Could Mike Bast Have Been A Force In World Speedway?

[The White Knight]

Bast wouldn't be in my top twenty I'm afraid. I hope that helps.

 

He wouldn't even be in my top twenty of the era he rode in.

[Guest]

I'm not saying that either. What I'm querying is why he would open up snooker to more qualifiers, but then do the total opposite with darts; the PDC was never intended to be a closed shop...

 

Steve

 

I have read - but possibly misunderstood - that this may be happening?

Edited January 24, 2014 by Guest

[stratton]

Being serious, Bast in my opinion would be rated behind Milne, Penhall,Autrey,King,Sigalos,Kelly, S.Moran, Ermolenko,Hancock, Hamill,as the USA,s greatest rider top 20 rider of all time don't know where that come from.?

[Guest]

Being serious, Bast in my opinion would be rated behind Milne, Penhall,Autrey,King,Sigalos,Kelly, S.Moran, Ermolenko,Hancock, Hamill,as the USA,s greatest rider top 20 rider of all time don't know where that come from.?

 

 

Don't forget the other USA greats - Sprouts Elder, Ray Tauser, Jack and Cordy Milne, Wilbur Lamoreaux, Benny Kaufmann from pre-war days.

[stratton]

Don't forget the other USA greats - Sprouts Elder, Ray Tauser, Jack and Cordy Milne, Wilbur Lamoreaux, Benny Kaufmann from pre-war days.

You are correct "Gustix" well that clears that little mystery up you can't be Speedyguy in disguise?

[iris123]

You are correct "Gustix" well that clears that little mystery up you can't be Speedyguy in disguise?

He is 'speedyguy' under a new name.

To help clear things up a little,'gustix' has admitted to having a number of names simultaneously on here.The reason given was that he could have the conversations he did between various aliases to put across differing views and help stimulate topics.So we can assume that if he was holding at the same time differing opinions,then all that he was posting wasn't necessarily his own opinion.Some were posted just to get a reaction.......

Among 'gustix' previous user names was the infamous 'speedyguy' as well as 'Kenny Lane' and 'Old..something or other'.Can't remember who Old thingy was,but always used to sign off as 'Jack Keen,Erith'.Probably one or two others i have forgotten about or missed.Not sure if one always held Johns real opinions and the others were just there to back him up or disagree or if he swapped daily

 

If anything is incorrect i apologize and i am sure we will get a correct version

[Guest]

He is 'speedyguy' under a new name.

To help clear things up a little,'gustix' has admitted to having a number of names simultaneously on here.The reason given was that he could have the conversations he did between various aliases to put across differing views and help stimulate topics.So we can assume that if he was holding at the same time differing opinions,then all that he was posting wasn't necessarily his own opinion.Some were posted just to get a reaction.......

Among 'gustix' previous user names was the infamous 'speedyguy' as well as 'Kenny Lane' and 'Old..something or other'.Can't remember who Old thingy was,but always used to sign off as 'Jack Keen,Erith'.Probably one or two others i have forgotten about or missed.Not sure if one always held Johns real opinions and the others were just there to back him up or disagree or if he swapped daily

 

If anything is incorrect i apologize and i am sure we will get a correct version

 

 

Were u previously "speedy guy". If so u promised to provide such a list but didnt, but did claim bast would be in your top 20.

 

 

Gustix - any chance of an answer?

I once was speedyguy - until two years ago. I also then had a couple of other aliases - all leading to a lengthy ban for my misdemeanours. I am now back and "only wearing the one hat."

Now, to settle the Mike Bast comment by yours truly: I now concede that Mike Bast would not make any top 20 rider ranking list - and as has been mentioned by other BSF members I also agree now that Mike Bast would probably not even make a Top 100 best riders rating.

[oldace]

 

 

 

 

Now, to settle the Mike Bast comment by yours truly: I now concede that Mike Bast would not make any top 20 rider ranking list - and as has been mentioned by other BSF members I also agree now that Mike Bast would probably not even make a Top 100 best riders rating.

 

 

Bast was pretty good on the tiny California circuits, there is no denying that. He regularly beat the top riders of the day on them. In reality though he was beating riders who were simply in the States on holiday and picking up a bit of spending money while they were there.

