KIWIPIRATE

In days past, many riders were known to sport a distinctive neckerchief – perhaps an affectation, or to stop an influx of shale down the inside of leathers that weren’t quite made to measure… Ronnie Moore, of course Barry Briggs – the classic red and white polka dot model ISTR Ivan Mauger – a black/white check thing, during his Newcastle days anyway Bert Harkins – a tartan job, of course Colin Gooddy – another red & white man Sverre Harrfeldt Christer Lofqvist Scott Autrey – for that dreamy cowboy look…. Any others, past or present?

As the instigator of the original original thread, I would just like to say that is indeed a fine line-up and show of proper handlebars - you'd never turn one of those brutes with the namby-pamby girly bars they have now......

Ronnie Genz - he took my hand painted programme board (this was a major work of art, with every team's race jacket lovingly created in Airfix enamels) and personally passed it to every member of the Pirates to sign it.... Tks Ronnie, wherever you may be now.....

Aaah, Gab Kadirov - ISTR he was known as the Russian (sic) "Beatle" because of his hair cut at the time..... or was that Gennady Kurilenko?? Both exciting riders to watch...

Only a guess, but it might be a badge from the Wembley Cycle Speedway Club... Cycle Speedway

one of his great nephews is Aaron Mauger - the All Blacks centre...

SOLO MOTORCYCLES South Island Solo Championship, 20 December 2003, Ruapuna Speedway, Christchurch 1st Place: Blair McKinlay, Ruapuna 2nd Place Michael Long, Oreti Park, Invercargill 3rd Place: Sean Cox, Ruapuna NZ Solo Grand Prix 27 December 2003, Ruapuna Speedway, Christchurch 1st Place: Michael Long, Oreti Park 2nd Place: Andrew Aldridge, Ruapuna 3rd Place: Scott Boyce, Ruapuna New Zealand Solo Championship 23 January 2004, Wellington Speedway 1st Place: Jason Bunyan, Waikaraka Park (UK) 2nd Place: Terenzani Simone, Waikaraka Park (Italy) 3rd Place: Craig Ramsay, Gisborne North Island Solo Championship 14 March 2004, Rosebank Domain, Auckland 1st Place: Craig Ramsay, Gisborne 2nd Place: Greg Fisher, Rosebank 3rd Place: Dylan Moohan, Rosebank New Zealand Under 21 Solo Championship 22 February 2004, Rosebank Domain, Auckland 1st Place: Grant Tregoning, Ruapuna 2nd Place: Andrew Bargh, Palmerston North 3rd Place: Jade Mudgway, Palmerston North

League racing has started in the South Island of New Zealand - only 3 teams at present (Canterbury, Southland and the West Coast). Plans are to try and create a 6 team league in the SI, possibly adding a North Island team as well.... Ronnie Moore is in support ... (Canterbury are called Ronnie's Rebels) Full page article in the Southland Times....

Actually, Dorset people have a burr, not a twang Well done, Jason - a worthy champ. and well done Trick - a worthy runner-up. I take my hat off to every rider who straddles a speedway machine, in fact....

Phil was a sight to behold.... ISTR he was also physically very strong - rumour had it that he could lift one of his bikes with one arm!!!

Poole "Badger Beer" Pirates 1. Tony Rickardsson 2. Malcolm Simmons 3. Michael Lee 4. Mark Loram 5. Leigh Adams 6. Brian Crutcher 7. Craig Boyce

I'll be in Surfer's 18-23 Jan incl. Any meetings on durng that period?

Ordered the book for myself for Xmas, and KPjr may read it when she's a little older. Excellent read, and a sorely missed exponent of track craft. My only criticsm would be that the proof reading isn't all it could be... The book seems to affirm that PC did start with a 20yd handicap on that fateful night...

Condolences to all the family, Janice. Always liked to see Chris down at Wimborne Rd with the Aces - loved the polka dots and sideburns!

AFAIK it's two....

Tks for all the comments. I agree New Plymouth is not the most inspiring of places, but we were "lucky?" that the motel had cocked up our booking and we "accidentally" found a lovely little 2 bedroom cottage available right opposite Pukakura Park. Mrs KP loved it, and they even left a bottle of wine for us... The Godden mounts were as listed on Ivan's web site... have to admit I raised an eyebrow as well... Would love to see a short track GP in Wellington, but I guess an Australian round would also be needed to make it worthwhile... Won't make it to Rosebank Rd - used to live in West Harbour, just up the road really!

