Golden Helmet Memories

[Humphrey Appleby]

Carl Blackbird actually beat Hans THREE times that night

 

I seem to recall Carl Blackbird having a bit of a hoodoo over Hans Nielsen for a while, for some bizarre reason.

[lucifer sam]

I seem to recall Carl Blackbird having a bit of a hoodoo over Hans Nielsen for a while, for some bizarre reason.

 

Humph, I don't really recall it extending beyond that one night. Paul Thorp seemed to have more of a hoodoo over Hans - he beat Hans several times in several different meeting during 1987.

 

All the best

Rob

[MattJ81]

Tony, it was completely fair and square. Carl Blackbird actually beat Hans THREE times that night - in Heat 12 of the league match, in the ill-concevied Gold Sash (remember that) and the Golden Helmet. Hans just had no answer.

 

Probably the only time that someone beat Hans Nielsen three times in the same meeting anywhere in 1986.

 

My main memory of the Golden Helmet comes from later in the same season. Hans had missed a home meeting against Ipswich, thus allowing Marvyn Cox to take the Golden Helmet off Jeremy Doncaster. Cocker defended it a few times (including beating Chris Morton from behind at Belle Vue), and then Cradley came to Oxford.

 

Erik Gundersen, the defending World Champion, duly topped scored for the Heathens and thus became the challenger.

 

Cocker lost the toss for gate positions and started off the outside, and when he missed the gate, it looked all over. But Cocker wasn’t beaten, climbed all over the back of Erik, before driving under Erik on the third lap and then holding onto a famous victory. I was in the crowd on the fourth bend, going barmy along with the rest of the Oxford faithful!

 

Just before the race, my uncle's registration was called out and he was asked to immediately move his car. He did move it - but only after the race!

 

Cocker held onto the Golden Helmet longer than anyone else in 1986, not bad for a third heat leader. Ironically he also lost the helmet to Carl Blackbird!

 

All the best

Rob

 

P.S. Now back to transcribing my article for the next issue of Backtrack.

 

My only real memory of the Golden Helmet was perhaps related to the above post by Rob. I remember Jeremy Doncaster beating Erik around Dudley Wood to win the Helmet, which may well have been how he came to have it when visiting Oxford and losing out to Cox? Not sure, if it was 86 I was only 5 and to be honest Erik losing it upset me quite a lot It seemed to be a really big deal, match races as such were pretty special and didn't come around too often.

[fatface]

Didn't the actual Golden Helmet get lost? So, there actually wasn't one to win in the end? My memory is hazy on this one. But if so, who lost it? If not, where is it now?

[lucifer sam]

Didn't the actual Golden Helmet get lost? So, there actually wasn't one to win in the end? My memory is hazy on this one. But if so, who lost it? If not, where is it now?

 

Shawn Moran brought it down to a rained off at Oxford at the end of 1986 and it was lost. The competition was held early on in 1987, even though there was no helmet any more, but then curtailed part way through the season.

 

All the best

Rob

[fatface]

Shawn Moran brought it down to a rained off at Oxford at the end of 1986 and it was lost. The competition was held early on in 1987, even though there was no helmet any more, but then curtailed part way through the season.

 

All the best

Rob

Funny, but I did have Shawn Moran's name in my head. Like I say, my memory is hazy. But I reckon his recollections could be even hazier

[TonyMac]

Funny, but I did have Shawn Moran's name in my head. Like I say, my memory is hazy. But I reckon his recollections could be even hazier

 

As Shawn will be joining us on the Retro Speedway stand at Cardiff on Saturday, it will be a good opportunity to ask him if he can shed any light on the 'lost' Helmet.

 

Maybe we could start a 'Find The Golden Helmet Campaign'?

 

We know that in 1987 there was no GH to present to Wiggy after he beat Shawn at Sheffield . . . so Speedway Mail snapper Ken Carpenter lent Simon HIS hat to wear for the presentation photo (with a Speedway Mail sticker plastered across the front of it). I'll publish this actual pic in the next issue of Backtrack so that others can see how much the prestige of this once great competition had been seriously eroded by the end.

Edited June 22, 2011 by tmc

[fatface]

Maybe we could start a 'Find The Golden Helmet Campaign'?

