lucifer sam Posted September 4, 2010 Report Share Posted September 4, 2010 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..!! Parsloes, I filled in my first-ever programme during an Inter-League 4TT round at Oxford in 1980. I think it's the day I become a real fan of the Oxford Cheetahs - until then, it was somewhere my dad took me several times during the season. By the end of that season, I was a speedway maniac, something that hasn't been cured some 30 years later. The dominant rider on show that day as Mr. Gordon Kennett. Six rides, six wins (including two in the second half). I remember him pulling a huge wheelie as he won his final race. As a National League club, we didn't get to see wheelies, since it wasn't in fashion for the lower league riders to pull them. Most of the NL riders still had bikes stuck together by gaffer tape. I also remember a much larger crowd that usual than the NL meetings. Gordon Kennett, previously of the Oxford Rebels, was a big drawcard and he didn't disappoint. It's the second meeting I distinctly remember. The first was the Pip Lamb Benefit Meeting at the end of 1979, which was the first time I saw Bruce Penhall, a rider who became a hero to the young Lucifer Sam. However, I do have a keen interest in Speedway during the 1970s, for a long-time my collection of speedway books was mainly books on the 70s (in the 1980s, the number of speedway books dried up for a while), so the old Peter Oakes Speedway Yearbooks were picked up and read from cover-to-cover. It's why I feel qualified to comment on speedway in the 1970s in the same way I wouldn't on previous eras. All the best Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveG Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 (edited) I am posting on this site after many years away from the sport and perhaps not a clear memory (Injury) fancied a go though. Noted the comments on Gordon Kennett my brother an Oxford Rebels fan always talked up this very fine rider.I actually wondered how Simmons and Kennett did so well in the pairs as seemed similar and tended to ride same lines until seeing Simmons at Wimbledon with Kai Neimi pairing and often Simmons went wider of the 2. Anyway back to the matter in hand and very pleased to see Martin Ashby in the lists as such a wonderful Guest for Wimbledon after Tommy Janssons death. What I do recall though as a Wimbledon fan was Gordon Kennett ( Never falls-Brothers quote) guested for Wimbledon away at Swindon first 2 rides fell same spot. Also what a difficult job as part of me wanted to exclude Michael Lee 1, Peter Collins 2, Michael Lee 3. Malcolm Simmons 4. Dave Jessup 5.John Louis 6. Martin Ashby 7.Terry Betts 8. Doug Wyer 9.Gordon Kennett 10.Jim McMillan 11. George Hunter 12. Ray Wilson 13. Bob Kilby 14. Chris Morton 15. Bobby Beaton 16. Dave Morton 17. Alan Wilkinson 18. Barry Thomas 19. Bert Harkins 20. John Davis Edited May 6, 2012 by DaveG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted May 5, 2012 Report Share Posted May 5, 2012 I am posting on this site after many years away from the sport and perhaps not a clear memory (Injury) fancied a go though. Noted the comments on Gordon Kennett my brother an Oxford Rebels fan always talked up this very fine rider.I actually wondered how Simmons and Kennett did so well in the pairs as seemed similar and tended to ride same lines until seeing Simmons at Wimbledon with Kai Neimi pairing and often Simmons went wider of the 2. Anyway back to the matter in hand and very pleased to see Martin Ashby in the lists as such a wonderful Guest for Wimbledon after Tommy Janssons death. What I do recall though as a Wimbledon fan was Gordon Kennett ( Never falls-Brothers quote) guested for Wimbledon away at Swindon first 2 rides fell same spot. Also what a difficult job as part of me wanted to exclude Michael Lee 1, Peter Collins 2, Michael Lee 3. Malcolm Simmons 4. Dave Jessup 5.John Louis 6. Martin Ashby 7.Terry Betts 8. Doug Wyer 9.Gordon Kennett 10.Jim McMillan 11. George Hunter 12. Reg Wilson 13. Bob Kilby 14. Chris Morton 15. Bobby Beaton 16. Dave Morton 17. Alan Wilkinson 18. Barry Thomas 19. Bert Harkins 20. John Davis No Ray Wilson why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveG Posted May 5, 2012 Report Share Posted May 5, 2012 If that is the only observation I am delighted 30 year old damaged memory then I am pleased no programmes to hand and not going to use internet did he ride for Leicester or Birmingham . Also had to fit some Scots in and a few team men such as Barry Thomas. Might have confused the Wilsons as well guess Ray was better then Reg Ray dark haired? If so substitute him in and we lose Reg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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