Grachan Posted February 10, 2003 Report Share Posted February 10, 2003 Somebody placed this message in my Guestbook and I wondered if anyone had any memories. All I can remember really is that he rode at the first meeting I went to, which is presumably how Jamie found my website. Name: Jamie Shakespeare (Homepage) Country: UK Date: Sat Feb 8 00:47:11 2003 Comment: Hello,im trying to find things out about my dad, Malcolm Shakespeare.Anything? I know he raced for wolves and weymouth.Was he any good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liontamer Posted February 10, 2003 Report Share Posted February 10, 2003 Malc Shakespear was a pretty good rider in his day, his averages are as follows: First Division: Leicester: 1971 - 4.4 1972 - 4.8 1973 - 5.7 Wolverhampton: 1970 (1xmeeting) - 2.6 1974 - 4.0 1975 - 4.5 1976 - 3.3 Cradley Heath: 1970 (1xmeeting) - 2.0 Second Division: Long Eaton: 1969 - 6.8 1970 - 8.2 1971 - 9.8 Weymouth: 1978 - 7.49 1979 - 6.2 1981 - 7.0 Not sure where else he rode, but I hope this helps. :clown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madbiker Posted February 11, 2003 Report Share Posted February 11, 2003 My best memory of "Shakey" was the midland pairs handicap at Leicester, can`t remember the year, in that meeting they used to pair up a heat leader with a second string but handicap the heat leader by 30 yards, my memory has faded a bit but I remember him getting an 18 point maximum, non of the top riders, including Olsen etc could catch and pass him ! I think he was paired with Johnny Boulger and they won the meeting, may be wrong though, great night though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted February 13, 2003 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2003 Thanks Liontamer & Madbiker. I received the following e-mail from Jamie yesterday: "Thank you very much!!! I enjoyed reading that immensely. I was just bored the once and thought I would try searching on him. I live in Sutton Coldfield now and my father and mother are divorced. Unfortionatley he never encouraged me or my other two brothers to try speedway. I don't know why. My mom said that if he had a competitive bike he would have done better. Still he has his own building company now called M.S Builders and still rides bikes but for pure pleasure. I really do appreciate what you did for me ,thank you very much! Yours sincerely Jamie Shakespeare" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beowulf Posted February 21, 2003 Report Share Posted February 21, 2003 Yes, I remember Malcolm. Any memories? Well I liked him but to be honest he was never more than a reserve cum second string. He was tall and slim and at times looked awkward on the bike, as he was all arms and legs. I think he rode in all black leathers during his time at Wolves, although colour was slowly creeping in. Wolves is a small track, even smaller these days, and Malcolm's main ability was to be able to turn the bike easily and quickly. He loved riding the white line and once he'd put it there, there was no way anybody could get through on the inside (as I remember it!). However, this wasn't so good at big tracks. The one vision I have in my mind is Malcolm riding at Halifax, he gated, put the bike the on the line around the first bend and then the other three dive bombed past him on the banking on the first and second bends! (Mind you there have been loads of Wolves riders who have had problems riding at places like Halifax e.g. Ronnie Correy at Bradford). Nonetheless, as an ex-Wolves rider, I still fondly remember him and as part of my collection, I should have photo's somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nigel B Posted April 19, 2005 Report Share Posted April 19, 2005 Somebody placed this message in my Guestbook and I wondered if anyone had any memories. All I can remember really is that he rode at the first meeting I went to, which is presumably how Jamie found my website.Name: Jamie Shakespeare (Homepage) Country: UK Date: Sat Feb 8 00:47:11 2003 Comment: Hello,im trying to find things out about my dad, Malcolm Shakespeare.Anything? I know he raced for wolves and weymouth.Was he any good? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Shakey (the original big leggy!), rode for Long Eaton and Wolves before moving to Weymouth in National League. He was one of my original heroes when I started watching at Monmore Green in 1974 - he was, I think either winner or runner -up in National league (Div2) riders championship in early 70s, joined Wolves and for the three years I saw him was a 4-5 point rider in the Good Old British League. Very tall for a speedway rider, often had bike problems (as did many Wolves riders in those days, except for Ole!). My favourite memory is of a sunday meeting on a hot summers day, the track was dusty, the opposition was Newport - the excitement was the arrival of 4 valve engines (courtesy of Phil Crump and Neil Street) - everyone waited with baited breath and the star of the show was Shakey!!! He used to wear all black leathers but this day wore a bright yellow overall and top-scored with 12 points from 5 rides his best score when I was watching for Wolves - and I think he beat Crumpy - no mean feat. He was also a 2nd division England international, and a top 2nd division rider, think he also rode at Leicester before joining Wolves. Also remember his mop of curly ginger red hair - great memories. Hope you can pass this note on to his son Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted April 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2005 Nigel, I've sent him an e-mail to tell him about your post. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wessex Wanderer Posted April 20, 2005 Report Share Posted April 20, 2005 Malcolm Shakespeare was a very good rider, real nice guy, excellent team man and a superb professional. When he joined Weymouth he brought a whole new attitude to the team and will always be one of the most respected and popular Wildcats of all time. He was "transferred away" a couple of times (not at his request) but each time returned after a while so altogether he joined us three times and was a very welcome signing each time. Among his achievements at Weymouth was winning the Seyco Trophy (in 1978 I think) but it is as a team man that he is most remembered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stansolo Posted April 20, 2005 Report Share Posted April 20, 2005 Shakey had a new lease of life when leaving Wolves for the Brummies at the start of 1977, Mal made it to heatleader with some great performances and scores, but engine problems and loss of form made things difficult when the summer arrived, eventually he left in the close season, but I do remember the yellow overalls and some good nights at Perry Barr in that first half of 77, I still have his autograph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiganWarrior Posted June 9, 2005 Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 Shakey had a new lease of life when leaving Wolves for the Brummies at the start of 1977, Mal made it to heatleader with some great performances and scores, but engine problems and loss of form made things difficult when the summer arrived, eventually he left in the close season, but I do remember the yellow overalls and some good nights at Perry Barr in that first half of 77, I still have his autograph. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiganWarrior Posted June 9, 2005 Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 I remember Malcolm Shakespeare riding for Long Eaton at Crewe. He was very good on the big, fast track and had a great meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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