steve roberts Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 (edited) Fascinating interview in the latest 'Backtrack' with Todd. He explains in detail how his bikes were set up to get him out of the gate quickly ('Fastest alive over the first twenty-five') but were not the fastest motors when once, hopefully, in front. I know that I'll probably upset Rob (author of the piece) but I was never personally that impressed with Todd although he gave great service to 'The Cheetahs' over the years. He was just too one paced for my liking (maybe explained by his motor set up?) and would be passed with ease on occasions. Now for the backlash! Fascinating interview in the latest 'Backtrack' with Todd. He explains in detail how his bikes were set up to get him out of the gate quickly ('Fastest alive over the first twenty-five') but were not the fastest motors when once, hopefully, in front. I know that I'll probably upset Rob (author of the piece) but I was never personally that impressed with Todd although he gave great service to 'The Cheetahs' over the years. He was just too one paced for my liking (maybe explained by his motor set up?) and would be passed with ease on occasions. Now for the backlash! This thread should probably be better in 'The Years Gone By' option! Edited June 11, 2016 by steve roberts 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Doctor... Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 Fascinating interview in the latest 'Backtrack' with Todd. He explains in detail how his bikes were set up to get him out of the gate quickly ('Fastest alive over the first twenty-five') but were not the fastest motors when once, hopefully, in front. I know that I'll probably upset Rob (author of the piece) but I was never personally that impressed with Todd although he gave great service to 'The Cheetahs' over the years. He was just too one paced for my liking (maybe explained by his motor set up?) and would be passed with ease on occasions. Now for the backlash! This thread should probably be better in 'The Years Gone By' option! Todd was far and away my favourite rider over the years - he was Readings new reserve on my very first trip to speedway and he had absolutely storming meetings literally from the word go at Smallmead. I would agree in some part about the Oxford years tho as i spent many nights up there watching him no doubt along with you - but then that was the time post serious injury, which in my eyes, was a slightly different Todd than the early 90s on. A very no risks model of the original i would say.. He did have a fair bit more bite in the early years tho i think, which just disappeared after he came back from the injuries. Sadly i'd say that his memories to a lot of fans would have been the less action packed Todd in his latter years where he was often passed by more risk taking riders, almost content to get through the meeting unscathed. But for me, he was an absolute hero and even now is still my favourite rider over the years. It was an absolute pleasure watching him. Just up after a nightshift, and i'd love to type more but i'm knackered - anyway, cheers.. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavan Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 We followed Mark Loram everywhere and i remember at the start of the 1990 season when Mark had moved to Lynn and Todd to Reading Both of them rode at number 7 and Mark i think got 17 and Todd 15. You knew then that these guys were special and of course later that year Todd was world number 3. And he always said it was a pleasure to race Mark who he considered one of the safest riders he raced against. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Doctor... Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 We followed Mark Loram everywhere and i remember at the start of the 1990 season when Mark had moved to Lynn and Todd to Reading Both of them rode at number 7 and Mark i think got 17 and Todd 15. You knew then that these guys were special and of course later that year Todd was world number 3. And he always said it was a pleasure to race Mark who he considered one of the safest riders he raced against. My first meeting was Reading Kings Lynn in the Gold Cup - have the programme somewhere but cant remember much about Lorams score - think i remember the red leathers tho.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted June 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 Todd was far and away my favourite rider over the years - he was Readings new reserve on my very first trip to speedway and he had absolutely storming meetings literally from the word go at Smallmead. I would agree in some part about the Oxford years tho as i spent many nights up there watching him no doubt along with you - but then that was the time post serious injury, which in my eyes, was a slightly different Todd than the early 90s on. A very no risks model of the original i would say.. He did have a fair bit more bite in the early years tho i think, which just disappeared after he came back from the injuries. Sadly i'd say that his memories to a lot of fans would have been the less action packed Todd in his latter years where he was often passed by more risk taking riders, almost content to get through the meeting unscathed. But for me, he was an absolute hero and even now is still my favourite rider over the years. It was an absolute pleasure watching him. Just up after a nightshift, and i'd love to type more but i'm knackered - anyway, cheers.. My memories of Todd are team riding with Jan Staechmann. Todd up front and Jan covering the gaps using all of the track available to him. Have to admit I saw very little of Todd prior to his very bad injury but do recall seeing him at Plough Lane on the one occasion where he did look to be something special. Glad to read that his life is now back on a healthy path after personal problems affected him mentally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavan Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 My first meeting was Reading Kings Lynn in the Gold Cup - have the programme somewhere but cant remember much about Lorams score - think i remember the red leathers tho.. he did have the red leathers. It