I wonder if there is a "Pickles" out there who can help?

[tomcat]

Alway enjoyed the Golden Helmet Match Races, specially the monthly version,

circa 74 onwards.

One of my everlasting memories is of John Louis, taking on Dave Jessup

at Foxhall in 1975. JL had swapped his infamous Tiger leathers for a

mustard coloured pair, with Ipswich & Witches written on a white panel

on the inside of the legs.

Anyway, back to the Jessup challenge, I was sitting on the first bend,

facing directly down the home straight, JL gated and did four laps

absolutely flat out, setting a new track record of 59 seconds dead,

the first time ever that a sub minute race had been done at Ipswich.

One of the most perfect four laps I have ever seen in over 40 years

of watching speedway.

 

I'n not sure if it was 1975, but JL held the Golden Helmet for a long

time. I can vividly remember his tussles with Ole Olsen and Phil Crump

in particular.

 

Its a shame that the competition isn't run anymore. I hated the one off

races and that daft Golden Gauntlet attempt to replace the helmet...some

cruddy glove that had a quick coat of gold spray paint.

[Roland]

My only real memory of the Golden Helmet was perhaps related to the above post by Rob. I remember Jeremy Doncaster beating Erik around Dudley Wood to win the Helmet, which may well have been how he came to have it when visiting Oxford and losing out to Cox? Not sure, if it was 86 I was only 5 and to be honest Erik losing it upset me quite a lot It seemed to be a really big deal, match races as such were pretty special and didn't come around too often.

[/quote

 

I remember Donc taking helmet of Gundersen that night.......I was responsible, I was standing next to Erik just prior to the race, I farted and Erik got and proper lungful......he was still trying to get his breath back as they went to the line!!!

[stratton]

Like so many here my memories as a Dons fan are of Tommy Jansson winning against Martin Ashby who was a real favourite of mina at the time.He also went on to help us out so often he was almost a Dons rider after Tommy lost his life.Great riders both.The races against Jessup to defend the helmet as well.

 

Then my only other real memory was my only visit to Cradley Heath.I went especially for the races between Erik + Hans,as it was the golden helmet and then Cradley v Oxford.Erik won in the helmet match races and then went on to have a terrible meeting for him.Only got about 6 points and i think Oxford might have won.Was worth the money travelling up from London though

I also was there at Swindon to see Tommy and martin race in the helmet remember Tommy in these black with gold star leathers. Then Martin took some beating at the abbey.I wish there was some footage of Michael lee destroying Kenny Carter at the shay was also a masive michael fan.

[liverpool chad]

I seem to remember when the helmet was raced for after each meeting that the hoder was participating in, Ole Olsen made it his own personal property in the early seventies when he went somthing like 19 or 20 match races undefeated in 1970 or 71. He did it again in 1973 when he went about 15 or 16 match races undefeated until Reidar Eide beat him one night.

Later on in the decade Peter Collins made the helmet his own by going almost TWO full seasons undefeated. He won the helmet late in the 1977 season, went the entire 1978 season unbeaten and then went through to the end of the 1979 season before Phil Crump beat him 2-1 at Hyde Road and then took the helmet off him by winning at the Abbey Stadium. Phil Crump was flying that night at Belle Vue, after losing the first race Crumpy then won the next two races and then went through the league meeting with a 15pt maximum in a 39-39 draw.

[keef]

I seem to remember when the helmet was raced for after each meeting that the hoder was participating in, Ole Olsen made it his own personal property in the early seventies when he went somthing like 19 or 20 match races undefeated in 1970 or 71. He did it again in 1973 when he went about 15 or 16 match races undefeated until Reidar Eide beat him one night.

Later on in the decade Peter Collins made the helmet his own by going almost TWO full seasons undefeated. He won the helmet late in the 1977 season, went the entire 1978 season unbeaten and then went through to the end of the 1979 season before Phil Crump beat him 2-1 at Hyde Road and then took the helmet off him by winning at the Abbey Stadium. Phil Crump was flying that night at Belle Vue, after losing the first race Crumpy then won the next two races and then went through the league meeting with a 15pt maximum in a 39-39 draw.

