Billy Sanders Memorial Meeting 29/04

[Badge]

Line ups confirmed, taken from Ipswich witches website:

 

A reminder that the Billy Sanders Memorial Pairs will take place at Foxhall Stadium this Thursday, April 29th at 7:30pm.

 

Normal admission prices apply and season tickets are valid for this meeting.

 

Jason Crump showed on Saturday night that his end of season injury is not slowing him down. Ipswich is a track that he has always enjoyed visiting and he is sure to enjoy it even more with the increased room the track changes have provided, Add to that a field of up and coming Aussie & British riders who will all be trying to beat him and you have a recipe for an excellent night's racing.

 

Full line-up is as follows:

 

Scott Nicholls and Olly Allen (GB)

Jason Crump and Ty Proctor (Australia)

Eddie Kennett and Ben Barker (GB)

Rory Schlein and Davey Watt (Australia)

Tai Woffinden and Danny King (GB)

Troy Batchelor and Darcy Ward (Australia)

 

Many of Billy's team mates have been invited and those that are planning to attend include: Tim Hunt, Ron Bagley, Olle Nygren, Tony 'Shrimp' Davey, Alan Hines, Mick Hines, Kevin Jolly, Carl Baldwin, Richard Knight, Rob Hollingworth, Trevor Hedge, Michael Lee, Trevor Jones, Colin Cook, Mike Lanham, Ted Howgego and Jeremy Doncaster. Also attending are Ray Walters, Ken Ravenhill (Big Daddy), Terry Wright & Emma Baldwin.

 

There is a special souvenir programme and an exhibition stand which will include the Weslake bike that Billy rode in th 1979 World Final, racejackets, photos and other memorabilia.

 

 

 

 

27, Apr, 2010

[tomcat]

Anyone going to this... would you be able to get me a programme and

I will send you the money for it plus postage.

Finances mean I cant get over and a programme would be a special

momento to put away, along with the rest of the souveniers I have

collected over the past 40 years.....

It doesn't have to be filled in either.

PM if you can help as I really would appreciate it.

 

Many Thanks,

Jerry aka Tomcat

[Reviresco]

Are you sure you haven't confused an incident, exactly the same, between

John Louis and Lou Sansom. Sansom had Louis off and JL waited on the

centre green. At the end of the heat, JL promptly chased Sansom off track

and into the pits, brandishing said track rake.

You may well be correct, but the incident above is the only one I know of,

as I witnessed it and also in more recent times, JL himself recounted the

story to myself and a couple of friends.

JL insists that he mean't Sansom no harm and it was all for the crowd....

Looked pretty realistic to me at the time and the hoo haa down in the pits

too.... But I'll take JL's word for it.

 

All the best to the club and riders taking part in Billy's meeting.

25 years, I can't believe its been that many years.

 

Our Bill... Gone but never ever will he be forgotten.

 

And I thought it was Reg Wilson (Sheffield) who picked up the rake and threatened JL?

 

One incident involving Billy was with Finn Thomsen at Hackney in 1981 when Finn decided to knock Billy into the fence after the end of a heat in which Billy had beaten him. Apparently the animosity went back to a World Championship qualifying round when Thomsen wanted to "buy" points of Billy, but he refused. Billy heading back to the pits at a rate of knots to say hello to the Dane was great to see.

 

Also remember when Phil Crump threw a V sign at Billy in a 2nd half qualifying heat at Foxhall and then crawled round at the back in the final, rode his bike staright onto his trailer and left the stadium still in his leathers. I drove past him on the A12 later and there was Crumpy still in his leathers - I guess he had taken his steel show off.

 

And that time.......... Oh my, so many memories....

Edited April 29, 2010 by macca56

[Dr Hackenbush]

Hows the weather looking over there in tractor country today ??

[1stbendbunching]

Hows the weather looking over there in tractor country today ??

 

Overcast. It's been dry all day, but looking at the clouds, it looks like we may get some rain before too long. Shouldn't be much tho'. (I'm about 20 miles away from the track).

[tomcat]

And I thought it was Reg Wilson (Sheffield) who picked up the rake and threatened JL?

 

One incident involving Billy was with Finn Thomsen at Hackney in 1981 when Finn decided to knock Billy into the fence after the end of a heat in which Billy had beaten him. Apparently the animosity went back to a World Championship qualifying round when Thomsen wanted to "buy" points of Billy, but he refused. Billy heading back to the pits at a rate of knots to say hello to the Dane was great to see.

 

Also remember when Phil Crump threw a V sign at Billy in a 2nd half qualifying heat at Foxhall and then crawled round at the back in the final, rode his bike staright onto his trailer and left the stadium still in his leathers. I drove past him on the A12 later and there was Crumpy still in his leathers - I guess he had taken his steel show off.

 

And that time.......... Oh my, so many memories....

 

 

Seems to have been a whole series of 'rake' incidents over the years....

Must be an Ipswich thing...

I certainly didn't remember the Reg Wilson one, someone who I didn't think

was that way inclined, as in temper.

We all live and learn... I certainly learn't something here.

Cheers for that macca56

[Cornishfisherman]

Seems to have been a whole series of 'rake' incidents over the years....

