briggo Posted January 30, 2019 Report Share Posted January 30, 2019 Martin Ashby, Bob Kilby, Clive Hitch, Pete Munday, Mike Broadbank, Mike Keen, Geoff Bouchard, Bernie Leigh, Peter Collins and Terry Betts. Slight Swindon bias I will admit 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted January 30, 2019 Report Share Posted January 30, 2019 (edited) 4 hours ago, iris123 said: I recall attending a Bank Holiday home and away against Oxford where Roger was making an early appearance for us and Bobby McNeil for you and there was a comparison between the two.One announcer,possibly the Oxford one was trying to make out they had made the better signing.Bobby was something of a disappointment.I thought he would go on to better things,But was it an injury that stopped his development? Eastbourne did an amazing job turning out young talent for the sport in this period Bobby McNeil signed for Swindon in 1975 I think. He spent the whole year at reserve and didn't do as expected until the final match of the season, when he suddenly top scored with 14 points. The following year, he continued as he left of at the end of 75 and became a good heatleader for the Robins for a couple of years until injuring his coccyx in a crash, which halted his progress. I remember it well, as it was how I learned what a coccyx was, so it was not only an unfortunate injury but it was also very educational. Pretty sure his average went over 8.00 at some point. I always enjoyed his spotty face mask in particular. He moved on to Hackney after that. I seem to remember reading he lost interest and quit speedway because of Vic Harding's crash. Edited January 30, 2019 by Grachan 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pugwash Posted January 30, 2019 Report Share Posted January 30, 2019 Peter craven, mort, PC, Joe screen, Andy Smith, Mark loram, Kenny Carter, Mike Lee, Stoney, Gary Stead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OveFundinFan Posted January 31, 2019 Report Share Posted January 31, 2019 No particular order. Peter Craven, Peter Collins, Chris Morton, Martin Ashby, Arnold Hayley, Clive Featherby, Dave Morton, Simon Wigg, George Hunter, Malcolm Simmons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Warren Posted January 31, 2019 Report Share Posted January 31, 2019 Alan Hunt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovalman Posted January 31, 2019 Report Share Posted January 31, 2019 Craven The Boococks Ashby Betts Hitch Broadbank Wilson Steady Woffy Bomber Scotty Rico are the ones I've seen ride Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 31, 2019 Report Share Posted January 31, 2019 40 minutes ago, auntie doris said: Craven The Boococks Ashby Betts Hitch Broadbank Wilson Steady Woffy Bomber Scotty Rico are the ones I've seen ride That's an interesting new speedway name! Who does Steady Woffy Bomber ride for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BL65 Posted February 3, 2019 Report Share Posted February 3, 2019 Brian Brett, Ron How, Bob Andrews, Colin Pratt, Roy Trigg, Ray Wilson, Terry Betts, Peter Craven, Ivor Hughes, Ron Mountford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovalman Posted February 3, 2019 Report Share Posted February 3, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, BL65 said: Brian Brett, Ron How, Bob Andrews, Colin Pratt, Roy Trigg, Ray Wilson, Terry Betts, Peter Craven, Ivor Hughes, Ron Mountford Was chatting to Colin at Swindon last year, about the time he beat Knutsson at New Cross 63, PL Select v Southampton.The penultimate meeting at the Pan. Edited February 3, 2019 by auntie doris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BL65 Posted February 3, 2019 Report Share Posted February 3, 2019 5 hours ago, auntie doris said: Was chatting to Colin at Swindon last year, about the time he beat Knutsson at New Cross 63, PL Select v Southampton.The penultimate meeting at the Pan. He could also have mentioned the time he beat Ivan Mauger twice at Cradley Heath in 1970, in heats 11 and 13 of a league match. At that stage Ivan was riding in his 7th meeting of the season and had taken part in 26 races, winning 24, paid for a win behind Soren Sjosten in one race and failing to finish due to machine trouble in the other. A memorable performance by CP. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest compost Posted February 4, 2019 Report Share Posted February 4, 2019 Mine would be Jack Parker, George Newton, Joe Abbott, Basil Harris, Bernie Leigh, Martin Ashby, Terry Betts, Dave Mullett, Lee Richardson & Carl Stonehewer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 6, 2019 Report Share Posted February 6, 2019 On 2/4/2019 at 1:30 PM, compost said: Mine would be Jack Parker, George Newton, Joe Abbott, Basil Harris, Bernie Leigh, Martin Ashby, Terry Betts, Dave Mullett, Lee Richardson & Carl Stonehewer I first saw Jack Parker at New Cross in April 1946. George Newton when he made his post-war return also New Cross in 1948. Joe Abbott when he captained Harringay in a match at New Cross in 1947. Of the other riders named I saw Martin Ashby riding for Swindon at Wimbledon circa 1980s. I can also recall that I saw Terry Betts but cannot pinpoint for who although it would have been at Wimbledon circa 1980s. The other riders with due respects to them are just speedway names to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted February 6, 2019 Report Share Posted February 6, 2019 On 2/4/2019 at 2:30 PM, compost said: Mine would be Jack Parker, George Newton, Joe Abbott, Basil Harris, Bernie Leigh, Martin Ashby, Terry Betts, Dave Mullett, Lee Richardson & Carl Stonehewer Think I can safely say I have at least heard of,if never seen,all the riders named on this thread,but Basil Harris is a new one for me!