 

I seem to remember my brother telling me about The Abbey duel...16-17000 there, they had to shut the gates...the good old days

[billywamill]

I remember travelling up to Halifax in April for a match against Cradley.

 

Before the main meeting, Kenny Carter was due to ride Michael Lee in the Golden Helemet and 20 minutes before the start a massive snow storm arrived and dump a load of snow on the stadium.

 

The only time I've ever been snowed off!

[liverpool chad]

I remember travelling up to Halifax in April for a match against Cradley.

 

Before the main meeting, Kenny Carter was due to ride Michael Lee in the Golden Helemet and 20 minutes before the start a massive snow storm arrived and dump a load of snow on the stadium.

 

The only time I've ever been snowed off!

 

I remember Belle Vue vs Sheffield being snowed off in April!!! that would of been around 1978 or 79.

Saw a few Golden Helmet race's at the Shay. I remember Peter Collins beating Ian Cartwright 2-0 and breaking Eric Boococks track record in the process. I also remember Kenny Carter and Gorden Kennett ride in the slowest race i ever saw, both riders suffering from spluttering engines in the third race between the two of them, Carter winning 2-1. And the one everyone seems to talk about, when Michael Lee beat Kenny Carter 2-0. He won both races by half a lap, broke the track record and then beat Carter again (twice i think) in the league meeting. Lee was on fire that night and his only defeat came from John Louis. If i remember rightly, Michael Lee's average around Halifax was about 03:50! which makes the result al the more spectacular.

[stratton]

I remember Belle Vue vs Sheffield being snowed off in April!!! that would of been around 1978 or 79.

Saw a few Golden Helmet race's at the Shay. I remember Peter Collins beating Ian Cartwright 2-0 and breaking Eric Boococks track record in the process. I also remember Kenny Carter and Gorden Kennett ride in the slowest race i ever saw, both riders suffering from spluttering engines in the third race between the two of them, Carter winning 2-1. And the one everyone seems to talk about, when Michael Lee beat Kenny Carter 2-0. He won both races by half a lap, broke the track record and then beat Carter again (twice i think) in the league meeting. Lee was on fire that night and his only defeat came from John Louis. If i remember rightly, Michael Lee's average around Halifax was about 03:50! which makes the result al the more spectacular.

I remember going to Poole v Reading 1983 on the wednesday, and Michael Lee was riding against Shawn Moran for the helmet. Lee had a ef while leading and i think Shawn won 2.0.The next night i went to Sheffield and Michael didnt turn up.Michael had been up all night trying to sort his mechanical gremlins out ,didnt succeed.Remember Eric Boocock being very angry that night about Michael,s non arrival.

[Grand Central]

Nostalgia a is wonderful thing, but it doesn't always come with accuracy.

 

I remember travelling up to Halifax in April for a match against Cradley.

Before the main meeting, Kenny Carter was due to ride Michael Lee in the Golden Helemet and 20 minutes before the start a massive snow storm arrived and dump a load of snow on the stadium.

The only time I've ever been snowed off!

 

At this particular meeting DENNIS SIGOLOS was the challenger that was due to take on KC that night. Michael Lee didn't get a shot until August.

 

And the one everyone seems to talk about, when Michael Lee beat Kenny Carter 2-0. He won both races by half a lap, broke the track record and then beat Carter again (twice i think) in the league meeting. Lee was on fire that night and his only defeat came from John Louis. If i remember rightly, Michael Lee's average around Halifax was about 03:50! which makes the result al the more spectacular.

 

The famous Carter v Lee did not precede a League meeting at all. It was on before a completely meaningless 'Calderdale Pair's event where the pairings were just made up of Halifax riders and juniors plus Michael Lee. Lee was partnered with Julian Parr.

Lee was not beaten by anyone that night and I'm afraid John Louis was not even there as he had been transferred to Kings Lynn before the start of the '83 season.

 

And I'm sorry but I don't share this memory of Michael Lee's performances at The Shay. I know I saw him score 13 for Poole in June 1983 and I think it was 17 points for Kings Lynn at The Shay in 1982!. I don't think it's fair to make out he had a poor record at Halifax, at all.

