Thoughts Of Old Friends

[Guest]

By JOHN HYAM

 

N the mid-1950s, Hungary was very much a backwater in speedway. It was with some surprise, therefore, when two of their riders, Sandor Levai and Zeke Zoltan, contacted me at ‘Speedway Star’ through a third party. Both had arrived in Britain around November 1956, after the Russian army stifled a freedom movement in their native Budapest.

As both were staying in Manchester, I didn’t get any more involved than passing on their names and addresses to Belle Vue. Sandor battled for some years to get established and ended his career with distinction in British speedway - Stoke, Belle Vue and Newport were all well served by him. Sadly, Zoltan disappeared after a handful of novice races at Belle Vue.

It was also around that time that two young Australians called at my ‘Speedway Star’ office, then in Cheapside, London, near St Paul’s Cathedral. They were Charlie Wallis and Peter van den Berg. I managed to get both trials at Southampton, where Charlie Knott was the el supremo. There were no problems regarding Wallis, but a blip hit van den Berg. It appeared he was born of Dutch parents who had settled in Australia and he was traveling on both Dutch and Australian papers.

It seemed he would be classified as a foreign rider - but in view of his limited experience would not get work permit to race in British speedway. Then, just as it seemed he would have to ride on the continent, British racing accepted his Australian nationality, He also took on a new image - hence the arrival in British speedway of the very popular and capable Peter Vandenberg.

Talking of Dutchmen, another who called in at my office in the early part of 1956 was Nico van Gorcum, who did most of his racing in Holland and Germany, He also wanted to get into British speedway, but this time my persuasive powers failed when I contacted both Coventry and Swindon. Nico made his bid to get into British speedway at a time when Swedish and Polish riders were all the vogue.

Mention of Dutchmen, the first rider from the Land of Windmills to attract the interest of a British club was their 1938 champion Gerrit Kops, who signed for Sheffield in late August 1939. The week he was due to have trials at Owlerton coincided with the outbreak of Word War Two on September 3. Hence no British debut for Mr Kops.

Kops first rode in Britain at Tamworth in 1947, when a Dutch team rode in a charity meeting at Tamworth in aid of Hounds rider Jack Ladd who died after an accident at Alkmaar, Holland, in August that year. His only other British track appearance - if you can call it that - ironically was at Sheffield in 1949, He was a starter for a World Championship qualifying round. Sadly, in his first race his engine ‘blew up’ on the starting grid and he was out of the meeting,

Most of Kops’ trackwork from 1936 into the early 1960s was centred on Holland, Germany and Poland. He raced, as do most Europeans, on speedway, grass and long-tracks.

Edited November 15, 2016 by Guest

[steve roberts]

Remember Oxford taking a representative team to Holland in 1974 and the signing of Henk Steman. He drew attention by the fact that he was Dutch but didn't really excel. However he did re-appear later in Britain when he rode for Bristol in 1978 (?)

[Guest]

Remember Oxford taking a representative team to Holland in 1974 and the signing of Henk Steman. He drew attention by the fact that he was Dutch but didn't really excel. However he did re-appear later in Britain when he rode for Bristol in 1978 (?)

 

I also knew his father - also Henk Stemen - who rode mainly in the 1940s. He also rode at West Ham in the 1948 Olympiad meeting which was then staged to mark the Olympic Games being held in London - mainly at Wembley Stadium. There were two Dutch riders competing at West Ham - without checking - I think the other was Jan Bsman.

Edited November 15, 2016 by Guest

[OveFundinFan]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Gustix. I well remember Sandor Levai a Belle Vue, and also Peter Vandenberg.

[steve roberts]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Gustix. I well remember Sandor Levai a Belle Vue, and also Peter Vandenberg.

Remember when Sandor rode for Cradley 'United' (as they were known then) during the infamous walk out at Cowley due to a snowstorm. Sandor was willing to give it a go (together with the home side) but eventually the meeting ran its course with just 'The Rebels' riding un-apposed. John Boulger was from that day on christened 'Snow Flake' by the Cowley faithful!

