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An Evening With Bruce & Co


greyhoundp

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You're not so keen on Matt Ford and Nigel Wagstaff then? :P .. :D

Have any of you compared a current picture of yourselves with one from two decades ago?

Sure have, but it's not such a shock because I always was ugly.

Now I'm not only ugly, but fat as well, with teeth and hair rapidly dropping out. :cry:

Edited by Gemini
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Guest Rod King
It is only because you recall how Bruce Penhall looked 22 years ago as to why you're all so shocked by his recent photograph.

I think you also need to take account that ALL the publicity material that appeared in the Speedway Star showed Bruce as he was over 20 years ago.

For my part, I was curious to know if this was simply because people wouldn't have recognised a current picture, or if he'd become so hideously misshapen that the organisers would know that no one would turn up if they saw the "real" thing!

As with much in life, the "truth" probably lies somewhere between the two.

For my part, I never fancied him in 1982 and I certainly don't now.

Or any other man!

But I wish I had his hair, either now or then. Blonde or brunette is fine with me. Just to have some would be wonderful!

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There was a report of the Telford event on BBC Midlands News last night, and an interview with the great man. He looked exactly as you would expect a bloke to look 20 years later after we last saw him.... slightly chubbier, but with a full head of hair! Nick Owen said he remembered working with Penhall years ago and he was always first class.

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Hi all I have only seen photos of Bruce from off here and on the net. I still think he looks fanastic. the dark hair was a bit of a shock. I loved that photo of him in the Cradley bib oh the memories. At 46 I think he looks fab. I only wish that I could have got to Telford to see him in the flesh

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Have any of you compared a current picture of yourselves with one from two decades ago?

Sure have, but it's not such a shock because I always was ugly.

Now I'm not only ugly, but fat as well, with teeth and hair rapidly dropping out. :cry:

Gemini in that case there was someone masquerading as you at Armadale and at Coventry P&P and Cardiff last year...... :)

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I think the perosn who said the problem was with the advertising material, had they used newer photos it would not be so bad.

 

I thing he has aged a hell of a lot in the last 5 years though becuase we were watching Chips '99 the other day and he didn't look a day over 30, suddenly he does look like he getting older and that really supprised me how in Chips '99 I could recognise him from mums old posters (incidently, I think they were selling smaller versions of the same poster at Telford but could not get rid of them so had to given them away with the programme :)) but the man who walked out onto the ice at Telford was not recognisable and even 20 years later, most people are still recognisable but Bruce was not 5 years later.

 

Mind you, he doesn't look bad for somone who's 47(I'm sure thats what the program said) not when you consider Les Collins is a year younger and my dads 3 years younger :)

 

My bigest gripe abou seeing Bruce rid is not Bruce but Schwartz and Collins, it was just so Mickey Mouse, Les was pasing him and drifting wide, then passing him and drifting wide, who were they fooling? Why not have them ride side by side? Or even let Bruce ride 4 laps on his own and compare his time to a few others(say the youngest rider there and then Les/Boogaloo and as he was probably going to be within a second or 2 make a song and dance about that. Personally I felt the way Les was riding sort of mad Bruce look pathetic and thats now how a real legend of the sport should be made to look and I just could not watch it in the evening. Atleats Boogaloo rode side by side with him and made it a bit more respectable and interesting and made Bruce lok good.

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) but the man who walked out onto the ice at Telford was not recognisable and even 20 years later, most people are still recognisable but Bruce was not 5 years later.

I reckon Joanne is right and the photo was really of Simon Mayo. :D

Strangely enough a lot of people look better as they get older. Haven't your children ever looked at old photos of you and burst out laughing?

I know I looked a lot better in photos taken when I was 43 than when I was 23, but now at 63 I try to keep well away from cameras. :sad:

Not always possible though when certain forum members have one masquerading as a mobile phone. :unsure:

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I suggest anybody who is in there late thirties eearly forties look in the mirror and then take a look at a photograph of yourself 20 odd years ago.

You look very different don't you, trouble is we all get older, if you have ever been to an old school reunion you will all know the bext looking ones are the one that change the most. ;)

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Well I've been sitting here reading all the messages about Bruce Penhall's looks and how he's aged and so on and on. Well if I had his looks and his ability to ride I would be one happy camper. I had the privelage to watch Bruce ride some practice laps in the USA just before his appearance in a match race against American Champion Scotty Brant in November. It had been 7yrs since Bruce had even thought about riding a Speedway bike. I was impressed on how well he was able to control the new laydown models compared to the Weslakes,Jawas he used to ride.Anywas when he rode the match race he was very fast and impressed the fans of his ability to still ride a Speedway bike with the best of them. Bye the way that's the first time I've seen a picture of Bruce in a long time without Sunglasses on.Bruce You still Rock bud !!!!!!!

