Top 20 Best Of British

[TonyMac]

In issue 39, out later this month, John Berry will be naming his TOP 20 BRITISH RIDERS of the 1970s era.

 

We wondered what you thought and the riders you would include in your top 20 from this 10-year period . . . and in which order?

 

But remember, in making your choices, you must discount what riders achieved BEFORE 1970 and AFTER 1979. (Perhaps we should run a smilar feature for the 1960s, or even 1950-70 period, in Classic Speedway?)

 

We could have some fun with this.

 

Please let me know what you think...and let's see how close you are to JB's selection!

 

Cheers,

Tony Mac

Edited July 6, 2010 by tmc

[salty]

Ok, I'll have a pop at this

1. Peter Collins

2. Michael Lee

3. John Louis

4. Malcolm Simmons

5. Kenny Carter

6. Ray Wilson

7. Dave Jessup

8. Simon Wigg

9. Kelvin Tatum

10.Jeremy Doncaster

11. Chris Morton

12. John Davis

13. Les Collins

14. Terry Betts

15. Gordon Kennett

16. Martin Ashby

17. Eric Boocock

18. Phil Collins

19. Nigel Boocock

20. Simon Cross

Though I wouldn't be at all surprised to see JB got Tony Davey in his top 20.

Edited July 6, 2010 by salty

[TonyMac]

Ok, I'll have a pop at this

1. Peter Collins

2. Michael Lee

3. John Louis

4. Malcolm Simmons

5. Kenny Carter

6. Ray Wilson

7. Dave Jessup

8. Simon Wigg

9. Kelvin Tatum

10.Jeremy Doncaster

11. Chris Morton

12. John Davis

13. Les Collins

14. Terry Betts

15. Gordon Kennett

16. Martin Ashby

17. Eric Boocock

18. Phil Collins

19. Nigel Boocock

20. Simon Cross

Though I wouldn't be at all surprised to see JB got Tony Davey in his top 20.

 

Sorry Salty, I misinformed you! It's the 1970s period ONLY that JB is covering (as per my now amended original posting above).

 

Please have another go based on riders' efforts and achievements from 1970-79 inclusive.

 

Looks like Kenny will have to go!

 

Cheers,

Tony Mac

[salty]

Ok. I'll have another go then.

1. P.Collins

2. J.Louis

3. M.Simmons

4. Ray Wilson

5. D.Jessup

6. M.Lee

7. C.Morton

8. T.Betts

9. G.Kennett

10.E.Boocock

11. M.Ashby

12. J.Davis

13. N.Boocock

14. D.Wyer

15. J.McMillan

16. T.Davey

17. Reg Wilson

18. C.Pusey

19. B.Kilby

20. T.Hedge

[spin king]

Mine in no particular order would be the following;

 

(1)Peter Collins

 

(2) Malcolm Simmons

 

(3) Dave Jessup

 

(4)Michael Lee

 

(5)John Louis

 

(6) Ray Wilson

 

(7) Gordon Kennett

 

(8) Chris Morton

 

(9) Martin Ashby

 

(10) Bob Kilby

 

(11) Doug Wyer

 

(12) Eric Boocock

 

(13) Reg Wilson

 

(14) Terry Betts

 

(15) Steve Bastable

 

(16)Chris Pusey

 

(17)John Davis

 

(18) Jim McMillan

 

(19) Dave Morton.