[bruno]

I was only a youngster during the persson/boulger era at Cradley and both riders were favourites of the time,how do the older forum members rate these two

[Sidney the robin]

I was only a youngster during the persson/boulger era at Cradley and both riders were favourites of the time,how do the older forum members rate these two

I rated both of these riders very highly Boulger for me was very underated a tough fair rider Persson to had a great career. I was never bitter towards BP even though he might of cost Briggo the 72 WF, both riders it was a priviledge to see both ride at there peak.

[steve roberts]

I was only a youngster during the persson/boulger era at Cradley and both riders were favourites of the time,how do the older forum members rate these two

Rated them highly! Johnny Boulger was the main Aussie rival to Garry Middleton during my first season (1972). Bernie Persson was a hard Swede whose main claim to fame, I suppose, was the incident involving him and Briggo at the 1972 Wembley Final. I blamed Bernie at the time but with the passing years I look at it more subjectively...perhaps it was 50/50?

 

Great days!

[Sidney the robin]

Rated them highly! Johnny Boulger was the main Aussie rival to Garry Middleton during my first season (1972). Bernie Persson was a hard Swede whose main claim to fame, I suppose, was the incident involving him and Briggo at the 1972 Wembley Final. I blamed Bernie at the time but with the passing years I look at it more subjectively...perhaps it was 50/50?

 

Great days!

Watched that incident endless times did Briggo leave to much room? really wanted him to equal Fundin's five titles.Would he had won it Briggo i think so,but eh i am a little bias a title that slipped away from Barry.

[bruno]

Ive watched that race a few times Sidney and must admit even for back then I thought Bernie's move was hard but I'm sure I read even Briggo thought he left a gap so it was a fair move. Might be making that up tho

On JB I remember in speedway star about 76 ish when he said how desperate he was to get into the world final,I think he had 7 off 4 rides and he's clutch burned out and he broke the tapes in his 5th ride. He said it was cuz other riders were messing about at the start. Nothing changes! I remember feeling gutted for him at the time

[Sidney the robin]

I remember Boulger coming second at Belle Vue in the pairs with Phil Crump in 1974 in a very tough final.His individual record is very moderate he was alot better than that but it was a very tough era.Ray Wilson(who recommended JB to Long Eaton) was another rider who underachieved on the world stage along with Ashby,Betts,E.Boocock,P.Crump, as i said some great riders around then though.

[BOBBATH]

Wonderful thread -glad to hear Peter Vandenberg mentioned. I also recall John Boulger's debut for Long Eaton in 1967- I'd never heard of him and couldn't believe mthat he scored that many points in his first meeting. Can anyone recall(BL65 maybe) where he first appeared and what he scored- I think it was an away track??

[steve roberts]

Wonderful thread -glad to hear Peter Vandenberg mentioned. I also recall John Boulger's debut for Long Eaton in 1967- I'd never heard of him and couldn't believe mthat he scored that many points in his first meeting. Can anyone recall(BL65 maybe) where he first appeared and what he scored- I think it was an away track??

Didn't he score a maximum at his first meeting?

[BL65]

Wonderful thread -glad to hear Peter Vandenberg mentioned. I also recall John Boulger's debut for Long Eaton in 1967- I'd never heard of him and couldn't believe mthat he scored that many points in his first meeting. Can anyone recall(BL65 maybe) where he first appeared and what he scored- I think it was an away track??

After Long Eaton's first meeting in 1967 an acquaintance told me that new signing Anders Michanek was something special, after he had recorded three straight wins against Cradley Heath. I recall that he failed to finish in his first ride and was beaten by Ray Wilson in the second half final. At the same time I was told to watch out for a new young Australian, John Boulger, who was likely to go on to achieve great things, having ridden in the second half, won two races and finished third in the scratch race final. A week later Boulger made his team debut at home to Exeter and scored 11 paid 12, dropping his only point to team mate Ray Wilson in his last ride. His highest score that season was paid 14 at home to Newport.