BOBBATH Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 I miss the excitement of the old one off World Finals even though I accept that the best rider did not always become World Champ.Would be interested in how many of these WF's other forumlanders attended and which they thought was the best. For my part I attended 5 (65,75,78,81,82). I thought they were all great but I guess the last ever Wembley one was the best-aktho I was glad to see Knutsson win his only title in 65. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 (edited) I went in 1975, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1983... Start getting a bit confused with the years then. Best take a look at Wiki. 1985 in Bradford. I went to that one. The 1987 one in Amsterdam. Seen more people at Blunsdon on a cold, windy evening. 1988. Vojens. The last one I went to was 1990, when Per Jonsson won it. I think the Wembley ones had a special atmosphere. It was a real treat seeing Peter Collins win in Katowice. And Per's win was a good one too. Also always enjoy the way people get so narked about Egon's win in 1983, so, in its own way, I like that one too. (Edited to remove 1982. Not sure why I put that because I wasn't there. Was at Reading Festival. Watched it on Betamax when I got home) Edited December 17, 2008 by Grachan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted December 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 Right Grachan, but I reckon Egon is one of the "unfair" ones-I'd add Szczakiel to that list too-and surely Tommy Price, Fred Williams(twice) only won because of home track advantage.I wish I'd been to as many as you tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 I think to win a World Final twice you have to have more than just home track advantage going your way, so respect to Freddie I say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 For me it was: 1983 - and I am one of the thos that gets narked about it! 1985 - decent bit of drama, Gundersen's Heat 20 win was one of THE greatest 1987 - had all the atmosphere of the Shropshire youth grass-track championships 1990 - cracking night's racing 1992 - so-so racing made very enjoyable by Havelock's surprise win Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 1983 - and I am one of the thos that gets narked about it! I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sotonian Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 For me it was: 1983 - and I am one of the thos that gets narked about it! 1985 - decent bit of drama, Gundersen's Heat 20 win was one of THE greatest 1987 - had all the atmosphere of the Shropshire youth grass-track championships 1990 - cracking night's racing 1992 - so-so racing made very enjoyable by Havelock's surprise win I get equally narked by those who cite Havelock's win as a surprise. He may not have been the favourite, but given his form that season it was fully merited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 (edited) Hopefully I can stop you being overly narked then. Nobody likes being lumbered with some narkiness. God knows I've been stuck with mine for 25 years now... Havelock was making his debut, it was his first season operating at that level, he had very little experience of racing in Poland, so yeah, I'd say it was slightly surprising. However, that doesn't mean to say it wasn't 100% deserved. That particular year he was seriously in form and on the big day he produced it when it mattered. Fair play and bloody well done say I! Edited December 18, 2008 by falcace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markone Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 I went in 1975, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1983... Start getting a bit confused with the years then. Best take a look at Wiki. 1985 in Bradford. I went to that one. The 1987 one in Amsterdam. Seen more people at Blunsdon on a cold, windy evening. 1988. Vojens. The last one I went to was 1990, when Per Jonsson won it. I think the Wembley ones had a special atmosphere. It was a real treat seeing Peter Collins win in Katowice. And Per's win was a good one too. Also always enjoy the way people get so narked about Egon's win in 1983, so, in its own way, I like that one too. (Edited to remove 1982. Not sure why I put that because I wasn't there. Was at Reading Festival. Watched it on Betamax when I got home) 1982 - LA or reading festival that must have been a tough decision!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 (edited) 1982 - LA or reading festival that must have been a tough decision!!! Not really. Not for me in 1982 - and I got the house to myself for 2 weeks. Oh yes!! Edited December 18, 2008 by Grachan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted December 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 Re Grachan's note-and Wembley home track advantage- how about Jack Parker should have been Champ in 49, Graham Warren in 50, Split Waterman in 53-think that would be a better reflection of the best riders of the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadow Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 Wembley 1981 - if only for two awesome races - Olsen vs Penhall and Knudsen vs Penhall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Custom House Kid Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 (edited) Wembley 1981 - if only for two awesome races - Olsen vs Penhall and Knudsen vs Penhall I went to a couple of world finals at Wembly in 69 and in 1981 after giving up on speedway in 1971 only returning to the fold in 2003. also went to Cardiff in 2006 Of the one off and the GP I prefer the one off final. I wish I had known more about the 81 world final as it was a one off for me and I only recognised a couple of names at that time! Edited December 19, 2008 by Custom House Kid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kryten Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 Only "one off" world final I went to was 1990 at Bradford. Gutted when Moran lost the run off lol. What I remember though that although that season Per Jonsson was flying in the World Championship rounds his form for Reading was below it's usual. Seem to remember he only averaged about 7.50 and didn't make the BLRC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longlivefrankie Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 ahh good memories.. 1972 @ Wembley 1975 @ Wembley 1978 @ Wembley 1990 @ Bradford still prefer the one off World Finals which i believe were scuppered by holding them at various unsuitable venues world final at cardiff anyone! lol what about having a grand prix & a world championship Obviously called something else? wolrd matchplay type thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoMinuteWarning Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 Re Grachan's note-and Wembley home track advantage- how about Jack Parker should have been Champ in 49, Graham Warren in 50, Split Waterman in 53-think that would be a better reflection of the best riders of the day. But surely that was one of the attractions of the old World Final, i.e that the World's Best Rider of that year didn't neccessarily become World Champ? No danger of that happening now, unfortunately (apart from injury), though personally I do still enjoy the GP's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted December 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 2 minute warning-yes you are right. Re Grand Prix -isn't it true tho that you can be WC without actually ever winning a Grand prix-didn't that happen with Loram-also is it generally accepted that since GP series there is agreement that best rider became WC in each of those years? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoMinuteWarning Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 I think that if you accept that the GP is the best method of determing the World Champion, then you also have to accept that it can be won by someone who reaches all the finals, but dosen't actually win any. In the case of Mark, I had no problem with that as he was/is one of the most exciting riders ever to take part in a speedway race, in my opinion. True "racers" like him rely on tracks where he can come from behind, and many tracks don't allow that to happen. Ironically, he became World Champion as a result of the GP system, but would NOT have done so under the old one-off system, as he failed to win a single GP. To me, that is an argument in support of the GP system. But I also liked the old one-off system, because every round was exciting, and sometimes top riders would get eliminated in the qualifiers, or just scrape through to the next round. Pity there isn't room for both systems - a one-off competition to determine the World Champion, and a GP competition to determine the Grand Prix Champion. Yeah, I know, cloud cuckoo land ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 Sorry I'm a few days late, but here goes... 1969 Wembley - My main memory is Torbjorn Harryson's horrendous crash. 1978 Wembley - What a brilliant performance from Jerzy Rembas, but what about Jessup's EF? 1981 Wembley - I can't add anything to what has been said... 1982 Los Angeles - Whatever anyone says, it was still a fantastic place to go for a final. 1983 Norden - Brilliant display by Muller; a worthy champion. 1985 Bradford - I took Keith Yorke up there with me to see Kelvin. 1987 Amsterdam - Made a nice little holiday out of that one. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted December 31, 2008 Report Share Posted December 31, 2008 Jerzy taking his victory was a great surprise but the bloke left on his ar$e got there himself so Jerzy doesnt need blaming for a lucky win. The bloke deserved it. A pity there were not more wins like it. Michael Lee in Swaden was another win fully earned (without any favours. He also did ok in the long-track final as well) The present system shows without qualifying rounds can an Aub Lawson type/standard man get into it now let alone take on the top men and get a 3rd place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.