norbold 7,109 Posted July 27, 2017 Our oldest World Championship Finalist survivor, the great Split Waterman is 94 today. My first hero. Happy birthday Split. Only six to go to the century! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
False dawn 2,298 Posted July 27, 2017 My goodness. Those of us who remember, surely didn't realise Split was still in there kicking. Good on yer. Now I think about it, Poole have persuaded Tony Rickardsson and Mark Loram to come out if retirement for their 70th. What about Split doing a couple of laps? Nothing ambitious, no leg trailing or anything. Oh well, maybe not. But he could be a guest of honour eh? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted July 27, 2017 (edited) My goodness. Those of us who remember, surely didn't realise Split was still in there kicking. Good on yer. Now I think about it, Poole have persuaded Tony Rickardsson and Mark Loram to come out if retirement for their 70th. What about Split doing a couple of laps? Nothing ambitious, no leg trailing or anything. Oh well, maybe not. But he could be a guest of honour eh? Only snag to a Squire 'Split' Waterman UK appearance might be the fact that he lives in Nerja, Southern Spain. At least that was the last location I had for him. I seem to recall reading that Ove Fundin and Bert Harkins visited him there earlier this year. Edited July 27, 2017 by Guest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BOBBATH 466 Posted July 28, 2017 This is a retort to everyone who thinks they have to eat veggies and drink no alcohol.. I have ordered a case of whatever it is that Split drinks and am following his dietary recommendations of eating bacon and eggs for breakfast ever day. Split-live long and prosper!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,246 Posted July 28, 2017 He once got a mention on Terry Wogan's Radio Two morning programme! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JOS50 150 Posted July 28, 2017 He once got a mention on Terry Wogan's Radio Two morning programme! And there was a poem about him on Radio 4, sometime in the eighties. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
britmet 233 Posted July 28, 2017 He once got a mention on Terry Wogan's Radio Two morning programme! . And he was the rider that a Mastermind contestant failed to get in his specialist subject.. . 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted July 28, 2017 The colourful life of Split Waterman as recorded on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_Waterman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,109 Posted July 28, 2017 Split, of course, is one of speedway's greatest characters and well-known for his sense of humour and loud rasping laugh. Stan Stevens once told me the story about how, just before the start of the 1961 World Championship round at New Cross, he saw Split cutting grooves into his tyres in the paddock, so he asked him if this improved them for racing. Split replied, "No, it doesn't do a blind bit of good, but it makes me feel better" and let out his famous laugh. When they met in the meeting itself, Stan outgated Split, but going down the back straight on the first lap, Split passed him and, as he did so, he just turned to look over at Stan and grinned at him.I am glad I actually got to meet Split many years later at a VSRA (as it then was) dinner, even if his after dinner speech wasn't exactly what everyone had expected! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Midland Red 2,383 Posted July 28, 2017 He once got a mention on Terry Wogan's Radio Two morning programme! Burst Watermain 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 20,979 Posted July 28, 2017 Only snag to a Squire 'Split' Waterman UK appearance might be the fact that he lives in Nerja, Southern Spain. At least that was the last location I had for him. I seem to recall reading that Ove Fundin and Bert Harkins visited him there earlier this year. Then again i doubt if Tony Rickarsson lives in Dorset. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Split 177 Posted July 29, 2017 Split was riding in the first ever speedway meeting I attended back in 1960 and he was regarded as a veteran back then! Happy Birthday to my namesake! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tim Templeton 43 Posted July 29, 2017 Burst Watermain I seem to remember it was quoted as "a split watermain" as a newsflash on Wogan, which prompted Wogan to refer "a well known speedway rider". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 29, 2018 On 7/28/2017 at 7:46 AM, gustix said: The colourful life of Split Waterman as recorded on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_Waterman This item re Split Waterman has been posted on the Speedway Museum Online website: http://www.national-speedway-museum.co.uk/fairplayforsplitwaterman.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WalterPlinge 657 Posted December 29, 2018 And the award for "most bizarre re-opening of a dead 18-month-old thread, to post a link to an even more ancient and outdated naff-looking excuse for a website" goes to..... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites