If And When Bomber Retires..............

[ColinMills]

Olsen was allocated to Hull (who did have a team in 76!) under the old rider control system. He refused to ride for them, insisting he wouldn't ride in Britain if he couldn't ride for the Bees. The CO ended up meeting with Ole and Ian Thomas and thrashing something out and Hull were compensated without Ole ever turning a wheel for them.

never knew that, good info

[fliss44]

To liken Olsen and Bomber in the same mould? That's beyond me. I enjoy seeing Bomber race at Coventry (most of the time) but it begins and ends there in my humble opinion.

[The Voice Of Reason]

Olsen - speedway LEGEND of the 70's AND early 80's.

 

Booey - a bloke who wore blue leathers.

 

I know who I would have wanted in a Hackney jacket.

[Fourentee]

Olsen was allocated to Hull (who did have a team in 76!) under the old rider control system. He refused to ride for them, insisting he wouldn't ride in Britain if he couldn't ride for the Bees. The CO ended up meeting with Ole and Ian Thomas and thrashing something out and Hull were compensated without Ole ever turning a wheel for them.

Olsen tells the story here: http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/other-sport/speedway/2016/02/26/ole-olsen-i-nearly-quit-the-speedway-track/

[martinmauger]

Olsen was allocated to Hull (who did have a team in 76!) under the old rider control system. He refused to ride for them, insisting he wouldn't ride in Britain if he couldn't ride for the Bees. The CO ended up meeting with Ole and Ian Thomas and thrashing something out and Hull were compensated without Ole ever turning a wheel for them.

Charles Ochiltree ended up paying Ian Thomas 15,000 pounds for Olsen's services, bit a farce but then so was forcing a rider to go where he clearly didn't want to be. Hull ended up signing Barry Briggs for the 1976 season, were an average once more in 1977 and signed Ivan Mauger for the Vikings from Exeter for 12,000 pounds (pound sign won't work on my keyboard) for the 1978 season. It's a fascinating story all detailed in Ian Thomas's excellent book "Wheels And Deals".

 

While happy with Briggos' signing in 1976, and especially Mauger in 1978 (can you tell!), I often wondered how Olsen and the Vikings would have fared had Ole ridden for Hull. Hmm....

Edited May 26, 2016 by Martin Mauger

[Woz01]

To liken Olsen and Bomber in the same mould? That's beyond me. I enjoy seeing Bomber race at Coventry (most of the time) but it begins and ends there in my humble opinion.

I'm just too young to see Olsen ride but as regards Bomber the 2010 playoff final where he got up after getting ran over will always put him up there. We had the title in the bag once he sprinted off the track and then won that brilliant rerun. Personally my all time favourite Bee was Tommy Knudsen though.

[Game On]

I'm just too young to see Olsen ride but as regards Bomber the 2010 playoff final where he got up after getting ran over will always put him up there. We had the title in the bag once he sprinted off the track and then won that brilliant rerun. Personally my all time favourite Bee was Tommy Knudsen though.

I'd agree with that.

[Sidney the robin]

I'd agree with that.

Knudsen was a class act, he was so unlucky in 1986 he could of been WC but to comeback and still ride to a high level after serious back injuries was amazing.Tommy always had quite a good record against Hans, and i remember him along with Crump,Lee as the only riders who could beat Carter on merit at the shay.

[dj350z]

think you should be more concerned about if coventry continue other than a rider.. what a shame to see a team go because of a stadium.. good luck to them finding a new home..

 

I am very concerned about the future of Brandon Stadium and Coventry Speedway but does that mean we cannot have a discussion on Speedway forum about riders that have had Coventry Speedway in their blood in what might be the last season at Brandon?

Olsen was allocated to Hull (who did have a team in 76!) under the old rider control system. He refused to ride for them, insisting he wouldn't ride in Britain if he couldn't ride for the Bees. The CO ended up meeting with Ole and Ian Thomas and thrashing something out and Hull were compensated without Ole ever turning a wheel for them.

 

Correct. CO and Olsen had a verbal agreement for him to ride in the '76 season and apparently had a call from CO when Ole was in Australia asking him would he still ride for Coventry and he agreed and CO fought the case. Ole said he never forgot that gesture from CO even though he had never signed a contract.

