Eric Boocock Book

[BOBBATH 466]

Just re reading the Eric autobiography-very good.I am particularly interested in the old PL days and Eric's comments on Ivor Brown-what a dirty rider he was, how Ivor and Ivan had a memorable fight etc etc.Eric says Ivor had little ability but lots of guile-I greatly enjoyed his comments on all riders-but anyone have anything to add re Ivor Brown-I felt Ivor was a little out of his depth among the top guys in the amalgamated BL but also he was much older than many by that time. I always enjoyed watching him ride.

[britmet 233]

I’ve not read the Boocok book, but have to defend Ivor Brown, Cradley’s most loyal rider from a time, 1961-1968, when it wasn’t all about money, - anything but: no sponsorship, etc then. Every rider who’s got to the top, - the Fundins, Maugers, Nielsens, etc - , didn’t do so by being nice guys, and all would become booed by everyone except there own fans, (and some of them as well, - e.g. Penhall at Cradley in ’81 !) Ivor Brown didn’t get to such elevated positions, but he did top the Prov’l Lge averages consistently, yet never had much success in big meetings, IMO because, as a team man, he gave of his best at every mtg, - there being nothing in reserve to be pulled out at Indiv’ls. So many other likenamed put their own success before their team’s.

 

Come the formation of the BL in 1965 Ivor Brown didn’t feature so well, but then that horrific crash in the first days of the BL, in the Wimbledon Internationale of 1965, (see pics) when Fundin cut in front and took his front wheel from him resulting in a fractured lower spine and split nether region, would have seen any other 38yr old hang up his leathers. With the Heathens desperate, Ivor was back within weeks, though he shouldn’t have been. How he’d have fared in the merged BL otherwise we’ll never know.

 

Yes, he was 34 when he came to Cradley in 1961: 41 when retiring, so with his experience he had trackcraft and guile and wasn’t readily intimidated on the track and could hold his own, though was very mild off it. Even Mauger, in “Triple Crown Plus”, though not liking him, acknowledges he had respect for Ivor, “for not taking the coward’s way and shutting off….. but duelling right up to the fence". As a white-liner, his trademark move was to forge thru on the line on the last bend, even when there didn’t seem to anyone to be the room, a manoeuvre which only the toughest could withstand. That’s probably why his track-craft surprised many, (incl’g Ron Mountford, tough guy recently discussed on this forum, seen captured by Alf Weedon thumping IB, when he clearly thought P.Lge. upstarts shouldn’t pull one over on N.Lge. heatleaders; -“NL v PL”, W’ton 1963. )

Edited August 30, 2008 by britmet

[BOBBATH 466]

I’ve not read the Boocok book, but have to defend Ivor Brown, Cradley’s most loyal rider from a time, 1961-1968, when it wasn’t all about money, - anything but: no sponsorship, etc then. Every rider who’s got to the top, - the Fundins, Maugers, Nielsens, etc - , didn’t do so by being nice guys, and all would become booed by everyone except there own fans, (and some of them as well, - e.g. Penhall at Cradley in ’81 !) Ivor Brown didn’t get to such elevated positions, but he did top the Prov’l Lge averages consistently, yet never had much success in big meetings, IMO because, as a team man, he gave of his best at every mtg, - there being nothing in reserve to be pulled out at Indiv’ls. So many other likenamed put their own success before their team’s.

 

Come the formation of the BL in 1965 Ivor Brown didn’t feature so well, but then that horrific crash in the first days of the BL, in the Wimbledon Internationale of 1965, (see pics) when Fundin cut in front and took his front wheel from him resulting in a fractured lower spine and split nether region, would have seen any other 38yr old hang up his leathers. With the Heathens desperate, Ivor was back within weeks, though he shouldn’t have been. How he’d have fared in the merged BL otherwise we’ll never know.

 

Yes, he was 34 when he came to Cradley in 1961: 41 when retiring, so with his experience he had trackcraft and guile and wasn’t readily intimidated on the track and could hold his own, though was very mild off it. Even Mauger, in “Triple Crown Plus”, though not liking him, acknowledges he had respect for Ivor, “for not taking the coward’s way and shutting off….. but duelling right up to the fence". As a white-liner, his trademark move was to forge thru on the line on the last bend, even when there didn’t seem to anyone to be the room, a manoeuvre which only the toughest could withstand. That’s probably why his track-craft surprised many, (incl’g Ron Mountford, tough guy recently discussed on this forum, seen captured by Alf Weedon thumping IB, when he clearly thought P.Lge. upstarts shouldn’t pull one over on N.Lge. heatleaders; -“NL v PL”, W’ton 1963. )

Britmet-nice post I also had a lot of respect for Ivor