Sidney the robin Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 (edited) When Tomasz first arrived on the scene he had a real aura about him. Everyone wondered who this mysterious Pole who never gave interviews or spoke any english was. His father 'Papa' Gollob used to run the whole show. I too thought he'd 'missed the boat' to be world champion, especially after being so far ahead with just a couple of rounds to go in 99. There's no denying he was a bit wild (to put it mildly) in his early career, but the way he turned it around and won the respect of the fans and his fellow riders was fantastic. As others have said some of the moves he made (particularly at Bydgoszcz) almost defied gravity. He's up there as my favourite Pole (along with Plechy of course!) With a full BL career how good could Plech have been he was still world class but with regular BL action he could of been even better.I see him quite alot Hackney W.Finals (ect)but it was frustrating not to see more of him along with Jancarz both were class acts. Edited March 8, 2017 by Sidney the robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 (edited) With a full BL career how good could Plech have been he was still world class but with regular BL action he could of been even better.I see him quite alot Hackney W.Finals (ect)but it was frustrating not to see more of him along with Jancarz both were class acts. When Zenon rejoined Hackney half way through the 79 season he was unbelievable. He was so fast, lowering the track record almost every week! I remember him beating Ole Olsen from the back twice one week and I wasn't at all surprised when he finished 2nd in the world final. I don't think the eastern europeans had the same opportunities in those days and Len Silver seemed to have a yearly battle with Zenons Polish club to get him released. Edited March 8, 2017 by Terry 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 I'd say Gollob is very similar in many ways to Peter Collins. Arguably the most naturally talented and spectacular racers of their respective generations. Both had long and successful careers yet "only" won a world title apiece. I'd say it goes back to the fact that multi world champs are typically excellent gaters, gollob and PC could get put of the gate quickly on occasion, but were certsinly racers rather than gaters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 I'd say Gollob is very similar in many ways to Peter Collins. Arguably the most naturally talented and spectacular racers of their respective generations. Both had long and successful careers yet "only" won a world title apiece. I'd say it goes back to the fact that multi world champs are typically excellent gaters, gollob and PC could get put of the gate quickly on occasion, but were certsinly racers rather than gaters. I would say Lee was more talented than PC, but PC over a period applied himself better dont get me wrong Collins was natural superb to be honest but raw natural ability Lee all day long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 I agree, though lee I'd argue was perhaps a generation (or half a generation) after Collins? Collins peaked in 76/77 which was the same time Lee was starting to break through. Only 4 years between them I guess, though lee was closer in age to penhall/gundersen/nielsen who I guess we're the 80s stars vs pc 70s. Lee maybe the only rider to be truly world class across late 70s and early 80s, though pc/olsen/crump could maybe argue differently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted March 9, 2017 Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 I agree, though lee I'd argue was perhaps a generation (or half a generation) after Collins? Collins peaked in 76/77 which was the same time Lee was starting to break through. Only 4 years between them I guess, though lee was closer in age to penhall/gundersen/nielsen who I guess we're the 80s stars vs pc 70s. Lee maybe the only rider to be truly world class across late 70s and early 80s, though pc/olsen/crump could maybe argue differently. Was thinking eaces 1, did they nearly miss in there era's or was it because PC after his bad awful smash at Cradley was finished as a contender by 1982 Fourteen W.Finals between them two wins and three places pretty good and to think PC only had from 74/80 and Lee 77/83 when they had realistic chances of being WC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted March 9, 2017 Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 Was thinking eaces 1, did they nearly miss in there era's or was it because PC after his bad awful smash at Cradley was finished as a contender by 1982 Fourteen W.Finals between them two wins and three places pretty good and to think PC only had from 74/80 and Lee 77/83 when they had realistic chances of being WC. ...incidentally on a track that was initially passed un-fit but due to an administrative u-turn the meeting went ahead resulting in PC receiving a badly broken arm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted March 9, 2017 Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 ...incidentally on a track that was initially passed un-fit but due to an administrative u-turn the meeting went ahead resulting in PC receiving a badly broken arm!Steve was it a icey November fixture.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted March 9, 2017 Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 Steve was it a icey November fixture.? Sid if I recall it was the Second Leg (?) of the Knock-out Cup Final (remember those?) and as usual was being run at the back end of the season (usual nonsense...Oxford suffered same in 1986) when available dates were becoming scarce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted March 9, 2017 Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 Sid if I recall it was the Second Leg (?) of the Knock-out Cup Final (remember those?) and as usual was being run at the back end of the season (usual nonsense...Oxford suffered same in 1986) when available dates were becoming scarce.Collins even after those horrendous injuries before Gothenberg was still a force.After Cradley he had gone as a world class rider horrible to see.It was horrible to see a great rider look bang average at Oxford/Reading no doubt about it PC broke the Mauger/Olsen stranglehold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted March 9, 2017 Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 ...incidentally on a track that was initially passed un-fit but due to an administrative u-turn the meeting went ahead resulting in PC receiving a badly broken arm! Quite ironic or should we say a terrible decision,because Belle Vue at the time had a reputation for not wanting to ride in bad conditions.And i am not passing judgement on them,because the way PC rode,i think he needed good conditions,plus any rider really should be the judge of whether they ride or not.It is always hard to make the right decision though,especially if pressure is put on you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted March 9, 2017 Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 Quite ironic or should we say a terrible decision,because Belle Vue at the time had a reputation for not wanting to ride in bad conditions.And i am not passing judgement on them,because the way PC rode,i think he needed good conditions,plus any rider really should be the judge of whether they ride or not.It is always hard to make the right decision though,especially if pressure is put on you If I recall it was a BSPA u-turn regarding this particular fixture? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted March 9, 2017 Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 For me it was during a period when i didn't take a lot of interest in the sport.1978-1982,i was busy studying and only went to the NNL final and 1 or 2 other meetings like England v USA and wasn't reading the SS.So i don't know much about what happened.Much like the period after the Dons folded in 1991 until i rediscovered the sport here in Germany.Well my visit to Vojens in 2003.So i never got to see Henka Gustafsson for instance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted March 10, 2017 Report Share Posted March 10, 2017 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 All this talk about Tom Farndon being an all-time great! He got beat by Fred! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Dick Harris, an excellent second string rider for several seasons, favoured a legtrail style as the 1947 newspaper photo shows. Here he is in action against the New Cross riders Keith Harvey and Ron Johnson. Dick Harris (Wimbledon) leads Keith Harvey & Ron Johnson When New Cross were at home to The Dons From Speedway News - 1947 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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