 

(20) Nigel Boocock

[briggo]

My thoughts, in order :

 

1. Peter Collins

2. Malcolm Simmons

3. John Louis

4. Michael Lee

5. Dave Jessup

6. Ray Wilson

7. Chris Morton

8. Martin Ashby

9. Terry Betts

10. Gordon Kennett

11. John Davis

12. Tony Davey

13. Doug Wyer

14. Dave Morton

15. Eric Boocock

16. Jim McMillan

17. Reg Wilson

18. Nigel Boocock

19. Bob Kilby

20. George Hunter

[lucifer sam]

1. Ivan Mauger

2. Peter Collins

3. John Louis

4. Michael Lee

5. Malcolm Simmons

6. Ray Wilson

7. Dave Jessup

8. Barry Briggs

9. Gordon Kennett

10. Jim Airey

11. Terry Betts

12. Martin Ashby

13. Eric Boocock

14. Chris Morton

15. John Davis

16. Doug Wyer

17. Nigel Boocock

18. Jim McMillan

19. Ronnie Moore

20. Joe Owen

 

Mauger, Briggs, Airey and Moore were all part of teams that won the World Team Cup for Great Britain in the 1970s.

 

All the best

Rob

[TonyMac]

Mauger, Briggs, Airey and Moore were all part of teams that won the World Team Cup for Great Britain in the 1970s.

 

All the best

Rob

 

 

Sorry Rob, you're absolutely right, but I should have made it clear that we're talking English and Scots here!

[lucifer sam]

Sorry Rob, you're absolutely right, but I should have made it clear that we're talking English and Scots here!

 

Tony, oh well, I'll have to find another 4 names. Interesting when watching the "World Finals of the 70s" DVD that the likes of Mauger and Briggs were considered to be British riders right up until around 1976 (Mauger rode in the British Final until 1974). Dave Lanning definitely gives the impression that Mauger was "our" man in the 1972/1973 World Finals.

 

All the best

Rob

[lucifer sam]

OK, this is my revised list:

 

1. Peter Collins

2. John Louis

3. Michael Lee

4. Malcolm Simmons

5. Ray Wilson

6. Dave Jessup

7. Gordon Kennett

8. Terry Betts

9. Martin Ashby

10. Eric Boocock

11. Chris Morton

12. John Davis

13. Doug Wyer

14. Nigel Boocock

15. Jim McMillan

16. Bob Kilby

17. Chris Pusey

18. Tony Davey

19. Roy Trigg

20. Joe Owen

 

All the best

Rob

[liverpool chad]

1, Peter Collins

2, Michael Lee

3, Dave Jessup

4, John Louis

5, Terry Betts

6, Martin Ashby

7, Ray Wilson

8, Malcolm Simmons

9, Nigal Boocock

10, Eric Boocock

11, Chris Pusey

12, Gordon Kennett

13, Alan Wilkinson

14, Jim McMillan

15, Eric Broadbelt

16, George Hunter

17, Bob Kilby

18, Bert Harkins

19, Steve Bastable

20, Arnold Haley

[waiheke]

my list would be:

 

1. Peter Collins

2. John Louis

3. Michael Lee

4. Malcolm Simmons

5. Dave Jessup

6. Ray Wilson

7. Gordon Kennett

8. Terry Betts

9. Nigel Boocock

10. Eric Boocock

11. Marin Ashby

12. Jim McMillan

13. Doug Wyer

14. Chris Morton

15. John Davis

16. Tony Davey

17. Chris Pusey

18. Steve Bastable

19. Reg Wilson

20. Joe Owen

 

Who did john Berry go with?

Also, i'd be interested to know people's thoughts on the top 20 of the 80s - i'll start a new thread on it in "years gone by".

[TonyMac]

Any reaction to John Berry's Top 20 choice? Don't all write at once!

 

Guess he must have got it spot on, then?

[lucifer sam]

Any reaction to John Berry's Top 20 choice? Don't all write at once!

 

Guess he must have got it spot on, then?

 

Tony, I think the lack of reaction is maybe down to the fact that John Berry's selection was an uncontroversial one.

 

Not quite sure how he managed to get Gordon Kennett as low as 13th though, he achieved more in the 1970s than the four riders above him (McMillan, Morton, and the Boococks), all of whom peaked outside the 1970s. I can't recall any of those riders finishing second in a World Final, as Gordon did in 1978.

 

All the best

Rob

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Sorry Rob, you're absolutely right, but I should have made it clear that we're talking English and Scots here!

