norbold 7,106 Posted April 13, 2020 1 hour ago, Sidney the robin said: Going back to the seven riders mentioned Nigel was nearly a decade ahead of the other six so his case to be top dog is a very strong one. Yes, I think this is a bit of a problem with the seven you named as Nigel Boocock is not really the same era as the others. He is mainly a 60s man whereas the others are 70s. Of course they all overlapped to some extent, but it is difficult to know how to order them because of that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,242 Posted April 13, 2020 15 minutes ago, norbold said: Yes, I think this is a bit of a problem with the seven you named as Nigel Boocock is not really the same era as the others. He is mainly a 60s man whereas the others are 70s. Of course they all overlapped to some extent, but it is difficult to know how to order them because of that. Which is why I placed Nigel further down my particular list (although acknowledging his endeavours) he was on the decline when I started attending speedway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sidney the robin 4,735 Posted April 13, 2020 21 minutes ago, norbold said: Yes, I think this is a bit of a problem with the seven you named as Nigel Boocock is not really the same era as the others. He is mainly a 60s man whereas the others are 70s. Of course they all overlapped to some extent, but it is difficult to know how to order them because of that. Yes Norbold you are totally right overlapped is the word, funny thing is growing up i never really thought of Nigel being that much older than the others.The DVD where Eric brilliantly talks about both of there careers, i didn't realise that Eric travelled that much with Nigel to meeting's before he got seriously got involved with his own career. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chunky 6,090 Posted April 13, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, norbold said: Yes, I think this is a bit of a problem with the seven you named as Nigel Boocock is not really the same era as the others. He is mainly a 60s man whereas the others are 70s. Of course they all overlapped to some extent, but it is difficult to know how to order them because of that. On the other hand, John Louis stands out for being a later era than the others. Take 1969. Five of the seven were close to their peak, and the top two Englishmen in the averages were the Boococks. They were closely followed by Wilson, and Ashby and Betts were both pushing a 10-point average. Simmo still had a few years before reaching his peak, but was already a force to be reckoned with. Louis hadn't sat on a speedway bike yet... Edited April 13, 2020 by chunky 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BL65 656 Posted April 13, 2020 Looking at the league averages achieved in the top division as a measure of consistency shows the following: The peak years of the seven riders measured by the consecutive seasons in which they attained a 9.00+ average Terry Betts 1966-1977 (12 seasons) Nigel Boocock 1963-1972 (10) Eric Boocock 1965-1974 (10) Martin Ashby 1968-1977 (10) Ray Wilson 1967-1976 (10) Malcolm Simmons 1973-1980 (8) John Louis 1972-1979 (7) - there was a further season when he averaged 8.99 Nigel Boocock and John Louis averaged above 11.00 in one season each. The number of seasons in which the riders averaged over 10.00 in the league was: Eric Boocock 8 Nigel Boocock and Martin Ashby 7 Malcolm Simmons 5 Terry Betts 4 John Louis 4 Ray Wilson 2 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sidney the robin 4,735 Posted April 15, 2020 On 4/13/2020 at 9:51 PM, BL65 said: Looking at the league averages achieved in the top division as a measure of consistency shows the following: The peak years of the seven riders measured by the consecutive seasons in which they attained a 9.00+ average Terry Betts 1966-1977 (12 seasons) Nigel Boocock 1963-1972 (10) Eric Boocock 1965-1974 (10) Martin Ashby 1968-1977 (10) Ray Wilson 1967-1976 (10) Malcolm Simmons 1973-1980 (8) John Louis 1972-1979 (7) - there was a further season when he averaged 8.99 Nigel Boocock and John Louis averaged above 11.00 in one season each. The number of seasons in which the riders averaged over 10.00 in the league was: Eric Boocock 8 Nigel Boocock and Martin Ashby 7 Malcolm Simmons 5 Terry Betts 4 John Louis 4 Ray Wilson 2 Great post BL impressive stats for all concerned, a year that always interested me was in 1969.Ivan Mauger dropped only a misely 9 points in 35 matches averaging 11.74 beating the immortal Vic Duggan who dropped only 11 points in 1947. This was the first time any rider had achieved an average dropping only single figures. