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Post by rodders on Aug 27, 2018 13:49:50 GMT
I can remember seeing amongst others Jack Young, Jack Parker, Bill Kitchen, Split Waterman and Tommy Price in action . Probably seen but can't recall others . Still remember black tracks and demonstrations of leg trailing and rollng starts
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Post by admin on Aug 27, 2018 17:18:42 GMT
I can remember seeing amongst others Jack Young, Jack Parker, Bill Kitchen, Split Waterman and Tommy Price in action . Probably seen but can't recall others . Still remember black tracks and demonstrations of leg trailing and roll_ing starts. Certainly nothing like that Rodders. Those are just names on a list to me. I remember roll_ing starts though. Think today's tape touching rule is an improvement that they have made. And on that subject, it does p me off when riders come round early, start gardening and roll_ing over the tapes causing them to rise. I'd extend tape touching exclusion from when 2 minutes is sounded. I do go back to speedway at the proper Wembley and the time when England (or Team GB as it now has to be called) wasn't a 3rd world speedway nation. I would have made this if not nearly killing myself in an RTA: World Final 1978 Wembley 1 / 4 - heat 4 proper speedway with Mauger roll_ing all over the tapes, getting knocked off with contact (the crucial element for Pearson/Tatum these days but not in 1978) and no rerun or exclusion, and sensible health and safety as the race continues with Mauger flat out on track. Featuring on World of Sport, mainstream Saturday afternoon TV  World Final 1978 Wembley 2 / 4World Final 1978 Wembley 3 / 4World Final 1978 Wembley 4 / 4Never mind the poncy WWE, you can't mention Saturday afternoon WoS without a bit of - World of Sport: The Best Of ITV Wrestling |
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Post by Bigcatdiary on Aug 28, 2018 7:41:12 GMT
I can remember seeing amongst others Jack Young, Jack Parker, Bill Kitchen, Split Waterman and Tommy Price in action . Probably seen but can't recall others . Still remember black tracks and demonstrations of leg trailing and roll_ing starts. I started in 1970, I didn’t know the sport existed until Panthers started but was hooked from meeting no 1 with my future wife starting at meeting no 2. I was 14 then so once I got into driving I regularly went to Lynn and Leicester but I can remember seeing Briggs, Moore, Mauger riding although I am not sure whether I ever saw Fundin live I was also at the world Final where I saw Briggs crash badly ( I think it was 72) and injure his hand. Whilst working in London in the mid to late 70,s I regularly went to White City (Greer Era) and Wimbledon. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2018 12:07:58 GMT
1970 for me as well when Peterborough opened quickly followed by attending Kings Lynn and Boston but Panthers have always been my first love. Weekends during the season would consist of Peterborough Friday evening, Kings Lynn Saturday and Boston Sunday’s - lived near Spalding in those days so was in the middle of the triangle of tracks. Bank Holidays would always consist of two meetings on one day and often three - think KLYNN would be first followed by Peterborough finishing up at Boston - we would take pack ups and flasks eat and drink in the car as we travelled - using local knowledge of short cuts trying to be some of the first to reach each track. Riders in those days usually had one bike on the back of a car or van with only the odd fewhaving trailers. Great times and memories.
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Post by admin on Aug 28, 2018 12:55:10 GMT
Whilst working in London in the mid to late 70,s I regularly went to White City (Greer Era) and Wimbledon. When I left school I worked at P'Boro Motors in New Road (now TCH Oxney road) and often saw Richard Greer (who had bungalow and workshop in New road) driving off to White City and Birmingham in his Merc with bike rack and one bike (just to back up fenlandfeline's point) on the back. Those were the days before junior nobodies had a big van with international speedway rider painted on the side  |
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Post by rodders on Aug 28, 2018 14:23:38 GMT
Used to be the norm for bikes to be put in car boot minus front wheel. There was a time when all bikes were put on a lorry and taken to the track and riders made their own way there. Tommy Price claimed when riding at Belle Vue he put his bike on the train at Euston.
