Fathers and Sons

[steve roberts 9,242]

6 minutes ago, BL65 said:

He was also a very busy person during the autumn of 1975, as his new track at Vojens was completed and opened in September that year.

He presumably also had a contract with Wolves to fullfil?

[BL65 656]

8 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

He presumably also had a contract with Wolves to fullfil?

The writing was already on the wall there.  A week after winning the 1975 world title in September, Olsen was quoted in a Coventry newspaper as saying that Wolverhampton had promised him that he would be a free agent at the end of the season and that he liked the Coventry track, management and supporters. He went on to say he hoped that a deal could be done for 1976, having been keen to move to Brandon for the past couple of years.  During the winter a move away from Wolverhampton was approved, but the British Promoters General Council decreed that he should be allocated to Hull.  Olsen responded by threatening to quit British speedway unless he was allowed to join Coventry.  Ian Thomas flew to the USA for talks with Olsen, but was unable to persuade him to join Hull. Early in the new year Olsen appointed Coventry's Charles Ochiltree to act on his behalf in sorting the matter out.  The move to Coventry was finally approved just as the new season began, benefitting the Bees but leaving Hull and Wolverhampton in particular under-strength to begin with.  Hull were then able to secure the services of Barry Briggs and Wolverhampton replaced Olsen with rider replacement for Hasse Holmqvist and a series of guests throughout the entire season.

[steve roberts 9,242]

15 minutes ago, BL65 said:

The writing was already on the wall there.  A week after winning the 1975 world title in September, Olsen was quoted in a Coventry newspaper as saying that Wolverhampton had promised him that he would be a free agent at the end of the season and that he liked the Coventry track, management and supporters. He went on to say he hoped that a deal could be done for 1976, having been keen to move to Brandon for the past couple of years.  During the winter a move away from Wolverhampton was approved, but the British Promoters General Council decreed that he should be allocated to Hull.  Olsen responded by threatening to quit British speedway unless he was allowed to join Coventry.  Ian Thomas flew to the USA for talks with Olsen, but was unable to persuade him to join Hull. Early in the new year Olsen appointed Coventry's Charles Ochiltree to act on his behalf in sorting the matter out.  The move to Coventry was finally approved just as the new season began, benefitting the Bees but leaving Hull and Wolverhampton in particular under-strength to begin with.  Hull were then able to secure the services of Barry Briggs and Wolverhampton replaced Olsen with rider replacement for Hasse Holmqvist and a series of guests throughout the entire season.

Didn't Jimmy McMillan get allocated to Wolves from Hull in 1976? I was surprised at the time that Wolves were allowed to declare Hasse Holmqvist in their line (albeit as R/R) due to the fact that he missed the best part of the previous season at Cowley. I Recall Wolves arriving at White City with a team cobbled together with track specialist guests and registering a win much to my, and the promotion's, disgust at the time. Wolves very much operated a "horses for courses" policy that season for reasons that you touch upon.

Another good post from you BL65...so much enjoy reading your comments.

[BL65 656]

8 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

Didn't Jimmy McMillan get allocated to Wolves from Hull in 1976? I was surprised at the time that Wolves were allowed to declare Hasse Holmqvist in their line (albeit as R/R) due to the fact that he missed the best part of the previous season at Cowley. I Recall Wolves arriving at White City with a team cobbled together with track specialist guests and registering a win much to my, and the promotion's, disgust at the time. Wolves very much operated a "horses for courses" policy that season for reasons that you touch upon.

Yes Steve, you are correct regarding Jim McMillan, but Wolverhampton had also sadly lost Gary Peterson from the 1975 team.

[Sidney the robin 4,735]

57 minutes ago, BL65 said:

Yes Steve, you are correct regarding Jim McMillan, but Wolverhampton had also sadly lost Gary Peterson from the 1975 team.

