mervjankefanclub Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 i remember james grieves and peter oakes rolling about the centre green when peterborough were at shawfield one year after an incident with ronni pedersen surprise surprise but that was more funny than anything else i mean peter oakes for fcuks sake! john jack the machine examiner at glasgow for many years was a bit of a stickler for the rules i think and i remember phil white and dave jackson to name two having a go at him big lee dicken also cracked frede schott on the jaw in the ashfield pits a few seasons back also remember seeing a photo of a big ruck in the star years ago must have been rye v eastbourne because kelvin mullarkey and bob dugard were in the thick of it as usual Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 (edited) Stand corrected on the Kennett story; the mate concerned was a great bloke but he did like his ale. Saw an interview with Reg Fearman once and he said that if two blokes were fighting in the pits he would break it up and tell them to do it on the track. Another second hand tale involving the Kennett brothers was the quiet one, Gordon (always one of my favourite riders). In 1984 Preben Eriksen put Kelvin Tatum through the fence at Wolverhampton (breaking Tatum's leg in the process) but Eriksen lost his lunch when Kennett, who was always pretty well built (still is, I believe), went for him in the pits. My mate at Sheffield told me when Vissing knocked Cooper off last year there was a mass brawl on the track at Owlerton and I saw one there in 2002 when Sean Wilson knocked Danny Bird off in the YS Final. Saw another at Newport in 2005 with Danny Norton of Scunthorpe right in the middle. Its strange, because not all punch ups can looked back at with some amusement. I remember Lubos Tomicek going for Rob Grant at Stoke (remember that one, Dave ?) because that was anything but funny. The Des Wilson one takes the cake. Absolutely priceless. Edited April 2, 2008 by Halifaxtiger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 also remember seeing a photo of a big ruck in the star years ago must have been rye v eastbourne because kelvin mullarkey and bob dugard were in the thick of it as usual Got a picture of that in old Speedy Star somewhere - 1978 KO Cup Final, I think. Mullarkey has his fists up ready for action and Bob Dugard is being restrained by the track staff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Saw an interview with Reg Fearman once and he said that if two blokes were fighting in the pits he would break it up and tell them to do it on the track. I know someone that would of taken him on the track at one point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mervjankefanclub Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Got a picture of that in old Speedy Star somewhere - 1978 KO Cup Final, I think. Mullarkey has his fists up ready for action and Bob Dugard is being restrained by the track staff. thats the one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 My first season watching back in 1969. Mike Gardner (Cradley reserve) got fenced by the one and only Garry Middleton on the first bend. Gardner sprung up and started to run across the centre green towards Middleton who had stopped on the 4th bend. Gardner stopped after about 10 yards then ran back and collected his crash helmet. Ran the length of the track and when he reached Middleton bought the helmet smack down on his head. That was the night Middleton supposedly drew a pistol out of his toolbox and threatened Roy Trigg and was smuggled out of the stadium in the back of Uncle Lens car. With excitement like that no wonder I became hooked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyclone Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Re Niemi & Shirra at Eastbourne, maybe it was a different meeting, but I was at an Eastbourne vs Coventry match where they had a run in. However Shirra never completed the meeting and the word was that Bob Dugard "intervened" in the pits and flattened Shirra who was out stone cold. Also recall an epic stramash at Coatbridge during the Tigers reign, when Canterbury came a visiting and after Derek Richardson had beaten Steve Koppe after a tousy encounter, Richardson went to shake hands and Koppe pulled Richardson off his bike as he passed by. All hell then erupted at the pits gate and Terry Casserly pinned some guy up against the fence with his front wheel and was promptly dragged off his bike and given a good kicking. Ah we do have fun ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerblade Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Reg Wilson giving Tommy Knudsen, a good slapping at Sheffield in the 80's. Oh yes, remember that one well, Tommy had ridden a rather, ahem, fierce first corner and Reg shot past on the slow down lap to get back to the pits before him, they both disappeared into a crowd of people at the pits gate, and next thing Tommy is going backwards over the gate We had a bit of needle with Coventry in those days full stop for some reason, the following season (1982) we refused to take part of the re-run of Heat 13 and the full second half after some incident at Brandon. Not necessarily a punch up, but there was the famous Ivan Mauger incident in September 1979 when he refused to leave the track after being left at the gate after a ragged start, and the referee didn't stop the race. He needed a police escort out of the stadium after that one. I don't know if any Boro fans can substantiate this one but years ago I was penpals with a Boro fan, and she told me of an incident with Rob Woffinden, he got into a fight with someone at Cleveland Park, and his mother had been sat near the pits knitting, and she apparently started whacking the other chap with her knitting!!! (I am not imagining this, honestly) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Jimmy Gooch was quite good with his fists. He laid another rider out in the pits one night. Oddly enough "Gentleman Aub" Lawson got involved at Wimbledon one night. Maybe with Cyril Brine from memory. Cyril Roger was another of the Norwich riders who could handle himself well. Many rumours went around about Clive Featherby as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandman Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 I'd be surprised if it was Dave Kennett (fiery little bugga) Shirra head butted (he was wearin his helmet,) Dave (who was not wearin his helmet) and knocked his front tooth or teeth out, which Dave, by all accounts, thought was funny. i mean, in this corner, weighin 9 stone, we have little polite Mitch Shirra.. in the other corner, standin ? weighing ?, Dave Kennett. now havin said that, which one is tougher.. ol short-stack for takin on such a big opponnet or big dave for thinkin it was funny that such a little fella could knock out his front teeth? you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevH Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 I'd be surprised if it was Dave Kennett (fiery little bugga) I'd be gobsmacked. Mitch Shirra...............no way!