Sidney the robin Posted March 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 BOBBATH what are your memories of Norman Strachan,Bob Hughes, Benght Brannefors.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybikespeedway Posted March 9, 2017 Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 Saw Peter Vandenberg at Newport when Newport opened in 64, great rider and a bit useful when things got a bit tense. Got talking to Jon Erskine at Queensway he remembered at a match that was boring, he was told that he and peter had to clash, drop their bikes, lots of finger pointing,pushing and shoving, rolling around the floor , being seperated by the other riders, it livened up the match, also met Cyril lots of times, I asked him if he could remember the World Ch Qualifying round at Newport that he won , he remembered and said he did not have the programme, so the next meeting I gave him the program from my collection ,great memories from Somerton Park very Vivid, but ask me what happened last week !!! blank BOBBATH what are your memories of Norman Strachan,Bob Hughes, Benght Brannefors.? Not sure what BOBBATH remembers, Norman the most unlikely rider to look at but a match winner at times stepping up when needed, Bob Hughes great at Somerton Park Hopeless Away Had a Great season in 66 when Partnered with Gote Nordin boy could he team ride and Shepherd Bob, Bengt Lovely Style but didn't fulfill hes potential, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted March 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 (edited) Saw Peter Vandenberg at Newport when Newport opened in 64, great rider and a bit useful when things got a bit tense. Got talking to Jon Erskine at Queensway he remembered at a match that was boring, he was told that he and peter had to clash, drop their bikes, lots of finger pointing,pushing and shoving, rolling around the floor , being seperated by the other riders, it livened up the match, also met Cyril lots of times, I asked him if he could remember the World Ch Qualifying round at Newport that he won , he remembered and said he did not have the programme, so the next meeting I gave him the program from my collection ,great memories from Somerton Park very Vivid, but ask me what happened last week !!! blank Not sure what BOBBATH remembers, Norman the most unlikely rider to look at but a match winner at times stepping up when needed, Bob Hughes great at Somerton Park Hopeless Away Had a Great season in 66 when Partnered with Gote Nordin boy could he team ride and Shepherd Bob, Bengt Lovely Style but didn't fulfill hes potential, My favourite Newport riders early were Sandor Levai/Graham Plant then later Crumpy/Streety Roy Trigg. Somerton Park i went there one meeting against Coventry in the mid 70s i think the score was 61-17 ??? Bluey the only one to offer resistance. Edited March 9, 2017 by Sidney the robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted March 11, 2017 Report Share Posted March 11, 2017 Re Sid's question on Brannefors, Hughes and Strachan. Can't help on Brannefors as he joined Newport after I had emigrated (August 1968), Strachan I saw about 3 times for Newport in 68 but chiefly recall him as a Pirate-solid middle order guy and a pleasant fellow. Bob Hughes I recall well - firstly as a second halfer then going to Wasps first team-I think when Vic White left for Belle Vue. If you go to the excellent Defunct Speedway Tracks website run by John Skinner and look at the Newport section there are lots of interesting photos- there is one of a reunion of Newport riders and Bob is on that his hair now white (whose isn't!!). Think the photo is a few years old as Alby Golden and Ken Vale are both on it-now sadly passed. Also the A-Z of Speedwat Riders website has details on Bengt Brannefors career-also sadly gone. Anybody know where Mike Keen and Clive Hitch are these days??. Re Graham Plant-think I recall him being in the second half at Leicester in 1968-could be wrong though-I recall Malcolm Shakespeare from the same time frame. Speaking of Leicester at Blackbird Road it really bothers me how these great venues have been demolished-see that Brandon is going too-so I think all the stadiums of the NL in 1964 are gone except maybe the Abbey stadium in Blunsdon-wotta drag!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BL65 Posted March 11, 2017 Report Share Posted March 11, 2017 Re Sid's question on Brannefors, Hughes and Strachan. Can't help on Brannefors as he joined Newport after I had emigrated (August 1968), Strachan I saw about 3 times for Newport in 68 but chiefly recall him as a Pirate-solid middle order guy and a pleasant fellow. Bob Hughes I recall well - firstly as a second halfer then going to Wasps first team-I think when Vic White left for Belle Vue. If you go to the excellent Defunct Speedway Tracks website run by John Skinner and look at the Newport section there are lots of interesting photos- there is one of a reunion of Newport riders and Bob is on that his hair now white (whose isn't!!). Think the photo is a few years old as Alby Golden and Ken Vale are both on it-now sadly passed. Also the A-Z of Speedwat Riders website has details on Bengt Brannefors career-also sadly gone. Anybody know where Mike Keen and Clive Hitch are these days??. Re Graham Plant-think I recall him being in the second half at Leicester in 1968-could be wrong though-I recall Malcolm Shakespeare from the same time frame. Speaking of Leicester at Blackbird Road it really bothers me how these great venues have been demolished-see that Brandon is going too-so I think all the stadiums of the NL in 1964 are gone except maybe the Abbey stadium in Blunsdon-wotta drag!!!!!! Graham Plant rode in quite a few matches for Leicester in 1968. He was also a rising star with Middlesbrough in Division 2 that year. I really enjoyed watching speedway at Blackbird Road each week over a