Barry Duke

[Ovalman]

Good hour long chat with ex-Swindon Robin Barry in the Asda cafe in north Swindon today Some great stories about Fundin, Briggo, Mauger. Fundin was his favourite rider. Rode with Briggo at number 2 for Swindon at Wembley. against Lions. 4-2 in one heat, Briggs, Fundin, Duke. Said Pete Munday and Bernie Persson were very hard riders. Briggo aggressive, Mauger nice bloke. Was saying first went to a meeting at Swindon in 1962, Fundin, Briggs, Craven, Moore riding off 20 yard handicaps. Very bad injury in 1971 in Rhodesia affected career. Really nice guy.

Rescued a Blunsdon turnstile for the Speedway Museum at Paradise Park.

Edited November 7, 2022 by auntie doris

[E I Addio]

18 minutes ago, auntie doris said:

Good hour long chat with ex-Swindon Robin Barry in the Asda cafe in north Swindon today Some great stories about Fundin, Briggo, Mauger. Fundin was his favourite rider. Rode with Briggo at number 2 for Swindon at Wembley. against Lions. 4-2 in one heat, Briggs, Fundin, Duke. Said Pete Munday and Bernie Persson were very hard riders. Briggo aggressive, Mauger nice bloke. Was saying first went to a meeting at Swindon in 1962, Fundin, Briggs, Craven, Moore riding off 20 yard handicaps. Career ending injury in 1971 in Rhodesia. Really nice guy.

Rescued a Blunsdon turnstile for the Speedway Museum at Paradise Park.

Great experience talking to an ex rider like that. I just about remember him at West Ham, but I don’t think he really settled to the big track there. Dis he say anything about his days as a Hammer?
 

[Ovalman]

2 hours ago, E I Addio said:

Great experience talking to an ex rider like that. I just about remember him at West Ham, but I don’t think he really settled to the big track there. Dis he say anything about his days as a Hammer?
 

Yes, he said he guested for the Ammers in 71 after the Lokeren tragedy. Was invited to the West Ham 50th. year reunion at the Speedway Museum this year, Briggo was there. It is great to talk to ex riders. Said Knutson more or less retired after his world title.

Edited November 7, 2022 by auntie doris

[norbold]

3 hours ago, auntie doris said:

Yes, he said he guested for the Ammers in 71 after the Lokeren tragedy. Was invited to the West Ham 50th. year reunion at the Speedway Museum this year, Briggo was there. It is great to talk to ex riders. Said Knutson more or less retired after his world title.

Yes, I had a chat with him at the West Ham reunion this year. Always good to talk to.

[steve roberts]

Thank goodness Barry is still alive...when I saw the topic heading I feared it was to announce another passing!

Remember reading that it took a while for Bob Kilby to take a liking to him...Bob wasn't a fan of long hair apparently!

[Ovalman]

12 hours ago, steve roberts said:

Thank goodness Barry is still alive...when I saw the topic heading I feared it was to announce another passing!

Remember reading that it took a while for Bob Kilby to take a liking to him...Bob wasn't a fan of long hair apparently!

He said none of the riders liked him at first, believing no rider should have long hair and a beard. He still has long hair in ponytail. 74 now and still playing competitive table tennis. Clive Hitch, just turned 80, and Martin Ashby not in best of health.

[Ovalman]

14 hours ago, norbold said:

Yes, I had a chat with him at the West Ham reunion this year. Always good to talk to.

Was Reg Luckhurst there?

[racers and royals]

5 minutes ago, auntie doris said:

Was Reg Luckhurst there?

Yep- he even sang a song 

[chunky]

1 hour ago, racers and royals said:

Yep- he even sang a song 

Was he any better than before??? 

[racers and royals]

7 minutes ago, chunky said:

Was he any better than before??? 

I think Norbold will be able to answer that better than myself, as it was the first time i had heard him sing 

[norbold]

45 minutes ago, chunky said:

Was he any better than before??? 

