Gavan Posted April 7, 2019 Report Share Posted April 7, 2019 On 4/6/2019 at 6:26 AM, steve roberts said: I seem to remember that he scored five points...I was there for that final. From only 2 rides I believe 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted April 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2019 What was the closest Bob Kilby ever got to a World Final-anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted April 7, 2019 Report Share Posted April 7, 2019 18 minutes ago, BOBBATH said: What was the closest Bob Kilby ever got to a World Final-anyone know? Probably 1975, Bob - the top four from the British Final qualified for Wembley. Bob started out with two second places, but only finished with five. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted April 7, 2019 Report Share Posted April 7, 2019 21 minutes ago, BOBBATH said: What was the closest Bob Kilby ever got to a World Final-anyone know? Only made 4 British finals,one of which he qualified through to the next round.The Nordic-British at Glasgow in 1971,where he finished 15th.That was it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted April 7, 2019 Report Share Posted April 7, 2019 (edited) 38 minutes ago, iris123 said: Only made 4 British finals,one of which he qualified through to the next round.The Nordic-British at Glasgow in 1971,where he finished 15th.That was it Having read Lee Kilby's superb book on father Bob it became apparent that Bob was more of a team player (like many others during that and subsequent periods) and found it difficult to motivate himself on the World stage. Edited April 7, 2019 by steve roberts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted April 7, 2019 Report Share Posted April 7, 2019 (edited) 52 minutes ago, steve roberts said: Having read Lee Kilby's superb book on father Bob it became apparent that Bob was more of a team player (like many others during that and subsequent periods) and found it difficult to motivate himself on the World stage. Sounds about right. He won a few quali rounds. A couple at Oxford, but guess the semi finals were a big hurdle he seemed to have trouble with. But we shouldn’t forget there were some great riders at the time and the Aussies and New Zealanders were also in the mix I’d put him in the ‘could have’ rather than should have made a world final. He had the ability equal to a lot who did make it Edited April 7, 2019 by iris123 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted April 10, 2019 Report Share Posted April 10, 2019 On 4/5/2019 at 10:32 PM, prodons said: Did Alan Grahame ever qualify for a final? Seem to recall him being reserve in 1984 and scoring a few points. Both Grahame brothers came to my mind too. Andy was also reserve in 1982. Never global superstars, but certainly very competitive at international level for a few years at least. Shame neither bagged an outright final appearance as they were both up and around the same level as the likes of Phil Collins, Les Collins, Neil Evitts, Richard Knight who can all claim to have been finalists. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted April 10, 2019 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2019 Interesting comments which I have greatly enjoyed reading. For the real old timers (like me and Norbold-he's actually younger than me) does anybody know the closest Tommy Miller came to reaching the WF-he was like a meteor but I think after the merging of NL2 and NL1 he seemed to fade-I think he rode for Coventry last off). Also one poster mentioned Ivor Brown -although one of my heroes-king of the Prov. league -I reckon he had reached his peak before 1965 and if not injured would have anyway had trouble maintaining his average in the first year BL-top man though and the scourge of Ivan Mauger!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted April 21, 2019 Report Share Posted April 21, 2019 On 4/10/2019 at 6:33 PM, BOBBATH said: Also one poster mentioned Ivor Brown -although one of my heroes-king of the Prov. league -I reckon he had reached his peak before 1965 and if not injured would have anyway had trouble maintaining his average in the first year BL-top man though and the scourge of Ivan Mauger!!! Ivor Brown averaged 10.00 in 1965; 7.9 in 1966 and 7.5 in 1967. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.D Posted April 21, 2019 Report Share Posted April 21, 2019 (edited) Ron Preston.. 1979..Poole..32..139..277..21..8.58..4F..2P1980..Poole..23..101..214..16..9.11..1F..1P1981..Poole..12..62..110..9..7.68..1F1982..Eastbourne..38..162..354..18..9.18..5F..3P World U21 champion in 1979, quit the sport half injured aged about 24 Edited April 21, 2019 by M.D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted April 21, 2019 Report Share Posted April 21, 2019 1 hour ago, M.D said: Ron Preston.. 