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BL65 656 Posted April 15, 2020 46 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said: … impressive stats for all concerned..... Compare the stats with those of another 'magnificent 7'. Ivan Mauger averaged 9.00+ for 14 consecutive seasons, with 11 seasons at 10.00+ and 8 seasons at 11.00+ Barry Briggs averaged 9.00+ in 20 consecutive full seasons he competed (he missed one and virtually all of another), with 13 seasons over 10.00 and 3 over 11.00 Ronnie Moore averaged 9.00+ in 16 consecutive seasons in which he competed (he missed 1957 and 1964 to 1968), with 11 over 10.00 and 2 over 11.00 Bjorn Knutson averaged 9.00+ in 5 consecutive seasons, but only competed in 6 in Britain, with 2 seasons over 10.00 Peter Craven averaged 9.00+ in 8 consecutive seasons until his tragic loss, with 6 over 10.00 and 2 above 11.00 Ove Fundin averaged 9.00+ in 12 consecutive seasons in which he competed (with the commuting Swedes banned from the British League in 1965), with 9 above 10.00 and 4 above 11.00 Ole Olsen averaged 9.00+ in 15 consecutive seasons, with 11 above 10.00 and 3 over 11.00 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sidney the robin 4,735 Posted April 15, 2020 1 hour ago, BL65 said: Compare the stats with those of another 'magnificent 7'. Ivan Mauger averaged 9.00+ for 14 consecutive seasons, with 11 seasons at 10.00+ and 8 seasons at 11.00+ Barry Briggs averaged 9.00+ in 20 consecutive full seasons he competed (he missed one and virtually all of another), with 13 seasons over 10.00 and 3 over 11.00 Ronnie Moore averaged 9.00+ in 16 consecutive seasons in which he competed (he missed 1957 and 1964 to 1968), with 11 over 10.00 and 2 over 11.00 Bjorn Knutson averaged 9.00+ in 5 consecutive seasons, but only competed in 6 in Britain, with 2 seasons over 10.00 Peter Craven averaged 9.00+ in 8 consecutive seasons until his tragic loss, with 6 over 10.00 and 2 above 11.00 Ove Fundin averaged 9.00+ in 12 consecutive seasons in which he competed (with the commuting Swedes banned from the British League in 1965), with 9 above 10.00 and 4 above 11.00 Ole Olsen averaged 9.00+ in 15 consecutive seasons, with 11 above 10.00 and 3 over 11.00 I am blinkered sometimes !!!!! but the Briggs record is mighty impressive longevity the most impressive aspect. Looking through some stats from 1946/56 very interesting indeed how totally reliable they are i don't know.? TOP scorers from each year 1946.- Eric Langton-11.13. 1947. Vice Duggan - 11.54. 1948. Vice Duggan- 11.47. 1949.Vic Duggan- 10.64. 1950. Graham Warren.- 10.55. 1951. Aub Lawson- 10.31 1952. Ronnie Moore- 11.36. 1953. Jack Young - 10.61. 1954. Ronnie Moore- 10.59. 1955. Ronnie Moore- 10.87. 1956. Barry Briggs- 10.53. Mirac again with Duggan were both very dominant Mirac being in the top two riders from 1951 until 1956 an often forgotten LEGEND. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DC2 11,150 Posted April 15, 2020 1 hour ago, BL65 said: Compare the stats with those of another 'magnificent 7'. Ivan Mauger averaged 9.00+ for 14 consecutive seasons, with 11 seasons at 10.00+ and 8 seasons at 11.00+ Barry Briggs averaged 9.00+ in 20 consecutive full seasons he competed (he missed one and virtually all of another), with 13 seasons over 10.00 and 3 over 11.00 Ronnie Moore averaged 9.00+ in 16 consecutive seasons in which he competed (he missed 1957 and 1964 to 1968), with 11 over 10.00 and 2 over 11.00 Bjorn Knutson averaged 9.00+ in 5 consecutive seasons, but only competed in 6 in Britain, with 2 seasons over 10.00 Peter Craven averaged 9.00+ in 8 consecutive seasons until his tragic loss, with 6 over 10.00 and 2 above 11.00 Ove Fundin averaged 9.00+ in 12 consecutive seasons in which he competed (with the commuting Swedes banned from the British League in 1965), with 9 above 10.00 and 4 above 11.00 Ole Olsen averaged 9.00+ in 15 consecutive seasons, with 11 above 10.00 and 3 over 11.00 Out of interest how do Hans Nielsen, Penhall, the Morans and Gundersen compare? