steve roberts Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 (edited) One for Sidney? Remember Sumner (together with Rick Woods - Newport and Scott Autrey - Exeter) turning out in 1973 and riding for 'The Budgies' for a short while (recommended by Briggo) If I recall his family was connected to the Greyhound Bus Corporation back in the States? He looked the part but lacked pace and quickly disappeared from the English scene. I remember seeing his rear wheel which didn't have traditional spokes (days before spoilers) and was quite innovative at the time. Edited July 25, 2016 by steve roberts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Remember Sumner well yellow and red leathers and as you said had a spoiler in the back wheel.He came with a good reputation apparently had done practice at Wimbledon a few times and was impressive.But he just could not get on the pace and hardly scored a point.Dekeeter Autrey Woods (Who would of)all did well and other Americans followed and we're a real force.When i think of McKnight i put him down in the three riders who never worked out for the Robins.The other two were Leonard Raba and Veijo Tuorniemi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted July 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 (edited) Remember Sumner well yellow and red leathers and as you said had a spoiler in the back wheel.He came with a good reputation apparently had done practice at Wimbledon a few times and was impressive.But he just could not get on the pace and hardly scored a point.Dekeeter Autrey Woods (Who would of)all did well and other Americans followed and we're a real force.When i think of McKnight i put him down in the three riders who never worked out for the Robins.The other two were Leonard Raba and Veijo Tuorniemi There was another Pole (I think he took out Swedish nationality) and rode in the same Swedish team as Jan Andersson? Can't remember his name! Saw Veijo on his debut for Eastbourne. Looked useful for a while but as you say seemed to lose his way. Edited July 20, 2016 by steve roberts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Jerzy Trzeszkowski a two time world finalist in 67/68 was getting on a bit when he joined the Budgies.Trzeszkowski/Raba were both released and Gramstad/Mastrup took there places really liked Steen and Rolf great value. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frigbo Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Raba went on to become one of Poland's top riders in the 80's. Rode in a World Team Cup Final and finished 2nd in Polish Championship. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 (edited) Raba went on to become one of Poland's top riders in the 80's. Rode in a World Team Cup Final and finished 2nd in Polish Championship.I can remember that he was a very good gater. Edited July 20, 2016 by Sidney the robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frigbo Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 (edited) I can remember that he was a very good gater. I think he would have turned out ok, given time and luck with injury. He only actually had one ride at home in a league match. Edited July 20, 2016 by frigbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted July 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Jerzy Trzeszkowski a two time world finalist in 67/68 was getting on a bit when he joined the Budgies.Trzeszkowski/Raba were both released and Gramstad/Mastrup took there places really liked Steen and Rolf great value. Again remember them both well. Rolf developed into a fine rider but was tragically injured during, I think, a grass track meeting? I believe he married Martin Roger's (Leicester Promoter) sister. Steen Mastrup never quite made it and eventually moved onto Leicester but two riders I enjoyed watching during many happy evenings at Blunsden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Again remember them both well. Rolf developed into a fine rider but was tragically injured during, I think, a grass track meeting? I believe he married Martin Roger's (Leicester Promoter) sister. Steen Mastrup never quite made it and eventually moved onto Leicester but two riders I enjoyed watching during many happy evenings at Blunsden. Mastrup was a very good rider from the back got to be a 6.5 rider in a very tough BL.Funny thing is Steen had a brother called Frank who was a better rider but he never rode league racing in England. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted July 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Mastrup was a very good rider from the back got to be a 6.5 rider in a very tough BL.Funny thing is Steen had a brother called Frank who was a better rider but he never rode league racing in England. Steen was featured recently in the magazine 'Backtrack.' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 As a warm up to the 1973 season,McKnight,Autrey,Woods as well as Mike Caroso did a tour of South Africa and the USA won a test series 4-0. http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/savusa.htm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted July 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 As a warm up to the 1973 season,McKnight,Autrey,Woods as well as Mike Caroso did a tour of South Africa and the USA won a test series 4-0. http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/savusa.htm Remember Mike Caruso riding for Hull and Poole but who sadly took his own life some years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Didn't realise that Steve.Very sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovalman Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 (edited) Remember McKnight at Blunsdon, and Raba who was rabbish, there was Jon Odegaard, one of the first foreign riders for windon, and bo bo valentine Edited July 23, 2016 by auntie doris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted July 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Remember McKnight at Blunsdon, and Raba who was rabbish, there was Jon Odegaard, one of the first foreign riders for windon, and bo bo valentine Good grief! Forgotten about Bo Bo Valentine! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 (edited) Bobo Valentine Martin Hitch and Billy Wall bring back memories, can remember Jimmy Gallagher having a spell in the team.Before that Clark Facey John Bishop David Grimley and before my time Peter Jackson(in the championship squad.) Edited July 25, 2016 by Sidney the robin 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briggo Posted August 1, 2016 Report Share Posted August 1, 2016 I also seem to remember a Ralph Waller, about the same time as Billy Wall me thinks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted August 1, 2016 Report Share Posted August 1, 2016 He rode one meeting in 1971 Briggo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnglishRoundabout Posted August 1, 2016 Report Share Posted August 1, 2016 McNight unfortunately had "all the gear, but no idea". He was truly awful and not sure he managed to score any points at all. He came with such hope and seemed a nice guy. He didn't cut the mustard and was shipped out quickly by Ted Nelson. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briggo Posted August 2, 2016 Report Share Posted August 2, 2016 (edited) Off the top of my head, I think he scored 4 points from 17 rides. Most of these were gained from other riders falling or suffering an engine failure............................believe he turned his hand to NASCAR later on in life. Edited August 2, 2016 by briggo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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