iris123

German Junior Champ is definitely Smolinski and his nickname is "Smoli"

Why go for small bio`s first and not a more comprehensive book?From what i have seen of Speedway books lately they are very sparse on info but cost a packet.The best i got this year was a history of Güstrow.Maybe including other countries,say in a look at the rise of the eastern block as a whole might widen popularity?

on the subject ,i was just flicking through Briggo`s bio and along with Fundin he rated Ron How as a tough rider and also has a special mention for Hasse Holmqvist .Michanek is also rated a"hard customer".

the meetings on grass are generally entertaining, but I don't find the ones on genuine longtracks to be particularly interesting. Saw the Bergring meeting from Teterow on TV this year and that was much better.hope to make next years meeting,especially if they have a meeting on the speedway track after,like this year!only trouble was that it clashed with the meeting at Güstrow just down the road.They only have a few meetings per year and 2 neighbouring towns don`t even co-ordinate with each other

If its the same group i saw them supporting Little Ritchard at the Hammersmith Palais in the mid seventies.Thought they were part of that Rock'n'roll revival also including Shaking Stevens,Freddie 'Fingers' Lee,Matchbox,etc.

Not Howdy Byford? just a shot in the dark as i doubt that was his real name

done it again B.Pedersen through to final

oops that was Ronnie .heat23 R.Pedersen.N.Pedersen elim Nichols & Gollob

Latest news from heat 22 Hancock, Gollob,B.Pedersen,Richardson

An extract from Eastbourne prog previewing next match."The Crusaders are also likely to use another Kestrel `86 in Richard Pettman-who will line up at reserve alongside rookie Steve Hone." Anyway just wanted to ask how many times you rode at Plough Lane?Going through my old programmes i see you rode in a NJL South Meeting in 86 and again in 87 .found another in89 for Exeter.Probably missed a few,thought you rode in the first team as well.

As for the German round ,i read somewhere that Hanover is a possibility.Which would be nice as its not far from me!

Typically the heavens opened up just before racing started and didn`t stop until the last race had finished .A few minutes later the sun started to appear for the first time! Also to be expected i suppose was the non-appearance of the Danish "Supertalent" Morten Risager and the two young Latvians Paura & Puodzuka.Andy Smith won the best race of the day with about the only passing manouvre,but was careering into riders from the tapes in a few races.Jörg Pingel was clearly the best rider winning his first four rides.Needing just a point from the last,he was second when he span round .The rider behind Promptly slowed down to avoid lapping him.Pingel then got going again and was starting to celebrate, when he fell on the last bend and had to pick himself up and push the bike over the line to ensure victory!

Scott Autrey was the first of a new wave of Americans and laid the foundations for Bruce Penhall, Sam Ermolenko, Greg Hancock, Billy Hamill etc. He was a brilliant rider. I remember him well. Happy 50th. Of course Scott was preceded by U.S Champ Steve Bast who had a few rides in 1970 for Wembley.Saw Scott in what was possibly his first ride in England in the second half at Plough Lane where he was joined by fellow countryman Sumner McKnight .For some reason Rick Woods who also came over that season was missing.But still ,Scott was a fantastic rider and a great Ambassador for his country