period of several years. There was a massive crowd for the re-opening on 9th April 1968, a thrilling match against King's Lynn, with Vic White in great form to score paid 10 for the Lions. I was one of the first to arrive at the stadium that night and was promptly offered a job, which unfortunately I had to decline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted March 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2017 (edited) George Hunter rode at Number One for Oxford during the 1978 & 79 seasons carrying very healthy averages. Les Rumsey however scored more points for Oxford in 1979 than George but rode more races therefore his average, although very good, was slightly less than George. David Shields was an inspirational addition to the Oxford cause in 1978 but didn't return the following year...in fact he didn't compete in Britain again for a number of years when he later rode for Cradley in the British League.Oxford v Newcastle 1983 Rod Hunter/Joe Owen both scored 20 out of a total of 49 Dave Younghusband was the team manager Oxford then were woefully weak. Edited March 14, 2017 by Sidney the robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted March 14, 2017 Report Share Posted March 14, 2017 Oxford v Newcastle 1983 Rod Hunter/Joe Owen both scored 20 out of a total of 49 Dave Younghusband was the team manager Oxford then were woefully weak. Oxford had a good team on paper but were struck with injuries during the 1983 season. Yes I recall that match...Newcastle utilising the R/R regulation for the umpteen time and sometimes not even in a legitimate way (Robbie Gardner for example!) but that was Ian Thomas for you...always trying to find a loophole in the rulebook! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted March 14, 2017 Report Share Posted March 14, 2017 Oxford had a good team on paper but were struck with injuries during the 1983 season. Yes I recall that match...Newcastle utilising the R/R regulation for the umpteen time and sometimes not even in a legitimate way (Robbie Gardner for example!) but that was Ian Thomas for you...always trying to find a loophole in the rulebook! I suppose you could say that if there is a loophole - why not use it to your advantage if you can? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted March 14, 2017 Report Share Posted March 14, 2017 I suppose you could say that if there is a loophole - why not use it to your advantage if you can? Basically he was using R/R for Robbie Gardner who had retired! Tony Coupland (Team Manager of Middlesbrough) refused him the facility on one memorable occasion plus the fact that Robbie was fourth in the averages so Thomas was pulling a fast one! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Downes Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 If it was 1983, it was probably R/R for Bobby Beaton - certainly he always seemed to be out when Newcastle came to Crayford 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 (edited) If it was 1983, it was probably R/R for Bobby Beaton - certainly he always seemed to be out when Newcastle came to Crayford Either Bobby or Alan Emerson? Newcastle also operated R/R in a crucial match at Mildenhall (I was there) when, if I recall, both Owen and Hunter again took seven rides a piece. Edited March 16, 2017 by steve roberts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted March 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 Either Bobby or Alan Emerson? Newcastle also operated R/R in a crucial match at Mildenhall (I was there) when, if I recall, both Owen and Hunter again took seven rides a piece.At Oxford there was R/R for Beaton who had a healthy 10.40 average and Alan Emerson was out replaced by the reserves who were Neil Barnsley and Greg Dekok Pailor ( who i cant recall ?) was no 8 for the Diamonds.Both Owen/Hunter got paid 21 each Joe was a super rider a great stylist. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted March 17, 2017 Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 At Oxford there was R/R for Beaton who had a healthy 10.40 average and Alan Emerson was out replaced by the reserves who were Neil Barnsley and Greg Dekok Pailor ( who i cant recall ?) was no 8 for the Diamonds.Both Owen/Hunter got paid 21 each Joe was a super rider a great stylist. I'm impressed Sid with your knowledge! Got a feeling that Rod Hunter won the lottery in Aussie when he finished and became a property developer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted March 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 (edited) I'm impressed Sid with your knowledge! Got a feeling that Rod Hunter won the lottery in Aussie when he finished and became a property developer? Sometimes i cant even remember what day of the week it is Steve.😜Hunter was a real quick rider another Aussie who impressed me was Ron Henderson the Diamonds had some great teams then.Off the subject a bit i was sorting through my 1973 Swindon programmes Swindon v Coatbridge Egon Muller rode he scored 0 only rode two matches for them.One of them at the shabby Abbey who would of thought he would be WC ten years later.!!! Edited March 17, 2017 by Sidney the robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted March 17, 2017 Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 Sometimes i cant even remember what day of the week it is Steve.Hunter was a real quick rider another Aussie who impressed me was Ron Henderson the Diamonds had some great teams then.Off the subject a bit i was sorting through my 1973 Swindon programmes Swindon v Coatbridge Egon Muller rode he scored 0 only rode two matches for them.One of them at the shabby Abbey who would of thought he would be WC ten years later.!!! Remember Ron Henderson...he became a social worker I recall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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