Memories Of The Past

[steve roberts]

Spot on about the last two i even think the late Martin Hewlett trailed a bit he really excelled in his first full time BL season always remember Martin in his Artdeans sponsored leathers.

Always remember when I went on one of Olle Nygren's Training Schools at King's Lynn he told us "Now I don't want to see any of you trailing your leg head down like Gordon Kennett!"

[norbold]

Unfortunately we look at the original footage of the first meeting at High Beech and it is nothing like the race between Emil and Darcy.It is in fact very tame.But i do agree it would be wonderful to see some of those old meetings to really judge.

 

 

Well, of course the first meeting at High Beech was nothing like the race between Emil and Darcy, firstly because, apart from the two Australians, this was the first experience any of the riders had had of this type of racing and secondly and mainly because the ACU ruling was that riders weren't allowed to put their foot down and all the bikes had brakes. You really can't use that first meeting to make a point like that!

 

In the course of my researches in speedway over many years I have read hundreds and hundreds of first hand reports of meetings and races from 1928 onwards and as far as I can see right from the early days to the present day there have been great spectacular races and very poor processional races, great meetings and poor meetings.

 

As far as spectacle goes for example, taking a mid-point, I used to see Sverre Harrfeldt every week at West Ham and I don't think you could get anyone more spectacular than him week after week either before or since. I am sure everyone will be able to point to a rider like that at their home track over the years, from Billy Lamont to Darcy Ward.

[Sidney the robin]

Well, of course the first meeting at High Beech was nothing like the race between Emil and Darcy, firstly because, apart from the two Australians, this was the first experience any of the riders had had of this type of racing and secondly and mainly because the ACU ruling was that riders weren't allowed to put their foot down and all the bikes had brakes. You really can't use that first meeting to make a point like that!

In the course of my researches in speedway over many years I have read hundreds and hundreds of first hand reports of meetings and races from 1928 onwards and as far as I can see right from the early days to the present day there have been great spectacular races and very poor processional races, great meetings and poor meetings.

As far as spectacle goes for example, taking a mid-point, I used to see Sverre Harrfeldt every week at West Ham and I don't think you could get anyone more spectacular than him week after week either before or since. I am sure everyone will be able to point to a rider like that at their home track over the years, from Billy Lamont to Darcy Ward.

Soren Sjosten /Christer Lofquist are two others who come to mind.

[iris123]

Soren Sjosten /Christer Lofquist are two others who come to mind.

Peter Collins.Or even Gollob.Great riders and as exciting as anyone in the sports history i would say

[Sidney the robin]

Peter Collins.Or even Gollob.Great riders and as exciting as anyone in the sports history i would say

Would not disagree with that and Chris Morton would not be far behind as well.

[steve roberts]

Thinking about when riders started to change styles and adopt a trailing leg rather than foot forward I guess that the new wave of Americans during the early eighties speeded up the progression (the likes of Penhall, Sigalos and Cook for example).

 

I remember when I went to the 1987 World Final in Amsterdam and noticing how odd Henny Kroeze looked compared to the rest of the field when he rode very upright with his foot forward rather than adopting the new method.

 

However I do recall someone saying that riders couldn't have adopted the 'new' style riding on the old JAPS as the bike would have just thrown you off! Not sure about the 2 valve Jawa but perhaps when bikes supposedly became easier to ride riders adopted a more cavalier style on tracks that were somewhat slicker than they once used to be. Certainly food for thought!

Edited March 6, 2017 by steve roberts

[Sidney the robin]

Thinking about when riders started to change styles and adopt a trailing leg rather than foot forward I guess that the new wave of Americans during the early eighties speeded up the progression (the likes of Penhall, Sigalos and Cook for example).

 

I remember when I went to the 1987 World Final in Amsterdam and noticing how odd Henny Kroeze looked compared to the rest of the field when he rode very upright with his foot forward rather than adopting the new method.

 

However I do recall someone saying that riders couldn't have adopted the 'new' style riding on the old JAPS as the bike would have just thrown you off! Not sure about the 2 valve Jawa but perhaps when bikes supposedly became easier to ride riders adopted a more cavalier style on tracks that were somewhat slicker than they once used to be. Certainly food for thought!

When you think how Hans Nielsen adapted he went through three decades lots of changes in that time.

