The White Knight Posted December 8, 2015 Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 ...but we're having fun reminiscing! I don't think BW knows about 'FUN'. :sad: I'm enjoying this Thread anyway. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted December 8, 2015 Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 I don't think BW knows about 'FUN'. :sad: I'm enjoying this Thread anyway. On the contrary, reminiscing is great, things always seem better in the past.. My head tells me that back in the early 90's speedway was millions of times better, the racing was out of this world etc. My DVD's I have tell me otherwise when I put them on... but I still enjoy them! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted December 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 On the contrary, reminiscing is great, things always seem better in the past.. My head tells me that back in the early 90's speedway was millions of times better, the racing was out of this world etc. My DVD's I have tell me otherwise when I put them on... but I still enjoy them! My collection takes in the 70s, 80s & 90s...great stuff! Often watch them to relive magic moments from the past! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted December 8, 2015 Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 My collection takes in the 70s, 80s & 90s...great stuff! Often watch them to relive magic moments from the past! It depends what you watch.. if you're just watching highlights vids/dvd's etc it will reinforce the misguided viewpoint the racing was so much better in the past.. However, if you watch lots of full meetings, you'll find just as many strung out races as there are today.. but we forget about those. The difference however was there were more people there, better atmosphere, so even a strung out race seemed more exciting. THAT is where the sport goes wrong in terms of its TV coverage. A race in front of a big noisy crowd looks a hell of a lot better than the same race in front of a small quiet crowd. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted December 8, 2015 Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 It depends what you watch.. if you're just watching highlights vids/dvd's etc it will reinforce the misguided viewpoint the racing was so much better in the past.. However, if you watch lots of full meetings, you'll find just as many strung out races as there are today.. but we forget about those. The difference however was there were more people there, better atmosphere, so even a strung out race seemed more exciting. THAT is where the sport goes wrong in terms of its TV coverage. A race in front of a big noisy crowd looks a hell of a lot better than the same race in front of a small quiet crowd. I agree. :shock: :shock: Bangs head on Computer Table. I agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted December 8, 2015 Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 I agree. :shock: :shock: Bangs head on Computer Table. I agree. Steady now WK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted December 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 I agree. :shock: :shock: Bangs head on Computer Table. I agree. One reason I've never thought that speedway should be shown live. Highlights shown later and edited are a far better proposition. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted December 8, 2015 Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 Steady now WK I'm going for a lie down. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted December 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 How about the occasion when Ian Thomas applied grease on a pipe that ran over the river adjacent to Derwent Park (Workington)? Apparently on Workington's opening night (1970) many people gained access without paying and entered via the pipe...hence why he applied grease the following week! I've often wondered if he hid somewhere watching the spectacle of people falling into the river? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Lee Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 How about the occasion when Ian Thomas applied grease on a pipe that ran over the river adjacent to Derwent Park (Workington)? Apparently on Workington's opening night (1970) many people gained access without paying and entered via the pipe...hence why he applied grease the following week! I've often wondered if he hid somewhere watching the spectacle of people falling into the river? Nowadays, the grease would be to stop them sneaking out..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fourentee Posted December 12, 2015 Report Share Posted December 12, 2015 Terry Kelly was one I used to look forward to seeing whenever Workington came to Paisley or Coatbridge in the mid seventies . He was done when he eventually became a Tiger , but when he was at Workington he was a decent rider and was full of fun . And he had a temper too as I witnessed him lose it one night at Paisley . But most of the time his antics were light hearted and added to the enjoyment of the speedway A character for all the right reasons. I well recall the day at Workington when Glasgow were the visitors. The centre green had a number of nations' flags planted in it and during the parade and rider introductions he walked up to each flag and inspected it carefully. Upon arriving at the Scottish saltire he removed it, carefully spread it out on the grass...and wiped his boots on it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulco Posted December 12, 2015 Report Share Posted December 12, 2015 A character for all the right reasons. I well recall the day at Workington when Glasgow were the visitors. The centre green had a number of nations' flags planted in it and during the parade and rider