Jump to content
British Speedway Forum

salty

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content count

    4,261

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    2

Posts posted by salty

  1. Posted · Edited by salty

    18 hours ago, Sidney the robin said:

    Betts, Ashby, Wilson ,and both the  Boocock brothers all underachieved on the world scene but we all know just how good they all were.The era then was so strong and to travel abroad on foreign soil was not an easy task then either to see all them ride as geniune number 1 riders was a real privilege.

    Eric Boocock could fit the bill for someone who retired too early ? 

    Further to Falcace's point, you could  argue no one who walks away fit and healthy from Speedway has retired too soon.

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

  3. Posted

    Penhall the obvious one as is the aforementioned Dag. In terms of his English career what about Ulf Lovaas? 

    Others to consider....Jim Airey (again in terms of his British career), Dave Shields, Wayne Brown, David Biles, Dave Tyler.

    • Like 1

  7. Posted

    18 hours ago, waiheke1 said:

    Jan Verner and Ian Gledhill also rode at reserve. 

     

    18 hours ago, waiheke1 said:

    Not sure that's correct. He may only have been used after Penhall retired, but not as a replacement for Penhall...pretty sure they used R/R to cover Bruce and Wiggy at reserve in their final match at hyde rd (not certain if that was in the BL or the KO cup)

    Aye, Gledhill was a reserve at the start of the season but struggled and was replaced by Verner half way through. The other reserve at the beginning was Reid but he got injured early on and was covered by the aforementioned Jackson, Barratt etc until he recovered. Joe Owen (the declared number 8) was used just once to replace Penhall early in the season. 

    Checked what few programmes I have after Penhall's leaving and you're correct re him being covered by R/R - if I remember right Cradley had a bit of a battle to get the facility. I'm guessing Wigg was only used sparingly as they didn't want him to jigger his average for 1983?

  8. Posted

    2 hours ago, stevehone said:

    ahhh ok, don't get the star so didn't see it

    " My one big regret is falling out with Charles. I think it was 1982, it was when BL teams could name four reserves and use any two of them for any meeting. One of my four was Simon Wigg. It was near the end of the season...." Goes onto explain that Ochiltree wanted to know the team a week before so he could print extra programmes. Adams offered him six names but wasn't sure on the seventh. Ochiltree replies "It better not be Simon Wigg". Of course it was.

    I'll dig out my programmes to see if that can shed any light. I know Cradley had started the season with Joe Owen as number 8, Drury at 9 and Pullen at 10 and used a number of riders to cover injuries to Andy Reid at reserve - Wayne Jackson and Bill Barratt spring to mind. 

    • Like 2

  9. Posted

    14 hours ago, stevehone said:

    i remember there being some sort of squad system, didn't think it was that far back though. was it a way of using NL riders how they wanted?

    Adams definitely quotes 1982. The context was that Charles Ochiltree contacted him a week prior to Cradley's visit to Brandon to find out which reserves would be riding. Adams said he declined to confirm and subsequently he and Ochiltree never spoke again. He mentions the use of Wigg, but as I recall he was only used following Penhall's departure and not as a replacement for one of the other reserves.

    • Like 1

  10. Posted

    Just wishing to pick the brains of the BSP gang. Last week in the Star's feature on "Greatest Gaffers" Peter made reference to a rule whereby in 1982 BL teams could name four reserves and use any two of them in a meeting.

    I don't have any recollection of that rule myself, though I can remember Cradley declaring their numbers 8,9 and 10.

    Anybody got a better memory?

  12. Posted

    Cradley v Newport September 1968.

    Heathens - Graham Coombes, Chris Julian have passed away. Bob Andrews, Roy Trigg, Ken Wakefield, Alan Totney and Archie Wilkinson still with us afaik

    Wasps - Jimmy Gooch (rider replacement that evening), Cyril Francis, Bob Hughes and Alby Golden have passed Norman Strachan, Jon Erskine and Tommy Sweetman (guest) still around. 

  22. Posted

    Saw him riding for Cradley at the start of 1981. It was sad to see him struggling so much, Peter Adams ran out of patience and replaced him with John McNeill. 

    Prefer to remember the quality rider he was in his pomp round Owlerton.

  25. Posted · Edited by salty

    1 hour ago, Grand Central said:

    Today, of course, riders provide their own helmet colours and can have them bespoke fitted to their helmet and securely fastened. In the GPs most have 4 helmets in the appropriate colour.

    But back in the seventies the helmet covers are provided by the track ... Many were in a very poor state of repair, tattered and loose fitting with knicker-elastic that would do Nora Batty proud. That why Olsen felt he had a right to moan about 'his' not being fit for purpose.

    Funnily enough I watched some footage of the 1982 Overseas Final the other day and was struck by how many helmet colours were off within a lap or two. 

    One of the things that have improved over the years.

×

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Privacy Policy

  I accept