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Bye the way that's the first time I've seen a picture of Bruce in a long time without Sunglasses on.

He should put them back on again. :D.. :P

I've been reading all the posts again as well and it seems to me the ones who are doing the defending are mostly men (of a certain age?) :wink: whereas most of the women are perhaps hoping time would have stood still and he would at least resemble the photos taken twenty years ago when he was so handsome.

It's no big deal though - just one more thing to discuss to pass the time away until the new season starts.

Edited by Gemini
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Well no matter how he looks, he makes one appearance on a speedway bike and look at the publicity it gets the sport, national newspaper articles local tv mentions of it and im sure put a fair few on the crowd at telford, this just goes to prove that the guy is and always was different class, just a shame hes not still 20 and leading the heathens to success sky would have loved this guy, and lets be honest theres not a personality in the sport at the moment who comes anywhere near close to him

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Maybe young Connor Penhall will lead the Heathens in a similar way in years to come.

One can only hope.

I feel sorry for young Connor, I tihkn the worst thing he can do is take yup speedway as what ever he does he will be a failiure. Look at Chris Collins and all his pressure, he's constantly son of Peter, he must be fed up of it by now. Connor doesn't only have the World titles to win to get rid of the "son of..." tag but he has to have the charisma and all the little extras that Bruce had.

 

TMG, fiar play to Bruce, he went out onto the ice where a few riders had struggled and although he was not fast, he actually rode speedway style and got the bike to slide, unlike a few others who had more rides than Bruce, I'm sure had he rode against Rusty Harisson he'd have beat him, infact he could have probably scored 3 or 4 points in the main meeting had he been willign to "race" rather than ride as he controlled the bike much better than most of the others :) Like I have said, just a shame Les Collins' riding made it look so Mickey Mouse.

 

 

I was looking at some old pictures of Bobby Schwartz last night and he has changed even more than Bruce :) He was not even obviously recognisable at Greg Hancocks testamonial from 1995 :)

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I hear the mention of Conner Penhall he is 12yrs old but there is also Ryan Penhall that is 16yrs old. Both of the Penhall boys are heavilly into motorcross. They are contracted through the Kawasaki Team green to ride motorcross a few times a week not leaving much time for Speedway.

 

B)B)B)

 

There is a Video tape available of the USA first under 21 where you can see Conner Penhall in action. Also some great footage of Bruce's crash while riding against Scotty Brant in a match race.

 

Conner Penhall is featured on the cover of MOTO X KIDS Magazine.this magazine features a 5 page article on 85cc Speedway bikes with Robin frames. There are pictures of young Conner sliding it sideways on his 85cc Speedway bike. These bikes were new to Ca Speedway in 2003.For more info on this magazine go to

www.motoxkids.com

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I believe that Bruce said his eldest is 21,and is the brains in the family,then he has a 17 year old who rides must be Ryan,he does moto cross,and then young Connor who does moto cross,but has dabbled with speedway causing quite a stir by all accounts,Bruce said Ryan was a little envious of the publicity Connor had received,

and was now showing an interest in speedway.

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i think all of this comes down to the fate of most handsome or good looking people. they have more to lose even when they change only slightly, as they age. but take into consideration those of us who really didnt have the advantage of being good looking.. peter o toole, when he starred in Lawrence of Arabia was really at his peak, lookswise at that time. and look at him 5 years later... but i say, at least he has it on film, and he was handsome.. two things that cant be said about me or my friends.. me, chongo, ganja bill, one eye and frank the gimp.. course one eye thinks he is a shade better looking than the rest of us, but if chongo was a bit taller, he would have the edge on ganja bill. besides, even though bruce did try to turn to another career where looks counted, i dont think he ever gave the impression to anyone that he thought he was anything special looks wise to begin with, everyone else did that for him.. he was simply an extremely talented racer,.. arguably one of the best ever.. i am proud that he made the effort to make the trip and show up to reconnect with his many supporters again.. but,.. we all have our opinions on different subjects,.. and that is what this forum is all about.. ;)

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