Must be an Ipswich thing...

I certainly didn't remember the Reg Wilson one, someone who I didn't think

was that way inclined, as in temper.

We all live and learn... I certainly learn't something here.

Cheers for that macca56

 

The first and most memorable 'rake' incident involved Eric Broadbelt Belle Vue Colts or Rochdale Hornets.

[bruno]

any reports on the racing?i was looking forward to reading about it

[mickthemuppet]

any reports on the racing?i was looking forward to reading about it

Quite Interesting that you asked that. I thought there would be lots of postings on this meeting but virtually nothing.

Jason Crump looked like he just turned up for the appearance money.I think of all the heat leaders he scored the least. Scottie was excellent with a 5 match maximum. Troy Batchelor blew hot and cold. Very good crowd and exhibition of Billy Sanders memorabilia. Great turnout of ex Speedway riders including Ron Bagley, Mark Loram,Michael Lee,Richard Knight,Taylor Poole,Trevor Hedge, Shrimp Davey ,Jeremy Doncaster and many more

Edited April 30, 2010 by mickthemuppet

[London Witch]

Quite Interesting that you asked that. I thought there would be lots of postings on this meeting but virtually nothing.

Jason Crump looked like he just turned up for the appearance money.I think of all the heat leaders he scored the least. Scottie was excellent with a 5 match maximum. Troy Batchelor blew hot and cold. Very good crowd and exhibition of Billy Sanders memorabilia. Great turnout of ex Speedway riders including Ron Bagley, Mark Loram,Michael Lee,Richard Knight,Taylor Poole,Trevor Hedge, Shrimp Davey ,Jeremy Doncaster and many more

 

Agree with you about Crump. Was supposed to be a crowd puller and he was more a damp squib, not worthy of his booking. Am enjoying riders tackle the new track for the first time and so must mention Rory who looked like he was having a whale of a time out there. Shame there was no run off Nicholls Vs Schlein would have been a good ending to the event.

 

[Reviresco]

Disappointed with the last 2 comments about Jason as, imo, he was never going to 'race' in this meeting as he has bigger fish to fry these days. Just really pleased that he appeared and good to see his dad there too, creating another link between today and Billy's riding days.

Good turnout of the 'old guard' and some really genuine comments about the Rooty Hill Rocket.

The programme was decent and, at last, John Berry wrote something half decent about Billy. I have always been fed up with Berry saying that Billy only rode well when in Australia or in an Australian race jacket. Billy loved speedway and loved riding for the Witches and surely 1983 and 1984 proved that even to JB.

A bit spooky hearing Billy's voice again from the Radio Orwell interview.

And it was good to have the Gab Racing memorobilia show there. Nigel and his missus are very good people.

A decent crowd. Some decent racing. The track is beginning to look good. The weather stayed reasonable.

All in all a great tribute to Billy and much credit to John & Chris for staging it.

[PhilK]

Disappointed with the last 2 comments about Jason as, imo, he was never going to 'race' in this meeting as he has bigger fish to fry these days. Just really pleased that he appeared and good to see his dad there too, creating another link between today and Billy's riding days.

Good turnout of the 'old guard' and some really genuine comments about the Rooty Hill Rocket.

The programme was decent and, at last, John Berry wrote something half decent about Billy. I have always been fed up with Berry saying that Billy only rode well when in Australia or in an Australian race jacket. Billy loved speedway and loved riding for the Witches and surely 1983 and 1984 proved that even to JB.

A bit spooky hearing Billy's voice again from the Radio Orwell interview.

And it was good to have the Gab Racing memorobilia show there. Nigel and his missus are very good people.

A decent crowd. Some decent racing. The track is beginning to look good. The weather stayed reasonable.

All in all a great tribute to Billy and much credit to John & Chris for staging it.

 

Excellent post Macca56! Well said

[WATigerman]

The late great Billy Sanders (1981) and again1981. A 1981 Viking

Edited May 2, 2010 by WATigerman

[Reviresco]

The late great Billy Sanders (1981) and again1981. A 1981 Viking

 

Great images and doesn't he look young there. I have Billy's Vikings race jacket from when he rode at Foxhall in 1981, so was good to see him wearing it.

Will always remember Hull at Hackney that year and the clash with Finn Thomsen.

And it was very poignant that Billy left (injured) for Australia that year on the day of the famous Wembley world final.

Super web images on your site too.

[Dekker]

So many rose tinted glasses here, brushing over the drugs issue with sanders/payne/gugelemi are we?

 

Sander was a spent force when i saw him ride against Phil Crump only match on interest was when he tried to ride phil into the fence at blunsdon down the back straight and as he was giving the crowd the V as Sanders slowly cruised down the back straight Sanders was so intent on the V's he was almost lynched by the crowd, indeed one gentleman from back straight bar leaned over fence and nearly dragged him off the bike.

Edited May 3, 2010 by Dekker

[Dietbowers]

So many rose tinted glasses here, brushing over the drugs issue with sanders/payne/gugelemi are we?