I saw Fundin ride many times even going back to his Norwich days . Had the reputation then of being a dirty rider. My favourite rider of all time was Brian Crutcher.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2018 12:04:15 GMT
Whilst working in London in the mid to late 70,s I regularly went to White City (Greer Era) and Wimbledon. Those were the days before junior nobodies had a big van with international speedway rider painted on the side 😂😂😂. You had to laugh didn’t you ? Still do sometimes! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2018 12:08:59 GMT
Used to be the norm for bikes to be put in car boot minus front wheel. There was a time when all bikes were put on a lorry and taken to the track and riders made their own way there. Tommy Price claimed when riding at Belle Vue he put his bike on the train at Euston. I saw Fundin ride many times even going back to his Norwich days . Had the reputation then of being a dirty rider. My favourite rider of all time was Brian Crutcher. Wow couldn’t risk doing those things these days - too many crooks about the bikes (and lorry) would probably go missing never to be seen again! 😢😡 All time favourite rider - without hesitation Peter Collins. |
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Post by admin on Aug 29, 2018 13:00:12 GMT
Used to be the norm for bikes to be put in car boot minus front wheel. There was a time when all bikes were put on a lorry and taken to the track and riders made their own way there. Tommy Price claimed when riding at Belle Vue he put his bike on the train at Euston. I saw Fundin ride many times even going back to his Norwich days . Had the reputation then of being a dirty rider. My favourite rider of all time was Brian Crutcher. Wow couldn’t risk doing those things these days - too many crooks about the bikes (and lorry) would probably go missing never to be seen again! 😢😡 All time favourite rider - without hesitation Peter Collins. The great Ivan Mauger is my all time favourite. When I was young and stupid and hadn't got a clue (anyone who comments on that will have their account deleted  ), I remember being all excited because he was coming to the EoES with Birmingham. It turned out to be George Major |
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Post by rodders on Aug 29, 2018 13:23:49 GMT
I can recall going to a meeting with my father many years ago when the tracks were still cinders. Once had a picture in family archives of my father siting on the bike and wearing the leathers boots race jacket etc of Wally Kilmister ( probably nobody can recall him)
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Post by davet on Aug 29, 2018 15:20:11 GMT
1960 at Yarmouth (with my dad) for me.Cinder track, chain link "safety" fence! Heat leaders were Ivor Brown and Johnny Fitzpatrick. The no 7, Ken Last generally lived up to his name! Although the racing was definitely no better than today, the smell of Castrol R and the noise of the unsilenced JAPs were unforgettable, and speedway is poorer for their absence today.
Moved to London and followed Hackney during the late '60s (Colin Pratt their no.1) then supported Panthers since 1980.
How old must Rodders be??
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Post by rodders on Aug 29, 2018 15:30:37 GMT
1960 at Yarmouth (with my dad) for me.Cinder track, chain link "safety" fence! Heat leaders were Ivor Brown and Johnny Fitzpatrick. The no 7, Ken Last generally lived up to his name! Although the racing was definitely no better than today, the smell of Castrol R and the noise of the unsilenced JAPs were unforgettable, and speedway is poorer for their absence today. Moved to London and followed Hackney during the late '60s (Colin Pratt their no.1) then supported Panthers since 1980. How old must Rodders be??
My Hair is grey , though not with years Nor grew it white in a single night As men have done through sudden fears |
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Post by davet on Aug 29, 2018 16:24:00 GMT
 , Rodders. Just because I've never heard of Wally Kilmister! I know the other names but definitely never saw them ride - before my time I think. I remember Split Waterman being involved in some dodgy business but don't remember the details. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2018 19:54:50 GMT
1971 for me.
Other kids at school went endlessly on about speedway. I was 12 years old and it was a bit like smoking; you just had to be like everyone else in your peer group and give it a try.
So my dad took me and I was hooked after the first race which I don't remember much about. Andy Ross was out with a broken leg and Dick Greer was king. John Davis was a great youngster in those days with massive potential and Pete Saunders was a good old plodder who seemed to be around for years.
Then we signed John Harrhy, I think in 1972 who was a cut above most in the 2nd division at the time... then he was "recalled" by his parent club.
Great times, eh!
Bring back the track spare! And that's NOT a euphemism!
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Post by admin on Sept 1, 2018 9:11:15 GMT
1971 for me.
Other kids at school went endlessly on about speedway. I was 12 years old and it was a bit like smoking; you just had to be like everyone else in your peer group and give it a try.
So my dad took me and I was hooked after the first race which I don't remember much about. Andy Ross was out with a broken leg and Dick Greer was king. John Davis was a great youngster in those days with massive potential and Pete Saunders was a good old plodder who seemed to be around for years.
Then we signed John Harrhy, I think in 1972 who was a cut above most in the 2nd division at the time... then he was "recalled" by his parent club. Great times, eh! Bring back the track spare! And that's NOT a euphemism!
Never saw Ross and don't recall Saunders if he was about (only did 9 matches in 72 so I probably missed him). Greer was the man, Harrhy was top notch so not around long (only 7 matches which is about what Karol Zabik managed each year during a wasted career). I do recall that we had both types of track spare around that time |
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Post by davet on Sept 1, 2018 10:35:52 GMT
There was a Buddy Greer who rode in the second half at Hackney in the late '60s. I believe it was he who evolved to the Richard Greer we know today!
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), I remember being all excited because he was coming to the EoES with Birmingham. It turned out to be George Major 
, Rodders. Just because I've never heard of Wally Kilmister! I know the other names but definitely never saw them ride - before my time I think. I remember Split Waterman being involved in some dodgy business but don't remember the details.