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BL65 656 Posted April 15, 2020 6 hours ago, DC2 said: Out of interest how do Hans Nielsen, Penhall, the Morans and Gundersen compare? Consecutive seasons in Britain with a 9.00+ average: Nielsen 16, Gundersen 9 (until injury ended his career), S Moran 8, Penhall all 5 seasons that he competed, K Moran 2 Number of seasons with an average of 10.00+ (not consecutive): Nielsen 13, Gundersen 6, Penhall 3, S Moran 1, K Moran 0 Number of seasons with an average of 11.00+ Nielsen 4, Gundersen 1, Penhall 1, S Moran 0, K Moran 0 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DC2 11,150 Posted April 15, 2020 6 minutes ago, BL65 said: Consecutive seasons in Britain with a 9.00+ average: Nielsen 16, Gundersen 9 (until injury ended his career), S Moran 8, Penhall all 5 seasons that he competed, K Moran 2 Number of seasons with an average of 10.00+ (not consecutive): Nielsen 13, Gundersen 6, Penhall 3, S Moran 1, K Moran 0 Number of seasons with an average of 11.00+ Nielsen 4, Gundersen 1, Penhall 1, S Moran 0, K Moran 0 Thank you. Apparently one season Nielsen averaged a perfect 12 away from home? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E I Addio 15,843 Posted April 15, 2020 On 4/13/2020 at 12:28 AM, BOBBATH said: Great thread and great comments everybody-have enjoyed reading them- for me, with the riders mentioned I have to go with NIgel Boocock as #1 by a mile-after much thought would place Ray Wilson #2 and Simmons #3. Was interested to see Norbolds mention of Norman Hunter at #14. Am interested also in the fact that both Hunter and Simmons of the Prov. League in 1963 opted to go up to NL in 1964 when the Prov. League was black-others like Colin Pratt did not. Do you think they may the right decision or would it have been better to be superstars in the Prov. League of 1964 (like say Charlie Monk or George Hunter)?? I know a couple of NL riders who thought they themselves should have gone the other way e.g. Ronnie Genz and Bob Andrews-would be interested in your thoughts. Malcolm Simmons started the ‘64 season in the PL for a very short period , possibly a matter of days but changed when he realised that by riding in a “ pirate “ league he would lose his ACU licence and not be able to ride grass track where he was earning a lot of money , far more than from speedway at the time. Not sure about Norm the Storm but I suspect it was a combination of not wanting to lose his ACU licence and ambition. He always knew he was good and wanted to make it to the where he more than likely would have ended up if not for that terrible hand injury at Prestatyn. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,242 Posted April 15, 2020 1 hour ago, DC2 said: Thank you. Apparently one season Nielsen averaged a perfect 12 away from home? I'm sure that it was 1986. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sidney the robin 4,735 Posted April 15, 2020 1 hour ago, BL65 said: Consecutive seasons in Britain with a 9.00+ average: Nielsen 16, Gundersen 9 (until injury ended his career), S Moran 8, Penhall all 5 seasons that he competed, K Moran 2 Number of seasons with an average of 10.00+ (not consecutive): Nielsen 13, Gundersen 6, Penhall 3, S Moran 1, K Moran 0 Number of seasons with an average of 11.00+ Nielsen 4, Gundersen 1, Penhall 1, S Moran 0, K Moran 0 Looked through the records of Penhall , Nielsen, Lee, from (1979 /1983.) Nielsen 1979- 10.16. 1980- 10.70. 1981- 9.80. 1982- 9.89. 1983- 10.82 Penhall. 1979- 10.02 1980- 10.46. 1981- 11.01. 1982- 10.74. Lee. 1979- 10.29. 1980- 10.17. 1981- 10.30. 1982- 9.65. 1983- 10.16 all very impressive figures . Lee actually averaged over 10 points a meeting six seasons out of seven from 1977- 83. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BOBBATH 466 Posted April 15, 2020 Most interesting responses guys-some truly amazing stats there. Thanks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites