Sidney the robin Posted April 14, 2020 Report Share Posted April 14, 2020 1 hour ago, salty said: 1969. My first full season happily coinciding with a relatively successful season for Cradley. Of course Bernie became my hero, but didn't miss many meetings so hit to see most of the top riders. John Boulger, Bernie Persson ( forgave him in 1972 ) Simensen, Perks, Erik were my favourite heathens over the years Salty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted April 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 15 hours ago, steve roberts said: I really would have liked to have been around to have witnessed the birth of the British League...it must have been so exciting and fresh. It was, and West Ham was a great place to enjoy it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 7 minutes ago, customhouseregular said: It was, and West Ham was a great place to enjoy it. One track I would have loved to have visited! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovalman Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 2 hours ago, steve roberts said: One track I would have loved to have visited! Massive track and stadium. Enjoyed visiting New Cross, Wimbledon, Ackney, West Am, Wembley, never got to White City. Also loved the Coventry and Worky track and stadium, all sadly gone now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 20 hours ago, Sidney the robin said: 1966 has to be one of the most interesting years in the history of British speedway .Eric Boocock garecrashed the top ten as the highest ranked rider from the old Provincial league to prove the gap could be bridged if good anough.The top 10 averages in 1966 were 1.Briggs - 11.12. 2. N.Booccock- 10.54 3.E.Boocock -10.46. 4. Nordin - 10.44. 5. Nygren - 10.40. 6.Pratt - 10.00. 7.Harrfeldt - 9.89. 8. Mauger - 9.82. 9. Mckinlay- 9.67. 10. Broadbank 9.57. Colin Pratt also deserves a mention as a former Provincial League rider who came good. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 33 minutes ago, Split said: Colin Pratt also deserves a mention as a former Provincial League rider who came good. Also Split did the classy Nordin come straight into the top ten as a virtual newcomer.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 On 4/14/2020 at 12:08 PM, waiheke1 said: 1982. First full season watching. League champions, with a fellow kiwi, all time favourite rider Larry Ross riding at number 1. Mort and Pc in heat 13. A 16 year old andy Smith making his debut. Quality visiting riders who excelled around Hyde Rd, such as Carter, Gundersen, Penhall, S Moran. Good times! Yep same as. Great year. The Penhall/Carter clash was also a big deal (still is!). Had my first ventures to some away tracks too...the Shay, Owlerton and Brandon. Larry Ross was brilliant that year. I think his away average was better than PC and Mort, which speaks volumes of his importance that year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 5 hours ago, customhouseregular said: It was, and West Ham was a great place to enjoy it. Ruddy cold when the wind blew in from the river, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 (edited) 44 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said: Also Split did the classy Nordin come straight into the top ten as a virtual newcomer.? When you say, Nordin was a newcomer, Sid, it is true that 1966 was his first year in the British League, but he was third in the World Championship in 1961 and 5th in 1962 and 1963, and Wimbledon's top scorer in 1964, so not really a newcomer. He was already a world class rider.. Edited April 15, 2020 by norbold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 2 hours ago, auntie doris said: Massive track and stadium. Enjoyed visiting New Cross, Wimbledon, Ackney, West Am, Wembley, never got to White City. Also loved the Coventry and Worky track and stadium, all sadly gone now. From that list, the only one I never got to was the Cross. I was thinking the other day, the vast majority of tracks I visited have gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 In my younger days every meeting I could possibly attend was the best ever, I had the bug that bad. In later years I'd say 1996 and 2009. Both seasons I was fortunate enough to get to every meeting home and away and in both years Wolves were Champions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 1 minute ago, BWitcher said: Both seasons I was fortunate enough to get to every meeting home and away and in both years Wolves were Champions. That was the one thing that eluded me; I never got to see the Dons win the league. Best was the hat-trick of KOC's... Never saw a Wimbledon World Champ either - except for Larry in the 79 WTC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted April 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 21 minutes ago, norbold said: When you say, Nordin was a newcomer, Sid, it is true that 1966 was his first year in the British League, but he was third in the World Championship in 1961 and 5th in 1962 and 1963, and Wimbledon's top scorer in 1964, so not really a newcomer. He was already a world class rider.. Often quoted as the best rider never to win the world title. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 38 minutes ago, norbold said: When you say, Nordin was a newcomer, Sid, it is true that 1966 was his first year in the British League, but he was third in the World Championship in 1961 and 5th in 1962 and 1963, and Wimbledon's top scorer in 1964, so not really a newcomer. He was already a world class rider.. Spot on cannot understand Norbold why the figures generally are taken from 1965 onwards.Great that we have these sites that have some recollection of the past that we can go back on and learn from.Going back to Gote he is often forgotten a classy rider who some say was is in the mould of Warren (etc) good anough to have been a World Champion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 1 hour ago, chunky said: From that list, the only one I never got to was the Cross. I was thinking the other day, the vast majority of tracks I visited have gone. Same here...it would be easier listing the tracks that are still open! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 If I remember correctly, I think Nordin was one of the reasons the handicapping of The Big Five (or three by then) came to an end. Apart from not liking it anyway, when Nordin rode for Wimbledon in 1964, Fundin, Briggs and Knutson complained that they shouldn't have to give 10 yards to Nordin as he was as good as they were and most fans agreed. I think it was Briggo who settled the matter in the end by threatening to quit British speedway altogether if handicapping was not ended. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 2 minutes ago, steve roberts said: Same here...it would be easier listing the tracks that are still open! Fancy you and Chunky both missing racing at the best track ever! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E I Addio Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 1 hour ago, norbold said: If I remember correctly, I think Nordin was one of the reasons the handicapping of The Big Five (or three by then) came to an end. Apart from not liking it anyway, when Nordin rode for Wimbledon in 1964, Fundin, Briggs and Knutson complained that they shouldn't have to give 10 yards to Nordin as he was as good as they were and most fans agreed. I think it was Briggo who settled the matter in the end by threatening to quit British speedway altogether if handicapping was not ended. Another reason was Trevor Hedge. He was proving a match winner for Wimbledon going off scratch at reserve. I remember an article in SS I think by Eric Linden analysing his performance as an indictment of the handicap system. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 57 minutes ago, E I Addio said: Another reason was Trevor Hedge. He was proving a match winner for Wimbledon going off scratch at reserve. I remember an article in SS I think by Eric Linden analysing his performance as an indictment of the handicap system. What with Nordin and Hedge, it was all down to Wimbledon then!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerowl Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 1984 for me. I was 16 and went to watch a lot of Sheffield away meetings on the Supporters Club coach. The British League was pretty good that year and I went to places like Newcastle and Exeter for the first time. I was also doing a few after the meeting rides at the time and to be in the pits at the same time as the top riders was amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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