Your Own Great Memories.?

[stratton]

I enjoyed visiting Eastbourne back in the seventies when it was operating as a Second Division/National League team. Of course the White City team moved there in 1979 and I felt that it lost something...and I didn't like it when the first and second bends were altered during the early 2000s (?)

Check out my comment on the Ole Olsen DVD thread regarding 1975!

I thought in 75 Olsen would go to Oxford it never happened did he at one time refuse to go to Hull to? Edited December 3, 2015 by sidney

[Grachan]

The first match I ever went to at Swindon was Swindon v Wolves in 1974.

 

Ole Olsen scored 7 from 5. I'd never heard of the guy at the time, but noticed that both sets of fans were shouting abuse at him and saying he was rubbish.

 

I couldn't understand it.

[steve roberts]

I thought in 75 Olsen would go to Oxford it never happened did he at one time refuse to go to Hull to?

He was 'allocated' to Hull for the 1976 season but refused to go. He was prepared to sit out the season if he didn't get his wish to move to his preferred choice Coventry. Eventually got his wish and Hull received £15,000 (?) from Coventry in the way of a transfer fee...even though he hadn't ridden for them!! Bizarrely Oxford's first match of the season at Coventry (1975) they had a guest as a replacement for Olsen because it still hadn't been sorted out!

Edited December 4, 2015 by steve roberts

[steve roberts]

Watched highlights from the 1979 Intercontinental Final held at White City last night and, despite the dust, the racing was excellent (especially races involving Michael Lee and Peter Collins) I actually went to the meeting but can't remember much about it except that Gordon Kennett (a favourite of mine) failed to qualify on what, only the previous year, was his home track.

[stratton]

Watched highlights from the 1979 Intercontinental Final held at White City last night and, despite the dust, the racing was excellent (especially races involving Michael Lee and Peter Collins) I actually went to the meeting but can't remember much about it except that Gordon Kennett (a favourite of mine) failed to qualify on what, only the previous year, was his home track.

One of the better meetings i see at White City the first time i went was in 77 when Bast/Penhall rode.In 79 Lee was very good arguably his best season,maybe apart from the second half of the 83 year never really enjoyed White City a super track though great shape.I remember going to the 81 WTC final,and the British open when ( Sigalos passed Nielsen) one of my favourite meetings i still enjoy watching is the 1982 int/cont/ round at Vetlanda i love that track.

[Guest]

My great memory is that from 1946 onwards I was able to see all the great pre-war stars who were then still riding. Too many names to list all of them but it included Wilbur Lamoreaux, Jack and Norman Parker, Max Grosskreutz, Bill Kitchen, Ron Johnson, Vic and Ray Duggan etc.

Edited December 4, 2015 by Guest

[stratton]

My great memory is that from 1946 onwards I was able to see all the great pre-war stars who were then still riding. Too many names to list all of them but it included Wilbur Lamoreaux, Jack and Norman Parker, Max Grosskreutz, Bill Kitchen, Ron Johnson, Vic and Ray Duggan etc.

In what order Gustix? hard but i know you are pretty impartial Vic Duggan is a bloke i would of loved to see ride a superb style.

[Guest]

My great memory is that from 1946 onwards I was able to see all the great pre-war stars who were then still riding. Too many names to list all of them but it included Wilbur Lamoreaux, Jack and Norman Parker, Max Grosskreutz, Bill Kitchen, Ron Johnson, Vic and Ray Duggan etc.

 

 

In what order Gustix? hard but i know you are pretty impartial Vic Duggan is a bloke i would of loved to see ride a superb style.

1946 - Jack and Norman Parker, Bill Kitchen, Ron Johnson

 

1947 - Max Geosskreutz, Vic and Ray Duggan

 

1948 - Wilbur Lamoreaux

 

And as you say sidney - Vic Duggan was magic to watch in action, superbly smooth rider - he never looked as though he would be defeated.

[steve roberts]

 

 

1946 - Jack and Norman Parker, Bill Kitchen, Ron Johnson

 

1947 - Max Geosskreutz, Vic and Ray Duggan

 

1948 - Wilbur Lamoreaux

 

And as you say sidney - Vic Duggan was magic to watch in action, superbly smooth rider - he never looked as though he would be defeated.

Another rider I would have enjoyed watching...Vic Duggan! I think that Terry Betts owns one of Vic's bikes?

[stratton]

1946 - Jack and Norman Parker, Bill Kitchen, Ron Johnson

 

1947 - Max Geosskreutz, Vic and Ray Duggan

 

1948 - Wilbur Lamoreaux

 

And as you say sidney - Vic Duggan was magic to watch in action, superbly smooth rider - he never looked as though he would be defeated.

Duggan i know was a class act, i have pictures in his heyday also when he was an old man but he was so unlucky how his career panned out a GREAT rider.

[van wolfswinkel]

Not a match but the best race I ever saw was Barry Briggs of Swindon against Martin Ashby, ex-Robin but then Exeter 1969. They were neck-and-neck for 4 laps, Crash won by a tyre width..incredible race.

Such a talent the Marlborough-flyer...same as Terry Betts could have been world-class if they had more belief

[steve roberts]

Not a match but the best race I ever saw was Barry Briggs of Swindon against Martin Ashby, ex-Robin but then Exeter 1969. They were neck-and-neck for 4 laps, Crash won by a tyre width..incredible race.

