Coventry_Bee Posted February 18, 2017 Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 As this is a speedway forum it has to be the King Kelvin for me, In his best years 87 & 88 for the Bees he was brilliant. He could gate as well as anybody and wasn't bad at passing either. The injury sustained by Tommy Knudsen seemed to halt the progress of Tatum as they both wanted to be top dog at Coventry but it was a healthy rivalry. The move to Berwick was a disaster then injuries played there part. https://youtu.be/CbbIdw-K5iA 1987 British Final.. The crowd along with the sunny weather and the racing was something I am super happy I got to watch. As a 9 year old I didn't appreciate what I was watching and as much as I have enjoyed some of the British finals in recent years with the Nicholls/Harris battles but compared to this it makes you realise how a sport that is 4 riders and 4 laps can change so much over the past 30 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OveFundinFan Posted February 18, 2017 Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 Both great riders, both reached great heights, and best of all - both entertained speedway fans. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heathen chemistry Posted February 20, 2017 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 tatum the better gater and more consistant but wigg had brilliant abilities on grass and longtrack not much between really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevtheRev Posted February 20, 2017 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Both great riders, but Tatum gets my vote. I have a slightly tainted view on Wiggy. The year he road for Hackney in 1987, all he did was moan and his heart wasn't in it. Turnde out to be a nightmare of a year and Hackney dropped down again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEEDY69 Posted February 20, 2017 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Did Kelvin have alot of duels with Robert Barth on the Longtrack.? Yes, and with Gerd Riss and Wigg. Tatum actually had more top 3 finishes in longtrack than Wigg but less wins - and it could have been another for Wigg if I remember rightly in Scheesel when bike problems caused his downfall whilst leading the final. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 THINK Kelvin broke down on the last lap of a final in New Zealand when all he needed to do was finish the race to become World Champion for a fourth time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEEDY69 Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 THINK Kelvin broke down on the last lap of a final in New Zealand when all he needed to do was finish the race to become World Champion for a fourth time. Would've been the third time had Wigg won in '95 Fair play to Kelvin, for me the more successful across all sideways events - except Teterow? Does anyone know who was best there? Neither Tatum or Wigg as successful as Gerd Riss though in Longtrack, doubt his records will be surpassed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAST GATER Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 THINK Kelvin broke down on the last lap of a final in New Zealand when all he needed to do was finish the race to become World Champion for a fourth time. You are correct and I believe Ivan Mauger tried to console him after the race I seem to remember . What I think was truely amazing was KT returning to the sport to riding at Arena Ex probably the worst track for him to ride with the then disintegrating hip joint which ultimately ended his career both on shale and l/track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 Would've been the third time had Wigg won in '95 Fair play to Kelvin, for me the more successful across all sideways events - except Teterow? Does anyone know who was best there? Neither Tatum or Wigg as successful as Gerd Riss though in Longtrack, doubt his records will be surpassed. OFF the top of my head think Kelvin had the better record at Teterow and, of course, his father Martin won there. Might even have been the first time the event was staged there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghosty Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 Loved Wiggy ..he was a great team man behind the scenes and would do anything for a teammate ..and a far more outgoing flamboyant character than Tatum But...purely on speedway I'd say Tatum eas better..better on a range of tracks and more consistent.....I'd sooner watch Wigg though.. I would vote Wiggy every time, Simon was & still is the RIDER'S RIDER not only that, also a great ambassador with brilliant PR skills off track - never matched to this day. You can't dismiss Kelvin's results but it was all so textbook & boring by comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucifer sam Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 Wiggy by a mile. All the best Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobnob Smith Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 Wiggy for me a cracking rider more reliable under pressure than Tatum who also was a great rider but didn't like hard stuff. as for long track WIggy for me I wonder how many more titles he would have won, also Wiggy was a great person always approachable and willing to help lesser riders I was privileged to call him friend. Kelvin also great on longtrack but if Wiggy was still riding would have been an interesting time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 I would vote Wiggy every time, Simon was & still is the RIDER'S RIDER not only that, also a great ambassador with brilliant PR skills off track - never matched to this day. You're right.. sort of, I don't think anyone ever did as much damage to the sport off track as Wigg did. Unmatched indeed! As others have said, Tatum by some distance as a rider, but Wigg, especially in his younger days was the more exciting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Skid Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 In Wiggy's beloved Germany, he was a superhero to the fans, had to be seen to be believed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 Am I wrong but I thought that Wigg was one of the riders who dropped points for cash ...how does make you a great ambassador ..only in speedway I guess . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 (edited) Am I wrong but I thought that Wigg was one of the riders who dropped points for cash ...how does make you a great ambassador ..only in speedway I guess .I thought it was the opposite and he paid some riders (including Simmons?) to let him beat them in the British final in 84? Or he paid Simmons to pull out of the British final so he got promoted from reserve spot? Think must be the latter aa I see Simmons didn't ride in the British final and I'm pretty sure hexwas involved (and suspended). Edited February 21, 2017 by waihekeaces1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 Would've been the third time had Wigg won in '95 Fair play to Kelvin, for me the more successful across all sideways events - except Teterow? Does anyone know who was best there? Neither Tatum or Wigg as successful as Gerd Riss though in Longtrack, doubt his records will be surpassed. OFF the top of my head think Kelvin had the better record at Teterow and, of course, his father Martin won there. Might even have been the first time the event was staged there. Wiggy won 3 Bergring Cups as did Kelvin.This was also the event that Kelvins father won,though he wasn't the first.But Wiggy also won 5 Golden helmets there to Kelvins 3.So Simon would be considered the better Teterow rider,i'd say Honours list http://www.bergring-teterow.de/die-sieger.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Skid Posted February 22, 2017 Report Share Posted February 22, 2017 One had flair, charisma and personality, the other is still trying to find them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Central Posted February 22, 2017 Report Share Posted February 22, 2017 I thought it was the opposite and he paid some riders (including Simmons?) to let him beat them in the British final in 84? Or he paid Simmons to pull out of the British final so he got promoted from reserve spot? Think must be the latter aa I see Simmons didn't ride in the British final and I'm pretty sure hexwas involved (and suspended). Yes, The Sunday People led their three week 'Speedway Bribes Sensation' story in September 1984 with a double page spread that heavily featured Simon Wigg. It is moot whether they would have gone to print with the rest of their 'twit-bits' had it not been their good fortune to have an opening splash featuring England's only world finalist of that year. On another thread the question is asked 'When did Speedway's decline start?' For many it was around this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted February 22, 2017 Report Share Posted February 22, 2017 Am I wrong but I thought that Wigg was one of the riders who dropped points for cash ...how does make you a great ambassador ..only in speedway I guess . Bribed opponents to drop points to him wasn't it? Wigg was responsible for a massive proportion of the decline of British Speedway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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