 

When it came to real racing Bast fell short, 1977 at White City for instance. In view of that, as you say Bast is nowhere near a list of top 100 best ever.

 

That said if, like Penhall did, he had the ambition and desire to go to Europe he had it in him to do much better but he was happy in the sun and earning a nice living

[Guest]

Just seen this on FACEBOOK:: Not from me ---!!! - "...don't shoot the messenger!"

::::::

Paul Heffernan's post.

LEGEND -- MIKE BAST
Legend does not seem to be a big enough word when talking about the great Mike Bast. He is one of the greatest riders to have ever lived. He dominated a decade, the same decade that saw a brigade of brilliant American riders became legends themselves. For those of us that were fortunate to have watched him week after week, we were in awe of his consistent brilliance. Mike Bast, King of American Speedway, a true legend

U.S. National Champion - 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
U.S. Open Champion - 1979
American Final Champion - 1977
California State Champion - 1973,1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983

Edited November 20, 2014 by Guest

[The White Knight]

 

Just seen this on FACEBOOK:: Not from me ---!!! - "...don't shoot the messenger!"

::::::

Paul Heffernan's post.

LEGEND -- MIKE BAST

Legend does not seem to be a big enough word when talking about the great Mike Bast. He is one of the greatest riders to have ever lived. He dominated a decade, the same decade that saw a brigade of brilliant American riders became legends themselves. For those of us that were fortunate to have watched him week after week, we were in awe of his consistent brilliance. Mike Bast, King of American Speedway, a true legend

U.S. National Champion - 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979

U.S. Open Champion - 1979

American Final Champion - 1977

California State Champion - 1973,1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983

 

Very much one dimensional thoughgustix. He was at his best on American Tracks - didn't do much in Europe. There are a whole load of American Riders who were far better than him racing over here. Penhall, Sigalos, the Morans, Autry to name a very few.

[Guest]

 

Just seen this on FACEBOOK:: Not from me ---!!! - "...don't shoot the messenger!"

::::::

Paul Heffernan's post.

LEGEND -- MIKE BAST

Legend does not seem to be a big enough word when talking about the great Mike Bast. He is one of the greatest riders to have ever lived. He dominated a decade, the same decade that saw a brigade of brilliant American riders became legends themselves. For those of us that were fortunate to have watched him week after week, we were in awe of his consistent brilliance. Mike Bast, King of American Speedway, a true legend

U.S. National Champion - 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979

U.S. Open Champion - 1979

American Final Champion - 1977

California State Champion - 1973,1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983

 

 

 

Very much one dimensional thoughgustix. He was at his best on American Tracks - didn't do much in Europe. There are a whole load of American Riders who were far better than him racing over here. Penhall, Sigalos, the Morans, Autry to name a very few.

 

As I said TWK - not my opinion but just the forwarding of a comment that I read elsewhere. Just a thought how did the riders you name = Penhall, Sigalos, the Morans, Autry - match Mike Bast in the USA? That, perhaps, is the alternative yardstick to measure talent by - always debatable. We tend to regard the sport here as being the testing ground for success - seemingly in the USA, where obviously the riders you name are known, they have their own alternative?

[The White Knight]

 

 

 

As I said TWK - not my opinion but just the forwarding of a comment that I read elsewhere. Just a thought how did the riders you name = Penhall, Sigalos, the Morans, Autry - match Mike Bast in the USA? That, perhaps, is the alternative yardstick to measure talent by - always debatable. We tend to regard the sport here as being the testing ground for success - seemingly in the USA, where obviously the riders you name are known, they have their own alternative?

Probably Bast was an American Track expert/specialist. When he got to the varying size Tracks in Europe - he got found out. Just my opinion though.

[Guest]

Probably Bast was an American Track expert/specialist. When he got to the varying size Tracks in Europe - he got found out. Just my opinion though.

 

????? In other words you think that he was not a very good rider?

 

These details from the International Speedway site reflect some of Mike Bast's scoring against "the big boys" from Europe.