 

My memory of that night was of a poor (by Halifax standards) crowd for a poor meeting ... although when you speak to people so many claim to have been there that I simply don't believe it. Michael Lee was phenominally quick, I mean really really fast. He led all his races from the gate and just went further and further ahead to win by about a third of a lap. I don't think he moved more than an inch away from the white line round any bend and hardly slid the bike at all. His wheels were in line and driving all the way.

It wasn't spectacular just terribly efficient and very fast!

 

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the Carter v Penhall Golden helmet clash at the end of 1981. It was the Sunday night after Carter had won the BLRC; Cradley Heath and Swindon were at The Shay in a Double Header but first on was the Golden helmet. My memory makes this one of the most thrilling Match Races I have ever seen.

Carter had won the first leg at Cradley so would retain the helmet for the winter if he won at home. The crowd was massive - anywhere between Ten and Twelve Thousand at a guess and the tension incredible after the Carter Penhall war had been raging all year.

Penhall gated ahead in all three races. Carter was all over him for four laps but Bruce held on to take the first; in the second Carter smashed his way through on the top bend and Bruce only just kept on, after he had been clouted very hard, to set up the third and decider. In that Bruce again led for the first lap and Kenny stormed through, cleanly, on the inside going into the pits bend - a sort of Gollobesque manouvre - and Bruce couldn't come back.

No that is the night you want video of ... but there is none I'm afraid

Edited November 11, 2011 by Grand Central

[stratton]

Nostalgia is wonderful thing, but it doesn't always come with accuracy.

 

 

 

At this particular meeting DENNIS SIGOLOS was the challenger that was due to take on KC that night. Michael Lee didn't get a shot until August.

 

 

 

The famous Carter v Lee did not precede a League meeting at all. It was on before a completely meaningless 'Calderdale Pair's event where the pairings were just made up of Halifax riders and juniors plus Michael Lee. Lee was partnered with Julian Parr.

Lee was not beaten by anyone that night and I'm afraid John Louis was not even there as he had been transferred to Kings Lynn before the start of the '83 season.

 

My memory of that night was of a poor (by Halifax standards) crowd for a poor meeting ... although when you speak to people so many claim to have been there that I simply don't believe it. Michael Lee was phenominally quick, I mean really really fast. He led all his races from the gate and just went further and further ahead to win by about a third of a lap. I don't think he moved more than an inch away from the white line round any bend and hardly slid the bike at all. His wheels were in line and driving all the way.

It wasn't spectacular just terribly efficient and very fast!

 

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the Carter v Penhall Golden helmet clash at the end of 1981. It was the Sunday night after Carter had won the BLRC; Cradley Heath and Swindon were at The Shay in a Double Header but first on was the Golden helmet. My memory makes this one of the most thrilling Match Races I have ever seen.

Carter had won the first leg at Cradley so would retain the helmet for the winter if he won at home. The crowd was massive - anywhere between Ten and Twelve Thousand at a guess and the tension incredible after the Carter Penhall war had been raging all year.

Penhall gated ahead in all three races. Carter was all over him for four laps but Bruce held on to take the first; in the second Carter smashed his way through on the top bend and Bruce only just kept on, after he had been clouted very hard, to set up the third and decider. In that Bruce again led for the first lap and Kenny stormed through, cleanly, on the inside going into the pits bend - a sort of Gollobesque manouvre - and Bruce couldn't come back.

No that is the night you want video of ... but there is none I'm afraid

Great post have been trying to get the speedway star with all the details in it of that Halifax meeting .With the accurate account of the Lee v Carter helmet clashes with the pairs results as well.I remember it at the time because Lee,s times were mighty fast.Looking back, i think Lee only rode at the shay about 5 times?.

[stratton]

I found in a old 1985 Halifax v King,s Lynn programme, in which Michael Lee did not ride his career stats at the shay.Eight meeting's his lowest score 2 points his highest score 17 points for an overall career average of 6.91.Anyone who were fans of Lee has to get the Carter DVD,awesome he rode the shay like he rode when he won the long track final.How he never won at Norden god knows but thing's were set up for Egon.Also on this DVD Carter's demolition of Nielsen 2.0 is breathtaking to.

[sommelier]

I have fond memories of Olsen in the early 7os, would ride out of his skin for the golden helment