[steve roberts]

When you think how Hans Nielsen adapted he went through three decades lots of changes in that time.

A good example Sid! I remember seeing him when he first came over to Britain in 1977 and saw his style develop over time...obviously by the time he came to Oxford he had an established 'throw out the back wheel' style whilst adopting a crouching stance which enabled him to create gaps where perhaps there wasn't one!

[Sidney the robin]

A good example Sid! I remember seeing him when he first came over to Britain in 1977 and saw his style develop over time...obviously by the time he came to Oxford he had an established 'throw out the back wheel' style whilst adopting a crouching stance which enabled him to create gaps where perhaps there wasn't one!

If you were totally honest Steve would you have ever imagined that Hans would of achieved what he did.? If you look back he could of won at least another couple of titles and if he had a long run in the GPS he would of been in his element.

[Guest]

​Just to get the thread back on course! This is an early 1930s legtrail photo.

The classic legtrail style of Wal Phillips.

Edited March 6, 2017 by Guest

[steve roberts]

I guess it begs the question does one prefer watching a pure stylist or someone who rides all 'hair and teeth!'. John Berry had been quoted as suggesting that Billy Sanders had the perfect speedway style. Tommy Jansson, for me was just poetry in motion on a bike. Malcolm Simmons and Martin Ashby had classic styles...no thrills but which proved very successful. However throw in the likes of Collins, Morton, Sjosten, Lofqvist, Moran etc etc who added an extra element to speedway who can say which was best? I guess for pure entertainment the latter would get the most votes but for me, personally, the stylist attracted my admiration.

Edited March 6, 2017 by steve roberts

[iris123]

I guess it begs the question does one prefer watching a pure stylist or someone who rides all 'hair and teeth!'. John Berry had been quoted as suggesting that Billy Sanders had the perfect speedway style. Tommy Jansson, for me was just poetry in motion on a bike. Malcolm Simmons and Martin Ashby had classic styles...no thrills but which proved very successful. However throw in the likes of Collins, Morton, Sjosten, Lofqvist, Moran etc etc who added an extra element to speedway who can say which was best? I guess for pure entertainment the latter would get the most votes but for me, personally, the stylist attracted my admiration.

Agree with most of that Steve.Not so sure on Sanders,but who am i to disagree with the likes of John Berry.Got to respect his opinion.Loved Tommy,he wa my favourite rider,without doubt,Of course second favourite was PC.Think what was great abut those days was just the mix of stylish and exciting riders.But even later i loved Silver or Galvin or Loram and Dugard and Andy Smith.You have to take your hat off to the likes of Gollob and Sayfutdinov.Speedway right on the edge of the safety barrier in more than one aspect.And give him his dues Chris Harris at his best was/is great to watch

[Guest]

Australian test rider Charlie Spinks had a career spanning the years between 1926 and 1953. In the UK he was best known for his spells with West Ham and Newcastle.

 

[Sidney the robin]

The three stylists named Jansson,Simmo,Ashby would all be high on some people's lists Adams also was poetry in motion.

[Guest]

Leg trail action from the late 1920s-early 1930s. Not sure of the track. Phil 'King of Crash' Bishop, left, and Roger Frogley.

 

Edited March 6, 2017 by Guest

[steve roberts]

Leg trail action from the late 1920s-early 1930s. Not sure of the track. Phil 'King of Crash' Bishop, left, and Roger Frogley.

 

Some great images!

[Guest]

​Fred 'Tracker' Tracey had brief spells in UK speedway and is best known for his form in Australia where he was very much a top line rider both pre- and post-war. Tracey was also one of Australia's leading promoters in the late 1940s into the early 1950s. The photo is from 1946 and was taken in Australia.

 

Edited March 6, 2017 by Guest

[iris123]

Quite uncanny realy looking at this photo of Mark Loram.If it was b&w and a bit grainy,you could think it was taken at the old Frying pan in the 1930s

 

[Guest]

Australian star Aub lawson was for many seasons a spectacular leg trail rider before going foot forward towards the end of 1947. This is Lawson in his leg trail era when he was with West Ham.

 

 

Edited March 6, 2017 by Guest

[iris123]

If you want to get a feel of what it was like in London in the 1930s and also enjoy a bit of speedway at Lea Bridge with Gus Kuhn,Tom Farndon and Ron Johnson then have a butchers at this......

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCoJpvyb4eU