dantodan Posted January 29, 2008 Report Share Posted January 29, 2008 As a Newcastle fan I suppose I should know lots about the Owens but my memory is rubbish. I remember that they came to us from Barrow and Joe also road for Ellesmere Port but it is all a bit hazy. Did Tom ride for Stoke at some stage. Can anyone supply a bit of history of the brothers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted January 29, 2008 Report Share Posted January 29, 2008 Sure others can fill you in better than me.especially with years and averages.But Tom did ride for Stoke.Was Joe team manager?Joe also rode in the top league with Hull Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantodan Posted January 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2008 Ah yes Joe rode for Hull for 2 or 3 seasons I think? Did Tom turn out for Newport? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted January 29, 2008 Report Share Posted January 29, 2008 Did Tom turn out for Newport? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes,Tom rode for Newport.Doubling up in his first year with the Diamonds,plus also rode for Hull while at Barrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frigbo Posted January 29, 2008 Report Share Posted January 29, 2008 JOE OWEN Barrow(73,74),BelleVue(74),Newcastle(75,76,82,83,84),Hull(75,76,77,78,79,80,81), Hackney(75),Leicester(82,83), EllesmerePort(85) TOM OWEN Barrow(72,73,74),Hull(74,75,76,77,78),Newport(74,75),Newcastle(75,76,77,78,79,80 ,81,82,87),Stoke(83,84,85,86),Wolves(84) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 Only the third ever Speedway meeting I attended, was Barrow at Kingsmead in July 1973 losing by just one point (39-38) to the Crusaders with both Joey (as he was then known) and Tom Owen in the Bombers side... One of the greatest individual performances I ever saw at second division level was by Joe, two years later in '75, when the Diamonds narrowly won a NNL match at Arlington. Joe remains my third favourite rider of all-time (behind Peter Collins and Buzz Burrows) with whom he shares the ability to entertain and provide excitement way beyond the norm in our sport.. Tom was also a legend to us at Crayford: winning the individual title, the Kentish Times Trophy a barely believable FIVE times in a row: '75 to '79 inclusive!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 Can't have a thread like this without mentioning the 3rd Owen brother, Ritchie. Can remember him at Ellesmere in the mid 80's I think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 Tom and Joe were team mates in arguably the finest side to grace the National League. The 1982 Newcastle Diamonds lost a mere 6 times in 36 matches with a worst defeat of 51-45! 1982 averages: Joe Owen 11.01 Rod Hunter 10.12 Bobby Beaton 9.01 Alan Emerson 7.81 Keith Bloxsome 7.35 Tom Owen 7.12 Robbie Foy 3.65 What I recall (being a mere 13yr old at the time!) was that Ian Thomas used his Hull assets to construct a side just within the boundaries of the then 50 point limit. The other promoters were up in arms, and saw the Diamonds romp home to a League and Cup double. For good measure Joe triumphed in the NLRC at Plough Lane, and they also claimed the inagural Supernational. Always had a soft spot for the "Lada" Diamonds (and glad the Dons didn't have to face them at the time!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 1982 averages: Joe Owen 11.01 Rod Hunter 10.12 Bobby Beaton 9.01 Alan Emerson 7.81 Keith Bloxsome 7.35 Tom Owen 7.12 Robbie Foy 3.65 You won't get team averages like that these days given how weak the product is. I've compared it with Belle Vue's team last year, and six of Newcastle's team had higher averages than the highest Belle Vue rider! Simon Stead 6.90 Joe Screen 6.62 Kevin Doolan 5.57 Adam Skornicki 4.89 James Wright 4.85 Billy Forsgerg 4.41 Laukkanen 4.39 Antonio Lindback 4.15 Ryan Fisher 3.00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 Tom and Joe were team mates in arguably the finest side to grace the National League. The 1982 Newcastle Diamonds lost a mere 6 times in 36 matches with a worst defeat of 51-45! What I recall (being a mere 13yr old at the time!) was that Ian Thomas used his Hull assets to construct a side just within the boundaries of the then 50 point limit. The other promoters were up in arms, and saw the Diamonds romp home to a League and Cup double. For good measure Joe triumphed in the NLRC at Plough Lane, and they also claimed the inagural Supernational. Always had a soft spot for the "Lada" Diamonds (and glad the Dons didn't have to face them at the time!). <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Got a sense of deja vu over this, coz it also sounded very much like the Newcastle team of 1976!! Joe was NLRC winner that year too (the year shazzy's uncle made the rostrum!! ); and with Tom also in his prime, the Diamonds swept to the NNL title losing on this occasion just THREE times! I mention this not so that it's apparent, by remembering further back, that I am indeed older than you, BP(!!): but perhaps mainly, coz one of the paltry 3 times the all-conquering Byker boys lost was - wait for it!! - at Crayford: by the legendary score of 40-38! Like you, I too had a soft spot for the Owen bros led Newcastle sides of this era.. I'm sure someone will point out in due course that in 1988 a side won the NL outdoing even the Diamonds' impressive record by losing but twice all term.. 'Twas of course that team beginning with 'H'!! To that eventual posting, let me get this point in first: the 1988 Kestrels contained no fewer than FIVE of the 1983 Crayford version..!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
czechhero Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 It's a shame but my abiding memory of Joe was seeing his awful crash at Bordesley Green which left him paralysed. It happened right in front of where I was standing. Such a big, big shame for the bloke, a great rider, no question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mervjankefanclub Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 (edited) didnt joe also have a life threatening crash while at hull and was very lucky to survive i can always remember reading one of those rider profiles i cant remember the rider but he did mention seeing joe in the dressing room a while after that crash and commenting on how horrific his scars were the thing i remember about tom was seeing him standing on the centre green at blantyre one year and how out of shape his leg was it curved inwards didnt he miss a whole season with this badly broken leg 1980 or 81 and the diamonds used R/R all season they also met each other for the silver helmet did they not and i have heard diamonds fans commenting on how when they faced each other in second halves they were no holds barred affairs Edited January 30, 2008 by mervjankefanclub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 