Terry

David East, also known as Shawn Moran rode in a couple of meetings for Hull at the end of 1979.

Zenon Plech was always friendly and chatty while signing autographs for me and all the other annoying kids, who used to shout into the Hackney pits! I've still got the NGK cap he gave me...I'd like to think it's the same one he wore on the world final rostrum in 79.

I think it would be quicker to name the riders who Nicki hasn't upset down the years! Saying that he's had a raw deal the last couple of years with refs excluding him purely because of his reputation and riders (Woffinden and Janowski spring to mind,) overreacting after barely being touched. You know they wouldn't react like that if it were any other rider. I for one will miss him in the gp's this year because he's the last remaining character and he stirs things up. It's all gotten too chummy with all the fist bumps and high fives..We need another Penhall v Carter type rivalry!

I feel your pain. I'm still mourning the loss of my beloved Hawks/Kestrels 28 years on

To be fair Sidney, the five above him were better riders and Thommo will always be my number one.

Hawks Kestrels 1. Barry Thomas 1. Barry Thomas 2. Bo Petersen 2. Andy Galvin 3. Bengt Jansson 3. Mark Loram 4. Dave Morton 4. Paul Whittaker 5. Zenon Plech 5. Alan Mogridge 6. Finn Thomsen 6. Steve Schofield 7. Garry Middleton 7. Trevor Banks

According to the 1980 speedway yearbook.. 1. Finn Thomsen 8 2. Bobby McNeil 3 3. Barry Thomas 6 4. Bo Petersen 6 5. Keith White 0 6. Vic Harding 4 7. Sean Willmott 5

If I remember correctly Louis could've missed out in a run-off for the last few places if Doncaster had let Screen through. I think Ermolenko and Hancock gave Josh Larsen a 'leg up' in that meeting also. I always thought it all added to the excitement of those qualifiers, trying to work out who's going to help who in the last round of heats..even though it was basically cheating!

The Mortons' were great to watch. I appreciate the great stylists like Mauger, Olsen, Simmons, Adams and Woffinden. But I'd rather watch the 'blood and thunder riders' like The Mortons', The Collins', Plech, Thomas, Gollob, Loram and Zmarzlik any day!

Another race that sticks in my mind was when those two great characters Andy Galvin and Alan Mogridge got a 5-1 over my favourite Dane (after Finn and Bo of course!) Erik Gundersen, in our BL season of 87. You could tell that Erik was getting more and more frustrated as they covered just about every inch of the track in what must've been the slowest display of team-riding ever! I remember on the slow-down lap Erik looking at them and pointing to his head, as if to say "you're crazy!" Though being the decent chap he is, he still shook their hands..which is more than Ole Olsen did when he was twice soundly beaten by a young Dave Morton in 74.

Hackney v Exeter 1977 for me. The Falcons needed a last heat 5-1 to grab a draw and Ivan Mauger and Scott Autrey gated and team-rode perfectly with Barry Thomas and Keith White trying desperately to find a way by. Off the final bend Thommo went for a tiny gap between Mauger and the fence and squeezed by to win the race by the width of a tyre. Probably the most famous race at Hackney and one that I'll never forget...It even had a snippet in the Daily Mirror the following day!

I guess it's not out there then. I didn't go either. The only one I went to it rained all night..82 I think.

I've often wondered if the classic 1980 test was televised. I've never come across it on youtube.

His gating skills will still get him wins, but yeah his time has passed. I just never thought his price would be that big.

33/1 for a 4-time champ I'll have sixpence hay-p'ny on the nose.