stratton Posted October 13, 2011 Report Share Posted October 13, 2011 The Boocock brothers, were both great riders different sorts but were a credit to the sport.Who did people think was the better ?Iwas a big Eric fan but Nigel was really exciting to watch.The only regret is i didnt really see Eric at his best around the shay.Would imagine no order Booey,Carter,Younghusband were probably the best ever around the great shay circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Custom House Kid Posted October 13, 2011 Report Share Posted October 13, 2011 (edited) Simple Nigel! Two great riders though! BL averages 1965 Nigel 11.914 Eric 10.059, 66 N 10.514 E 10.460, 67 N 10.517 E 10.289, 68 N 10.737 E 10.171, 69 10.784 E 11.079, 70 N 10.658 E 10.545, 71 N 9.950 E 10.114 72 N 9.232 E 10.364 73 N 8.587 E 10.316, 74 8.496 E 9.607 10yr Ave Nigel 10.139 Eric 10.308 World Championship final 62 Nigel Res DNR, 63 N 8pts, 64 N 8pts, 64 N 6pts, 65 N 8pts, 66 N 2pts, 67 Eric 9pts, 68 N 1pt, 69 N 10pts, 70 -, 71 N 6pts E 4pts, 72 N 6pts E 2pts Edited October 13, 2011 by Custom House Kid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 Think you missed one CHK-Nigel was also in 1956 World Final as reserve dnr.-he was very young-good as Eric was I'd have to vote for Nigel. Also Sidney don't forget Eric Boothroyd-he was no slouch around The Shay either!!Halifax were always entertaining at all tracks and deserved Champs. in 1966. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted October 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 Think you missed one CHK-Nigel was also in 1956 World Final as reserve dnr.-he was very young-good as Eric was I'd have to vote for Nigel. Also Sidney don't forget Eric Boothroyd-he was no slouch around The Shay either!!Halifax were always entertaining at all tracks and deserved Champs. in 1966. Great point Bobbath,Boothroyd was good around the shay, first time i went to the shay i was amazed by the cindered track loved that place never went there as much as i would of liked.Going through my programmes, think Olsens record there was excellent i think he won The Dews trophy a few times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 It has to be Nigel, anyone called Nigel has to be brilliant I first saw Nigel at Perry Barr in 1957 and he has been a favorite of mine ever since. An exciting rider to watch, a real racer who never gave up, more spectacular than his brother, as Coventry promoter Chas Ochiltree said ...pure box office. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Custom House Kid Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 Think you missed one CHK-Nigel was also in 1956 World Final as reserve dnr.-he was very young-good as Eric was I'd have to vote for Nigel. Also Sidney don't forget Eric Boothroyd-he was no slouch around The Shay either!!Halifax were always entertaining at all tracks and deserved Champs. in 1966. My excuse I was very busy that year being born! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 CHK -that's no excuse(just kiddin')!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Very difficult this. Personally - I can't separate them. They were BOTH superb Riders. White Knight sits on fence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miserable Old Git Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 No contest here.... LITTLE BOY BLUE!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMac Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 (edited) Having published Eric's autobiography and a DVD on Nigel's career in recent years, it's probably fair to say that Eric rode with his head and Nigel rode with his heart, but they were both very good riders over a long period. Great servants to their clubs and British speedway in general and, fittingly, two of the first handful of riders to be awarded testimonial meetings in the mid-70s. Eric was the first recipient in 1974, when a crowd of 10,000-plus turned out to honour him at The Shay, and the attendance couldn't have been far off that when Little Boy Blue was given his day at Brandon the following year. Edited April 24, 2012 by tmc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wessex Wanderer Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 Good as Eric was the answer must be Nigel. Both really exciting top class riders. Would be a huge boost for GB at international level if we had them now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 Honestly, I feel that Eric has to be one of the most under-rated riders of all time. While I - like most others - would say that Nigel was better (largely because of World Final appearances and general performance at international level), Eric's brilliance and consistency in the BL was phenomenal. When you consider how strong the BL was in those days, keeping that kind of average for that period puts Eric up there with the VERY best (Mauger, Briggs,Olsen, Collins etc). Steve 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keef Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 (edited) Nigel...one of the best riders I've ever seen. Remember the brothers riding for GB v. Sweden, 1968 Swindon, 12000 attendance. Nigel 11 plus 2, Eric 9 plus 2. Outscored by Ashby, top rider in series, and other Robin Broady. Mauger and Betts also in GB team. I think Briggo and Fundin were out injured. Swedes included Michanek Jansson Nygren Sjosten Harryson Persson. GB won at Swindon but lost series 2-1. Mauger had a nightmare series. Loved those blue Booey leathers. Edited April 24, 2012 by keef Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted April 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 Nigel...one of the best riders I've ever seen. Remember the brothers riding for GB v. Sweden, 1968 Swindon, 12000 attendance. Nigel 11 plus 2, Eric 9 plus 2. Outscored by Ashby, top rider in series, and other Robin Broady. Mauger and Betts also in GB team. I think Briggo and Fundin were out injured. Swedes included Michanek Jansson Nygren Sjosten Harryson Persson. GB won at Swindon but lost series 2-1. Mauger had a nightmare series. Loved those blue Booey leathers. Some of those riders you named Keef top class see both of them quite a bit ,Bluey was exciting Eric i feel just edged it Eric was very underated but Bluey,s record outstanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g13webb Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 (edited) I would go for Nigel too, although Eric was a great rider. Not much too choose between them. Footnote: Have many time thought which came first. the Blue leathers or the name 'Little boy Blue'. Did the name come because he wore Blue leathers, or did he wear the leathers because of the name. Be interesting to know .... Edited April 25, 2012 by GRW123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucifer sam Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 One thing also worth taking into account is Eric's excellent form in the BLRC. He was the closest to taking the crown from Briggo between 1965 and 1970. Having only seen one of them race in the "flesh" (Nigel in NL action for Exeter(??) in 1980, when he was way past his best), it's very difficult to decide from just stats, although maybe Nigel's World Final record gives him the edge. All the best Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted April 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 One thing also worth taking into account is Eric's excellent form in the BLRC. He was the closest to taking the crown from Briggo between 1965 and 1970. Having only seen one of them race in the "flesh" (Nigel in NL action for Exeter(??) in 1980, when he was way past his best), it's very difficult to decide from just stats, although maybe Nigel's World Final record gives him the edge. All the best Rob I remember Bluey riding in the Silver Plume, at Swindon in1973 Autrey debut season also rode.A memory i have of Eric was i am sure the control board gave him permission.? To come back from injury (a broken arm at Newport) in the no 6 berth? he scored 14 pts he was outstanding.My uncle always said on the world stage he underachieved but beat Briggo at the abbey in the late 60s in the silver sash and was a outstanding rider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted April 27, 2012 Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 I think the blue leathers came first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted April 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 I think the blue leathers came first Disagree Bobbath Eric was the better rider in my view only just thou. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted April 27, 2012 Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 Nigel for me ,+ The Shay was one of the finest tracks in speedway, along with Hyde Road and Old Meadowbank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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