Autographs

[steve roberts]

The list is endless the amount of times ive watched Ole team ride a much slower rider home to a 5-1

Remember Gordon Kennett passing the team riding Ole Olsen and Alan Molyneux at Wood Lane...brilliant!

[cityrebel]

Gordon Kennett could pass anyone at wood lane!

[IainB]

1981 was me, Bruce penhall.

I remember trying to get Bruce Penhall's autograph at a meeting at Poole back in the day, trouble is I didn't know what he looked like with his helmet off and apparently I was pestering his mechanic... I was only a wee boy Edited September 3, 2017 by iainb

[MMX Events]

I used to be one of the kids who would try to collect as many autographs as possible after the meetings at Poole in the sixties.

These days I no longer try, but I have a 1967 BSPA handbook that comes out at any opportunity to get the signatures of the now 'veterans' that are in it.

I remember an amusing moment in the pits a few years ago when Greg Hancock signed for the Pirates late in the season.

On his first night in blue and white, he was being mobbed for autographs with a HUGE crowd all around him like a swarm!

Meanwhile, as that was going on, I spotted little Norman Strachan in a quieter corner whereupon out came the handbook.

I can remember smiling to myself as he duly obliged with a look of surprise.

Norman is a weekly visitor to Wimborne Road and we always exchange a few words. I am proud to say I watched him many times in his days as a pirate.

[steve roberts]

I used to be one of the kids who would try to collect as many autographs as possible after the meetings at Poole in the sixties.

These days I no longer try, but I have a 1967 BSPA handbook that comes out at any opportunity to get the signatures of the now 'veterans' that are in it.

I remember an amusing moment in the pits a few years ago when Greg Hancock signed for the Pirates late in the season.

On his first night in blue and white, he was being mobbed for autographs with a HUGE crowd all around him like a swarm!

Meanwhile, as that was going on, I spotted little Norman Strachan in a quieter corner whereupon out came the handbook.

I can remember smiling to myself as he duly obliged with a look of surprise.

Norman is a weekly visitor to Wimborne Road and we always exchange a few words. I am proud to say I watched him many times in his days as a pirate.

Remember Norman when he rode for 'The Rebels' at Cowley in 1972. Recalled he scored 12 points against the mighty 'Aces' that year.

[Tigerblade]

I haven't asked for an autograph since Sheffield's British League days, I don't think! My first autograph was Ivan Mauger - we knew someone who helped in the pits at the time at Owlerton so he got it for us. Sheffield riders are generally approachable as far as I have seen, and the promotion has had the occasional "meet the rider" events in between 6.30 and 7.00 in recent years where youngsters can have selfies etc.

 

Re Ole Olsen team riding - we soon learned at Sheffield when Alan Molyneux joined, how good Ole had been!

Edited September 4, 2017 by Tigerblade

[Midland Red]

Are you trying to be clever or not ?? you said OLSEN could not team ride ?"?.i tend to DIFFER ask Moleneux ,Shirra,Stancl, Busk, Miller, Nicholaijsen,Guglielmi if they agree with you did you go to Brandon with your eyes closed. ??

Get out of bed the wrong side, Sidney? A light-hearted remark about how many autographs of one rider you need, and off you go on one! Calm down, calm down!

Anyway, you're wrong, Sidney - what I said was that in my opinion Ole Olsen rode for himself and could never be considered a team player in the mould of a Nigel Boocock or a Chris Harris

Yes, I saw him team ride, particularly mini-Ole Alf Busk, but I still stick by my original comment, which you deviously - or erroneously - misquoted

Not a barney Iris, but the Red was taking the pee he did say Olsen could not not team ride if so when he watched he must of been Stevie Wonder in disguise.

That's naughty, Sidney - and the word is "have", not "of"

Not taking the pee at all, see my correct quote which did not refer to being able to team ride

[Fourentee]

I recall a couple of Scandinavian visitors of a certain age at Wolves just a few seasons back making a beeline for the pits to get a key autograph. They had one target in mind and were delighted both to get the signature and enjoy an extended chat with their hero -- not the current stars but Alan Grahame, latterly a machine examiner at Monmore.

Five years ago Peter Collins was guest of honour at a classic bike show in Shropshire and I saw him approached by a man for an autograph. The two had one of those "and who should I make it out to?" conversations in the display hall and the man turned to indicate, some distance away, a profoundly disabled young man in a wheelchair. PC promptly bowled over, signed, and chatted to the recipient at length. Top bloke.

[Sidney the robin]

Get out of bed the wrong side, Sidney? A light-hearted remark about how many autographs of one rider you need, and off you go on one! Calm down, calm down!

Anyway, you're wrong, Sidney - what I said was that in my opinion Ole Olsen rode for himself and could never be considered a team player in the mould of a Nigel Boocock or a Chris Harris

Yes, I saw him team ride, particularly mini-Ole Alf Busk, but I still stick by my original comment, which you deviously - or erroneously - misquoted

 

That's naughty, Sidney - and the word is "have", not "of"

Not taking the pee at all, see my correct quote which did not refer to being able to team ride

Maybe i overeacted so i opologise for that Midland but people who get Autographs dont just get it once do they?? Also you are so wrong about Olsen as a team rider superb i will name them all again who benefited by riding with him.Stancl,Moleneax,Busk,Miller,Guglielmi,Nicholaisen, Shirra,Knudsen ask Gary Newbon who was on central sport if he was a team rider or not.!!!!!!

