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Issue 95 - Anders Michanek, 50 Coatbridge Moments, Coventry v Cradley rivals, Ted Hubbard, MRC

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Issue 95 is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside . . .

 

ANDERS MICHANEK: Life & Times

In the first of a regular new series of in-depth, seven-page timeline profiles, ROB PEASLEY chronicles the illustrious career of the 1974 World Champion and former Sweden, Leicester, Newcastle and Reading No.1.

 

BIG NIGHTS: Midland Riders' Championship

PHIL CHARD continues to review some of British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings. This time he heads back to the Midlands at a time when speedway was flourishing at Coventry, Cradley Heath, Leicester, Oxford, Swindon and Wolverhampton, with Birmingham joining the fray from 1976. Past winners of the MRC in the Backtrack era include: Barry Briggs, Ole Olsen, John Boulger, Dave Jessup, Hans Nielsen, Scott Autrey, Erik Gundersen, Lance King and Tommy Knudsen.

 

MARATHON MEN

DOUG NICOLSON looks at the gruelling test of both man and machine that was the British League’s Rider Replacement scheme in 1976, when Halifax's flying Dutchman became the first rider to score a seven-ride, 21-point maximum. Other notable endurance experts during that sweltering summer were Finn Thomsen, Reg Wilson, Joe Owen and Bruce Cribb. In-depth analysis has unearthed fascinating facts from a time when one or two teams even used 'Double R/R'.

 

RIVALS: Coventry v Cradley Heath
Reviewing club rivalries, ROB PEASLEY recalls classic matches between two Midlands giants. With quotes from Bees' Mick Bell and Heathens' Alan Grahamne, match winners included Dave Shields, Sam Nikolajsen, John Jorgensen, plus 1988 cup hero 'Big Al' himself, while there was trouble afoot for Bruce Penhall and Kelvin Tatum.

 

BACKCHAT

MARTIN ROGERS answers readers' questions on . . . track standards and curators; riders who didn't live up to their early potential; whether the speedway authorities did enough to preserve Wembley as a World Final venue; and the drugs culture that entered British speedway in the 80s.

 

TED HUBBARD: his final interview
Former Canterbury and Rye House star Ted Hubbard, who passed away recently, gave this last, candid in-depth interview to TONY McDONALD. 'Hurricane' also talks about his two spells with Hackney at opposite ends of his successful career, plus the tragic loss of his good friend Graham Banks.

 

COATBRIDGE: 50 Memorable Moments

DOUG NICOLSON recalls much-missed Coatbridge, where the excellent steeply-banked track became home to Scotland's two premier teams from different eras. Featured riders include Doug Templeton, Reidar Eide, Bernt Persson, Bert Harkins, Jim McMillan, Bobby Beaton, Egon Muller, Ettienne Olivier, Mitch Shirra, Brian Collins and Mick McKeon.

 

Whatever happened to . . . MARK BALDWIN?
The former Mildenhall, Milton Keynes and Wimbledon trier explains to MARTIN NEAL why he quit at the age of just 24, in 1986.

 

THE WRITE STUFF
In a rare interview, Speedway Star editor ANDREW SKEELS, universally known as 'Scun', re-traces his path from Scunthorpe to the top job on the sport's leading magazine.

 

Remember, we no longer sell single or back issues, so if you wish you to receive this edition you need to take out a subscription (£25 per year UK) at www.retro-speedway.com

 

BT 95_edit page.jpg

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2 hours ago, tmc said:

Issue 95 is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside . . .

 

ANDERS MICHANEK: Life & Times

In the first of a regular new series of in-depth, seven-page timeline profiles, ROB PEASLEY chronicles the illustrious career of the 1974 World Champion and former Sweden, Leicester, Newcastle and Reading No.1.

 

BIG NIGHTS: Midland Riders' Championship

PHIL CHARD continues to review some of British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings. This time he heads back to the Midlands at a time when speedway was flourishing at Coventry, Cradley Heath, Leicester, Oxford, Swindon and Wolverhampton, with Birmingham joining the fray from 1976. Past winners of the MRC in the Backtrack era include: Barry Briggs, Ole Olsen, John Boulger, Dave Jessup, Hans Nielsen, Scott Autrey, Erik Gundersen, Lance King and Tommy Knudsen.