 

36 minutes ago, racers and royals said:

I think Norbold will be able to answer that better than myself, as it was the first time i had heard him sing 

He was just as good as always.

[Ovalman]

Is the speedway museum and wildlife park worth a trip to Hertfordshire?

[racers and royals]

6 minutes ago, auntie doris said:

Is the speedway museum and wildlife park worth a trip to Hertfordshire?

I would  definitely say yes, however i would go on a special events day- 2 i can find with dates in 2023.

12th Mar 2023 Celebration of Speedway
13th May 2023 Hackney Speedway Day

Edited November 8, 2022 by racers and royals

[Ovalman]

1 minute ago, racers and royals said:

I would  definitely say yes, however i would go on a special events day- 2 i can find with dates in 2023.

12th Mar 2023 Celebration of Speedway
13th May 2023 Hackney Speedway Day

Cheers

[iris123]

3 hours ago, norbold said:

 

He was just as good as always.

In the misty moonlight or Your cheatin' heart ?

[steve roberts]

3 hours ago, auntie doris said:

Is the speedway museum and wildlife park worth a trip to Hertfordshire?

I've been a couple of times...worth it in my view plus the memorial garden.

[norbold]

6 hours ago, auntie doris said:

Is the speedway museum and wildlife park worth a trip to Hertfordshire?

Absolutely well worth it. Both the Museum and the Wildlife Park are worth a visit on their own, let alone getting to see both.

Edited November 8, 2022 by norbold

[norbold]

15 hours ago, auntie doris said:

74 now and still playing competitive table tennis. 

Without giving too much away, I am older and still play competitive table tennis. My team captain is 84! Must be an old boys' game.

[BOBBATH]

Barry Duke , I think he started out in 1967 or 1968. He sounds like a most interesting guy-wish I could have a chat with him, some great comments of his view on speedway. He would be a good candidate for Lee Ashby's  interviews . BTW I am sorry Martin Ashby is having some health problems and to learn that Hitchy is 80- my mind boggles. God bless 'em all.

[Ovalman]

7 hours ago, BOBBATH said:

Barry Duke , I think he started out in 1967 or 1968. He sounds like a most interesting guy-wish I could have a chat with him, some great comments of his view on speedway. He would be a good candidate for Lee Ashby's  interviews . BTW I am sorry Martin Ashby is having some health problems and to learn that Hitchy is 80- my mind boggles. God bless 'em all.

Started at Weymouth in 1968, also doing second-halves at Swindon. Really broke into the Robins team big time in 1970, Briggo, Kilby, Broady, Keen, Hitch, Munday, Bishop, etc.,Ashby was at Exeter. They finished 16th.out of 19 but there were some great meetings at The Abbey. Most locally based, loyal clubmen, who racked up hundreds of appearances for the Robins. Still see Mike Broadbank out walking locally, fit as a fiddle old Broady. Clive Hitch is the only living rider to have a road named after him on the new estate near the stadium up on Blunsdon Hill.

Barry said Pete Munday was hard and mad, one race he roared up inside of Dukey kept getting closer, then his footrest ripped his front spokes out. He had wider handlebars and thought he was going to hit the starting gate, missed by a few inches! Didn't say anything as Munday would have punched him. Pete excelled on the wet tracks. Had a run-in with Briggo behind the pits, almost came to fisticuffs. Said when he was mechanic for Barry and Ivan, Ivan would politely asked for something to be done, equipment was immaculate, Barry would throw his bike down, shouting and swearing, bike was held together with wire! They get on well now though. Kilby was one of the first to look at the magnets at the starting gate, Dukey looked at top of tapes like most.

He doesn't like speedway now though.He had a motor-cycle display team with son, grandson, and a few others. Saw them at a local show 14 years ago. He was riding through a ring of fire, and performing other tricks, on 2 wheel bikes and quad bikes, was very good.

 

Edited November 9, 2022 by auntie doris