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 6, 2019 Report Share Posted February 6, 2019 On 2/3/2019 at 9:36 AM, BL65 said: Brian Brett, Ron How, Bob Andrews, Colin Pratt, Roy Trigg, Ray Wilson, Terry Betts, Peter Craven, Ivor Hughes, Ron Mountford From this list the only rider I never saw is Ivor Hughes. I won't detail when I actually saw the others for the first time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted February 6, 2019 Report Share Posted February 6, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, iris123 said: Think I can safely say I have at least heard of,if never seen,all the riders named on this thread,but Basil Harris is a new one for me!! This may surprise you, but he is an ex-Don! Never really established himself there, but was at Plough Lane in the immediate post-war years. Also rode for Aldershot, Eastbourne, and Tamworth. Steve Edited February 6, 2019 by chunky 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted February 6, 2019 Report Share Posted February 6, 2019 I was wondering why he turns up in someone’s favourites.Was he known as a spectacular rider or a good team rider etc.Just out of interest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted February 6, 2019 Report Share Posted February 6, 2019 (edited) 4 hours ago, iris123 said: I was wondering why he turns up in someone’s favourites.Was he known as a spectacular rider or a good team rider etc.Just out of interest As I said, he never really established himself at the higher level, but I think he was decent in the lower leagues. From what I have seen in a very few photos, he seemed a little ungainly, although that wasn't unusual at that time with the foot-forward style. Obviously, you can find info on speedway researcher, although it is fragmented because of the different teams. If you Google his name, there doesn't seem to be any singular concise resource, and being well before my time, I can't really add too much. As far as being a "favourite", there is more to it than simple ability and achievement. For instance, one of the first names on a list of favourites for me would be Jim Tebby. Jim was a good family friend, and we would meet at his house, then go to Ron How's pub and play darts! One of the loveliest guys I ever knew, and that is why he is a personal favourite of mine. Basil could have been the same... I just wish it was easier to find stuff on riders like him. Steve Edited February 6, 2019 by chunky 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midland Red Posted February 6, 2019 Report Share Posted February 6, 2019 Nigel Boocock, Les Owen, Peter Craven, Terry Betts, Michael Lee, Kenny Carter, Mark Loram, Simon Wigg, Lee Richardson, Chris Harris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted February 6, 2019 Report Share Posted February 6, 2019 4 hours ago, iris123 said: I was wondering why he turns up in someone’s favourites.Was he known as a spectacular rider or a good team rider etc.Just out of interest Doing a little research, and it seems Basil quite a name in the National League Division Three. In 1947, he was the backbone of the Eastbourne team, and won both the Supporters Cup and a qualifying round of the British Riders Championship. He then switched to Tamworth, where he was a heat leader, and then moved to Aldershot where he was a star for several years. He won the 1950 Easter Cup at Tongham against the likes of Jack Instead, Pat Flanagan, and Vic Gooden. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest compost Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 On 2/4/2019 at 1:30 PM, compost said: Jack Parker, George Newton, Joe Abbott, Basil Harris, Bernie Leigh, Martin Ashby, Terry Betts, Dave Mullett, Lee Richardson & Carl Stonehewer I choose the above as the title of this thread was 'favourite British riders' rather than 'best' or 'greatest'. They are My favourites. I have never seen 3 of them ride (and a fourth only once in a demonstration) but that doesn't stop me from looking out for them when I see results or articles. I cheer them on in their endeavours even if those endeavours happened 50, 60, 70 years ago, to me it doesn't matter !!! For me, Jack is the greatest British Speedway rider of all time and quite possibly the greatest Speedway rider ever - that is my opinion and I know others will disagree. Ho hum. My grandfather spannered for George in his very early days. I wish I had managed to get him to record his stories about this but alas didn't and they are now gone. To overcome his disabilities and continue (or return to if you like) racing was just amazing. Not quite the fairy tale ending the story needed though. And a leg-trailer to boot too ! Joe is just one of those riders that kept on getting up and coming back (until that awful day when he didn't). He epitomises the rough, tough, hard rider of the early days. Basil ? Well I have never seen him ride and only know about him from the history books. But he was Our mainstay, Our highest points scorer and the person who took the most rides for us during our short track life. I refer to Aldershot btw. No way could I miss him out. He was one of the top NL Division 3 riders between 1947 and 1952. Some will sneer at choosing a 3rd Division rider (it is my choice) but why not ? They provide us with entertainment, thrills and excitement so it's a fair choice (in imho). GOBL is the first of the riders listed that I have actually seen in League action. He was a trier and a very nice chap. In my eyes he was way above riders like DJ and JD, not in skill or achievements but in that something that drew me to the sport. RiP Bernie. Crash, Bettsie and Mullett are all riders that I have admired and who were team men (or if you'd prefer, appeared to be team men from the view of a total on-looker/outsider). Lee was a rider that I saw in his first season at Reading. He was destined for greatness. Sadly not to be. Carl as a 2nd Division rider flew the flag in those early GP's for all those who were never going to be stars. I think we need our underdogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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