steve roberts Posted July 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 33 minutes ago, BobC said: All this talk of Christer Lofqvist reminds me that he is my ALL TIME favourite rider. Fabulous rider both on and off the track. He finished 4th in the World Final 1972 on Saturday, yet at Poole on the Wednesday, he was our reserve, v Belle Vue! Remember the old system of supplementary reserve, based on the riders last 6 matches? Pete Smith has been mentioned before on this thread, but surely, 1962 to 1977 unbroken sequence for his one and only one club has to be right up there? Others may have been at their clubs longer,but not particularly their only club? Pete did a few guest bookings for non League Rye House Roosters, but it still remains a remarkable achievement, the likes of which we probably wont ever see again. I thought that Pete Smith was vastly underrated...always a class act around Cowley. Remember Briggo saying that at Poole there was always a bump going into the third bend and somehow Pete was able to ride thru'/over it without any problems. A well deserved testimonial in 1977 (?) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted July 12, 2020 Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 34 minutes ago, steve roberts said: Swindon always had decent second halves (as did Oxford) in those days with an abundant of talent on show. Personally I used to enjoy the old second halves and thought it a good system bringing on riders and enabling them to 'mix it' with established team members. I thought Malcolm made a mistake not going back to Oxford in 1978 Steve don't know what happened there.Ended up having a injury ravaged career at Milton Keynes for me Malcolm was never suited to NL speedway so full time BL speedway was his future.Remember Oxford having Caulwell, Ackroyd, Hack, Pip Oxford were great with young riders a good track to learn on always remember seeing the classy David Shields ( reminiscent of the original PC.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted July 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 1 minute ago, Sidney the robin said: I thought Malcolm made a mistake not going back to Oxford in 1978 Steve don't know what happened there.Ended up having a injury ravaged career at Milton Keynes for me Malcolm was never suited to NL speedway so full time BL speedway was his future.Remember Oxford having Caulwell, Ackroyd, Hack, Pip Oxford were great with young riders a good track to learn on always remember seeing the classy David Shields ( reminiscent of the original PC.) Yes I'm not sure why Malc never returned to Cowley in 1978? Perhaps with Milton Keynes coming on board it was felt that they needed some encouragement? We lost both Phil Bass and Harry MacLean to the "Knights" that year. Perhaps it was Oxford being 'taken over' by Cradley being a factor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted July 12, 2020 Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 3 minutes ago, steve roberts said: I thought that Pete Smith was vastly underrated...always a class act around Cowley. Remember Briggo saying that at Poole there was always a bump going into the third bend and somehow Pete was able to ride thru'/over it without any problems. A well deserved testimonial in 1977 (?) A unique style Smithy really upright as you said very underrated he showed that in the 1989 Briggo series still had it very competitive.Steve did Pete fall out at Poole once? stopped going hope they resolved there differences a great role model for the sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted July 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 Just now, Sidney the robin said: A unique style Smithy really upright as you said very underrated he showed that in the 1989 Briggo series still had it very competitive.Steve did Pete fall out at Poole once? stopped going hope they resolved there differences a great role model for the sport. If I remember he suffered continual bike problems in 1977 (?) and 'retired' for a short while before returning? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted July 12, 2020 Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 1 minute ago, steve roberts said: Yes I'm not sure why Malc never returned to Cowley in 1978? Perhaps with Milton Keynes coming on board it was felt that they needed some encouragement? We lost both Phil Bass and Harry MacLean to the "Knights" that year. Perhaps it was Oxford being 'taken over' by Cradley being a factor? Yes never did ask him why , he loved Oxford on his day he could be decent at Cowley once beat Hans in heat 1 there in a three team tournament. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 12, 2020 Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 8 hours ago, chunky said: I was there for his British debut at Custom House in 1970. He looked good then! Me too. Don't remember seeing you there. After that I saw him every week at West Ham. Heart stopping stuff week in week out! We used to think Sverre Harrfedt was hair raising, but he had nothing on Christer! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted July 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 2 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said: Yes never did ask him why , he loved Oxford on his day he could be decent at Cowley once beat Hans in heat 1 there in a three team tournament. Great thread this Sid...beats all that pontificating on the Covid-19 thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted July 12, 2020 Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 1 minute ago, norbold said: Me too. Don't remember seeing you there. After that I saw him every week at West Ham. Heart stopping stuff week in week out! We used to think Sverre Harrfedt was hair raising, but he had nothing on Christer! How good Norbold ?? for me he was an outstanding talent never see loads of him a real regret of mine still have his prized autograph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobC Posted July 12, 2020 Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 24 minutes ago, steve roberts said: I thought that Pete Smith was vastly underrated...always a class act around Cowley. Remember Briggo saying that at Poole there was always a bump going into the third bend and somehow Pete was able to ride thru'/over it without any problems. A well deserved testimonial in 1977 (?) That is very true. Pete was the only rider to ride very tight into bend 3 and not hit that bump. One night, Briggo was leading, hit the bump and Pete went through to win. The following laps, Briggo followed Petes line, but still hit that bump! Pete had his testimonial at Poole in 1976. Still very highly regarded