Characters of the sixties

[BOBBATH]

This is a great thread-thanks must go to the genius who started it-clearly a gent of much distinction!!! These posts brought back memories indeed-Jim Squibb has got to be up there-I can recall seeing him ride in 1966 or so-in his mid forties(which I then thought was old)- Capn' Jim he was called -like a pirate (but I don't wanna be a pirate-Seinfeld allusion sorry). I'd forgotten about Ron Mountford-I recall him wearing contact lenses  in the early sixties. Not sure if anybody mentioned "Muscles" Les Owen-he came to a bit of a sad end as some of you may recall- saw somebody mention Brian Brett-don't think I would have put him on the list-what do others think. I reckon he retired too early-may have liked his booze too much!! Other names mentioned-Chris Blewett, Chris Julian-always entertaining-wish I could go back in time and watch some of those harum scarum Provincial League meetings again!!

[ch958]

and yet some say we need the stellar names - we don't, we need riders who the crowd identify with and grow to love. 

[The White Knight]

11 hours ago, ch958 said:

and yet some say we need the stellar names - we don't, we need riders who the crowd identify with and grow to love. 

Spot on ch958.

[BOBBATH]

No question white knight-that's what I mean by characters- Mike Watkin was a guy anybody could relate to-had time to talk to everyone-ditto Ernie Baker, Ken Sharples etc etc-also Geoff Penniket (plunkett) always good for a laff!!

[steve roberts]

On 10 May 2018 at 10:12 AM, Sidney the robin said:

Steve Gresham met once and was a nice bloke____  Crump(snr) Bobby Ott, Preben Eriksen were all tough riders but Tim Hunt takes the accolade of being the dirtiest rider i ever saw.

Tim Hunt was a bit of an 'odd ball'. I recall an incident at Smallmead once when he came racing out of the pits on his bike and hit the white kerb and went head over heals!

Interesting interview he gave some years ago when he said he never swore no matter how upset he got over a decision that went against him...although he would argue the case with the ref but in an articulate fashion.

[racers and royals]

6 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

Tim Hunt was a bit of an 'odd ball'. I recall an incident at Smallmead once when he came racing out of the pits on his bike and hit the white kerb and went head over heals!

Interesting interview he gave some years ago when he said he never swore no matter how upset he got over a decision that went against him...although he would argue the case with the ref but in an articulate fashion.

Tim Hunt is a really nice chap.

Edited May 14, 2018 by racers and royals

[chunky]

Quite impressive, actually... On 7 May, Bob started a thread "Characters of the Sixties"; a week later, we are already up to characters of the eighties!!! 

Back to the sixties, and what about one of the hardest of them all, dear old Sverre...

Steve

[steve roberts]

16 minutes ago, chunky said:

Quite impressive, actually... On 7 May, Bob started a thread "Characters of the Sixties"; a week later, we are already up to characters of the eighties!!! 

Back to the sixties, and what about one of the hardest of them all, dear old Sverre...

Steve

...one rider I wished I'd had seen although there was talk that he was considering joining 'The Rebels' but personally I think that it was only that...just talk and Dave Lanning hyping up the story!

[norbold]

Talking of Sverre at West Ham, Christer Lofqvist was another amazing character at Custom House. Their swoops round the outside were the highlights of many a meeting.

[chunky]

6 hours ago, steve roberts said:

...one rider I wished I'd had seen although there was talk that he was considering joining 'The Rebels' but personally I think that it was only that...just talk and Dave Lanning hyping up the story!

Maybe, maybe not, but injuries did take their toll on Sverre. Even with reference to norbold's post above regarding Christer Lofqvist, Christer's English debut was a prime example (I was there, as it was against the Dons). Sverre had just started to find his form when Peter Murray took him off, and he broke his arm.

Another no-nonsense customer was Sandor Levai. Never a superstar, but a 100% trier who never gave an inch, and who on his day could beat anyone. And a nice guy.

Steve

[Sidney the robin]

8 hours ago, norbold said:

Talking of Sverre at West Ham, Christer Lofqvist was another amazing character at Custom House. Their swoops round the outside were the highlights of many a meeting.

Did Stanley Stevens bring the house down once did he beat Ivan ? Can remember reading  Brian Leonard beating Briggo once.

[steve roberts]

1 hour ago, Sidney the robin said:

Did Stanley Stevens bring the house down once did he beat Ivan ? Can remember reading  Brian Leonard beating Briggo once.

... personally, Sid, that was one of the main attractions in my view watching a 'lesser' light beat a 'star'. Despite people groaning about the old T/S rule it did occasionally produce a heroic ride from a second string and/or reserve who managed to beat the tactical move and how it used to bring the house down!

[Sidney the robin]

17 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

... personally, Sid, that was one of the main attractions in my view watching a 'lesser' light beat a 'star'. Despite people groaning about the old T/S rule it did occasionally produce a heroic ride from a second string and/or reserve who managed to beat the tactical move and how it used to bring the house down!

