Your Most Memorable International Test Match

[Tsunami]

Although I have seen many many test matches and many better one's that immediately came to mind for me, the one that stood out was the Great Britain v USSR at Wembley in 1964.

Although the Russians were badly beaten and lost a rider (Vitaly Shilo) to a serious injury, the atmosphere at Wembley was electric, this was the very first ever of the Russian Internationals. The British fans were fantastic, screaming at the end " We want the Russians" to do a lap of Honour....to this the Russians did!!!

 

Certainly agree with you on that choice. The excitement that the Russians brought to the meeting was immense even though as you say they were well beaten. Poor Vitaly. I was sitting just up from the 4th bend and I think, like everyone, I was watching the other 3 riders go over the line when chunks of wood and debris flew into the air as he rammed the fence. He was in a bad way but I heard that he was loaded into an aircraft and flown out of Britain at 11.00 the following morning. No chance of leaving him to stay and claim Asylum. I heard a few years later that he did ride again. Can anyone confirm that.

 

[Igor]

<!--quoteo(post=1433884:date=Mar 4 2009, 01:17 PM:name=andout)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (andout @ Mar 4 2009, 01:17 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1433884"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Although I have seen many many test matches and many better one's that immediately came to mind for me, the one that stood out was the Great Britain v USSR at Wembley in 1964.

Although the Russians were badly beaten and lost a rider (Vitaly Shilo) to a serious injury, the atmosphere at Wembley was electric, this was the very first ever of the Russian Internationals. The British fans were fantastic, screaming at the end " We want the Russians" to do a lap of Honour....to this the Russians did!!!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

 

Certainly agree with you on that choice. <img src="http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_smile_approve.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="icon_smile_approve.gif" /> The excitement that the Russians brought to the meeting was immense even though as you say they were well beaten. Poor Vitaly. I was sitting just up from the 4th bend and I think, like everyone, I was watching the other 3 riders go over the line when chunks of wood and debris flew into the air as he rammed the fence. He was in a bad way but I heard that he was loaded into an aircraft and flown out of Britain at 11.00 the following morning. No chance of leaving him to stay and claim Asylum. I heard a few years later that he did ride again. Can anyone confirm that. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_smile_approve.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="icon_smile_approve.gif" />

 

<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="blink.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="blink.gif" />

 

 

No, not so.

Vitaliy Shilo after a terrible accident in the heat 11 the first race between Great Britain and the USSR, held on 4 July 1964 at Wembley, has been hospitalized and treated for a month in England. Then another 2 months he was treated in the Burdenko military hospital in Moscow. Yes, the career of the racer he had to stop.

 

Now Vitaliy Shilo more than 20 years living in the U.S., Santa Barbara.

May 8 this year he will turn 70 years old, and he wants to come to his birthday in his native town of Rovno, Ukraine, where he began his speech in the speedway.

[BobC]

I was at the GB v Russia meeting in 1964.

 

As a 9 year old making his Wembley debut,it was and still is the most thrilling memory in my speedway lifetime.It still sends a chill down my spine just thinking about it.

 

To think,the real reason for going to London that day was to visit the Motorcycle Show at Earls Court.On the way there,we spotted some posters advertisng the meeting.We changed our plans in an instant.

 

Thanks Dad.

[Igor]

I was at the GB v Russia meeting in 1964.

 

As a 9 year old making his Wembley debut,it was and still is the most thrilling memory in my speedway lifetime.It still sends a chill down my spine just thinking about it.

 

To think,the real reason for going to London that day was to visit the Motorcycle Show at Earls Court.On the way there,we spotted some posters advertisng the meeting.We changed our plans in an instant.

 

Thanks Dad.

 

Hello, BobC!

Can have pictures from that race in 1964?

[fatface]

Thursday 1 May 1980 Wimbledon, the very first test match between England and the USA, it ended up 54-54, brilliant racing all the way through the meeting.