 

MARATHON MEN

DOUG NICOLSON looks at the gruelling test of both man and machine that was the British League’s Rider Replacement scheme in 1976, when Halifax's flying Dutchman became the first rider to score a seven-ride, 21-point maximum. Other notable endurance experts during that sweltering summer were Finn Thomsen, Reg Wilson, Joe Owen and Bruce Cribb. In-depth analysis has unearthed fascinating facts from a time when one or two teams even used 'Double R/R'.

 

RIVALS: Coventry v Cradley Heath
Reviewing club rivalries, ROB PEASLEY recalls classic matches between two Midlands giants. With quotes from Bees' Mick Bell and Heathens' Alan Grahamne, match winners included Dave Shields, Sam Nikolajsen, John Jorgensen, plus 1988 cup hero 'Big Al' himself, while there was trouble afoot for Bruce Penhall and Kelvin Tatum.

 

BACKCHAT

MARTIN ROGERS answers readers' questions on . . . track standards and curators; riders who didn't live up to their early potential; whether the speedway authorities did enough to preserve Wembley as a World Final venue; and the drugs culture that entered British speedway in the 80s.

 

TED HUBBARD: his final interview
Former Canterbury and Rye House star Ted Hubbard, who passed away recently, gave this last, candid in-depth interview to TONY McDONALD. 'Hurricane' also talks about his two spells with Hackney at opposite ends of his successful career, plus the tragic loss of his good friend Graham Banks.

 

COATBRIDGE: 50 Memorable Moments

DOUG NICOLSON recalls much-missed Coatbridge, where the excellent steeply-banked track became home to Scotland's two premier teams from different eras. Featured riders include Doug Templeton, Reidar Eide, Bernt Persson, Bert Harkins, Jim McMillan, Bobby Beaton, Egon Muller, Ettienne Olivier, Mitch Shirra, Brian Collins and Mick McKeon.

 

Whatever happened to . . . MARK BALDWIN?
The former Mildenhall, Milton Keynes and Wimbledon trier explains to MARTIN NEAL why he quit at the age of just 24, in 1986.

 

THE WRITE STUFF
In a rare interview, Speedway Star editor ANDREW SKEELS, universally known as 'Scun', re-traces his path from Scunthorpe to the top job on the sport's leading magazine.

 

Remember, we no longer sell single or back issues, so if you wish you to receive this edition you need to take out a subscription (£25 per year UK) at www.retro-speedway.com

 

BT 95_edit page.jpg

Recall the complicated R/R scheme that operated during 1976 & 1977. There was always much made of White City's use of the facility during 1977 but what is often conveniently forgotten was that during the last two months of the season Gordon Kennett was unable to take any replacement rides and it was "The Rebels" strength in depth and team spirit  that saw them emerge as champions.

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On ‎1‎/‎16‎/‎2020 at 11:02 PM, steve roberts said:

Recall the complicated R/R scheme that operated during 1976 & 1977. There was always much made of White City's use of the facility during 1977 but what is often conveniently forgotten was that during the last two months of the season Gordon Kennett was unable to take any replacement rides and it was "The Rebels" strength in depth and team spirit  that saw them emerge as champions.

Why couldn't Gordon take R/R rides - did a rule prevent it?

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Mad to think that in 1976 it was possible, in certain circumstances, for a rider to appear in EIGHT of the 13 match heats.

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13 minutes ago, tmc said:

Why couldn't Gordon take R/R rides - did a rule prevent it?

If I recall Tony the R/R regulation during the years under discussion (it only lasted two years?) stipulated that the rider immediately above the missing rider's average could indeed take upto two of his rides as Gordon often did during the early part of the 1977 season. However if another team member's average rose sufficiently to then become the next rider immediately above the missing rider (Marek Cieslak in this case) then the number one (Gordon Kennett) was no longer able to take any rides whilst the Green Averages dictated same...something like that. It was mightingly confusing at the time and I'm sure somebody else may be able to claify the ruling better than me! Over to Rob to investigate further perhaps?

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Really enjoyed the Michanek profile. I never thought that he was at his best around the old Hyde Road, but undoubtably a classy rider (and seemingly a really classy guy too).

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1 hour ago, Garry1603 said:

Really enjoyed the Michanek profile. I never thought that he was at his best around the old Hyde Road, but undoubtably a classy rider (and seemingly a really classy guy too).

Anders was a constant thorn at Cowley during "The Rebels" era and was a class act. If I recall the first rider to beat him in a team event was, ironically, Dag Lovaas in 1975?

Edited by steve roberts
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