TonyMac Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 Thanks to all for your ongoing suggestions about the people we should interview in future issues of Backtrack. But, in the meantime, we're all set to interview Finn Thomsen tomorrow. Very short notice, I know, but just wondered if mention of his name evokes any memories or thoughts among you all? What do fans of the clubs Finn rode for - Wolves, Hackney, Poole and Swindon - make of him? Any particular races or incidents that spring to mind? From a Hawks perspective, most will probably have only good things to say about a rider who, though never spectacular, could beat the best when he was 'up for it' or sufficiently riled enough to want to prove a point. Seem to recall that he didn't exactly see eye to eye with Billy Sanders! Finn was, essentially, a solid BL performer and a team man at Waterden Road, although there was perhaps a perception that he reserved his best efforts for the big occasions...World Championships and World Team Cups. He possessed excellent throttle control, mind, and I struggle to recall seeing him crash. As I say, any comments are most welcome. In the next issue we've also interviewed Andy Smith, Reading promoter Pat Bliss, Robbie Gardner, Rudy Muts and Sean Courtney and there's also an in-depth feature on the old Fenton training track - part of a new series looking at training tracks. http://www.retro-speedway.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbin' Along Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 He possessed excellent throttle control, mind, and I struggle to recall seeing him crash. Practice before official Press day, the year he signed for us. He ended up with my Dad cutting his "lucky leathers" off him because he broke a leg. The alternative that he was given was to rip the things off over the break..... I still vividly remember getting a phone call from Dad "Who do you know with the initials FinnThomsen who won't be riding for you this season?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 21 points for Wolves when they won at Swindon using R/R. Then did a lap of honour with mask off, big smile on his face and waving as the entire crowd booed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMac Posted October 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Practice before official Press day, the year he signed for us. He ended up with my Dad cutting his "lucky leathers" off him because he broke a leg. The alternative that he was given was to rip the things off over the break..... I still vividly remember getting a phone call from Dad "Who do you know with the initials FinnThomsen who won't be riding for you this season?" That would explain why he didn't ride in 1985 and made his Robins debut a year later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMac Posted October 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 21 points for Wolves when they won at Swindon using R/R. Then did a lap of honour with mask off, big smile on his face and waving as the entire crowd booed. Why the booing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Why the booing? Probably because he went round with a big smile on his face and waving after almost single-handedly beating us. He was, I suspect, taking the mickey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC! Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 For my money, the finest team rider with a really slow partner that I have ever seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandman Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 (edited) could you please ask him why the danish racers speak english with a kiwi accent, kinda like pete adams speaking english with a danish/kiwi accent. Edited October 8, 2008 by sandman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 could you please ask him why the danish racers speak english with a kiwi accent, kinda like pete adams speaking english with a danish/kiwi accent. Not all danes - Erik had a pronounced Black Country accent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frigbo Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 (edited) That would explain why he didn't ride in 1985 and made his Robins debut a year later. No, Thomsen was injured at P+P in '86 (broken ankle). He recovered to ride for us later in the season at the expense of Per Sorensen. He was never signed by anyone in '85. Edited October 8, 2008 by frigbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frigbo Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Why the booing? There were accusations of an oversized engine flying around that night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE Wolverine Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 "Flying Finn Thomsen" ... very fast bikes & loved by the ladies at Monmore Green I remember him and Mitch Shirra having a helmet butting contest riding side by side all the way back to the pits after one bruising race .... and a near riot when Swindon fans threw lager over him after one match winning ride at Monmore ... which then resulted in me and 3 mates climbing on the dog track to sort them out! .... oh those were the days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted October 9, 2008 Report Share Posted October 9, 2008 He had such a happy cheeky face. Still got his autographed photo.F.Thomsen.Was one of the colourful(leather-wise)riders in the early 70s.One of the first danish riders Ole brought over i guess?Wasn't Krause Kjaer over the year before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frigbo Posted October 9, 2008 Report Share Posted October 9, 2008 Krause Kjaer came over in '74, the same year as Finn. I guess Erik Tilgaard at Newcastle must have been Ole's first protege Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted October 9, 2008 Report Share Posted October 9, 2008 Thanks for that Frigbo. Any details on Kjaer?How many meetings he did? And never even heard of Tilgaard.Any details on year,meetings?Please?. I just love you guys with all the stats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frigbo Posted October 9, 2008 Report Share Posted October 9, 2008 Kjaer rode in 2 official fixtures for the Bees and scored 1 point from 6 rides. He was injured and missed the rest of the season. Tilgaard rode for Newcastle in 1969. He was seriously injured in his 3rd match and never rode again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted October 9, 2008 Report Share Posted October 9, 2008 Tilgaard rode for Newcastle in 1969. He was seriously injured in his 3rd match and never rode again. Crash was at Brough against Hackney and to quote the Speedway Handbook "his life hung in the balance following an emergency operation after a steel wire had penetrated his throat." It goes on to say he planned to return in 1970, but I can't recall hearing of him again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMac Posted October 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2008 Thanks to all for your rapid responses. Spoke to Finn at length tonight and although his memory of his speedway career is hazy, he came out with plenty of interesting stuff that will be in the next Backtrack. He smiled at the memory of his 21-point max for Wolves at Swindon, but admits he was "bloody angry" when he broke his ankle at the Swindon press/practice day in '86 (it was junior Nick Bates who was also involved in the crash). Although I mentioned previously about having rarely seen him crash, he pointed out that he broke his thigh at Monmore Green in 1976 and dioctors told him his racing career was finished. A year later he finished 5th in his first World Final. Finn seems to recall that he reared up and hit one of those horrible, old lamp standards at MG - can anyone recall the details of the incident, please? He confims that it was his choice to miss the entire '85 season, to focus on his family life (his second son was born that year). He admits he lacked the hunger and sheer desire to become world champion and said that there was always "a little bit lacking" in him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted October 10, 2008 Report Share Posted October 10, 2008 Nick Bates! The second greatest rider of all time (after Brian Leonard) to come from Newbury! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelb Posted October 10, 2008 Report Share Posted October 10, 2008 For my money, the finest team rider with a really slow partner that I have ever seen. he learnt that from the years of Ole guiding him round at Wolves - he was great with his big engine in 76, if he hadn't smashed his thigh i think he would have gone all the way. And he introduced Hans to wolves - one of my first fave riders, gr8 leathers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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