here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 12, 2020 Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Sidney the robin said: How good Norbold ?? for me he was an outstanding talent never see loads of him a real regret of mine still have his prized autograph. Over the two years he was at West Ham he improved and then improved even more the following two years at Poole. In 1970 he was second in the Hammers' averages to Olle Nygren with just under 8 points per match; in his second year he just pipped Olle for top place, averaging something like 8.75 I believe. As I said above, there is no denying he was the ultimate thrill-merchant with his madcap dives round the fence. Unlike Sverre Harrfeldt though, who knew what he was doing and was on a par with the very best and often beat them at Custom House, Christer didn't always seem to be quite in control - just opening the throttle and going wherever the bike took him - and fell short of the very best. He was very popular though and was voted "Hammer of the Year" in each of his two years. Edited July 12, 2020 by norbold 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted July 12, 2020 Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 3 hours ago, norbold said: Over the two years he was at West Ham he improved and then improved even more the following two years at Poole. In 1970 he was second in the Hammers' averages to Olle Nygren with just under 8 points per match; in his second year he just pipped Olle for top place, averaging something like 8.75 I believe. As I said above, there is no denying he was the ultimate thrill-merchant with his madcap dives round the fence. Unlike Sverre Harrfeldt though, who knew what he was doing and was on a par with the very best and often beat them at Custom House, Christer didn't always seem to be quite in control - just opening the throttle and going wherever the bike took him - and fell short of the very best. He was very popular though and was voted "Hammer of the Year" in each of his two years. Was he a bit of a nutter Norbold ??? he was exciting no doubt put bums on seats.For me never got to think was he really was genuine world class ???? not his fault of course .I think myself personally he was very very ,quick a slight fellow worth the admission money alone think he scored 12 at Swindon in 72 for Poole got his autograph that day looked a little weak guy great balance though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff100 Posted July 12, 2020 Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 On 6/1/2020 at 8:55 PM, Tracy Bird said: Steve Watson workington Mal mackay?? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted July 12, 2020 Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 7 hours ago, norbold said: Me too. Don't remember seeing you there. After that I saw him every week at West Ham. Heart stopping stuff week in week out! We used to think Sverre Harrfedt was hair raising, but he had nothing on Christer! I was next to my dad! You must have seen him! Right where Sverre came off! Unless your memory is going... Next thing, you'll say you don't remember seeing me at the Lokeren Trophy either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 12, 2020 Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 2 hours ago, chunky said: I was next to my dad! You must have seen him! Right where Sverre came off! Unless your memory is going... Next thing, you'll say you don't remember seeing me at the Lokeren Trophy either! Well, of course I remember you at the Lokeren Trophy meeting, it's just the match against Wimbledon I'm having a problem with recalling you - or your dad. I was too upset that your man Pete Murray was to blame for Sverre breaking his arm to think straight I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted July 12, 2020 Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 3 minutes ago, norbold said: Well, of course I remember you at the Lokeren Trophy meeting, it's just the match against Wimbledon I'm having a problem with recalling you - or your dad. I was too upset that your man Pete Murray was to blame for Sverre breaking his arm to think straight I suppose. Ah, okay... You know, I originally put, "where Pete Murray took Sverre off", then changed it - just to appear nice, and non-accusatory. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted July 12, 2020 Report Share Posted July 12, 2020 (edited) 12 hours ago, BobC said: That is very true. Pete was the only rider to ride very tight into bend 3 and not hit that bump. One night, Briggo was leading, hit the bump and Pete went through to win. The following laps, Briggo followed Petes line, but still hit that bump! Pete had his testimonial at Poole in 1976. Still very highly regarded here. Pete reached the grand old age of 78 yesterday. Pete Smith that is, not Murray. Edited July 12, 2020 by salty 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted July 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2020 On 7/12/2020 at 7:58 AM, steve roberts said: Swindon always had decent second halves (as did Oxford) in those days with an abundant of talent on show. Personally I used to enjoy the old second halves and thought it a good system bringing on riders and enabling them to 'mix it' with established team members. Great article in the latest "Backtrack" magazine listing the riders who rode in second halves at Cowley during the 70's & 80's. Some fabulous names to conjour with and I, for one, used to enjoy the second halves and the opportunities and experience gained by riders during that era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted July 14, 2020 Report Share Posted July 14, 2020 What year did the old second halves come to an end-were they abolished all together or was it a slow decline. They were going strong when I left but by my last ever speedway meeting in UK they'd gone. BTW the last ever meeting I saw was at Berwick on 19th October 2002 v I.O.W-Young Shield Semi Final. Not a success- I of course knew none of the riders, weather was cold, was standing up on terraces , my back was aching and left after Heat 7 to drive back to Edinburgh-got too used to comfort I guess. Following day saw Hearts lose 0-6 to Celtic at home, but a comfortable seat and had a pint in the bar with some friendly and good natured Hearts fans!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted July 14, 2020 Report Share Posted July 14, 2020 At the Berwick meeting the star seemed to be a guy called Danny Bird for I.O.W.-did he end up having a good career. Score was 17-19 when I left but just couldn't get interested in the racing. Sorry for being off topic here!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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