was at Lynn and Tood won heat 2 against Mark who then went unbeaten after that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillipsr Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 First meeting i watched was 1990 world final and he was a favourite of mine from then on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedibee Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 We followed Mark Loram everywhere and i remember at the start of the 1990 season when Mark had moved to Lynn and Todd to Reading Both of them rode at number 7 and Mark i think got 17 and Todd 15. You knew then that these guys were special and of course later that year Todd was world number 3. And he always said it was a pleasure to race Mark who he considered one of the safest riders he raced against. But we all know that Shooey was worl number 3 in 1990 , Todd wiltshire was 4th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 But we all know that Shooey was worl number 3 in 1990 , Todd wiltshire was 4th Shawn Moran finished second on the night, with Todd third. Moran was later (unfairly in my opinion) disqualified but the lower places weren't moved up and Todd remained World no 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavan Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 But we all know that Shooey was worl number 3 in 1990 , Todd wiltshire was 4th Check your facts before posting next time! Per Jonsson beat Moran in a run off so please enlighten me as to who finished second?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Science Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 One of the best gater's ever Todd Wiltshire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 There were some great derbys between the Kestrels and the Dons over the 88-89 seasons, including the all London ko cup final of 88. Todd, along with StingRay Morton (as Dave Lanning called him) and Neville Tatum always provided strong opposition. Qualifying for the 2000 world championship after such a bad injury was a great achievement, and I think he made the final in the first two rounds, and comfortably finished in the top eight. I remember the year Todd and Leigh Adams nearly beat the all conquering Danes in the world pairs. He always came across as a thorough professional and of course his gating technique was legendary! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 (edited) Fascinating interview in the latest 'Backtrack' with Todd. ...... I know that I'll probably upset Rob (author of the piece) but I was never personally that impressed with Todd although he gave great service to 'The Cheetahs' over the years. Speaking as someone who also used to write some of those articles for the magazine I can assure you that while I respected most of those who I interviewed, other people's opinions of those riders were their own. You write those articles in the hope they might be interesting, not as an act of devotion . (In my case it was all about helping a friend out). Edited June 11, 2016 by rmc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Doctor... Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 But we all know that Shooey was worl number 3 in 1990 , Todd wiltshire was 4th As has already been pointed out, you are more than a little wrong there. By your deductions, who on earth did you think was second ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Vega Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 What edition of backtrack is this interview in please May/June? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted June 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 What edition of backtrack is this interview in please May/June? Issue Number 74. May/June addition just out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Vega Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 Thanks Steve will buy a copy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucifer sam Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 Fascinating interview in the latest 'Backtrack' with Todd. He explains in detail how his bikes were set up to get him out of the gate quickly ('Fastest alive over the first twenty-five') but were not the fastest motors when once, hopefully, in front. I know that I'll probably upset Rob (author of the piece) but I was never personally that impressed with Todd although he gave great service to 'The Cheetahs' over the years. He was just too one paced for my liking (maybe explained by his motor set up?) and would be passed with ease on occasions. Now for the backlash! Steve, no backlash since you're entitled to your opinion, and if you find the interview "fascinating", then I've done my job properly and not been too 'star struck' when speaking to one of my latter-day heroes. However, I would contest that Todd could be passed with ease. I remember him being anything but easy to pass, because of his trackcraft. For example, when they experimented with the six-lap Heat 15 (in 1999, I think it was), it came down to a last-heat decider and Todd kept Tony Rickardsson at bay for six laps, with Rickardsson up his exhaust pipe, but given no chance to get through. As The Doctor has mentioned, Oxford got the 'safety first' version of Todd, although that version in itself was still a tremendous rider. All the best Rob 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wackie Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 I think the fact that Todd was able to come back after 7/8?? years out of the sport and become a star of it again is testament in itself to what a special kind of rider he was. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 Enjoyed the anecdote about the end of his time at Oxford and the actions of Colin Horton and Aaron Lanney. Was a Plough Lane regular during Todd's time there and it was no surprise he got on a World Final rostrum. Guess we'll never know how good he would have been because the injury stopped him riding for so many years. In reply to a poster on the previous page whilst Dave Lanning called Toddy the "fastest alive over the first 25", it was very much "Rip Snortin'" Ray Morton! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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