Sidney the robin Posted February 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 2 hours ago, steve roberts said: ...as usual, Sid, another good thread with lots of memories! Been told at home Steve endless times that i am a Dinosaur and that Barry Briggs and Stanley Matthews have both now retired.!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted February 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 1 hour ago, B.V 72 said: 1972 was my 1st season Mauger was a God.The Belle vue team of that year was I m o the best I have seen to date only lost 2 and drew 1 away all season.What an introduction to the sport I was hooked then and still am today.45 season later and in my mind 1972 has never been bettered the memories of that season will be with me for the rest of my life. I would say the Vue 72 side just had the edge on the Cradley 83 side both great sides.It just makes you wonder if the late great Dent Oliver had not have passed on how much more silverwear would the Vue have won.He produced a conveyor belt of talent for his club over a period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.V 72 Posted February 15, 2018 Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 48 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said: I would say the Vue 72 side just had the edge on the Cradley 83 side both great sides.It just makes you wonder if the late great Dent Oliver had not have passed on how much more silverwear would the Vue have won.He produced a conveyor belt of talent for his club over a period. How could I have not included the late great Dent Oliver in my post shame on me. Yes that's one of the reasons I think the 72 team was one of the greats because 5 of team were home grown talent plus Sjosten who was as good as.All down to Dent Oliver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted February 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 1 hour ago, B.V 72 said: How could I have not included the late great Dent Oliver in my post shame on me. Yes that's one of the reasons I think the 72 team was one of the greats because 5 of team were home grown talent plus Sjosten who was as good as.All down to Dent Oliver. Would they allow training schools on a Saturday now BV, ? with health and safety and noise issues i doubt it that is one of the reasons young riders are not coming through now not anough track time.With the old second halves quite a few novices come through the system reached there level now most of the talent are Moto cross and grass riders be great to have tracks open to all classes bikes to rent and who knows who might come through a pipe dream i know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Central Posted February 15, 2018 Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 The famous Belle Vue training schools were on Monday nights at Hyde Road. Bizarre really that the in those days the league meeting went on prime Saturday evening and the training school on a dead Monday. Whereas today the team has to race on in the Monday graveyard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nw42 Posted February 15, 2018 Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 4 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said: Would they allow training schools on a Saturday now BV, ? with health and safety and noise issues i doubt it that is one of the reasons young riders are not coming through now not anough track time.With the old second halves quite a few novices come through the system reached there level now most of the talent are Moto cross and grass riders be great to have tracks open to all classes bikes to rent and who knows who might come through a pipe dream i know. You never know Sid, the NSS was just a pipe dream as far as plenty were concerned, there was originally talk of training schools being operated. In an ideal world it would be a fantastic way of welcoming Chris Morton back into the fold, all those years of experience and track-craft would be put to the best possible use and Chris would be where he belongs in some capacity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nw42 Posted February 15, 2018 Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 3 minutes ago, Grand Central said: The famous Belle Vue training schools were on Monday nights at Hyde Road. Bizarre really that the in those days the league meeting went on prime Saturday evening and the training school on a dead Monday. Whereas today the team has to race on in the Monday graveyard. They were held throughout the close season on Saturday mornings/afternoons, saved on floodlight costs I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted February 15, 2018 Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 4 hours ago, Sidney the robin said: Been told at home Steve endless times that i am a Dinosaur and that Barry Briggs and Stanley Matthews have both now retired.!!!! ...nowt wrong with that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted February 15, 2018 Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 4 hours ago, Sidney the robin said: I would say the Vue 72 side just had the edge on the Cradley 83 side both great sides.It just makes you wonder if the late great Dent Oliver had not have passed on how much more silverwear would the Vue have won.He produced a conveyor belt of talent for his club over a period. I would agree the Belle Vue side of 1972 were exceptional and I well remember the time they came to Cowley and thumped us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted February 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 5 hours ago, nw42 said: You never know Sid, the NSS was just a pipe dream as far as plenty were concerned, there was originally talk of training schools being operated. In an ideal world it would be a fantastic way of welcoming Chris Morton back into the fold, all those years of experience and track-craft would be put to the best possible use and Chris would be where he belongs in some capacity. You are the only one on all threads who have actually said give Chris a chance to comeback in some capacity.Myself i would love it if the sport would get Chris get involved again i would encourage that tomorrow but it won't happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno Posted February 15, 2018 Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 I started going in 75 but still remember Ivan being very special that year, some might say he was past his best after that but didn't he win another couple of world championships after that!