled a rider that failed to turn up for a second season after a promising debut, the reason being that he had broken his arm in a hang gliding incident.

Any ideas who it was?  At first I thought it was a favourite of mine, Tormod Langli, but was quickly disabused of that particular misconception!  I know he was my kind of rider - the no-nonsense type, no respecter of reputations.

 

Tormod did break his arm handgliding.

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It was definitely Tormod Langli who broke his arm just before the Easter Monday match at the Shay with Belle Vue. Think the year might have been 1980. It was his second season with us after joining from Bristol.

 

Yes Tormod start at Bristol 77 and 78, when Bristol closed he went to Halifax for the 79 season, and how some success with the Dukes.

I believe that Halifax sacked him when he broke his home, and as far as I am aware .

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Yes Tormod start at Bristol 77 and 78, when Bristol closed he went to Halifax for the 79 season, and how some success with the Dukes.

          I believe that Halifax sacked him when he broke his home, and as far as I am aware .

had his debut season with newport in 1976,and when that team moved en-bloc to bristol he went with them and along with gresham frightened a lot of riders around that eastville track.

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Yes Tormod start at Bristol 77 and 78, when Bristol closed he went to Halifax for the 79 season, and how some success with the Dukes.

         I believe that Halifax sacked him when he broke his home, and as far as I am aware .

 

A bit unfair in my opinion, surely if he came from a broken home he should have been given some sympathy and help !!!!! :wink:

Edited by NOBBY
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  • 3 years later...

One of my all time fav's...

 

Langli and Gresham were the best pairing i ever witnessed. Not the best riders...but the most exciting as a pair.

 

http://speedwayondisc.blogspot.com/2011/07/speedway-stars-tormod-langli.html

 

Shame he retired after breaking his arm. Hard as nails.

 

In fact when you look at the Bulldogs team of 78, on paper it was won of the hardest set of riders you could ever have. Great memories.

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One of my all time fav's...

 

Langli and Gresham were the best pairing i ever witnessed. Not the best riders...but the most exciting as a pair.

 

http://speedwayondisc.blogspot.com/2011/07/speedway-stars-tormod-langli.html

 

Shame he retired after breaking his arm. Hard as nails.

 

In fact when you look at the Bulldogs team of 78, on paper it was won of the hardest set of riders you could ever have. Great memories.

 

Wasn't Phil Crump in that 'Bulldogs' Team - or - is my 'forgetory' playing tricks on me. :unsure:

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One of my all time fav's...

 

Langli and Gresham were the best pairing i ever witnessed. Not the best riders...but the most exciting as a pair.

 

http://speedwayondisc.blogspot.com/2011/07/speedway-stars-tormod-langli.html

 

Shame he retired after breaking his arm. Hard as nails.

 

In fact when you look at the Bulldogs team of 78, on paper it was won of the hardest set of riders you could ever have. Great memories.

 

 

one of my early memories i can remember from speedway was Steve Gresham having a fight on the centre green at Belle Vue after a race....cannot remember why or who with but that fight sticks with me...thought it was pretty good as a kid !!

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one of my early memories i can remember from speedway was Steve Gresham having a fight on the centre green at Belle Vue after a race....cannot remember why or who with but that fight sticks with me...thought it was pretty good as a kid !!

 

Yes your spot on. After Gresham had had a hard ride with a Belle Vue rider, Could of been one of the Carr brothers, the then Belle Vue manager, Ian Thomas, hit Steve Gresham on his way back to the pits, which resulted in the two of them trading blows with each other. Later on in the meeting an argument started in the Reading area of the Belle Vue pits and Steve Gresham seemed to be knocking the hell out of Bobby Schwartz! it ended up with reading not riding in the last 3 or 4 heats. Strange thing is, nobody seemed to be that bothered about Bobby Schwartz who looked like he had gone 12 rounds with Roberto Duran when the two of them had finished.

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Yes your spot on. After Gresham had had a hard ride with a Belle Vue rider, Could of been one of the Carr brothers, the then Belle Vue manager, Ian Thomas, hit Steve Gresham on his way back to the pits, which resulted in the two of them trading blows with each other. Later on in the meeting an argument started in the Reading area of the Belle Vue pits and Steve Gresham seemed to be knocking the hell out of Bobby Schwartz! it ended up with reading not riding in the last 3 or 4 heats. Strange thing is, nobody seemed to be that bothered about Bobby Schwartz who looked like he had gone 12 rounds with Roberto Duran when the two of them had finished.

Think you`re right on the money there,Gresham was not to be trifled with...

Glad he was on my side most of the time :P

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