Your best speedway year

[customhouseregular]

6 minutes ago, E I Addio said:

I’ve never heard of sidecar racing ever being staged at Custom House, and certainly no fatalities. To the best of my knowledge there were four fatalities, all solo riders, two in the mid sixties and two in the early fifties. Three, I think fell and were hit by following riders, and of course Teo who hit the safety fence. 

Of course there were those who died in the Lokoren tragedy.  That hit me very hard. I really thought Peter Bradshaw and especially Martin Piddock had big futures in the sport. Peter had a beautiful classy style that I loved watching. Martin was already a quality grasstracker when he came to Custom House and I really felt he was going to be a second Malcolm Simmons.
 

 

My recollection is this was a one-off second half event, though I edhave no record of it. Probably dreamed it. I don’t think I ever really got over Lokeren. 1964-1971... lots of good memories and some really bad ones, but I will always look back on my Custom House years fondly.

[norbold]

36 minutes ago, customhouseregular said:

I never really took to Olle but Chister was magic. I don’t know if I dreamed this or imagined it but I have a memory of seeing two sidecar speedway riders tragically lose their lives at Custom House. I have seen mention of it anywhere so probably a false memory. No doubt Norbold would know.

I've never come across that - that's not to say it didn't happen, but I have no knowledge of it.

[andout]

The only sidecar death I remember was at Wimbledon during the National Press Trophy meeting in 1967.....Damn, I can ever remember his name Chris Jackson!

[fatface]

1 hour ago, steve roberts said:

Just checking John Berry's "More Confessions" and he broke down into three categories when wishing to come up with his best ever. They were for "Skill",  "Equipment" & "Mental Strength" 

Mauger 9 - 10 - 9-5

Rickardsson 9-5 - 9.5 - 9.5

Nielsen 9.5 - 9.5 - 9

Briggs 9 - 8.5 - 10

Fundin 9.5 - 8.5 - 9.5

Olsen 9.5 - 9 - 9

Penhall 9 - 9.5 - 9

Collins 9 - 9 - 9

Gundersen 9 - 9 -9

j.Crump 9 - 9 - 9

Lee 9.5 - 9.5 - 7

Michanek 9 - 8.5 - 8

His analysis on each rider I found interesting and obviously very much open to personal opinions/observation. Interesting he gave 'Briggo' a ten for "mental strength" but when you read John's close analysis you can see why!

 

Thanks Steve. That's an interesting way to measure them. Of course it's still all subjective whether it be John Berry or any of us plebs 

I too think PC would be higher on skill...or perhaps he is under scoring him based on starting. He could gate, but wasn't consistently lightening...lucky for us! 

When I look at that list, I regard Rickardsson and Penhall of the ones I have seen that are the complete riders. Highly professional, able to win from front and back, fast and great under pressure. To unwittingly poke the hornets nest, I'd put Woffinden along them too in that regard. I'm sure Norbold may have another name or two to any list of "complete" racers. 

[customhouseregular]

55 minutes ago, andout said:

The only sidecar death I remember was at Wimbledon during the National Press Trophy meeting in 1967.....Damn, I can ever remember his name Chris Jackson!

I was at that meeting so this is probably what I am remembering, albeit incorrectly.

[norbold]

1 hour ago, falcace said:

I'm sure Norbold may have another name or two to any list of "complete" racers. 

Tom Farndon! 

I'd go for 10-5-10!

[BL65]

3 hours ago, E I Addio said:

I’ve never heard of sidecar racing ever being staged at Custom House 

Well before your time, Arthur Noterman won a sidecar race at Custom House on 9th October 1928.

[Split]

18 hours ago, E I Addio said:

 ..................  but on the subject of Knutson, are you aware of the actual reason he retired so early norbold ? I’ve heard people speculate on it and based on ah interview in SS I formed the impression that he felt he had had a good run, reached the pinnacle of World Champion, and came through relatively unscathed apart from a broken arm, so he decided to quit while he was in front, but that’s just my impression and I’ve always wondered about the real reason . 

