chunky Posted October 5, 2019 Report Share Posted October 5, 2019 5 minutes ago, Gemini said: Remember when Nicki Pedersen took him and the other Coventry rider off like skittles? Billy wasn't very happy. I met Billy a few times, and he seemed a really nice guy. I tell you though, if you never saw him without a shirt, you have no idea just how muscular he is! I wouldn't want to upset him... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted October 5, 2019 Report Share Posted October 5, 2019 7 hours ago, johnyson66 said: My all time favorite rider was the brilliant Kelly Moran of the USA, he was just magic on a speedway bike so smooth it was effortless, I would have picked K Carter but didn't for obvious reasons , my favorite Tiger or Bear is and I'm going to pick 2 because I can't split them Bruce Forrester is first just always remember thexactly red and white scarf tied round his neck and he was our no1 when I first started going , and then Mark Courtney just super smooth on the bike and made it look so easy, was going to pick Berie Collier or Budgie but didn't for obvious reasons Bruce had Alzeimers towards the end of his life and died in 2006. I have photos in my Speedway albums on Facebook of Bruce, Charlie Barsby and Alan Cowland at a Leicester reunion in November 2004. Charlie was my favourite rider and only ever rode for the Leicester Hunters throughout his career. He died this year aged 88. Very sadly Alan committed suicide only 2 months after the reunion. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted October 5, 2019 Report Share Posted October 5, 2019 8 minutes ago, Gemini said: Bruce had Alzeimers towards the end of his life and died in 2006. I have photos in my Speedway albums on Facebook of Bruce, Charlie Barsby and Alan Cowland at a Leicester reunion in November 2004. Charlie was my favourite rider and only ever rode for the Leicester Hunters throughout his career. He died this year aged 88. Very sadly Alan committed suicide only 2 months after the reunion. Yeah, I remember when we lost Alan, but that is sad to hear about Charlie... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted October 6, 2019 Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 6 hours ago, chunky said: I met Billy a few times, and he seemed a really nice guy. I tell you though, if you never saw him without a shirt, you have no idea just how muscular he is! I wouldn't want to upset him... I seem to remember that he trashed the changing room at Cowley on one occasion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyson66 Posted October 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 (edited) 7 hours ago, chunky said: I met Billy a few times, and he seemed a really nice guy. I tell you though, if you never saw him without a shirt, you have no idea just how muscular he is! I wouldn't want to upset him... 32 minutes ago, steve roberts said: I seem to remember that he trashed the changing room at Cowley on one occasion? There was a good few riders like that , the obvious one who rode for Middlesbrough was Mad Dog Dicko (Martin Dixon ) not the most gifted rider but always gave a 100% and when he lost a race always wanted a few words with the rider who beat him , always remember him having a few spats with the great Joe Owen who used to beat him 19 races out of 20 , Edited October 6, 2019 by johnyson66 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSC67 Posted October 6, 2019 Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 There where some good riders at 'Boro at that time , Mad Dog , Mark Courtney, Steve Willcock , Daz Sumner & Buzz Burows plus a young Gary Havelock and a few more I've probably forgotten . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyson66 Posted October 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 4 minutes ago, DSC67 said: There where some good riders at 'Boro at that time , Mad Dog , Mark Courtney, Steve Willcock , Daz Sumner & Buzz Burows plus a young Gary Havelock and a few more I've probably forgotten . Mark Fiora, Geoff Pusey, Brian Havelock and we had some poor riders as well Bernie the bolt Collier who to me seemed like a giraffe trying to ride a bike haha he was a trier though I'll give him that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted October 6, 2019 Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 10 minutes ago, DSC67 said: There where some good riders at 'Boro at that time , Mad Dog , Mark Courtney, Steve Willcock , Daz Sumner & Buzz Burows plus a young Gary Havelock and a few more I've probably forgotten . Good old Tom Leadbitter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyson66 Posted October 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 36 minutes ago, steve roberts said: Good old Tom Leadbitter! Tim and Tom Swales, Frank Auffret, Mark Lemon , Eric Boocock who rode well before I was going 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted October 6, 2019 Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 9 minutes ago, johnyson66 said: Tim and Tom Swales, Frank Auffret, Mark Lemon , Eric Boocock who rode well before I was going Mark Lemon...an Oxford favourite! Frank and "Crazy Jack" Millen were the best of enemies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted October 6, 2019 Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 7 hours ago, steve roberts said: Mark Lemon...an Oxford favourite! Frank and "Crazy Jack" Millen were the best of enemies! Indeed they were. Frank was not very nice about Jack at a Sunderland Reunion a few years back, Very sad. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted October 6, 2019 Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 5 minutes ago, The White Knight said: Indeed they were. Frank was not very nice about Jack at a Sunderland Reunion a few years back, Very sad. Miss your input "The White Knight!" 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted October 6, 2019 Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 I can't believe all these 'Boro fans on here, and NOBODY has mentioned the Cleveland Park legend himself, Pete Reading... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted October 6, 2019 Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 9 hours ago, johnyson66 said: Mark Fiora, Geoff Pusey, Brian Havelock and we had some poor riders as well Bernie the bolt Collier who to me seemed like a giraffe trying to ride a bike haha he was a trier though I'll give him that That is probably the best description I have seen of Bernie... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triple.H. Posted October 6, 2019 Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 David Shields Oxford Cheetahs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted October 6, 2019 Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 Jens Rasmussen - Oxford "Cheetahs" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyson66 Posted October 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 1 hour ago, chunky said: I can't believe all these 'Boro fans on here, and NOBODY has mentioned the Cleveland Park legend himself, Pete Reading... Yeah your spot on it totally forgot about Pete he rode for us for some years , just tried to look at few things up about him but there's not much on the Internet about him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted October 6, 2019 Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 4 minutes ago, johnyson66 said: Yeah your spot on it totally forgot about Pete he rode for us for some years , just tried to look at few things up about him but there's not much on the Internet about him That's the problem with some of the older riders, particularly from the lower divisions. I'm sure you know Stavvy, and we talk about this on Facebook; nearly every photo he posts has Pete Reading in it somewhere! He really was a part of the furniture... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyson66 Posted October 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 2 hours ago, chunky said: That's the problem with some of the older riders, particularly from the lower divisions. I'm sure you know Stavvy, and we talk about this on Facebook; nearly every photo he posts has Pete Reading in it somewhere! He really was a part of the furniture... Yes I remember stavvy although I doubt he would remember me , my uncle taffy knew him quite well , mention that name when you talk next week always used to stand on the opposite side to the tapes right near the pits , see your a Wimbledon fan I went there once when the individual riders championship was held there , I'm pretty sure it was the late 70s but could have been very early 80s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyson66 Posted October 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2019 3 hours ago, chunky said: I can't believe all these 'Boro fans on here, and NOBODY has mentioned the Cleveland Park legend himself, Pete Reading... Found some pics of Pete on facebook and yeah I remember him now because he had a big conk haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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