steve roberts Posted August 18, 2023 Report Share Posted August 18, 2023 Another teaser and although some riders had the leather manufacturer's logo emblazoned on their leathers not sure if they were necessarily sponsored by same? I'm sure that Ivan Mauger must have been one of the first? I recall some of his early leathers displaying "valvoline" and he did display "TT Leathers" who sponsored him and "Jawa" as did Briggo. Both Garry Middleton and Eric Boocock wore Lewis Leathers who sponsored them and they also carried the logo on their leathers. Of couse much later there was Ray Wilson with his famous "Bostik" leathers but by the middle seventies many riders carried sponsored brands on their leathers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted August 18, 2023 Report Share Posted August 18, 2023 (edited) Again, I don't think we need to look any further than Ivan or Briggo. I'll have to do some research... Edited August 18, 2023 by chunky 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted August 18, 2023 Report Share Posted August 18, 2023 (edited) Briggo definitely had JAWA on his leathers in 1969, and Ivan was still mostly in black then, although he also had JAWA on his that year also. Edited August 18, 2023 by chunky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted August 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2023 I guess if one looks outside the UK the Americans in the late sixties may well have worn leathers with sponsors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted August 18, 2023 Report Share Posted August 18, 2023 Just now, steve roberts said: I guess if one looks outside the UK the Americans in the late sixties may well have worn leathers with sponsors? While the leathers tended to be coloured, I really don't think there was that much in the way of sponsors' names. I will look into the Basts, and people like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted August 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2023 Just now, chunky said: While the leathers tended to be coloured, I really don't think there was that much in the way of sponsors' names. I will look into the Basts, and people like that. I was thinking of the Bast Brothers in particular but you may well be right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted August 18, 2023 Report Share Posted August 18, 2023 (edited) 9 minutes ago, steve roberts said: I was thinking of the Bast Brothers in particular but you may well be right. While there was speedway here in the 60's, it wasn't really organized, so I don't know if there was much in the way of decent sponsorship. The first official US National Championship (since 1948) was won by Steve Bast in 1969 (although some sources state that Rick Woods was 1968 National Champion). The problem is that while there are photos available online, it is actually difficult to pinpoint the years in US speedway. Edited August 18, 2023 by chunky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted August 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2023 2 hours ago, chunky said: While there was speedway here in the 60's, it wasn't really organized, so I don't know if there was much in the way of decent sponsorship. The first official US National Championship (since 1948) was won by Steve Bast in 1969 (although some sources state that Rick Woods was 1968 National Champion). The problem is that while there are photos available online, it is actually difficult to pinpoint the years in US speedway. Thanks for that. I never actually got to see Rick Woods ride during his very short spell at Newport in 1973 but I did see his brother (?) Gene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted August 18, 2023 Report Share Posted August 18, 2023 50 minutes ago, steve roberts said: Thanks for that. I never actually got to see Rick Woods ride during his very short spell at Newport in 1973 but I did see his brother (?) Gene. Yep, Gene was his bruv. Had a short spell at Plough Lane, but I never got to see him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted August 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2023 27 minutes ago, chunky said: Yep, Gene was his bruv. Had a short spell at Plough Lane, but I never got to see him. Saw him ride for Birmingham if I remember before moving to the "Dons." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS50 Posted August 24, 2023 Report Share Posted August 24, 2023 Just read in a book about Sheffield Tigers, that the first ever sponsored rider was Arnold Haley. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted August 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2023 2 hours ago, RS50 said: Just read in a book about Sheffield Tigers, that the first ever sponsored rider was Arnold Haley. I'd be interested to know who sponsored Arnie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS50 Posted August 24, 2023 Report Share Posted August 24, 2023 10 minutes ago, steve roberts said: I'd be interested to know who sponsored Arnie? It says he had the backing of top trials rider Peter Fletcher who owned a motorcycle business in Leeds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted August 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2023 2 hours ago, RS50 said: It says he had the backing of top trials rider Peter Fletcher who owned a motorcycle business in Leeds. Remember when Arnie had a short spell riding for the "Cheetahs" towards the very back end of his career. A real character by all accounts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted August 24, 2023 Report Share Posted August 24, 2023 30 minutes ago, steve roberts said: Remember when Arnie had a short spell riding for the "Cheetahs" towards the very back end of his career. A real character by all accounts. SHORT??? It consisted of one meeting, two rides, and a point. At Newcastle on 18th May, 1981. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted August 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2023 8 hours ago, chunky said: SHORT??? It consisted of one meeting, two rides, and a point. At Newcastle on 18th May, 1981. Yes if I recall he had been signed by Cradley (who ran the show at Cowley at the time) and loaned out to the "Cheetahs" and as you say it was short-lived...he did ride in a second half or two at Cowley if I remember? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMac Posted September 11, 2023 Report Share Posted September 11, 2023 On 8/24/2023 at 7:23 PM, RS50 said: It says he had the backing of top trials rider Peter Fletcher who owned a motorcycle business in Leeds. Fletcher also sponsored Eric Boocock - he actually refers to him on our Memories of Halifax Speedway DVD. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpyloser Posted September 12, 2023 Report Share Posted September 12, 2023 Briggo & Ivan were works riders, so no real surprise they had Jawa on Leathers I seem to recall the one of the first with no apparent connection to speedway, was Smith Crisps with Jim McMillan. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted September 21, 2023 Report Share Posted September 21, 2023 On 8/18/2023 at 1:30 PM, steve roberts said: Another teaser and although some riders had the leather manufacturer's logo emblazoned on their leathers not sure if they were necessarily sponsored by same? I'm sure that Ivan Mauger must have been one of the first? I recall some of his early leathers displaying "valvoline" and he did display "TT Leathers" who sponsored him and "Jawa" as did Briggo. Both Garry Middleton and Eric Boocock wore Lewis Leathers who sponsored them and they also carried the logo on their leathers. Of couse much later there was Ray Wilson with his famous "Bostik" leathers but by the middle seventies many riders carried sponsored brands on their leathers. Noah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted September 21, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2023 1 hour ago, Fromafar said: Noah ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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