*JJ Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 Arthur Browning was a big lad and he did alright he was about 8 foot tall with legs that could extend an extra couple of foot when he went into the bends. He used to cover the inside with his extendable legs so nobody could go under him. So the answer to your question is yes. He was actually six foot four, a powerful broad-shouldered athlete. He must have been quite heavy. He is exactly the same age as me, nearly 69 now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triple.H. Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 (edited) Chris Cobby seemed to fluctuate between stocky and porker and always from the times i saw him was an entertaining rider. Edited August 27, 2013 by Triple.H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sotonian Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 Rob Grant (Berwick) always seemed to dwarf his bike. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 Can't say both Darcy and Chris are short, and Niki Pedersen and Kenneth Bjerre are certainly not tall. Works both ways. But personally i would say Jason Crumps size would be right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 I've not seen Giant Haystacks or Big Daddy ride in the Elite League. This must prove that riders weighing over 30 stone wouldn't get an Elite League place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 I've not seen Giant Haystacks or Big Daddy ride in the Elite League. This must prove that riders weighing over 30 stone wouldn't get an Elite League place. Probably only as a Number Ate. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george.m Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 Geoff Powell the former Glasgow Tiger appeared to have telescopic legs. Very difficult to get by on the inside of him without both wheels crossing the white line. Other advantage for 'big' riders - no worries in the post-meeting shower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 Geoff Powell the former Glasgow Tiger appeared to have telescopic legs. Very difficult to get by on the inside of him without both wheels crossing the white line. Other advantage for 'big' riders - no worries in the post-meeting shower. Oooohhhhh - is THAT what they mean by 'Telescopic Leg'? I hadn't realised. Silly me. :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMW Posted August 28, 2013 Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 Geoff Powell the former Glasgow Tiger appeared to have telescopic legs. Very difficult to get by on the inside of him without both wheels crossing the white line. Other advantage for 'big' riders - no worries in the post-meeting shower. I think for that you need to look at the size of their feet not the general corporal size :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george.m Posted August 28, 2013 Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 I think for that you need to look at the size of their feet not the general corporal size :-) I'm size 13 :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manchesterpaul Posted August 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 Arthur Browning was a big lad and he did alright he was about 8 foot tall with legs that could extend an extra couple of foot when he went into the bends. He used to cover the inside with his extendable legs so nobody could go under him. So the answer to your question is yes. Thing is though how better would his results have been if he hadn't been 'handicapped' by his extra weight compared to the other horses ooops riders in a race. We've established a burly biker can race a speedway bike but at what weight does it strongly affect his ability to race on equal terms? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandorum Posted August 29, 2013 Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 (edited) I saw plenty of fat guys in the 70s who could gate, pass, defend a line, team ride and do just about anything else a skinny guy could do half as better. Perhaps nowadays the technology favours the thin and superfit but those fat, smoking, boozers used to entertain the hell out of the crowd when I was young. Maybe if these guys had been thinner and fitter and had not drank as much or puffed on as many ciggies they would have been world champions but the chunky unfit speedway rider was an enetertainer as much as the fit skinny blokes. Edited August 29, 2013 by pandorum 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooksy Posted August 29, 2013 Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 I regularly used to help 'Big Arthur' push his bike from the pits at Perry Barr in the early 70's - he once ran it over my foot - and I can confirm that he was a f**kin' giant! But I was only about 10. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldace Posted August 29, 2013 Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 Within certain parameters it makes little difference. A riders will set his bike up with this in mind. Possibly somewhere between 8.5 - 9 stone as a minimum and 11 - 11.5 stone as an upper limit. Outside those parameters then a rider may well be hampered. We have of course seen successful riders from the other side of both those limits but not many. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cockney Rebel Posted August 29, 2013 Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 From memory, he was about average height, but must have weighed getting on for 20 stone. Yes. I too remember Tiny White and I think you're under estimating his size and weight, I would put another couple of inches and another couple of stone on that, I think he could have eaten Ronnie Russell for a snack. Don't remember him ever beating anybody though, last every time by at least a quarter of a lap. Give him credit for trying though, must have really loved the sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickthemuppet Posted August 29, 2013 Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 How about "Slim" Jim Tebby who rode for Wimbledon in the 1970's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted August 29, 2013 Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 If you are looking for tall Riders - how about Pete Wigley? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_martin Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 Thing is though how better would his results have been if he hadn't been 'handicapped' by his extra weight compared to the other horses ooops riders in a race. We've established a burly biker can race a speedway bike but at what weight does it strongly affect his ability to race on equal terms? I'd add another angle to the debate, and that's that a rider with "decent" body mass and inherent strength that goes with it, may well be able to withstand the bumps and bangs of racing a lot better than the "will'o'the whisp" riders. Compare Arthur Browning's (lack of an) injury record with that of someone like Adam Roynon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 I'd add another angle to the debate, and that's that a rider with "decent" body mass and inherent strength that goes with it, may well be able to withstand the bumps and bangs of racing a lot better than the "will'o'the whisp" riders. Compare Arthur Browning's (lack of an) injury record with that of someone like Adam Roynon. Arthur Browning picked up one or two injuries during his career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*JJ Posted September 1, 2013 Report Share Posted September 1, 2013 Arthur Browning picked up one or two injuries during his career. As when someone stabbed him at a party! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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