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted February 15, 2018 Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 2 minutes ago, bruno said: I started going in 75 but still remember Ivan being very special that year, some might say he was past his best after that but didn't he win another couple of world championships after that!!!! Ivan put in a storming 1975 season and his league form was top notch...if I recall he lost some weight thru' a fitness regime and it played against him towards the end of the season and the World Final at Wembley when beaten by John Louis during a run-off for third (I think that he was suffering with exhaustion by then?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno Posted February 15, 2018 Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 I went to the 78 world final when if memory serves me right Ivan was the current world champ I think, I stand to be corrected tho. He had a nightmare that night falling in one race. As a youngster of 17 I was gutted. Then I realised all Ole had to do was win he's last 2 races to be champ which he did. I think Ole was still at Wolves that year so I was not happy. Stand to be corrected on any of the above due to memory and a night up the pub 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmauger Posted February 16, 2018 Report Share Posted February 16, 2018 (edited) Yeah, Ivan's bike was slowing the entire race, the engine was gradually seizing up, though he did well to block the track for as long as he did. The following Ole Olsen & Gordon Kennett went past either side going into turn 3, by this time Ivan's bike had pretty much stopped, Olsen went outside but Kennett clipped him whilst going past in the inside, causing him to fall. I wasn't there unfortunately but saw the highlights on TV soon after the meet had ended.... Edited February 17, 2018 by martinmauger belated spelling 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted February 16, 2018 Report Share Posted February 16, 2018 4 hours ago, martinmauger said: Yeah, Ivan's bike was slowing the entire race, the engine was gradually seizing up, though he did well to block the track for as long as he did. The following Ole Olsen & Gordon Kennett went past either side going into turn 3, by this time Ivan's bike had pretty much stopped, Olsen went outside but Kennett clipped him whilst going past in the inside, causing him to fall. I wasn't there unfortunetly but saw the highlights on TV soon after the meet had ended.... ...I missed this final as I was in Jersey (as my brother constantly reminds me!). As an Oxford and White City fan obviously Gordon was my choice that year...and he got very close to becoming champion (strange that his potential 'easy' race he allowed Ila Teromaa to beat him) as he out shone more established candidates that day. Never liked Olsen and it would have been interested if they had met in a rub-off for the title? Ivan admitted that his bike was slowing and to his credit he never blamed Gordon for clipping him as he passed by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted February 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2018 1 hour ago, steve roberts said: ...I missed this final as I was in Jersey (as my brother constantly reminds me!). As an Oxford and White City fan obviously Gordon was my choice that year...and he got very close to becoming champion (strange that his potential 'easy' race he allowed Ila Teromaa to beat him) as he out shone more established candidates that day. Never liked Olsen and it would have been interested if they had met in a rub-off for the title? Ivan admitted that his bike was slowing and to his credit he never blamed Gordon for clipping him as he passed by. It was not the best of Finals i really wanted Lee or Autrey to win it but it was not to be also supported Jan Andersson but he struggled and only scored 3 points.Wembley as an occasion was something else the racing not the best but the Atmosphere was something else to be fair though Len Silver did produce a great track for the 81 final.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted February 16, 2018 Report Share Posted February 16, 2018 2 hours ago, steve roberts said: ...I missed this final as I was in Jersey (as my brother constantly reminds me!). As an Oxford and White City fan obviously Gordon was my choice that year...and he got very close to becoming champion (strange that his potential 'easy' race he allowed Ila Teromaa to beat him) as he out shone more established candidates that day. Never liked Olsen and it would have been interested if they had met in a rub-off for the title? Ivan admitted that his bike was slowing and to his credit he never blamed Gordon for clipping him as he passed by. I think he played for it, actually, to try and get a re-run. Didn't he stay down on the track, too, to get the race stopped but the ref let it carry on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted February 16, 2018 Report Share Posted February 16, 2018 29 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said: It was not the best of Finals i really wanted Lee or Autrey to win it but it was not to be also supported Jan Andersson but he struggled and only scored 3 points.Wembley as an occasion was something else the racing not the best but the Atmosphere was something else to be fair though Len Silver did produce a great track for the 81 final.. I was there, supporting Jan, too. I remember thinking he looked absolutely terrified on the truck at the beginning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmauger Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 17 hours ago, Grachan said: I think he played for it, actually, to try and get a re-run. Didn't he stay down on the track, too, to get the race stopped but the ref let it carry on? Maybe, but races often continued with a rider laid on the track in those days . Kennett & Olsen were effectivley 'ganging up' on Ivan from behind and were going to get by sooner or later and, no, he never blamed Kennett for his fall. Whilst on the deck, conveniently near the pit gate, Ivan began planning for his 1979 assault on the title. Incedentally, I read somehere that Olsen had a 'special' JAWA prepared for that 1978 Final and the engine blew up in the next meeting.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 Certain people wrote Ivan off as a major (no pun intended!) contender after the 1978 Final but he came back with a vengeance to win in Poland in 1979. He had a great year in 1979...not only lifting the Individual title but also winning the Team Cup leading New Zealand (which gave him great personal pleasure sticking two figures up to the authorities!) and of course almost leading Hull to the League Championship which they should have won if it hadn't been for the inexcusable absence of certain riders in key matches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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