 

http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/usavrow.htm

Edited November 20, 2014 by Guest

[waiheke1]

As good as any on his home tracks. But never proved himself on the world stage in events which are typically viewed as the yardstick of greatness - world championship (individual and team) and the british league (which contained most of the world's top riders). Maybe he could have been an all time great - but as he didn't test himself against the world's best away from us soil, personally I'd rank his achievements below those of not just American world champions, but also the likes of autrey sigalos and the morans.

Id add that the riders I mention were mostly just starting out as basts era of domestic domination ended. Autrey the exception, but didn't he get banned for not going back to the states to race in some of those championship s?

Much harder for any one rider to dominate in the 80s when the number of quality American riders had increased.

[The Doctor...]

 

????? In other words you think that he was not a very good rider?

 

These details from the International Speedway site reflect some of Mike Bast's scoring against "the big boys" from Europe.

 

http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/usavrow.htm

 

 

 

Please pass on to Paul Heffernan that he needs to see some real speedway asap.

 

If you or Paul think that Mike Bast is or was a legend then you both need help.

 

John, for you, i would point you to Scott Humphries. He was a better rider. He really was.

 

I've seen them both plenty of times.

 

Mike Bast was a flat track bully. And barely a bully at that.

[Guest]

In his AMA Hall of Fame citation, Mike Bast said this about racing on speedway in the UK: “It was cold, miserable, the food was bad and there was no money,” he said. “I was making 50 to 60 thousand a year in America living at the beach. So I never really rode British League. I kind of thought I was the world’s best at one time, but since I never competed in Europe on a regular basis, I never had a real shot at winning the world title.”

 

: "not my opinion but just the forwarding of a comment that I read elsewhere. "

 

 

Just a reminder on what I said when this thread revived in regard to Mike Bast status in world speedway

Edited November 21, 2014 by Guest

[stratton]

I think Bast had the ability but maybe was there something inside telling him he was not that confident in his own ability.i think if he had gone to Wimbledon he would of done well at home but i am not so sure about him on his travels.At the likes of the big tracks Sheffield,Halifax,Swindon,Exeter,Belle Vue that's where my doubts lay.After Keeter, Autrey showed the way came over in a tough era came out of his comfort zone and became an outstanding rider why didnt Bast do the same?.I have seen alot of Bast interviews and he seems a real nice guy and was comfortable with how his career went i admire that i wonder if he has any regrets.?

[Guest]

 

 

Please pass on to Paul Heffernan that he needs to see some real speedway asap.

 

If you or Paul think that Mike Bast is or was a legend then you both need help.

 

John, for you, i would point you to Scott Humphries. He was a better rider. He really was.

 

I've seen them both plenty of times.

 

Mike Bast was a flat track bully. And barely a bully at that.

 

Why mention Scott Humphries? I have just had an email from a journalist colleague who says: "The Scott Humphries with the associations mentioned was an Australian born Sydney, New South Wales July 31st 1964." We are looking at USA riders!

Edited November 21, 2014 by Guest

[The Doctor...]

 

Why mention Scott Humphries? I have just had an email from a journalist colleague who says: "The Scott Humphries with the associations mentioned was an Australian born Sydney, New South Wales July 31st 1964." We are looking at USA riders!

 

 

I'm quite aware who Scott is and where he was born. He rode for Wimbledon, and i specifically mentioned him as i imagined you would have seen him during your times at Wimbledon in order to compare him with Mike Bast..

 

Anyway, carry on talking about how Mike Bast being a world force..

 

I might start a thread "Could Deon Prinsloo have been a force in world speedway?".. Seems as credible as this one.

[The White Knight]

 

????? In other words you think that he was not a very good rider?

 

These details from the International Speedway site reflect some of Mike Bast's scoring against "the big boys" from Europe.

 

http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/usavrow.htm

I didn't say that gustix. By his own, American, standards he was a very good Rider I agree. But crucially, where Speedway in those days mattered, in Europe on his own admittance he couldn't hack it. Scott Autrey was a far better Rider than Bast. Bast didn't have the testicular fortitude or the determination/dedication to stay over here and fight for the World Championship. He took the easy option - I don't blame him for that at all, but that is a fact.

 

According to another Post "he considered himself the best in the World" at one point - he is deluding himself. He was never anywhere near that. As I said in an earlier Post he was great on American Tracks - and really that is all you can say about him.

 

The best in the World - NEVER!!! :nono: