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salty

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Posts posted by salty


  1. 2 minutes ago, chunky said:

    Thing is, even now, some riders love to ride out wide - often right up against the fence (we've seen certain riders actually USE the fence - so what do you do?

    By its very nature, speedway is a dangerous sport, and no amount of air fences, helmets, or padding will change that. In ANY motorsport, competitors will take chances, as they look for a little extra.

    Yes, it's risky, but that's why riders enjoy riding, and we enjoy watching ..

    All true. I just felt Waterden Road encouraged riders to go ever wider, more than other tracks (in my memory).

    I guess we should be thankful that the sport is "safer" now than it was back in the day. 


  2. 50 minutes ago, E I Addio said:

    I’ve only just noticed that sad announcement. Always a double tragedy when a rider suffers life changing injuries as the innocent victim of track crash. Does anyone know the circumstances of the crash and how he rebuilt his life subsequently ?

    There was a double page feature on Garry in Backtrack No 99, which was the issue dedicated to the Lokeren disaster. 

    The crash that ended his career took place at Liverpool on December 23rd, 1970. A first bend incident involving Paul O'Neill which is described as an "unfortunate accident" with no blame attached to riders or track. It outlines a 10 year legal battle Garry had with Liverpool raceway, which he eventually lost. Partly because the event in which the crash happened was the NSW Solo Championship so Garry wasn't seen as an employee of the Promoters that night.

    He also missed out on compensation for the Lokeren tragedy.

    Regarding his more recent life it says he lived with his wife and two children on the island province of Catanduane, a one-hour flight from the Philippine mainland. His Biographer, Tony Webb describes his life thus - "a simple life in an idyllic environment. He is rich in a life that is simple in its needs. Garry's physical well being is maintained by regular massage and a strict diet based on coconut milk and the produce that the family grow on their property"

    Further reading...."Wheels of Fate - The Garry Hay Story" by Tony Webb.

    Speedway Books (defunctspeedway.co.uk)

     

    Hope that helps....


  3. I remember Ulf signing for Cradley at the end of the 1973 season. We were a weak side to start with but ended the campaign decimated by injury - missing Persson, Cole and Cribb - the 3 heat leaders, so Ulf was definitely a sight for sore eyes in a team being patched together by guests. He acquired himself well in the circumstances and would have been welcomed back in 1974.


  4. Bit late to post this this as he actually passed away on January 9th, but sad to hear the death of Lokeren survivor Garry Hay. Good obituary in this weeks Star. Having escaped with minimal injuries at Lokeren it was so sad when the following Australian season he suffered life changing injuries which left  him wheelchair bound. Haven't seen it mentioned on this forum - apologies if it has.

    RIP Garry

    AUSTRALIAN SOLO SPEEDWAY RIDER GARY HAY, 77, DIES - Speedway Illustrated News

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  5. 16 hours ago, M.D said:

    Eastbourne had a few wonky ones in the 80's

    Lars Hammerberg

    Rene Christensen

    Merek Kepa

    Borje ring (although I liked him)

    Robert Slabon

    I could go on a few times..

    Lillebror Johansson? He rode in the same season as Hammerberg and Ring. Eastbourne had a really strong top 4 of Kennett, Moran, Preston and Woods, but unfortunately none of the Swedish imports or Dave Kennett were able to give sufficient backing.


  6. Sad to hear. I seem to remember him having a lot of problems with his shoulder the season the Bees won the title in 1968, but he continued riding through the pain as far as I recall.

    RIP.


  7. 60 years on and still bitter! Remind me not to upset you on here. 
    Seriously, fair play to you. I’m still angry about what happened to Dudley Wood, particularly the last planning decision which seemed to fly against all previous decisions, not to mention the majority of the evidence. Don’t get me started on Dudley Council either.

    Parker was a hard nosed businessman who didn’t hang about closing tracks if they weren’t performing to expectations. Tough and hard to take if you lost your track, but his influence on the sport as a whole in the 60’s must have been beneficial?


  8. Another enjoyable read, thank you! Have to agree that 1981 was my favourite Cradley year. 1983's team was no doubt stronger - in fact arguably the best BL team ever - but the season didn't have the same feel to it as the one two years previous when Cradley finally landed the title for the first time. For those of us who had supported them through the lean years of the early 70's the 1981 season was particularly sweet.

    Couple of points. Ulf Lovaas was originally signed by Cradley in 1973 riding a few matches at the end of the season, before being snapped up be Oxford the following campaign. Jan Simensen was signed by Cradley in 1970 which was not when Coatbridge were operating. Originally snapped up by Cradley to bolster a weak team, unfortunately he only had been at Dudley Wood a matter of weeks when Cradley lost Colin Pratt following the Lokeren disaster. After completing an impressive first term in the Green and White the Heathens were desperate to retain him for 1971, but were denied a work permit for Jan as he would have been a second "foreigner" - I'm sure that was not unknown in 1971. Subsequently he ended up at Coventry.

     


  9. A fair few years ago "Classic Speedway" magazine did a top 20 of the 60's. Compiled by a "respected author"....

    Obviously is the whole of the decade rather than the period in the OP.....

    1. Nigel Boocock

    2. Ken McKinley

    3. Peter Craven

    4. Mike Broadbank

    5.Eric Boocock

    6. Ron How

    7. Martin Ashby

    8. Ray Wilson

    9. Terry Betts

    10. Dave Younghusband

    Focusing on the BL era, would see Craven and How removed from the list and probably higher positions for Eric B and Ray Wilson.

     

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  10. Always an interesting read. Thank You. I remember the name change to Cradley United well, I believe it was the brainchild of Harry Bastable who had taken over as Team Manager prior to the 1973 season. I still stuck with my CH programme board though! 

    Four seasons as United with improving fortunes - we had a pretty attractive side in 1976. The United moniker might have been swept away when Dan McCormick took over, but the red remained part of the Heathens colours for a lot longer.

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  11. Given that the OP asked for those who could have been greats if they had committed to ride in Britain, I'll throw in Chris Watson who confined himself more to other motor cycle disciplines back in Aussie. In more recent times Rune Holta reached 4th in the World afaik, but could he have took it a stage further with UK experience?

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  12. 7 hours ago, steve roberts said:

    As a matter of interest is the "crooked house" that was opposite the entrance of Cradley Stadium still there?

    No Steve. The Crooked House that has been in the news is in Himley some miles away from Dudley Wood. From my memory there was an old crooked house opposite the stadium, but it wasn't a pub. 

    Edit: sorry didn't read your question properly.  I think the one opposite the stadium is long demolished

     

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