NickRushbrook Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Usually, progress is fairly simple for aspiring young riders and they end up being heat leader standard by 25. Was thinking about Martin Smolinski's rise to heat leader when I decided to start this thread. Quite incredible when you consider how long he's been around. The only other one who come to mind is David Norris. He was always a good standard to be fair but one season he looked world class. Any others come to mind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Zetterstrom spent years as a reserve/second string and then got into his 30s and won an EU title, a few years later in his mid-30s a Swedish title and made the GPs in his late 30s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arson fire Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Buzz Burrows..... The most naturally gifted rider never to be world champion. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebrum Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Smolinski at 29 is hardly late in his career, tho i take your point. Adam Skornicki, whilst perhaps is best described as a decent 3rd heat leader certainly won his National Championship later on in his career in 2008 at 32. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldace Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 Usually, progress is fairly simple for aspiring young riders and they end up being heat leader standard by 25. Was thinking about Martin Smolinski's rise to heat leader when I decided to start this thread. Quite incredible when you consider how long he's been around. Smolinski came on quick once he got to 550!!!!!!!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boywonder Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 Richard Knight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siggytastic Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 What could John Louis have achieved if He had of started speedway before 29 years of age? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leighrico Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 I'd put Leigh Adams in this category, especially in the GPs, it wasn't until his 30s he started to actually become a contender too win it. 2007 (I think) was year he finished 2nd overall. He would have been well into his 30s then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noggin Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 Still time for Bridger then.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LagutaRacingFan Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 Hancock. Didn't really do it in the GP's until he hit the 30's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 Harold MacNaughton started on speedway at Hastings in 1949, and went on to ride for Southampton and New Cross. Also rode for England at Division Two level - in a time when such matches were a meaningful part of the international scene. He retired aged 44 because of a heart condition but lived until he was 89. Tom Oakley started at Southampton in 1948 aged 38 years, later rode for New Cross and Bristol. He was also capped for England at Division Two level. He retired at the end of the 1953 season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 (edited) Buzz Burrows..... The most naturally gifted rider never to be world champion. A shoe in for a wild card in 2014 given the current talent pool!! Edited September 12, 2013 by dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 Hancock. Didn't really do it in the GP's until he hit the 30's so the GPs started just before he turned twenty five. In his twenties he was world champ, finished on the podium in another season, won four world team/pair titles, and three individual GPs. not really doing it? In his 30s he didn't win a world title, finished top three twice, and won seven gps over 10 years. in his 40s, he's been world champ, finished third, and won 4 gps. to be honest, i think his 30s was actually his worst decade !?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 A couple of riders come to mind for me i know they didn't do it over a long period but the two were Neil Street and Graham Drury.Streety i know he had a massive advantage with his conversion but he had one real good year upped his average considerably.Drury who was always a decent rider really upped his game reached the BLRC on merit and was a genuine no1 in the averages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Doctor... Posted September 13, 2013 Report Share Posted September 13, 2013 Hancock. Didn't really do it in the GP's until he hit the 30's Apart from the whole "winning the world championship in his 20s bit " ? You may be a troll but you still do my head in. If you want to drag people into your little wind ups, at least do some some research. Anyway, bow-locks to you... Usually, progress is fairly simple for aspiring young riders and they end up being heat leader standard by 25. Was thinking about Martin Smolinski's rise to heat leader when I decided to start this thread. Quite incredible when you consider how long he's been around. The only other one who come to mind is David Norris. He was always a good standard to be fair but one season he looked world class. Any others come to mind? Mr David Mullett A couple of riders come to mind for me i know they didn't do it over a long period but the two were Neil Street and I've got no input on Bill's riding or his average as it was way before my time. But just hearing his name strikes many happy memories for me and some nights of anecdotes and basically good times with a fantastic bloke. I have memories of sharing a brilliantly disgraceful night in Zagreb with him and some other high profile figures including perhaps a few of the current sky team ;-) where i was very nearly arrested (not for crystal meth dealing btw but for bleeping a croatian bloke with a bleep) - and an equally horrifying night with Shovlar and Streety in Stockholm. Good memories with a good bloke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted September 13, 2013 Report Share Posted September 13, 2013 (edited) If that's the case then I take it back. I've always liked Davey. He doesn't get many last so perhaps it's good to get two out of the way in a fixture that doesn't count. The law of averages says it looks like a good score in the rerun. Apart from the whole "winning the world championship in his 20s bit " ? You may be a troll but you still do my head in. If you want to drag people into your little wind ups, at least do some some research. Anyway, bow-locks to you... Mr David Mullett I've got no input on Bill's riding or his average as it was way before my time. But just hearing his name strikes many happy memories for me and some nights of anecdotes and basically good times with a fantastic bloke. I have memories of sharing a brilliantly disgraceful night in Zagreb with him and some other high profile figures including perhaps a few of the current sky team ;-) where i was very nearly arrested (not for crystal meth dealing btw but for bleeping a croatian bloke with a bleep) - and an equally horrifying night with Shovlar and Streety in Stockholm. Good memories with a good bloke. Doctor i never ever met the man,but had heard from others what a gent he was helping endless youngsters over the years.A great ambassador for our sport in 1972 Streety averaged 5.28 but in 1974 at the age of 43 averaged 7.70 saying that i believe his top average was ? 8.28 in 1966 for Exeter a legend. Edited September 13, 2013 by sidney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike.Butler Posted September 13, 2013 Report Share Posted September 13, 2013 Paul Bentley seemed to get better with age Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ch958 Posted September 13, 2013 Report Share Posted September 13, 2013 i think Brian Havelock started at about 28 but, despite being reviled these days by Bears fans, became a very stylish 2nd tier heatleader. Similar story with Paul Pickering, without the revulsion! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruiser McHuge Posted September 13, 2013 Report Share Posted September 13, 2013 i think Brian Havelock started at about 28 but, despite being reviled these days by Bears fans, became a very stylish 2nd tier heatleader. Similar story with Paul Pickering, without the revulsion! a bit out of touch these days but why is Brian Havelock so reviled by Bears fans ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Potter 2 Posted September 13, 2013 Report Share Posted September 13, 2013 Ivan Mauger 1957/58 Wimbledon rubbish then reappears in 1963 onwards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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