I think it's possible that Björn simply became disenchanted with the sport. I remember seeing him yawning (yes yawning!) during the pre-meeting parade for the 1965 world final. I wonder if it’s precisely because it didn’t mean that much to him anymore that his nerves didn’t get the better of him  - as in the previous big meetings - and he was able to become World Champion that night.  

I seem to remember reading that after retiring from speedway, he tried his hand at car racing but I might be wrong.

[Garry1603]

6 hours ago, steve roberts said:

Just checking John Berry's "More Confessions" and he broke down into three categories when wishing to come up with his best ever. They were for "Skill",  "Equipment" & "Mental Strength" 

Mauger 9 - 10 - 9-5

Rickardsson 9-5 - 9.5 - 9.5

Nielsen 9.5 - 9.5 - 9

Briggs 9 - 8.5 - 10

Fundin 9.5 - 8.5 - 9.5

Olsen 9.5 - 9 - 9

Penhall 9 - 9.5 - 9

Collins 9 - 9 - 9

Gundersen 9 - 9 -9

j.Crump 9 - 9 - 9

Lee 9.5 - 9.5 - 7

Michanek 9 - 8.5 - 8

His analysis on each rider I found interesting and obviously very much open to personal opinions/observation. Interesting he gave 'Briggo' a ten for "mental strength" but when you read John's close analysis you can see why!

 

That's really interesting, so basically he regarded Rickardsson as the best 'all rounder' in that respect. Personally I'd have given Mauger a 10 for mental strength as well, which would have put him (slightly) clear at the top.

Collins and Gundersen would have got a 9.5 for skill for me as well, but otherwise I think that's a very good impartial assessment - and he should know!

[steve roberts]

30 minutes ago, Garry1603 said:

That's really interesting, so basically he regarded Rickardsson as the best 'all rounder' in that respect. Personally I'd have given Mauger a 10 for mental strength as well, which would have put him (slightly) clear at the top.

Collins and Gundersen would have got a 9.5 for skill for me as well, but otherwise I think that's a very good impartial assessment - and he should know!

I'd certainly give Mauger a 10 for mental strength. John Berry in his book did suggest that he would probably change a few of his assessments on second reading.

Personally I always find lists (especially the "best of") difficult as I would probably be changing my mind on a regular basis...I've tried playing the game with films and come up with a different list everytime with the occasional regular call!

[iris123]

On ‎4‎/‎18‎/‎2020 at 1:38 AM, Sidney the robin said:

A closed shop  no Drabik yet, no Smektala, Lambert will get there hopefully with luck.!!!'any fresh blood anytime soon Witcher.!!!!

Winning  a one off final is harder  than just  aiming for the semi / Final scenario over a ten round period.

Just one mans bit of fun and not to be taken as 100% fact Sid, but interesting that the 3 you mention come in at #26, 38 and 42 in the world.

http://www.speedwayplus.com/

[Sidney the robin]

2 minutes ago, iris123 said:

Just one mans bit of fun and not to be taken as 100% fact Sid, but interesting that the 3 you mention come in at #26, 38 and 42 in the world.

http://www.speedwayplus.com/

I would not take those ranking's Iris to seriously to be honest.

[BWitcher]

1 minute ago, Sidney the robin said:

I would not take those ranking's Iris to seriously to be honest.

You're right Sid, your old motto of who wins races isn't relevant.

Ignore titles. 
Ignore averages.
Ignore race results.

Just listen to Sid!

[Sidney the robin]

Just now, BWitcher said:

You're right Sid, your old motto of who wins races isn't relevant.

Ignore titles. 
Ignore averages.
Ignore race results.

Just listen to Sid!

Just listen to you KNOW IT ALL who decimated the Corona thread jeez gotta laugh.

[iris123]

5 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

I would not take those ranking's Iris to seriously to be honest.

I think as Steve said previously, I guess we would all do these lists different and probably every week slight differences

The interesting thing though, is all 3 of your picks have dropped back from where they were in 2018. But I don't think anyone would argue that Lambert had a hard season ?

[DC2]

8 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

I would not take those ranking's Iris to seriously to be honest.

 

I know he had a bad season but Surprised that Kildemand doesn’t make the top 50.