1979..Poole..32..139..277..21..8.58..4F..2P1980..Poole..23..101..214..16..9.11..1F..1P1981..Poole..12..62..110..9..7.68..1F1982..Eastbourne..38..162..354..18..9.18..5F..3P World U21 champion in 1979, quit the sport half injured aged about 24 Remember Ron Preston at Arlington...a very classy rider especially his first bend sweeps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.D Posted April 21, 2019 Report Share Posted April 21, 2019 15 minutes ago, steve roberts said: Remember Ron Preston at Arlington...a very classy rider especially his first bend sweeps! Ron had it all. from the gate, from behind, inside and outside.. In the one season at Eastbourne he outshone both Gordon Kennett and Kelly Moran, that took some doing around Arlington in those days.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted April 21, 2019 Report Share Posted April 21, 2019 18 minutes ago, M.D said: Ron had it all. from the gate, from behind, inside and outside.. In the one season at Eastbourne he outshone both Gordon Kennett and Kelly Moran, that took some doing around Arlington in those days.. His average was lower than both though. Or are you saying just at Arlington he was better or more exciting or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted April 21, 2019 Report Share Posted April 21, 2019 1 hour ago, iris123 said: His average was lower than both though. Or are you saying just at Arlington he was better or more exciting or something? I think tha he achieved a higher average around Eastbourne than either Gordon or Kelly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted April 22, 2019 Report Share Posted April 22, 2019 On 4/21/2019 at 5:06 PM, M.D said: Ron Preston.. 1979..Poole..32..139..277..21..8.58..4F..2P1980..Poole..23..101..214..16..9.11..1F..1P1981..Poole..12..62..110..9..7.68..1F1982..Eastbourne..38..162..354..18..9.18..5F..3P World U21 champion in 1979, quit the sport half injured aged about 24 Not someone who immediately sprung to mind, but his league figures are far more impressive than my memory had gave him credit for. Maybe it's because he didn't seem to feature too much in Test Matches or the World Championship. Did he race again in the US or was that it for him? Don't recall the injury either. Fill me in :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted April 23, 2019 Report Share Posted April 23, 2019 9 hours ago, falcace said: Not someone who immediately sprung to mind, but his league figures are far more impressive than my memory had gave him credit for. Maybe it's because he didn't seem to feature too much in Test Matches or the World Championship. Did he race again in the US or was that it for him? Don't recall the injury either. Fill me in :-) It was very disappointing for Eastbourne that neither Gordon, Kelly or Ron turned out for 'The Eagles' in 1983 having all putting in superlative performances the previous season. There was a very interesting interview with Ron in an edition of 'Backtrack' some years ago (I'll hunt it out) but if memory serves he decided not to return to the UK because he was involved in setting up his own speedway in the States. He rode with a knee injury picked up while at Poole which, if I recall, always caused him some issues. A great talent and lost too early in the UK. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted April 23, 2019 Report Share Posted April 23, 2019 How about a World Final of non-World Finallists? Obviously only riders eligible when there was a World Final. I'll have a crack... 1. Bobby Schwartz 2. Alan Grahame 3. Ron Preston 4. Mike Faria 5. Preben Eriksen 6. Bob Kilby 7. Andy Grahame 8. Steve Bastable 9. Peter Ravn 10. Peter Nahlin 11. Bobby Ott 12. Gary Guglielmi 13. Bruce Cribb 14. Lars Gunnestad 15. Neil Collins 16. Mike Bast Hmmm...passable for a Star of Anglia or the like perhaps? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted April 23, 2019 Report Share Posted April 23, 2019 6 hours ago, falcace said: How about a World Final of non-World Finallists? Obviously only riders eligible when there was a World Final. I'll have a crack... 1. Bobby Schwartz 2. Alan Grahame 3. Ron Preston 4. Mike Faria 5. Preben Eriksen 6. Bob Kilby 7. Andy Grahame 8. Steve Bastable 9. Peter Ravn 10. Peter Nahlin 11. Bobby Ott 12. Gary Guglielmi 13. Bruce Cribb 14. Lars Gunnestad 15. Neil Collins 16. Mike Bast Hmmm...passable for a Star of Anglia or the like perhaps? Great idea! 1. Bobby Schwartz 2. Bob Kilby 3. Garry Middleton 4. Ron Preston 5. Vaclav Verner 6. Arne Pander 7. Charlie Monk 8. Jim McMillan 9. Roy Trigg 10. George Hunter 11. Dave Younghusband 12. Sandor Levai 13. Phil Herne 14. Reg Wilson 15. Norman Hunter 16. Andy Grahame ...different list tomorrow probably! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobC Posted April 23, 2019 Report Share Posted April 23, 2019 11 minutes ago, steve roberts said: Great idea! 1. Bobby Schwartz 2. Bob Kilby 3. Garry Middleton 4. Ron Preston 5. Vaclav Verner 6. Arne Pander 7. Charlie Monk 8. Jim McMillan 9. Roy Trigg 10. George Hunter 11. Dave Younghusband 12. Sandor Levai 13. Phil Herne 14. Reg Wilson 15. Norman Hunter 16. Andy Grahame ...different list tomorrow probably! Vaclav Verner was in Los Angeles,1982. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy Bird Posted April 23, 2019 Report Share Posted April 23, 2019 54 minutes ago, BobC said: Vaclav Verner was in Los Angeles,1982. Jim McMillan got 2 rides as a reserve in 1972 at wembley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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