SGP Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 WAS talking to some people on a recent flight back from Poland about the 'good ol' days' of Speedway. By the time our plane had landed, we had devised an idea of a Speedway Legends Championship. The nuts and bolts of it would be for a mini SGP type event featuring retired riders. We discussed many rules and formats, such as to qualify you must have been retired for minimum 5 years; rider categaories such as age; world champion status etc... Just wanted to ask what your thoughts on such an idea would be, and what you'd like to see rule wise, and perhaps even share who you would love to see in it and any 'dream' races you would like to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 WAS talking to some people on a recent flight back from Poland about the 'good ol' days' of Speedway. By the time our plane had landed, we had devised an idea of a Speedway Legends Championship. The nuts and bolts of it would be for a mini SGP type event featuring retired riders. We discussed many rules and formats, such as to qualify you must have been retired for minimum 5 years; rider categaories such as age; world champion status etc... Just wanted to ask what your thoughts on such an idea would be, and what you'd like to see rule wise, and perhaps even share who you would love to see in it and any 'dream' races you would like to see. Think Barry Briggs has already done that with the "golden Greats" I was at Landshut in 1989 and pretty sure I went to Coventry as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eQhvhbeGmM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGP Posted October 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 YES, aware of that. But that was back in the late 80s. Think of all riders who have sinced raced and retired. There are at least two generations of fans who could see some of their favorites race again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Not sure I like the idea tbh. Something a little sad about watching your heroes when they are well past their best. Remember seeing penhall comfortably beating peter collins at the pc farewell meeting in 87, pc was really off the pace, and bruce had barely ridden for five seasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE DEAN MACHINE Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 (edited) YES, aware of that. But that was back in the late 80s. Think of all riders who have sinced raced and retired. There are at least two generations of fans who could see some of their favorites race again. great idea but ex riders dont want to ride. When i put on the airfence meeting at buxton last year. I tried exactly this and to get 16 riders i had to ask around 200. I asked riders from sam ermolenko to aurther browning. All were behind the idea as long as they didnt have to ride. There is also the veteran championships at lydd every year but very few names do it. Maybe dangle a big carrot in front if some of them you might get them to ride but it took me by suprise just how many dont want to ever want to ride a bike again let alone race one Edited October 23, 2014 by THE DEAN MACHINE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 If I'm honest whenever I have seen oldies riding in the past I've been left disappointed - sometimes, memories are better than the reality. One exception I'll give to the disappointment thing was watching Ivan do the last 4 (plus a few more for good measure) laps at Exeters Country Ground, that was a joy to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 As others have said, a number of older riders either don't want to race anymore (hence they have retired) or simply can't cut it anymore. Those that still can race when they can. As SCB says, in most cases watching older riders race again you are left a tad disappointed. Bruce Penhall attempted some laps at the Billy Hamill farewell meeting but could barely slide the bike. One exception to this in my case is Sam Ermolenko, who I will still travel far and wide to see race. However, he can still cut the mustard even now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 As others have said, a number of older riders either don't want to race anymore (hence they have retired) or simply can't cut it anymore. Those that still can race when they can. As SCB says, in most cases watching older riders race again you are left a tad disappointed. Bruce Penhall attempted some laps at the Billy Hamill farewell meeting but could barely slide the bike. One exception to this in my case is Sam Ermolenko, who I will still travel far and wide to see race. However, he can still cut the mustard even now. In fact he`s a better rider than commentator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 In fact he`s a better rider than commentator That doesn't say much though, he could still be the best commentator in the world on that basis.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 (edited) Denmark has an 'Old Boys' League 1 Silkeborg Speedway Club 7 289 20 2 Holsted Speedway Klub 7 255 17 3 Esbjerg Motor Sport 7 185 6 4 Fjelsted Speedway Klub 7 185 6 5 Brovst Speedway Club 8 215 5 Top riders: M heat Points ave 1 Thomas Irming Fjelsted SK 3 11 33 12,00 2 Rene Madsen Silkeborg SC 7 30 86 11,47 3 Kim Brandt Silkeborg SC 7 27 73 10,81 4 Rene Mortensen Esbjerg MS 5 22 58 10,55 5 Carsten Hansen Glumsø 2 10 25 10,00 6 Bjarne Bøgh Holsted SK 6 23 57 9,91 7 Kjeld Hansen Brovst SC 5 17 39 9,18 8 Helge Hansen Holsted SK 6 25 55 8,80 9 Ernst Bøgh Holsted SK 6 24 51 8,50 10 John Christensen K'lands 6 23 43 7,48 A few names I recognise there! Edited October 23, 2014 by arnieg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 As others have said, a number of older riders either don't want to race anymore (hence they have retired) or simply can't cut it anymore. Those that still can race when they can. As SCB says, in most cases watching older riders race again you are left a tad disappointed. Bruce Penhall attempted some laps at the Billy Hamill farewell meeting but could barely slide the bike. . I bet it was still better than his acting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Not sure I like the idea tbh. Something a little sad about watching your heroes when they are well past their best. Remember seeing penhall comfortably beating peter collins at the pc farewell meeting in 87, pc was really off the pace, and bruce had barely ridden for five seasons.Remember people at there peak thats what i think,! i can remember Briggo saying keep doing it if you enjoy it because you can never have those few years back again.You Know eaces1 that Collins at his peak Penhall would not of beaten him much at Hyde Rd what a compliment that is because Penhall was class he could of won four or five world titles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted October 24, 2014 Report Share Posted October 24, 2014 Ok for a second half filler,but i wouldn't pay to watch something like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted October 24, 2014 Report Share Posted October 24, 2014 Ok for a second half filler,but i wouldn't pay to watch something like this Yet you would pay to watch Millwall-no accounting for some peoples taste Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted October 24, 2014 Report Share Posted October 24, 2014 Yet you would pay to watch Millwall-no accounting for some peoples taste Well i am spared the pain with my situation,but yes i would Actually way back in the old days you could say i did pay to watch something similar.I got my parents to travel up to Hull for the Briggo farewell meeting in which Ove Fundin rode a few heats with Briggo,Ivan Mauger and Peter Collins.But i was young and there is no-one quite in the Fundin category i would travel to see now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted October 24, 2014 Report Share Posted October 24, 2014 Well i am spared the pain with my situation,but yes i would Actually way back in the old days you could say i did pay to watch something similar.I got my parents to travel up to Hull for the Briggo farewell meeting in which Ove Fundin rode a few heats with Briggo,Ivan Mauger and Peter Collins.But i was young and there is no-one quite in the Fundin category i would travel to see now The Landshut meeting I linked the video to was the night before the world final and it worked really well-massive crowd there. I remember driving from Munich and we passed the Muldorf long track stadium on the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted October 24, 2014 Report Share Posted October 24, 2014 I have the Golden Greats videos, some great racing from past stars of the sport, who still have the old styles and racing appetite. Personally I would pay double for such a meeting. The flip side... I wouldn't pay half to go and watch today's stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted October 24, 2014 Report Share Posted October 24, 2014 I have the Golden Greats videos, some great racing from past stars of the sport, who still have the old styles and racing appetite. Personally I would pay double for such a meeting. The flip side... I wouldn't pay half to go and watch today's stuff. A trifle harsh moxey63. There are some good Races today - but - not as many. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted October 24, 2014 Report Share Posted October 24, 2014 A trifle harsh moxey63. There are some good Races today - but - not as many. Prove it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clambo71 Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Prove it. You don't have to have GP riders to see a great race. One I saw this season in the play-off between Scunthorpe and Ipswich in heat 15 had so many passes most people lost count. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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