BOBBATH

I miss the excitement of the old one off World Finals even though I accept that the best rider did not always become World Champ.Would be interested in how many of these WF's other forumlanders attended and which they thought was the best. For my part I attended 5 (65,75,78,81,82). I thought they were all great but I guess the last ever Wembley one was the best-aktho I was glad to see Knutsson win his only title in 65.

Hi Steve-good stuff on other thread on this topic-I agree re Wyglenda and should have added him-but don't forget Woryna's acvievement in 1966-BTW hope you are surviving this horrendous winter down there in St. Louis-we should have emigrated to Queensland-I'm freezing my ass off up here!!

Guys if you really really want a white xmas move to Canada-we had one here coast to coast all 5000 miles or so of it!!!

Ditto from snowy Toronto-15 cms. of the stuff-we are a few hours behind you Brits -have a good one-I'll have a beer for all of you!!!

Is Eric Hockaday still with us?? Wasn't Eric in the first ever BL race in 1965 for CH v Coventry????????I also agree with Tony re Ernie Hancock and others-great people.

Are you thinking of Elsa May Smith??

2 minute warning-yes you are right. Re Grand Prix -isn't it true tho that you can be WC without actually ever winning a Grand prix-didn't that happen with Loram-also is it generally accepted that since GP series there is agreement that best rider became WC in each of those years?

Thanx Tony I will be interested in anything you find out as will others I am sure.

Thanx speedy guy -guess there is no chance of speedway's return to Yarmouth-looks like a really nice venue

I never got to Caister Road- what was it like that I might know-were they sparse facilities like a Long Eaton say-come on starghost I need to know!!

Re Grachan's note-and Wembley home track advantage- how about Jack Parker should have been Champ in 49, Graham Warren in 50, Split Waterman in 53-think that would be a better reflection of the best riders of the day.

Well we've talked about best tracks etc-what about best season. This occurred to me reading the Ross Gilbertson thread and Ian's comments. In my case best season ever was 1965-when the NL and PL merged-many of us PL fans had never seen NL'ers race and I can recall being really excited about seeing their top liners-also strangely their riding colours because in the days of black and white Speedway Stars-while you knew intellectually that BV were red, white and black-you didn't know how they looked precisely in real life. While of course the NL top guys were good , the PL guys were no slouches either-however I will never forget Oxford's first ever visit to Newport-Ron How effortlessly scored a 15 pt. max and was the best rider I had seen to date-unbelievable. Any forumlanders have thoughts to share on the best ever season.

Right Grachan, but I reckon Egon is one of the "unfair" ones-I'd add Szczakiel to that list too-and surely Tommy Price, Fred Williams(twice) only won because of home track advantage.I wish I'd been to as many as you tho.

Thanx oddfossengen -tho sad to hear re Gil-another ex speedway guy to commit suicide-he joins a long list-what is it about our sport.When did Gil die?

Yes Geoff Penniket is still alive-I asked Vic White earlier this year and he confirmed that "Plunkett" is still with us.Don't make characters like that any more!!But I was sad to hear Gil has passed away-anyone have more details?

To Norbold-re West Ham's treble-and they deserved it too!!!!-does anyone recall the K.O. Cup replay at Wimbledon when the Hammers having tied at home came back and won-Malc. Simmonds night I think.Do you also recall tho' how ex NL riders who seemed to be over the hill went to PL tracks and did great e.g. Jack Biggs at Newport. Re West Ham -their first visit to Newport was on the 25th June I sat my first A level that morning and I can recall thinking well at least I can go to speedway tonight-for the record Wasps won 42-36(sorry Norbold)

Sheffield in 1966-67,(good old Frank Varey) then Leicester in 1968.

Ian -I agree with you re George Hunter -one of my favorite riders-always put on a good show-when BL started while I thought some of the PL riders did great-I was disappointed that none of them made the 65 World Final-Charlie Monk came close as I am sure you recall-but they certainly held their own in League matches-what a great year that was.

Ta Ian-According to the Star -it said Jack Kitchen was the best rider of the night having won all his qualifying races including beating Mauger-said Ivor Brown got the biggest boos of the night-5 riders finished on 9 pts Gilbertson, Hunter,Cresp, Mattingley and Featherby-so there was a five man run off to determine the final two.Wish I could have been there it would have been a blast!!Bet it was packed out too-I sed to love the PL Finals.

More Ross stuff- I checked back in my programs-I reckon Ross was in the BL for Poole in 65-a heat leader-but then I lose track -did he retire??BTW in 63 he was in the Grand Final race of PLRC with Mauger(winner), Jack Kitchen and George Hunter- was anybody in forumland at that meeting at BV.

Glad I was wrong-I may have been thinking of Tony Lewis.

I hope I am wrong.

Bruno-you are right I am extremely sad to hear this.R.I.P.Roy.

Tony, thanx for that-would be interested in any other info.There were some wonderful characters around then weren't there-good for her-by the way -glad I brought some Speedway Stars with me when I emigrated.

I'm pretty sure Tim Bungay passed away a number of years ago.