Maybe i am wrong only saw Muller once in a British league  speedway match at the abbey scoring 0 for Coatbridge.Did Coatbridge operate R/R for him at one time? also Conny Samuelsson did Oxford operate that facility as well.?

[BL65 656]

25 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

Maybe i am wrong only saw Muller once in a British league  speedway match at the abbey scoring 0 for Coatbridge.Did Coatbridge operate R/R for him at one time? also Conny Samuelsson did Oxford operate that facility as well.?

Muller made a couple of very unsuccessful appearances for Coatbridge in 1973, who then used R/R for him against Oxford before he departed.  He lasted longer and with much more success at Hull in 1976 before they had to use R/R for him throughout September and October.  Oxford only used R/R once for Samuelsson, in 1969 against Swindon, resorting to guests for a while after that as Leo McAuliffe was also then absent and they used the facility to cover his rides.

[Sidney the robin 4,735]

1 minute ago, BL65 said:

Muller made a couple of very unsuccessful appearances for Coatbridge in 1973, who then used R/R for him against Oxford before he departed.  He lasted longer and with much more success at Hull in 1976 before they had to use R/R for him throughout September and October.  Oxford only used R/R once for Samuelsson, in 1969 against Swindon, resorting to guests for a while after that as Leo McAuliffe was also then absent and they used the facility to cover his rides.

Remember Hull having the R/R facility for Muller at Hull after making quite an impression.

[steve roberts 9,242]

1 hour ago, Sidney the robin said:

Remember Hull having the R/R facility for Muller at Hull after making quite an impression.

1977 if I recall Sid the same year as White City and Hackney had the facility granted but very rarely referred to!

[chunky 6,089]

3 hours ago, steve roberts said:

1977 if I recall Sid the same year as White City and Hackney had the facility granted but very rarely referred to!

No, Egon was at Hull in 1976.

[steve roberts 9,242]

5 hours ago, chunky said:

No, Egon was at Hull in 1976.

I thought they were granted a facility for him in 1977? I have his name printed in both a White City and Hull programme of that year.

Edited August 9, 2021 by steve roberts

[Sidney the robin 4,735]

1 hour ago, steve roberts said:

I thought they were granted a facility for him in 1977? I have his name printed in both a White City and Hull programme of that year.

You are spot on Steve Hull ran R/R for the whole of the 1977 season how that was granted for so long god knows.EGON had eight matches in 1976 averaging 8.75  on his debut he scored 11 from four rides at Birmingham .Other  notable scores were scoring 13 points at Coventry and 12 at Halifax in 1983 NORDEN ( i went) he was awesome on his rocket fuelled engine.

[chunky 6,089]

4 hours ago, steve roberts said:

I thought they were granted a facility for him in 1977? I have his name printed in both a White City and Hull programme of that year.

Sorry mate, seems you are right! I honestly can't remember that...

[Sidney the robin 4,735]

It does not matter Chunky i also did not know that facility ran all year.I just remember being disappointed because they had R/R for Egon at the Abbey in 1977.

[chunky 6,089]

6 hours ago, Sidney the robin said:

It does not matter Chunky i also did not know that facility ran all year.I just remember being disappointed because they had R/R for Egon at the Abbey in 1977.

We complain about some of the things that go on today, but we had a lot of stupid stuff going on back then, particularly with R/R. We used it in early 1976 for Christer Lofqvist - even though we knew he was never going to ride for us...

[Sidney the robin 4,735]

3 minutes ago, chunky said:

We complain about some of the things that go on today, but we had a lot of stupid stuff going on back then, particularly with R/R. We used it in early 1976 for Christer Lofqvist - even though we knew he was never going to ride for us...

Yes you are  totally right and yes i do moan about the tedious rules now , but there were some bad mistakes happening in yesteryear.The two that come to mind was a Mauger/ Olsen being aloud to come in as a tactical substitute  in heat 8 .Also yes the top stars had big averages but 80 per cent of the time they had the best gates when often the lesser rider was stuck out on the crappy gates.