didnt joe also have a life threatening crash while at hull and was very lucky to survive i can always remember reading one of those rider profiles i cant remember the rider but he did mention seeing joe in the dressing room a while after that crash and commenting on how horrific his scars were the thing i remember about tom was seeing him standing on the centre green at blantyre one year and how out of shape his leg was it curved inwards didnt he miss a whole season with this badly broken leg 1980 or 81 and the diamonds used R/R all season they also met each other for the silver helmet did they not and i have heard diamonds fans commenting on how when they faced each other in second halves they were no holds barred affairs <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I saw Tom a few years ago and his leg just defied physics. I thought it curved outwards and would have bet that it would break if he walked on it very long. Not nice to see. At Newcastle Tom used to go out and dig a hole in the entrance to the 3rd bend then cover it up. This was known as Tom's hole and the opposition then had to find out where he had dug it. Built in home advantage. You mention Tom being missing a season and us using R/R all season. It was due to Thomas doing such things that the BSPA started to only allow R/R for definate periods such as 28 days to stop such happenings. Obviously much later on, they cottoned on to starting a season with R/R and stopped the R/R or guests for the missing rider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subedei Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 (edited) What I recall (being a mere 13yr old at the time!) was that Ian Thomas used his Hull assets to construct a side just within the boundaries of the then 50 point limit. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ian Thomas, always a wily character, took advantage of a loophole in the regulations, which meant British League riders dropping into the National League were given an assessed 7.50 average. Theoretically, that meant that the likes of Kenny Carter, Michael Lee, Chris Morton and Peter Collins would've had 7.50 averages had they dropped to the National League. In Newcastle's case, Joe Owen and Bobby Beaton were the two riders given assessed 7.50 averages and, as can be seen, they averaged somewhat higher, with Owen making an absolute nonsense of his. Needless to say, the rules were changed for the 1983 season, with riders dropping to the National League having their average assessed by means of increasing their British League average by a factor of 1.5, thus a 8.00 averaged British League rider would have an assessed average of 12.00. Edited January 30, 2008 by Subedei Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dietbowers Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 yes,both of them rode for Newport,but in Joe`s case i think it was only a one off if you see what i mean. Tom,on the other hand rode for us often,can always remember he used to miss the gate and watch everybody go out to the fence on the first and second bend,and then he would sneak around the curb and come out either leading or behind his partner. not an easy manovoure to make at the old Somerton Park Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 yes,both of them rode for Newport,but in Joe`s case i think it was only a one off if you see what i mean. Tom,on the other hand rode for us often,can always remember he used to miss the gate and watch everybody go out to the fence on the first and second bend,and then he would sneak around the curb and come out either leading or behind his partner. not an easy manovoure to make at the old Somerton Park <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I remember the track well with it's square corners. How there wasn't more crashes on the bends i'll never know. Seemed impossible to get either round or under the leading rider when they were rounding off the corner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dietbowers Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 I remember the track well with it's square corners. How there wasn't more crashes on the bends i'll never know. Seemed impossible to get either round or under the leading rider when they were rounding off the corner. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> yep,it was nigh on impossible to overtake around there,but a few managed it,Phil Crump used to get around people somehow,and i seem to remember Steve Gresham frightening a few riders into mistakes to pass them. he did that at Bristol to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subedei Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 You won't get team averages like that these days given how weak the product is. I've compared it with Belle Vue's team last year, and six of Newcastle's team had higher averages than the highest Belle Vue rider! Simon Stead 6.90 Joe Screen 6.62 Kevin Doolan 5.57 Adam Skornicki 4.89 James Wright 4.85 Billy Forsgerg 4.41 Laukkanen 4.39 Antonio Lindback 4.15 Ryan Fisher 3.00 <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The averages are misleading, since Newcastle's averages would've included bonus points, whereas the Belle Vue ones wouldn't. And Alan Emerson was the bonus point king of the National League. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boston five Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 what about ritchie owen if i remeber right he rode with joe @ ellsmere port i think the night they were @brum they needed 1 pt to win the league ritchie also went to hospital that night ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewbacca Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 In 1976 I was convinced Joe was going to be a world champion. He was invincible around Brough that year. I'm sure his only dropped points were due to 2 engine failures although he did lose one leg of the silver helmet to John Jackson. He had made a great start to his British League career at Hull and was averaging over 8 in his first full season when he had his first big crash. I wasn't there but I understand he went throught the fence and ended up on the terracing, One of his hands had to be literally wired back on. It was certainly a life threatening smash and probably prevented his further progression. He remained a BL heat leader upon his return from injury until he moved back to the NL with Newcastle where he was still an out and out number 1 He was still our best rider when we had a disastarous season in the BL in 84 and moved to Ellesmere Port when Newcastle closed. I was gutted when I heard what had happened at Birmingham. I found it incredibaly ironic that a rider who fell off perhaps twice a season should have his career ended in such a way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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