 

Sander was a spent force when i saw him ride against Phil Crump only match on interest was when he tried to ride phil into the fence at blunsdon down the back straight and as he was giving the crowd the V as Sanders slowly cruised down the back straight Sanders was so intent on the V's he was almost lynched by the crowd, indeed one gentleman from back straight bar leaned over fence and nearly dragged him off the bike.

I was there for that match,can`t remember what year it was though

Think a bit of a feud had developed between Crump and Sanders during the Australian winter,and it carried on over here that season.

What it was all about though,again,I just can`t remember

 

[Dekker]

I was there for that match,can`t remember what year it was though

Think a bit of a feud had developed between Crump and Sanders during the Australian winter,and it carried on over here that season.

What it was all about though,again,I just can`t remember

83 or 84? It was only fight he ever showed at Blunsdon, but otherwise was pushed around pretty easily

 

The feud was years old by then, indeed by then more than a few incidents had happened, hence the intense Swindon v Ippo hatred at the time. What caused it i don't know, ive heard from drugs, nitro use, buying Aussie Champs to women as the reason, who knows.

 

Funniest story i heard was sanders and berry started on phil at ippo in the pits until Steve Gresham destroyed the pair in a few seconds.

 

 

 

[Dietbowers]

83 or 84? It was only fight he ever showed at Blunsdon, but otherwise was pushed around pretty easily

 

The feud was years old by then, indeed by then more than a few incidents had happened, hence the intense Swindon v Ippo hatred at the time. What caused it i don't know, ive heard from drugs, nitro use, buying Aussie Champs to women as the reason, who knows.

 

Funniest story i heard was sanders and berry started on phil at ippo in the pits until Steve Gresham destroyed the pair in a few seconds.

Ah,Steve Gresham,what a placid bloke he was

 

[Reviresco]

So many rose tinted glasses here, brushing over the drugs issue with sanders/payne/gugelemi are we?

 

Sander was a spent force when i saw him ride against Phil Crump only match on interest was when he tried to ride phil into the fence at blunsdon down the back straight and as he was giving the crowd the V as Sanders slowly cruised down the back straight Sanders was so intent on the V's he was almost lynched by the crowd, indeed one gentleman from back straight bar leaned over fence and nearly dragged him off the bike.

 

A spent force who finished 2nd in the 1983 Individual & Pairs World Final, was one of the favourites for the 1984 Final but chose weslake rather than GM, captained the Ipswich Witches to 1984 League and Cup double and was Australian champion already qualified for the Overseas Final at Bradford and top of the British averages at the time of his death. And Phil Crump was where? He had given up riding for Australia and I'm unsure when, after 1976, that he had qualified for a World Final.

 

I was at Blunsdon every time Billy raced there, sometimes in the pits. I remember when a member of the public was allowed to make his way to the outside of the track to goad Billy and Billy offered him a go on his bike if he thought he could do better. The person leant over the fence to attack Billy and, Billy being an ex amatuer boxer, clocked the idiot on the chin just before security dragged him out of the stadium.

 

I also remember being at an Australian Final at Mildura when Phil Crump knocked Billy off on the 3rd bend. Billy was injured and lay on the track and the nice people of Mildura pelted the prostrate Billy with bottles and rocks. I think this is where the troubles between them started.

 

I do remember Phil throwing V signs at Billy at Foxhall when beating him in a 2nd half in 1984. Phil then coasted round at the back in the Final to avoid any trouble, rode his bike straight onto his trailer and left the stadium without getting out of his leathers. I passed him in his citroen safari on the A12 still wearing his leathers. Quite funny, but no bad words against Phil as he was a great rider too.

 

What a shame Phil took the stance he did as it left Billy between 1977 and 1985 as the only Australian riding at world level and Billy had to make do with riding with Gary Gugliemi in the 83 World Pairs which, with Phil, Australia could have won.

 

Now, what is this issue with drugs? Are you suggesting Billy was taking drugs? Have you evidence, has it ever been proved? I can from my own personal observations name names, but what is the point in that? Gary Gugliemi was banned due to trafficing drugs into Australia in his engines. Billy's wife Judy left Billy for Gugliemi. Enough said there I think.

 

And were you at Blunsdon the night Billy stood up in the bar and said who cares about the rivalry between him and Crump as we are all speedway fans who love the sport? Phil's words at Foxhall last Thursday back up that statement.

 

I don't know who you are or why you are trying to dish the dirt on Billy and I don't really care. But imo it is a horrible thing to do and totally unjustified and unecessary.

Edited May 3, 2010 by macca56

[Dekker]

I was at Blunsdon every time Billy raced there, sometimes in the pits. I remember when a member of the public was allowed to make his way to the outside of the track to goad Billy and Billy offered him a go on his bike if he thought he could do better. The person leant over the fence to attack Billy and, Billy being an ex amatuer boxer, clocked the idiot on the chin just before security dragged him out of the stadium.

 

Your recollection of the incident at swindon is wrong, like i said rose tinted glasses. If Sanders had spent less time with his hand and more time going to pits might not been a problem. Not so much of "all speedway fans" then was there?

 

But imo it is a horrible thing to do and totally unjustified and unecessary.

Well dont whitewash history. If he was that saintly a poor pairs meeting is some half assed way to be remembered.