 

<b>England 54</b>

Chris Morton 12, John Louis 11, Peter Collins 11, Michael Lee 9, John Davis 7, Malcolm Simmons 4, Kenny Carter (res) 0, Les Collins (res) 0

<b>USA 54</b>

Scott Autrey 15, Bruce Penhall13, Bobby chwartz 8, Ronnie Preston 8, Dennis Sigalos 7, Steve Gresham 3, John Cook (res) & Larry Kosta (res) did not ride

 

A fair result, as much as I wanted England to win, speedway was the winner that day. I was at the meeting on the 3rd & 4th bends in the wooden boxes on the stairs, with my Union Jack (couldn't get a Cross of St.George anywhere)

 

Test series sponsored by 'Durex'.

 

Shame ITV don't repeat the meeting.

?

 

I really don't think ITV showed this meeting at all. All I have ever seen is documentary style footage including off-track conversations and some action from the centre green. Nearly all of the old 70s/80s stuff can be found on YouTube and kindly shared by speedwayondisc, but I've never seen any World of Sport-style coverage of this match. I'd be delighted to be proved wrong though

 

My personal favourite was the 1983 England v USA 5th match decider at Sheffield. Great racing on a great track and a brilliant climax. PC, Morton, Carter all brilliant.

[lucifer sam]

1986, England v USA at Oxford.

 

Simon Wigg scores a brilliant 18-point maximum, only to be excluded for pulling a wheelie over the line in the his final race. The place went nuts!!!

 

All the best

Rob

[cityrebel]

1977 england v rest of the world at the white city. great line ups, great racing and a great stadium. what more can i say.

[stevehone]

Thursday 1 May 1980 Wimbledon, the very first test match between England and the USA, it ended up 54-54, brilliant racing all the way through the meeting.

 

<b>England 54</b>

Chris Morton 12, John Louis 11, Peter Collins 11, Michael Lee 9, John Davis 7, Malcolm Simmons 4, Kenny Carter (res) 0, Les Collins (res) 0

<b>USA 54</b>

Scott Autrey 15, Bruce Penhall13, Bobby chwartz 8, Ronnie Preston 8, Dennis Sigalos 7, Steve Gresham 3, John Cook (res) & Larry Kosta (res) did not ride

 

A fair result, as much as I wanted England to win, speedway was the winner that day. I was at the meeting on the 3rd & 4th bends in the wooden boxes on the stairs, with my Union Jack (couldn't get a Cross of St.George anywhere)

 

Test series sponsored by 'Durex'.

 

Shame ITV don't repeat the meeting.

 

ditto this .. just i was sitting/standing on the wooden terracing on exit of 2nd bend.

brilliant meeting

[stevehone]

<!--quoteo(post=1432937:date=Mar 1 2009, 09:39 PM:name=KenB1)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KenB1 @ Mar 1 2009, 09:39 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1432937"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I don't think it was covered by ITV, however it ws covered by a film company and used at the cinemas as a documentary (next to Satollones First Blood), I was i the film and I have a copy from the producers that they sent me as a thank you. I also have some cine film from the meeting, it was a fantastic match and I really remember some of the team riding being exceptional.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

 

I do remember the TV cameras being there, with their big Ooutside Broadcast trucks outside the stadium. The meeting was shown on ITV's 'World of Sport' the following Saturday afternoon.

 

i think i might have put some clips on youtube .. go through my uploads, 'afcwombledon'

[Steve Turner]

Hello, BobC!

Can have pictures from that race in 1964?

Somebody might be able to give you more Gorka.

 

But please see HERE

 

 

[Igor]

Somebody might be able to give you more Gorka.

 

But please see HERE

 

Thanks, I read this stuff.

Maybe there are amateur photos?

[speedwayondisc]

Thanks, I read this stuff.

Maybe there are amateur photos?

 

There is a little bit of cinefilm from this meeting on YouTube

[kaiser]

Having starting watching speedway in the early 80s, i feel pretty fortunate to have seen some great test series during that era. As previously mentioned the England vs USA 5th test from Sheffield was something special (even for an 8yr old!!!!). I remember it was jam packed, they even ran out of progs!!!!

[fatface]

Having starting watching speedway in the early 80s, i feel pretty fortunate to have seen some great test series during that era. As previously mentioned the England vs USA 5th test from Sheffield was something special (even for an 8yr old!!!!). I remember it was jam packed, they even ran out of progs!!!!

You and me both. I was a mature 9 year old at the time too..I remember them running out of programmes too. Also remember the riders on the pre-meeting parade throwing sweets out to all us kids