Such a talent the Marlborough-flyer...same as Terry Betts could have been world-class if they had more belief

Martin Ashby...very under-rated rider. A rider I admired although he rode for the 'enemy' the Swindon 'Budgies!' My very first hero, Garry Middleton, often had the beating of Briggo but always appeared to have problems when up against 'Crash!'

[stratton]

Not a match but the best race I ever saw was Barry Briggs of Swindon against Martin Ashby, ex-Robin but then Exeter 1969. They were neck-and-neck for 4 laps, Crash won by a tyre width..incredible race.Such a talent the Marlborough-flyer...same as Terry Betts could have been world-class if they had more belief

He showed that class in 1972 in the BLRC when Briggo helped him should of won it that day but Ole won it.Ashby for me was world class but did not have the belief one year i think he won the SUPERAMA.??His best day for me though was in 75 in the WTC in Norden after in which he won the coveted Second half Victor Ludorum event. Edited December 5, 2015 by sidney

[steve roberts]

He showed that class in 1972 in the BLRC when Briggo helped him should of won it that day but Ole won it.Ashby for me was world class but did not have the belief one year i think he won the SUPERAMA.??His best day for me though was in 75 in the WTC in Norden after in which he won the coverted Second half Victor Ludorum event.

I can picture Martin now, having missed the gate at Blunsdon, lining himself up down the back straight and passing the leading rider round the third and fourth bend hugging the white line. My dad used to refer to it as the 'Ashby Groove!'

[stratton]

I can picture Martin now, having missed the gate at Blunsdon, lining himself up down the back straight and passing the leading rider round the third and fourth bend hugging the white line. My dad used to refer to it as the 'Ashby Groove!'

Ashby always seemed to get his wheels in line and caress his way through on the line,as you say at times his gating was terrible .Another favourite of mine was Clive Hitch no world beater but was so exciting to watch can always remember his dive bombing manoeuvres.

Wilson,Louis,Jessup, Ashby,Booey Brothers,Simmons,Betts, how could you ever put them in order? all great riders in there own right.

Edited December 5, 2015 by sidney

[steve roberts]

Ashby always seemed to get his wheels in line and caress his way through on the line,as you say at times his gating was terrible .Another favourite of mine was Clive Hitch no world beater but was so exciting to watch can always remember his dive bombing manoeuvres.

Wilson,Louis,Jessup, Ashby,Booey Brothers,Simmons,Betts, how could you ever put them in order? all great riders in there own right.

How speedway could do with that British talent now? Add Kennett, Davis, Wyer, Collins, Moreton, McMillan etc to that list. I recently viewed the 1974 British Final and the line-up was more impressive than certain World Finals...especially when the likes of Mauger, Briggs, Boulger, Sanders and Valentine were thrown in as well!

[stratton]

How speedway could do with that British talent now? Add Kennett, Davis, Wyer, Collins, Moreton, McMillan etc to that list. I recently viewed the 1974 British Final and the line-up was more impressive than certain World Finals...especially when the likes of Mauger, Briggs, Boulger, Sanders and Valentine were thrown in as well!

That line up was awesome Eric ended up winning it, how can you ever compare that line up to today's British Final? Some British Finals there were up to between 10/15000 there.

[iris123]

3 heats that spring to mind as very memorable

 

1.Years ago at Güstrow in the rain Mirko Wolter was leading then lost control and was very lucky to keep on the bike and keep it going,he then went on to pass a couple( I think) of those in front.I was always impressed with Mirko and it seems many in Germany feel he never reached the height his talent should have taken him to

 

2.It was an amazing piece of skill in a Russian ice speedway final by ex world champ Dmitri Bulankin,who also lost control and was pretty much lying on the track and somehow again managed to keep control and keep going an eventually get himself and the bike upright again.....Only saw this one on a livestream though.

 

3.Was probably my most memorable heat over the past decade and it was at Holsted in a Danish Final in the final heat.Nicki was against Kenneth Bjerre,Hans Andersen and Bjarne Pedersen.Came into the first bend in the lead,then lost control and ended up at the back.Kept going and over the next few laps passed Bjerre and Bjarne then took Hans on the last lap to win the Danish title and Hans was at 1 stage way out in front.Great stuff

[norbold]

Another of my great memories is the 1967 World Speedway Final. I went to college in Norwich and I persuaded a number of my friends, who had never been to speedway, to come with me to the final so we could support Norwich's greatest, Ove Fundin. I wasn't expecting him to win as he was a bit past his best then and with Briggo still at the top of his game, Igor Plechanov still going strong as well and the up and coming stars like Mauger and Banger, I thought it was a bit of a forlorn hope but I didn't let on my feelings to my friends.

 

Of course, I was proved wrong, and Ove won his fifth record-breaking World Title. My friends were very happy and a good time was had by all!

[stratton]

The 1983 final in Norden was a hell of a weekend,a long killing drive on the coach to get there with the weather at 6am P..... It down.All of us were resigned to the fact of the meeting being called off, but the weather improved and they did brilliantly to get the meeting on.Before the meeting most of us knew Muller would be a huge threat, we had heard he had behind closed door practice and knew the track would be suited to him.I was really confident Lee could win the meeting,and was really scared of Nielsen,Carter,Sanders but Muller was so fast it was unreal i was convinced he had a oversized engine.A great weekend the meeting not brilliant to be fair,but 1983 was one of my favourite years and Muller was a deserved winner. A few weeks later nearly the same line up rode at Coventry for the Ole farewell.