In What Order Would You Have These Legends.?

[stratton]

If we were to add the 80s to the discussion:

I'll go:

1 nielsen 2 penhall 3 gundersen 4 lee 5 carter 6 s moran

Though maybe jan o should make the six.

Those six what a list,would have the right to be competetive in any era.Penhall i believe was the best but i still say a spot on Michael Lee would beat all of those.His head to head record against all of them is very good ( close against Carter).

Who's that then, Gustix?

Personally, I don't think Briggo was the greatest of his time, let alone all time. I was at my most active as a speedway supporter in the 60s and early 70s and I'd say, as someone who was there, that without a doubt Ove Fundin was the greatest rider of the period, if not all time.

But it's all a matter of opinion of course and I could name at least a dozen riders who have a claim to greatest of all time: Vic Huxley, Tom Farndon, Bluey Wilkinson, Jack Parker, Vic Duggan, Jack Young, Ronnie Moore, Ove Fundin, Barry Briggs, Ivan Mauger, Hans Neilsen, Tony Rickardsson......

 

In my research and collection of the older riders Farndon,Huxley,Duggan(a great) and Bluey are the ones that fascinate me.Duggan was a star he looked to have a great riding style and who knows what he would achieved if it hadn't been for the war.

You won't get shot down by me sidney. I agree with you.

Why Briggo WK? my uncle who see all of Briggoe's career said by judging who was the best not to get confused with being exciting.He said Briggs was certainly in the top ten but his main memory of him was of how exciting he was to watch real box office.My only other big statement is in my humble opinion only Mauger,Rickardsson,N.Pedersen would not be as high up the pecking order as some.

[waiheke1]

[quote name="norbold" post="2526504"

But it's all a matter of opinion of course and I could name at least a dozen riders who have a claim to greatest of all time: Vic Huxley, Tom Farndon, Bluey Wilkinson, Jack Parker, Vic Duggan, Jack Young, Ronnie Moore, Ove Fundin, Barry Briggs, Ivan Mauger, Hans Neilsen, Tony Rickardsson......

Personally I'd say it has to be one of those latter five, though which one is tough - you could make strong arguments for each of them. Personally I think the world individual title is the ulrimate barometer so would lean towards ivan.

Those six what a list,would have the right to be competetive in any era.Penhall i believe was the best but i still say a spot on Michael Lee would beat all of those.His head to head record against all of them is very good ( close against Carter).

 

can't disagree with any of that Sid. I rated Nielsen above Penhall for the way he dominated the decade from 83 onwards, but at his peak would rate Penhall higher.

You'd tip Nielsen to top the BL averages, and probably to win a GP series, but I'd back Bruce to win a world final. Put them in a one off match race and I'd lean towards Lee.

Lee at vhis best was unstoppable, but he never had a truly dominant season - 79 was probably his best, followed by 83 then 80? Wheras Penhall was head and shoulders above his rivals in 81, Hans was phenomenal in 86 and Erik of course did the "grand slam (inc longtrack) in 84.

[stratton]

Personally I'd say it has to be one of those latter five, though which one is tough - you could make strong arguments for each of them. Personally I think the world individual title is the ulrimate barometer so would lean towards ivan.

can't disagree with any of that Sid. I rated Nielsen above Penhall for the way he dominated the decade from 83 onwards, but at his peak would rate Penhall higher.

You'd tip Nielsen to top the BL averages, and probably to win a GP series, but I'd back Bruce to win a world final. Put them in a one off match race and I'd lean towards Lee.

Lee at vhis best was unstoppable, but he never had a truly dominant season - 79 was probably his best, followed by 83 then 80? Wheras Penhall was head and shoulders above his rivals in 81, Hans was phenomenal in 86 and Erik of course did the "grand slam (inc longtrack) in 84.

The weird thing is eaces we agree quite alot,and you are so right Nielsen i never liked but i have to admit what a rider he was i was totally wrong about him .Lee at his best always averaged 10 plus but for me Lee in 83 he killed Carter at Halifax in a pairs meeting beat him 4.0 in the helmet and that year should of won it ( fair play Egon), A conslation for me me is Mike did well in the ole meeting and won the pride of the east ripping Nielsen apart. Edited October 4, 2014 by sidney

[EnglishRoundabout]

You obviously like the times when speedway was well organised, had good club/team structures, was well presented. And some great riders and racing! As the old saying goes "...them wuz the days....{

That era still had rain offs, too many guest riders, riders delaying the starts, and rider replacement though

[The White Knight]

That era still had rain offs, too many guest riders, riders delaying the starts, and rider replacement though

I don't EVER recall a Meeting back then that only had ONE actual Team Member riding for for it as happened recently.

[bill94d]

I have seen a couple of World final videos. I also watched Mauger in his early days with Newcastle in the 60's. If he had not been allowed to roll at the start how many world titles would he have won? Not as many I venture to suggest. One thing about modern speedway I hate is "gardening" at the start but at least the riders are stationary when the tapes go up. People will argue that they all did it at the time but Craven,Young and Briggs were not fast starters and so their achievements are all the more creditable. Tin hat time again?