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Stand corrected on the Kennett story; the mate concerned was a great bloke but he did like his ale. Saw an interview with Reg Fearman once and he said that if two blokes were fighting in the pits he would break it up and tell them to do it on the track. Another second hand tale involving the Kennett brothers was the quiet one, Gordon (always one of my favourite riders). In 1984 Preben Eriksen put Kelvin Tatum through the fence at Wolverhampton (breaking Tatum's leg in the process) but Eriksen lost his lunch when Kennett, who was always pretty well built (still is, I believe), went for him in the pits. My mate at Sheffield told me when Vissing knocked Cooper off last year there was a mass brawl on the track at Owlerton and I saw one there in 2002 when Sean Wilson knocked Danny Bird off in the YS Final. Saw another at Newport in 2005 with Danny Norton of Scunthorpe right in the middle. Its strange, because not all punch ups can looked back at with some amusement. I remember Lubos Tomicek going for Rob Grant at Stoke (remember that one, Dave ?) because that was anything but funny. The Des Wilson one takes the cake. Absolutely priceless. Yes, remember it well. Lubi coming up the inside off 4th bend and Grant Jnr decides to turn left forcing Lubi and bike to cartwheel all the way to the start gate nearly taking out the Start Marshall. Grant does a lap and was confronted by Lubi who can't believe the stupity of his actions. Said Start Marshall tries to intervene and gets his ankle broken by Grant Jnr who had let the bike under power try to run down Lubi. And all this in front of 3 referees who just happened to be on duty including Graham Reeve. Should have been banned sine die from Speedway after that. Due to my involvement afterwards, I had to get out of the stadium before I suffered a similar fate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keef Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Pete Munday of Swindon smacking Anders Michanek in the pits at Blunsdon . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 Re previous post-good for Pete Munday-re Brian Hamilton post-I recall also Colin(Joe) Goody as a tough guy -gave no quarter-but the nicest guy you could meet off the track.I remember him mainly at Exeter-he was one of the NL guys who in 65 was posted to an ex PL track-along with Genz to Poole.I think you must be an ex Oxford supporter so will recall the wonderful Cheetahs team of 1964 who cleaned up the NL. Let me think here : I reckon the 64 Cham[pionship winning team was How, Genz, Gooch,Pander,Goody, Eddie Reeves and Bishop in no particular order -does that sound right to you?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 Shirra head butted (he was wearin his helmet,) Dave (who was not wearin his helmet) and knocked his front tooth or teeth out, which Dave, by all accounts, thought was funny. i mean, in this corner, weighin 9 stone, we have little polite Mitch Shirra.. in the other corner, standin ? weighing ?, Dave Kennett. now havin said that, which one is tougher.. ol short-stack for takin on such a big opponnet or big dave for thinkin it was funny that such a little fella could knock out his front teeth? you decide. Nicely summed up Sandman, reckon you should be a boxing commentator I'd be gobsmacked. Mitch Shirra...............no way!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Hamilton Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 Re previous post-good for Pete Munday-re Brian Hamilton post-I recall also Colin(Joe) Goody as a tough guy -gave no quarter-but the nicest guy you could meet off the track.I remember him mainly at Exeter-he was one of the NL guys who in 65 was posted to an ex PL track-along with Genz to Poole.I think you must be an ex Oxford supporter so will recall the wonderful Cheetahs team of 1964 who cleaned up the NL. Let me think here : I reckon the 64 Cham[pionship winning team was How, Genz, Gooch,Pander,Goody, Eddie Reeves and Bishop in no particular order -does that sound right to you?? Bobbath, Spot on and what a wonderful side they were!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sotonian Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 Shirra head butted (he was wearin his helmet,) A serial offender was Shirra. Remember seeing him do the same thing to the Start Marshall at Poole. I think that he was banned from speedway for a period as a result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 As a final contribution, I wonder if there are any Comets or Diamonds fans who were at the 1981 clash at Derwent Park. After what appeared to be some decidely dodgy referreeing decisions, Rod Hunter was attacked by supporters, Ian Thomas was hit by a flying stone, the referee John Whitaker had beer thrown over him and Newcastle had to have a police escort to get out of the stadium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 As a final contribution, Why final contribution? are you leaving? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leanne1706 Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 In more recent times, Nigel Sadler and I can't remember who back in about 98 at Peterborough (sorry, I'm not very good with precise details!). Saddles got smacked (maybe headbutted?) by the other rider (a Newport rider?) and knocked down, and - as I remember it - Newport fans (apologies if it wasn't Newport) stormed the pits and started on our Sadler. Great quote from Saddles afterwards when questioned about it "all I wanted to do was get up and smack him between the goggles"! Typical Aussie Again, sorry if I've got the details completely wrong, the main thing I remember from the incident was the great quote! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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