I was exactly the same Steve, three races that always stuck in my mind over the years was Bob Paulson beating Ivan in heat 1 at Hyde Rd  Rolf Gramstad beating Ivan at the Abbey,and Carl Blackbird beating and having a good record against Hans at Cowley.

[norbold]

3 hours ago, Sidney the robin said:

Did Stanley Stevens bring the house down once did he beat Ivan ? Can remember reading  Brian Leonard beating Briggo once.

I don't remember Stan beating Ivan Mauger. I was there the night he beat Briggo though. That brought the house down. Can't remember Brian Leonard doing it, but he may have done.

[Sidney the robin]

5 hours ago, norbold said:

I don't remember Stan beating Ivan Mauger. I was there the night he beat Briggo though. That brought the house down. Can't remember Brian Leonard doing it, but he may have done.

Spot on Norbold      Stan beat Briggo in heat 5 on  15/07/69 ( Briggs scored 14)and i was mistaken about Brian Leonard  beating Briggo it was in 1970 that i was thinking of  that was when Peter Bradshaw and Olle Nygren got a 5.1 over Barry.   Norbold any chance you could look up on your West Ham programme collection as i have a few with Leonard leading Briggo on the front cover it was a 1968 programmme but just wondered if the picture was definitely that year.

Edited May 15, 2018 by Sidney the robin

[The White Knight]

Charlie Monk, Reidar Eide

[norbold]

19 hours ago, Sidney the robin said:

Spot on Norbold      Stan beat Briggo in heat 5 on  15/07/69 ( Briggs scored 14)and i was mistaken about Brian Leonard  beating Briggo it was in 1970 that i was thinking of  that was when Peter Bradshaw and Olle Nygren got a 5.1 over Barry.   Norbold any chance you could look up on your West Ham programme collection as i have a few with Leonard leading Briggo on the front cover it was a 1968 programmme but just wondered if the picture was definitely that year.

The only 1968 programme I can find with a photo of a West Ham rider leading a Swindon rider on the front cover is for the West Ham v. Wimbledon meeting on 30 July 1968, which was a special 40th anniversary meeting. Is that the one you mean? I hadn't realised it was Leonard leading Briggs! All the other programmes that year just have a single rider portrait on the front. However, the photo on the 30 July meeting is a repeat of a photo first used for the final meeting of the 1967 season, on 17 October, against Long Eaton.

West Ham raced Swindon twice at home in 1967 and Barry Briggs beat Brian Leonard every time they met. Briggo also beat Leonard at Swindon.

[Sidney the robin]

44 minutes ago, norbold said:

The only 1968 programme I can find with a photo of a West Ham rider leading a Swindon rider on the front cover is for the West Ham v. Wimbledon meeting on 30 July 1968, which was a special 40th anniversary meeting. Is that the one you mean? I hadn't realised it was Leonard leading Briggs! All the other programmes that year just have a single rider portrait on the front. However, the photo on the 30 July meeting is a repeat of a photo first used for the final meeting of the 1967 season, on 17 October, against Long Eaton.

West Ham raced Swindon twice at home in 1967 and Barry Briggs beat Brian Leonard every time they met. Briggo also beat Leonard at Swindon.

Thanks Norbold i have the Anniversary meeting 1968  with Leonard and Briggs on the front and the 1967 meeting you talk about i need to get  for my collection.I am missing 8 West Ham home  programmes  between  1967/70. Can  you remember Bradshaw/ Nygren beating Briggo??? thanks again Norbold.

[Tsunami]

On 14/05/2018 at 12:57 AM, BOBBATH said:

No question white knight-that's what I mean by characters- Mike Watkin was a guy anybody could relate to-had time to talk to everyone-ditto Ernie Baker, Ken Sharples etc etc-also Geoff Penniket (plunkett) always good for a laff!!

Quite agree. I was in the same Sunday school, Boys Club and worked for the same company C A Parson's Turbines along with Mike as apprentices, and kept in touch for quite awhile but I believe he now lives in Middlesex. Was a county swimmer and ended his work days as a manager/coach at the southern swimming club. Was also in the same class as his first wife Penny. Was a nice easy going guy, but would not have included him in any list of 'characters'. Loved riding in the wet hence his name of "Mudlark" Watkin, and beat Barry Briggs at Newcastle in the mid 60's on the Monday after Briggo had won the World title on the previous Saturday.

One name not mentioned was Mike Hiftle, formally of Newcastle, but a stalwart of Halifax and Berwick. He was also a member at the same Boys Club as Mike and me, although he was a year or so younger. Mike was a genuine character with his loving and happy smile, and at our same school, he was always up to pranks and was always in trouble. Great fun but.

 

Edited May 16, 2018 by Tsunami

[Triple.H.]

On 15/05/2018 at 10:28 AM, Sidney the robin said:

I was exactly the same Steve, three races that always stuck in my mind over the years was Bob Paulson beating Ivan in heat 1 at Hyde Rd  Rolf Gramstad beating Ivan at the Abbey,and Carl Blackbird beating and having a good record against Hans at Cowley.

3 times in a meeting is a bit better than good.