[TesarRacing]

 

One final thought. At the conclusion of his Farewell Meeting, the 1983 Brandonapolis, he stood on the No1 step of the victory rostrum and delivered his final speech. After apologising to Kenny Carter for momentarily taking his place, it began to drizzle with rain. 'It isn't raining' he began, 'these are my tears at leaving British Speedway'. He then went on to thank Britian, not Denmark, because in his opinion, this country had given him all the riches, monetary and otherwise, during his career. A real character, and one such person the sport is badly missing today.

 

And he reiterated that at the Evening with Olsen at the Cleveland Arms in Wolverhampton in February this year saying British Speedway gave him everything and it really hurts him to see it in the state it is now in.

[FAST GATER]

 

And he reiterated that at the Evening with Olsen at the Cleveland Arms in Wolverhampton in February this year saying British Speedway gave him everything and it really hurts him to see it in the state it is now in.

That maybe so but his GP series has done serious damage to it over the years not least destroying weekend speedway at EL level in this country ,so maybe his words are somewhat "hollow" to say the least !!

Edited May 26, 2016 by FAST GATER

[Shale Searcher]

I have a proper scrapbook on Ole Olsen, anyone interested in buying it?

[Tommy Sweetman]

Olsen tells the story here: http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/other-sport/speedway/2016/02/26/ole-olsen-i-nearly-quit-the-speedway-track/

Ole may have said the reason he left Wolves,was because he wanted to ride at a bigger track than Monmore.

 

But that wasn't the case in 77.If I remember correctly,he wanted some kind of retainer/loyalty bonus after being there six seasons.

 

Parker/Bridgett refused to pay it,then it all got rather messy,and he left under a cloud.

[Aces51]

Olsen - speedway LEGEND of the 70's AND early 80's.

Booey - a bloke who wore blue leathers.

I know who I would have wanted in a Hackney jacket.

Boocock was never as good a rider as Olsen but he was a top rider, just one step down from the super stars. He epitomised a never say die, never know when you're beaten attitude and gave heart and soul for the Bees over many seasons. He was a far more exciting rider to watch than Olsen and popular everywhere. I would certainly have him in a Belle Vue team.

 

Bomber has a similar attitude. He is not as good as Booey but again someone I would gladly have as an Ace.

[Coventry_Bee]

I think people don't always enjoy what is here and now, To see riders like Mark Loram ride at his best was brilliant. As with Scott Nicholls it won't be till they have retired and you look back and think how lucky were we to see him ride. Especially at Coventry I think Harris will always be remembered as a rider who gave his all and was always committed to club and country. That in it's self can not be said for many these days. In a way Harris has been an easy target for the haters, like Andy smith was back when I was growing up. I would much rather see a meeting with really good honest racers in such as Harris rather than a gate and go such as Hans Andersen is, nothing against his style its got him success but from a spectator you always want to be entertained.

[hagonshocker]

 

Who said I supported the Bees? I was a regular at Brandon, yes, also Perry Barr and Blackbird Road

Yes it was difficult to watch Bees with him in the side, being hailed as hero, replacing a man who'd earned such adulation over many years

That I think was probably the crux of the matter - I couldn't accept him walking in and taking over Nigel's mantle

And I'd hardly call him a "character" as another poster has

So if you did not support Coventry you arent really in a position to claim whether Ole was The King Of Coventry or not then?! Couldnt accept him 'taking Nigel's mantle'?...oh dear you do have some hang up's!

[Beowulf]

As a Wolves fan I was extremely disappointed when Olsen left. I assumed at the time that we had a poor promotion in Parker and Bridgett, who wouldn't pay him what he wanted and also that he was sick of being in an unsuccessful team and having to carry virtually all of the burden. We came out very badly from the whole sorry mess as we obtained both Jim McMillan and Tommy Johanssen from Hull, the latter who never turned a wheel for us and we used rider replacement for him all year! Whilst Jim was a lovely guy, he couldn't replace Olsen who was world champion at the time. Despite the manner of his leaving, Olsen is easily in my Wolves all time top 7.

[Fourentee]

Ole may have said the reason he left Wolves,was because he wanted to ride at a bigger track than Monmore.

 

But that wasn't the case in 77.If I remember correctly,he wanted some kind of retainer/loyalty bonus after being there six seasons.

 

Parker/Bridgett refused to pay it,then it all got rather messy,and he left under a cloud.

Interesting sidelight that, thanks!