 

Hang on Tony. what have you got against the Welsh...!?

 

Hmm, come to think of it as I know you know Bryn well, I've just answered my own question!!!

[TonyMac]

Hang on Tony. what have you got against the Welsh...!?

 

Hmm, come to think of it as I know you know Bryn well, I've just answered my own question!!!

 

No offence intended to our Welsh friends (Bryn included). It's just that i couldn't think of anyone from Wales who would be in contention for a place on this list. Now Freddie Williams is a different story...

[TonyMac]

Tony, I think the lack of reaction is maybe down to the fact that John Berry's selection was an uncontroversial one.

 

Not quite sure how he managed to get Gordon Kennett as low as 13th though, he achieved more in the 1970s than the four riders above him (McMillan, Morton, and the Boococks), all of whom peaked outside the 1970s. I can't recall any of those riders finishing second in a World Final, as Gordon did in 1978.

 

All the best

Rob

 

JB and I cross swords on this issue from time to time. He is a firm believer that a rider's worth should be judged on his overall contribution and service to his club(s) and not just performances in World Championship events (quite reasonably, he points out that some individuals would put bikes aside specifically for the big individual meetings, sometimes at the expense of their club efforts).

 

He would probably argue that Gordon Kennett's brilliant showing at Wembley in '78 was really a one-off for him at that level, whereas the Booeys and Jimmy Mac were stalwart servants to their respective clubs while also still doing good things for their country and in World Championship events.

Edited September 3, 2010 by tmc

[lucifer sam]

JB and I cross swords on this issue from time to time. He is a firm believer that a rider's worth should be judged on his overall contribution and service to his club(s) and not just performances in World Championship events (quite reasonably, he points out that some individuals would put bikes aside specifically for the big individual meetings, sometimes at the expense of their club efforts).

 

He would probably argue that Gordon Kennett's brilliant showing at Wembley in '78 was really a one-off for him at that level, whereas the Booeys and Jimmy Mac were stalwart servants to their respective clubs while also still doing good things for their country and in World Championship events.

 

But Gordon Kennett was the highest scorer in the 1977 British League, scoring 466 from 36 matches for White City. He was an ever-present, and led the Rebels to the league title.

 

And Kennett was a stalwart to his team, but it just happened his team moved from Oxford to White City to Eastbourne.

 

13th is too low. He should be in the top ten - JB got that one wrong.

 

All the best

Rob

Edited September 3, 2010 by lucifer sam

[salty]

But Gordon Kennett was the highest scorer in the 1977 British League, scoring 466 from 36 matches for White City. He was an ever-present, and led the Rebels to the league title.

 

And Kennett was a stalwart to his team, but it just happened his team moved from Oxford to White City to Eastbourne.

 

13th is too low. He should be in the top ten - JB got that one wrong.

 

All the best

Rob

JB has mentioned a couple of times that the 1977 White City team benefited from a close relationship with the Weslake organisation, which gave them a bit of an advantage over the rest. Maybe that's why he didn't give GK the credit you feel he deserves?

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

But Gordon Kennett was the highest scorer in the 1977 British League, scoring 466 from 36 matches for White City. He was an ever-present, and led the Rebels to the league title.

 

And Kennett was a stalwart to his team, but it just happened his team moved from Oxford to White City to Eastbourne.

 

13th is too low. He should be in the top ten - JB got that one wrong.

 

All the best

Rob

 

Absolutely. I went to all the early White City home matches in '76 and many over '77 and '78 too and I can't recall there ever being a more dominant rider at a top division track than Gordon Kennett...

He also remember came second in the Grand Prix in 1976 to Peter Collins. The GP being a series with Rounds held on all BL tracks and then a final at White City..

Kennett also won the World Pairs twice - it's simply not on to judge his second place in the 1978 individual WF as some kind of one off...

 

Deffo top ten... Close to my top five..!!