[Midland Red]

OK Sidney!

 

I've never known anyone collecting duplicate autographs, but I'll concede to you if folk do

 

Re Ole Olsen, I don't think I ever mentioned "team riding", other than to answer you by saying I have seen him team ride

 

I stand by my opinion that he was not a team player in the mould of Boocock or Harris

 

As for Gary Newbon - don't get me started!

[Triple.H.]

I recall a couple of Scandinavian visitors of a certain age at Wolves just a few seasons back making a beeline for the pits to get a key autograph. They had one target in mind and were delighted both to get the signature and enjoy an extended chat with their hero -- not the current stars but Alan Grahame, latterly a machine examiner at Monmore.

Five years ago Peter Collins was guest of honour at a classic bike show in Shropshire and I saw him approached by a man for an autograph. The two had one of those "and who should I make it out to?" conversations in the display hall and the man turned to indicate, some distance away, a profoundly disabled young man in a wheelchair. PC promptly bowled over, signed, and chatted to the recipient at length. Top bloke.

I bumped into PC at Cardiff 2016 in the street outside Cardiff and had my photo taken with him while thanking him for the racing memories.

 

Went in a nearby pub and had my photo taken with Gary Havelock

Another very nice bloke who had plenty of time for the fans wanting to have a chat with him

 

Whoops I forgot to say even though I hated those bloody Heathens from Cradley

Alan Grahame and Phil Collins were probably the best team riding duo in every meeting I saw them in.

Edited September 13, 2017 by Triple.H.

[Bald Bloke]

I recall a couple of Scandinavian visitors of a certain age at Wolves just a few seasons back making a beeline for the pits to get a key autograph. They had one target in mind and were delighted both to get the signature and enjoy an extended chat with their hero -- not the current stars but Alan Grahame, latterly a machine examiner at Monmore.

Five years ago Peter Collins was guest of honour at a classic bike show in Shropshire and I saw him approached by a man for an autograph. The two had one of those "and who should I make it out to?" conversations in the display hall and the man turned to indicate, some distance away, a profoundly disabled young man in a wheelchair. PC promptly bowled over, signed, and chatted to the recipient at length. Top bloke.

Great from PC.I got Ivan Mauger's once,but guess he was in a hurry, as all I got was Ivan

Edited September 14, 2017 by Bald Bloke

[Gresham]

OK Sidney!

 

I've never known anyone collecting duplicate autographs, but I'll concede to you if folk do

 

Re Ole Olsen, I don't think I ever mentioned "team riding", other than to answer you by saying I have seen him team ride

 

I stand by my opinion that he was not a team player in the mould of Boocock or Harris

 

As for Gary Newbon - don't get me started!

I remember sitting next to Shane Warne at an Aussie v Bangladesh game in Cardiff...I know him through him playing for Imperial before he was famous before anyone asks.

 

This guy came up to him about a dozen times during the course of the day, asking him for his autograph.

 

I cunningly checked on ebay, and he had already started listing them that morning.

 

You get the same with people outside football training grounds...serial collectors that sell often to overseas fans.

 

I've collected speedway riders signatures when a kid...but never since.

 

But have got Cricket, Golf and F1 when the occasion has arisen. Made a pretty penny when flogging them on in later years. Pays for your day out :-)

[Grachan]

Great from PC.I got Ivan Mauger's once,but guess he was in a hurry, as all I got was Ivan

 

You did pretty well. All I got was a squiggle.

[Midland Red]

My ex-mother in law gave me her autograph book many years ago as it contained some autographs she'd obtained at Brandon when she used to go as a youngster

They turned out to be from 1930, and include Jack Parker, Squib Burton and . . . Tom Farndon!

Needless to say, it's a treasured possession - I wonder if it has any monetary value?

[Bald Bloke]

Some really oldies there Midland Red..

I have the following...

 

Ian Turner, Micheal Lohmann, Derek Harrison, David Gagen, John Louis, Dave Morton, Carl Glover, Terry Betts, Richard Hellsen, Pete Smith, Billy Sanders, Mike Lee, Ole Olsen, Billy Burton, Bent Rassmussen, Craig Pendelbury, Peter Wordingham, Doug Wyer, Reg Wilson, Rodger Johns, Fritz Koppe, Larry Ross, Mick Hines, Colin Richardson, Stefan Salomonsson, Bob Mouncer, Keith White, Tom Owen, Mike Lanham, Kelly Moran, Bobby Beaton, Ivan Mauger(Not seen his signature,but think I just got Ivan), Jimmy Macmillan, Alan Grahame, Bruce Penhall, David Sheilds and John Hack.

 

I remember Derek Harrison arriving at Lynn in a beat up silver MK2 Cortina,with his bike on a rack on the back.It conked out 30 yards from the pits.So he just put it in gear and held the key on and the starter motor pulled it into the pits lol.

Edited September 19, 2017 by Bald Bloke

[Triple.H.]

Derek Superted Harrison was a bloody great entertainer.

I think he did a few amateur meetings a couple of years back

[Bald Bloke]

Derek Superted Harrison was a bloody great entertainer.

I think he did a few amateur meetings a couple of years back

Must be 60 ish now.Just checked 58 years young.

Edited September 19, 2017 by Bald Bloke

[Triple.H.]

I guess so