[BWitcher]

35 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

Just listen to you KNOW IT ALL who decimated the Corona thread jeez gotta laugh.

Decimated? 

Hmm 320+ pages of intelligent discussion and still going strong.

You've often told us to ignore averages, results, titles etc.

So, let us in on the secret.. how do you judge riders, bearing in mind winning races isn't part of it?

That's an honest question.

[waiheke1]

1 hour ago, iris123 said:

Just one mans bit of fun and not to be taken as 100% fact Sid, but interesting that the 3 you mention come in at #26, 38 and 42 in the world.

http://www.speedwayplus.com/

Is this Arne G? Have to say the rankings look intuitively in line with what you would expect, and seems methodology very similar to what I've used in the past. Good find! 

[JOS50]

On 4/18/2020 at 4:53 PM, BOBBATH said:

 

Why is everybody getting so uptight?-lets go back to talking about the CH pork sarnies  (sorry!!!!)

I first went to Cradley in '64, age 14, sidekick to a novice  rider, didn't get a pork sandwich but got stuck into the Stingo in the bar after the meeting. Have to say we loved going up there

 and found it real warm and friendly and always had a good time.

 

[Piotr Pyszny]

I'm going to pick 1990, for the simple reason it was the year I decided to have a 'speedway holiday' - an opportunity to visit a load of tracks I'd only ever read about in Speedway Star.

With the blessing of my then-girlfriend, I took a week off work and bought one of British Rail's All Line Rover tickets. At the time, I was living in Cumbria.

The plan was to watch eight meetings on consecutive days, coupled with as much sightseeing as I could squeeze in. I struck lucky with the July weather, which was dry, warm and sunny, though I nearly came a cropper at the last match, during which dark clouds hovered ominously. I'd have preferred to stay in youth hostels but, being on the train, B&Bs were easier to get to and from. Made the overall cost that much higher!

My itinerary was:

21/7 (Sat) Coventry 37 Swindon 53 (British League KO Cup, Quarter-Final, Second Leg, 71-109 aggregate)

22/7 (Sun) Rye House 46 Arena-Essex 49 (National League)

23/7 (Mon) Exeter 68 Peterborough 28 (National League)

24/7 (Tue) Milton Keynes 40 Glasgow 56 (National League)

25/7 (Wed) Long Eaton 45 Poole 51 (National League)

26/7 (Thu) Ipswich 56 Glasgow 40 (National League)

27/7 (Fri) Hackney 57 Stoke 39 (National League)

28/7 (Sat) Arena-Essex 50 Wimbledon 46 (National League)

On the Wednesday, it was a toss-up between Long Eaton or Wimbledon. I didn't fancy watching Glasgow three nights in a row, so I opted for Station Road. I was seriously browned off when Wimbledon closed. Thankfully, I managed to get to Plough Lane in 2002 after its short-lived resurrection. All but Ipswich and Hackney I revisited - at least once - in later years.

I had a similar 'speedway holiday' (this time in the car and with the company of my two younger brothers) in 1991 (Eastbourne, Swindon, Peterborough, Wolverhampton, Cradley Heath, Sheffield, Belle Vue, Stoke) and 1994 (which included Reading, Poole, Oxford and King's Lynn). Don't think either was as much fun as the first!

Having grown up watching speedway at Halifax (1976-83), I became a Cleveland Park, Middlesbrough, regular (1991-96) when I worked on Teesside and lived near Stokesley then saw a lot of Scunthorpe (2005-08) while based in North Lincolnshire.

I've lived in York for the last 11 years. It's an hour's drive to the nearest track (Redcar, Scunthorpe or Sheffield). Over that 11 years, I've watched hardly any speedway; maybe 10 meetings. I guess I'm now one of the sport's many 'lapsed' enthusiasts.

In all, I've watched speedway at 53 different British venues.

Favourite track I'd say is Clay Country Moto Parc, St Austell. Went there three times. An amazing setting for speedway.

The scenic location of Buxton (Hitmen's 'purpose built' track not the stock car stadium) makes it a close second.

Edited April 23, 2020 by Piotr Pyszny