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Wimbledon Memories


superdons

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Getting back to to Wimbledon memories, the most recent issue of Backtrack has a feature on Wimbledon second half riders from the Backtrack era. Certainly rang some bells with the track obviously a magnet for young hopefuls in the early 70's, but less so in the later 80's.  Plenty went on to good careers elsewhere, others less so. From my time going to Plough Lane from 1981, Phil Vance was a regular as was Jay Pleece and other names like Ian Hunter, Paul Hilton and Chris Standen. 

 

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Here is a picture of Terry Mussett in Wimbledon colours from the Wimbledon programme Dons v Stoke (National League) 30 July 1986. He also rode for the Dons in 1987 and 1988.

Terry-Mussett-1986.jpg

Edited by Robbie B
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38 minutes ago, salty said:

Getting back to to Wimbledon memories, the most recent issue of Backtrack has a feature on Wimbledon second half riders from the Backtrack era. Certainly rang some bells with the track obviously a magnet for young hopefuls in the early 70's, but less so in the later 80's.  Plenty went on to good careers elsewhere, others less so. From my time going to Plough Lane from 1981, Phil Vance was a regular as was Jay Pleece and other names like Ian Hunter, Paul Hilton and Chris Standen. 

 

Paul Dowdall, Rocky Coutts, Rob Jones went on a little and Mal Bedkopper I think another who done a couple of seasons

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Rob Jones appeared on the scene in 1972, stayed for a couple of seasons then re-appeared in 1977. Never seemed to make it out of the reserve berth but was popular.

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51 minutes ago, prodons said:

Rob Jones appeared on the scene in 1972, stayed for a couple of seasons then re-appeared in 1977. Never seemed to make it out of the reserve berth but was popular.

Was he a Kiwi or am I totally off the mark? I seem to remember he rode weaing cream coloured boots!

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1 minute ago, steve roberts said:

Was he a Kiwi or am I totally off the mark? I seem to remember he rode weaing cream coloured boots!

He was an Aussie, but was born in Derby, I believe.

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50 minutes ago, prodons said:

Rob Jones appeared on the scene in 1972, stayed for a couple of seasons then re-appeared in 1977. Never seemed to make it out of the reserve berth but was popular.

Brendan Stilleto, Brewer, Pawson, Knowler, P.Johns, were riders who come to mind who never really made the breakthrough.Moggo ( Mogridge)  did  really well went on and had a decent career  he was great value gave everything..

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1 minute ago, Sidney the robin said:

Brendan Stilleto, Brewer, Pawson, Knowler, P.Johns, were riders who come to mind who never really made the breakthrough.Moggo ( Mogridge)  did  really well went on and had a decent career  he was great value gave everything..

I wonder if Steve was thinking of Pat Pawson? He was a Kiwi...

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Think he was an Aussie, came around the same time as Neil Cameron.

Cameron incidentally was the main person in one of Mike Patrick’s most memorable Speedway photos from Plough Lane in 1974. Neil spun round (on Briggo’s spare bike) on the first bend and Barry Crowson of King’s Lynn used him as a launching pad! 
 

 

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6 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

Brendan Stilleto, Brewer, Pawson, Knowler, P.Johns, were riders who come to mind who never really made the breakthrough.Moggo ( Mogridge)  did  really well went on and had a decent career  he was great value gave everything..

Until Kelvin appeared in 1983, we never really got the hang of the 50 point rule. Unfortunately none of the riders you mention Sidney ever did much from the number 7 berth. Though Moggo stunned everyone by nabbing a matching 7 at King’s Lynn in 1982.

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14 minutes ago, prodons said:

Think he was an Aussie, came around the same time as Neil Cameron.

Cameron incidentally was the main person in one of Mike Patrick’s most memorable Speedway photos from Plough Lane in 1974. Neil spun round (on Briggo’s spare bike) on the first bend and Barry Crowson of King’s Lynn used him as a launching pad! 
 

 

Neil was decent middle order man but lost his way with a move to Poole then Newport (?) and made one appearance for White City before disapperaing from the scene.

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16 minutes ago, prodons said:

Until Kelvin appeared in 1983, we never really got the hang of the 50 point rule. Unfortunately none of the riders you mention Sidney ever did much from the number 7 berth. Though Moggo stunned everyone by nabbing a matching 7 at King’s Lynn in 1982.

Tatum, Doncaster, Screen, ,Loram ,  Graves changed the way a little by going full time into a very tough BL. Graves is one that puzzles me he was pretty talented never really stepped up Eccles at Belle Vue was another without sustaining injury he would of been a regular at BL level.

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9 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

Tatum, Doncaster, Screen, ,Loram ,  Graves changed the way a little by going full time into a very tough BL. Graves is one that puzzles me he was pretty talented never really stepped up Eccles at Belle Vue was another without sustaining injury he would of been a regular at BL level.

I remember an interview with fellow Bradford reserve Gordon Whitaker who was less than complimentary about Michael Graves who he felt was somewhat full of himself and was looked upon by the Bradford Manangement at the time as someone special but who never really fullfilled his potential.

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Couple of second half riders who did make it were Gordon Kennett and Ted Hubbard. Though not for Wimbledon. Well in Gordon’s case it took some years before he did

Edited by iris123
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22 minutes ago, iris123 said:

Couple of second half riders who did make it were Gordon Kennett and Ted Hubbard. Though not for Wimbledon. Well in Gordon’s case it took some years before he did

Oxford did put in a tentative bid for Ted Hubbard in 1972 but it came to nought!

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1 hour ago, prodons said:

Think he was an Aussie, came around the same time as Neil Cameron.

Cameron incidentally was the main person in one of Mike Patrick’s most memorable Speedway photos from Plough Lane in 1974. Neil spun round (on Briggo’s spare bike) on the first bend and Barry Crowson of King’s Lynn used him as a launching pad! 
 

I think you'll find it was Neil who used Barry as a launching pad, or as Mike Patrick said, "Neil Cameron climbing all over Barry Crowson"!

Personally, I thought Neil could have gone on to better things. All he had to do was stay on the bike for four laps (assuming he didn't go through the tapes) a little more often. As has been said, after leaving Plough Lane, he wasn't the same.

Edited by chunky
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48 minutes ago, iris123 said:

Couple of second half riders who did make it were Gordon Kennett and Ted Hubbard. Though not for Wimbledon. Well in Gordon’s case it took some years before he did

And Rudy Muts who was a Wimbledon second halver in 1976 went on to ride at number 1 for the team at least once

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17 minutes ago, Robbie B said:

And Rudy Muts who was a Wimbledon second halver in 1976 went on to ride at number 1 for the team at least once

Salomonson, Hines, Johns, Muts, were all half decent  but could not Quite push on in there careers.Johns to be fair had a couple of good seasons figures wise but two riders who i felt given time could of been pretty decent were Brad Oxley and Anders Erickson.

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