introductions he walked up to each flag and inspected it carefully. Upon arriving at the Scottish saltire he removed it, carefully spread it out on the grass...and wiped his boots on it. Yes I remember that , that was his speciality , winding up the opposition . But that added to the occasion 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van wolfswinkel Posted December 12, 2015 Report Share Posted December 12, 2015 How about the occasion when Ian Thomas applied grease on a pipe that ran over the river adjacent to Derwent Park (Workington)? Apparently on Workington's opening night (1970) many people gained access without paying and entered via the pipe...hence why he applied grease the following week! I've often wondered if he hid somewhere watching the spectacle of people falling into the river? Yeah my cousin was at that first meeting....and the subsequent event of fans falling into the river. Can remember when I lost my specs in the main stand at Worky, called the club phone number and Ian answered and said "don't worry we have them here, will send them onto you". had a long chat, nice genuine geezer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted December 12, 2015 Report Share Posted December 12, 2015 Yeah my cousin was at that first meeting....and the subsequent event of fans falling into the river. Can remember when I lost my specs in the main stand at Worky, called the club phone number and Ian answered and said "don't worry we have them here, will send them onto you". had a long chat, nice genuine geezer. Unless you were an opposing Team Manager. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Posted December 13, 2015 Report Share Posted December 13, 2015 Here we have a topic concerning the lack of characters within the sport and basically saying we need more off track excitement, punch ups, shouting at refs etc, which I do agree with fully. Meantime on the Isle of Wight thread a rider is being criticised for punching a wall in frustration which I would say is pretty normal for many wound up sportsman. Maybe this is why it seems like there are a lack of characters, riders today are criticised instantly for any and every slight misdemeanour by the fans and fined by the authorities. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinny Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Stonehewer was a character. I remember the season i first started attending speedway, 99 at newport, people were talking about him every week on the second bend and how excited they were for him to visit with worky. Anders henriksson went out and beat him , stoney was second chasing him all over for four laps and would probably of passed him had he not had frank smart buzzing all over his back wheel for four laps. Stoney and anders hated eachother , and his defeat to anders didnt down to well with him! There was the time when he maxed out at newport but we still beat worky, would guess 2001 but maybe wrong. He won heat 15 and done about 4 laps of honour giving the fans the middle finger, then when appearing in the bar after the meeting a certain pinstripe senior was stood next to him at the bar and said "was that me you were waving your middle finger at after heat 15?" Never seen someone go so pale as stoney did, thankfully my old man was only joking as he towered about 3 foot above him 😂. Most times there after there would be an incident with stoney, i remember when newport were losing to worky and the track was dry, stoney unbeaten. At the interval tim stone drenched the track and he was crap there after and we won the match. Happy days. And who can forget his brawl with Henriksson on the centre green at reading?! Stonehewer was a proper charactor, entertainer and a top rider as well. Sadly he went on a few seasons too long, seeing him score 1 or 2 at newport as redcars number 4 wasnt nice to see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Mic Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Yeah, Stoney was a proper guy. I used to see him at Exeter, get interviewed about how crap the track was & the score a bucketful of points. The crowd hated him, but he was box office. That said, he was the first to congratulate the Falcons when they secured the league title in 2000 after securing the bonus point with a 46-43 defeat at Derwent Park. Even came over to congratulate the Exeter fans who had made the trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinny Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Seen him at Exeter for workington once whilst on holiday down that way, he was absolute crap that night. Would of been 02/03ish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted December 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2015 Just reading the Dave Morton book (excellent read) and he comments on the occasion that Ivan Mauger ran a training school at Chesterton (later re-named Stoke) where riders of all abilities took part. Ivan placed cones strategically on the track to test the riders skills only for Jack Millen to plough thru' them rather than ride around them! Can imagine the 'conversation' between Ivan and 'Crazy' Jack after that particular episode! Jack was re-signed by Crewe after a couple of years spent at Sunderland in the hope that he would attract fans back to Earle Street with his mad cap antics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Mic Posted December 27, 2015 Report Share Posted December 27, 2015 Seen him at Exeter for workington once whilst on holiday down that way, he was absolute crap that night. Would of been 02/03ish? Could have been Pinny. He had some awful nights at Exeter, but just as many good ones. He always moaned about it, but often delivered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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