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That's another fine race you've gotten me in to.


Grachan

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Nice one Grachan!

 

I really look forward to your features and they warm up winter's days, thanks.

 

I went to college in 1978 with an embittered ex Panther junior who said Richard Knight would never do anything...how wrong he got that one! Never thought I'd see him on TV again, just having my own memories of his journey from Fen Tigers 2nd halfer to heat leader, then KL Stars no 1.... Arguably Mildenhall's most successful ever rider.

 

Some race given that Dave Perks was one of the kings of the National League at the time after dropping down.

All from the time when Mildenhall had the upper hand on Peterborough, which may not happen again for a while.

 

Do you have anything from the Anglia TV Match of the Week series with Rockets/Tigers/Panther battles??? Or Lee vs Louis? Would love to see some of that!

 

Thanks again for your efforts........

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Good point Falcace, and all the better for it. Whatever became of Martin Scarisbrick though. There was a real buzz about him on our 1983 World Final coach.

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Guest Sir Lunchalot

I certainly enjoy all of your clips too Grachan but I'll need a bigger hard disk soon though !! I "lost" speedway for a lot of years after I came out here as a kid with my folks (bet the youngsters don't believe me when I say there was no internet back then) and it's a delight to catch up with some of the events I never knew existed.

 

Kicking myself though, with the Christmas running about I missed the one you put up on 27th Dec. Perhaps I'll get it again when you start doing the repeats next year :D

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I thought I'd do this one as it's referred to in this week's Speedway Star. It's Heat 4 of the 1982 World Final between Bruce Penhall and Les Collins.

Great stuff Grach.

 

Even though Penhall lost that race (Les seemed to have the faster bike) you have to admire his total control and track craft at full throttle there - one of the most talented ever surely.

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Some idiots think that Les was beaten by his borther Peter in the 1982 Finals. Morons!! We, of course, know better than that!

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all if's and but's at that final...

Carter v Penhall would be worth seeing if you get a chance please Grachan

 

i was sat just as the 2nd bend met the straight and still think Carter was unlucky... maybe he could have gone on to win??

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Les could so easily been World Champion though. He was actually beaten by Jiri Stancl and his own brother Peter, both of whom did very little all night. Peter had only scored 1 point up to their race together so was well out of it. If Peter had let Les past in the way the Americans had at White City there would have been a run-off for the title between Les and Bruce.

I think you're mistaken there Grach. PC didn't beat Les at all. As I recall, Les was beaten by Stancl and Kelly Moran (?). Anyone?

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Jiri Stancl and Jan Andersson in Heat 10.

 

Peter Collins finished last in that race.

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all if's and but's at that final...

Carter v Penhall would be worth seeing if you get a chance please Grachan

 

i was sat just as the 2nd bend met the straight and still think Carter was unlucky... maybe he could have gone on to win??

And before Grachan does put up this all-time classic, let me be the first to say it: "HE HAD NOOOOOOOOO CHANCE!" :mad::D

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Nice one Grachan - ive managed to catch your last few and they are outstanding!

 

I cant remember which world final it was (possibly 81) but there was a race between Penhall and Olsen I believe where they were side by side practically for the whole race and actually bizarrely lifted in the same way at the same time on one bend - do you have this one?

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Bruce v Les, wowee Mr Grachan!!

 

Bob Coles?? Yes, he was riding at Mildenhall on the Sunday as normal.

I think this crash was shown repeatedly that week on the weekday evening news programme in the West Country. .

As I lived in Suffolk then I can't confirm that. News of it made our programme though.

Mr Coles was THE MAN at that time (1978) and without whom Mildenhall probably wouldn't been in existence as he held in all together pointswise in 75,76 and 77.

 

Bob Coles is a very hard man indeed.

 

The only meeting I remember him missing for the Fen Tigers was when he accidently hit his then very young son Mike (now Exeter Falcon) on the head with a spanner one Sunday morning. He had been watching Bob prepare a bike for that afternoon's meeting but they missed it as Mike was rushed to casualty.

Does Mike still have a dent I wonder??

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Guest Sir Lunchalot

Cheers Grachan, I look forward to your mum putting lots more of that tape on the forum !!

 

Says a lot for ex speedway riders that they look at that tape of themselves crashing and while the interviewer is horrified the rider is laughing about it !! Bet it wasn't funny at the time though.

 

PS Do you get your mum stuff like a new power drill for Christmas too ?

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