Official attendance awaited, but now put between 8-10,000. Both me and KPjr prefer short track team racing, but I'll certainly go next year (Ivan has the rights for another 2 years, I think) and make more of a weekend of it.

Results A Final: K Tatum (UK) Godden 1, G Riss (Germany) Jawa 2, R Barth (Germany) Godden 3, U Bos (Netherlands) Godden 4, M Krueger (Germany) Godden 5, O Allen (UK) Godden 6 (retd), Final B: R Loeding (Germany) Godden 1, B Diener (Germany) Jawa 2, S Tressarrieu (France) Godden 3, Z Schneiderwind (Czech Republic) Jawa 4, M Groen (Netherlands) Godden 5, B Karger (Denmark) Jawa 6. Final C(re-run): M Shirra (NZ) Jawa 1, E Janoschka (Germanty) Godden 2, T Pijper (Netherlands) Gooden 3, Chris Watson (Australia) G odden 4, S Taylor (NZ) Jawa 5, Craig Watson (Australia) Masek (fell) 6. Final world championships points: Barth 131, Tatum 120, Riss 98.

Well, the weather held off and we got our first look at longtrack. The crowd was probably around 6-7000, and the track looked superb - banked nicely, though the surrounding (horse) racecourse is flat. With a 4m exclusion zone from the fence this meant spectators without a grandstand seat didn't have such a good view. The big negative for us was the announcer, who obviously had done his research by watching one GP replay on Sky. Loved the sound of his own voice, but gave just ONE result all afternoon, no times, and although we got the names for each final, no gate/helmet colours. He must have been dropped on his head when he was a baby... Wato got a surprise when he saw the banner, and we had a quick word with him. Biggest effort of the day was wild card Ollie Allen who made the A Final, only to retire. Wato crashed, but was unhurt, in the C Final which was won by Mitch Shirra on his 1st longtrack meeting. Theo Pijper could only make it to the C Final as well - don't know if he saw the banner!!. Predictably, it came down to a fight between Robert Barth, Kelvin Tatum and Gerd Riss - Kelvin took the honours in The A Final (and was unbeaten all afternoon from Riss and Barth, the latter taking the World Crown. Overall impression was positive, and a lot of care was taken with the track (45 min of grading and rolling and watering prior to the Finals!!). As it was our first longtrack, the speed into the corners was eye-popping!! Hope to get the heat details in due course

Weather forecast is for morning showers, and then fine, so hopefully the track will be OK. Leaving early tomorrow for the 4.5hr drive, and kpjr has banners for Wato and Theo!! Had a bit of a problem finding a motel unit free, and it sounds as though there will be a big crowd... "Tis Mrs KPs birthday on Sunday, and I'm not sure she is over impressed by her weekend 'treat', but a crayfish/oyster/mussel dinner should see her right...

Line Up: 1 Pijper Theo FFM NED 2 SHIRRA Mitch (Wild Card) MNZ NZL 3 KROEGER Matthias DMSB GER 4 Tatum Kelvin ACU GBR 5 TRESARRIEU Stephane FFM FRA 6 ALLEN Oliver (Wild Card) ACU GBR 7 DIENER Bernd DMSB GER 8 WATSON Chris (Wild Card) MA AUS 9 LOEDING Ralf DMSB GER 10 SCHNEIDERWIND Zdenek ACCR CZE 11 Barth Robert DMSB GER 12 WATSON Craig (Wild Card) MA AUS 13 Riss Gerd DMSB GER 14 KARGER Brian DMU DEN 15 TAYLOR Sam (Wild Card) MNZ NZL 16 GROEN Maik KNMV NED 17 JANOSCHKA Enrico DMSB GER 18 BOS Uppie FFM NED Looking forward to see Mitch ride again!! KPjr was always a big fan of Wato's at Wimborne Rd so we'll be cheering him on. Tickets in the post and looking forward to a weekend in Taranaki

It is certainly true that in the post-war years speedway in the UK was the 2nd most popular spectator sport after soccer... and quite lucrative for the top riders.

Judging by the pit antics he gets pretty fired up when he loses - perhaps a paradigm shift is required... Despite the usual sporting relationship we have with our trans-Tasman cousins, I do hope Crumpy pulls this one off...

Poole in about 1961, ISTR. Can't remember exactly who it was against - I think it was Cradley Heath.... KPjr is a Pirates fan now, though she has to shout even louder nowadays...

Wonderful - Ken McKinlay with hair .......!!!!