Americans In British Speedway (1970-90)

[salty]

1. Shawn Moran - some compliment considering I'm a Cradley fan.

2. Penhall.

3. Sigalos. Always came across as a classy guy both on and off the track. But for injury would he have threatened the Hans/Erik stranglehold during the late 80's?

[cityrebel]

the three wimbledon dons brad oxley, gene woods and bobby ott!.

[star ghost]

1 ............ Scott Autrey = The best American since the late Ernie Roccio (and drug free as far as I know)

2 ............ Lance King = Very unlucy when at Kings Lynn

3 ............ Bobby Ott = Worth a place for his all action style

4 ............ Also worth consideration .......... Bobby Boogaloo Schwartz = Another all-action rider

and the most unfortunate of all ............ Charlie Ermolenko - forced by a stupid rule to take a third ride when obviously in no fit state to do so. Was fortunate he did not pay the ultimate price

Edited June 11, 2009 by star ghost

[mervjankefanclub]

Charlie Ermolenko - forced by a stupid rule to take a third ride when obviously in no fit state to do so. Was fortunate he did not pay the ultimate price

 

I was going to mention Dukie aswell star ghost. For the season he stepped out of his brothers shadow and had a great year with the Tigers in 95, including back to back maximums agaisnt the Moaners in his first two meetings But the criteria is 1970-90. Out of interest what happened in the incident you are refering to

 

[Canadian Star]

I think Star Ghost is refring to the incident where Dukie went through the fence at Kings Lynn. He never really recovered from that, up until then he had been reasonably successful for the Stars,(could have been Knights at this time). He was very popular with the fans, my two sons were very young at the time, and he was very approachable and polite with them and many others.

[speedyguy]

What's happened? This thread seems to have duplicated itself in some places with the same messages!

Edited June 12, 2009 by speedyguy

[Little-End]

Kelly "Jellyman" Moran - Wizard of Balance (What a waste of a Talent)

Bobby "Snowtime" Ott - Going down , then bouncing back up off his Knee

Sam "Sudden" Ermolenko - What can you say World Champion - Owner of a Book of a 1000 excuses

 

 

Lucky

[Rebel 77]

The first US rider i ever saw Scott Autry

Lanky Brad Oxley

And the stylish Dennis Sigalos

[mervjankefanclub]

Heres one for you, does anyone remember Buddy Robinson, who rode for the Falcons during their ill fated stint in the 1984 BL. With the exception of Scott Autrey, the County Ground was hardly the type of track for a debutant American, was it? Is my memory playing tricks or was he really from Hawaii

[Rugbybee]

Scott Autrey

 

Rick Miller

 

Billy J

 

No contest , see u in the bar

 

[spin king]

Shawn Moran

 

Kelly Moran

 

Sam Ermolenko

[slickmick]

Brad Oxley ; sadly never a titan except in height. But Dons fans loved him.

 

John(cowboy) Cook; Looking over his shoulder, under his legs everywhere except where he was going, but strangely it worked for him.

 

Bruce Penhall; also my most hated american, but grudgingly you had to admire his skill and professionalism, even if you hated his effectiveness in winning.

[sandman]

1 Bruce Penhall

2 Shawn Moran

3 Kelly Moran

 

so many other good ones.. Steve Gresham, Dennis sigalos, et al. But those 3 are my vote.

if it was any other country, Ivan Mauger, Ronnie Moore, Tommy Jansson, & Ole Olsen & P.C.

Edited June 12, 2009 by sandman

[star ghost]

I think Star Ghost is refring to the incident where Dukie went through the fence at Kings Lynn. He never really recovered from that, up until then he had been reasonably successful for the Stars,(could have been Knights at this time). He was very popular with the fans, my two sons were very young at the time, and he was very approachable and polite with them and many others.

Yes, that was the incident. Charles Ermolenko was a very popular bloke at Kings Lynn at the time and always found time to speak to anyone who was around and he was getting there as they said at the time, but then Kings Lynn were unfashionable so that did not matter to most

 

[martinmauger]

Kelly Moran

 

Dennis Sigalos

 

Shawn Moran....

[Vincent Vega]

Siggy

Shawn Moran

Josh Larsen

[Rotskiracing]

Bruce Penhall

 

Rick Miller

 

Dennis Sigalos

[paulboy]

1 Scott Autrey

2 Ron Preston

3 Sam Ermolenko

[TonyMac]

Thanks for all your responses so far, even if the likes of Dukie Ermolenko and Billy Janeiro don't meet the Backtrack 1970-90 time criterion.

 

As suspected, geography is having a clear bearing in the choices of many, although there is evidence of impartiality too. The many and varied names thrown up probably just goes to prove what an entertaining and popular bunch the Americans were as a whole.

 

I'm surprised Penhall hasn't polled more votes. Strange that people appear to be holding the 1982 Overseas Final episode against him. He only did what many riders from other countries (inc GB) had done for many years...assisting fellow countrymen in a vital World Championship qualifer. OK, so he didn't make a good job of disguising it, but at least he didn't try to mislead the public who eventually turned against him.

 

Perhaps many resented him for walking away from speedway when he did?

 

 

[Canadian Star]

My apologies Tony, in my haste to post i forgot that it was 1970 to 1990, thus excluding Dukie Ermolenko.

I think your argument around Bruce Penhall is very reasoned.

I don't think any of us could deny that he was a very skillful rider, i reckon he was better than Hancock, Hamill and Sam Ermolenko,who probably would have won more World Title's but for some unfortunate injuries.

I think Bruce suffered from the British disease of building people up only to knock them down, in the United States they love winners, and so from there prospective, it's very hard to understand why Bruce got such a rough ride from the public and the press over here.

Ivan Mauger endured such a relationship, very unfairly for many years, although i believe he is now appreciated for the true talents that he possesed.

I think also in Ivan's case, many people during his riding career, were not as aware as they now are, of the great struggle financially and emotionally that Ivan had to endure, before later achieving all that he did to become perhaps the greatest of all time.

Bruce of course came from a privileged background, although many people were not aware at the time that he had sadly lost his parents in a plane crash.

So he became in some peoples opinions, this spoilt brat who didn't need the money, wins the world title twice, walks away from Cradley just as the League title is about to be decided, (can't remember if they still won or not), and then of course there was the infamous incident at White City.

I think most people, given the passage of time, now appreciate what a great rider Bruce was and can perhaps understand why he did some of the things he did.

Bruce cared about American Speedway, and wanted to see as many American riders make the final, as possible, all of which would help make the meeting a success and improve the future prospects of the sport in his home country.

As for the acting career, well there is only a limited amount of time in which an attractive young man can hope to acquire some of the opportunities that came Bruce's way. Bruce decided to grab what was on offer with both hands, i think partly because he really had achieved everything that was available to him within the sport, he didn't need the money, and perhaps the delights of California were a little more enticing than Dudley Wood on a cold dark Autumn evening. Who could blame him for that ?

 

Very sad to learn of the Moran Brothers, arguably the most talented of the whole group, struggling with there health and perhaps living out there lives in perhaps more modest surroundings, there abilities and the huge pleasure they gave us all, deserved a much kinder outcome.