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Sidney the robin

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Posts posted by Sidney the robin

  2. Posted

    Of course Doncaster, Screen, Loram and Tatum were all accomplished motor cyclists when they turned their hand to speedway but one had to admire them in forfeiting the traditional route and joining the big boys!

     

    I did some checking on the 'Mad Wellie' and although he appeared for Oxford (NL) and Swindon (BL) in 1977 he had in fact commenced riding down at Weymouth in 1973 but turned to grass track before taking up the sport again in 1976 during second halves at Swindon.

     

    Pip Lamb made his debut for Oxford during May 1976 after having trials at the Pete Jarman Training School (to which I attended) at Cowley during the previous Winter but he was another accomplished grass track exponent before turning his hand to speedway.

     

    By the way Sid...thoroughly enjoyed the Bob Kilby book!

    I know Wellie went to the Lew Coffin training school and then concentrated on the grass.You would know this better than most Steve Malc rode alot against Kevin Young who was highly rated often in the junior race at the Abbey Holloway,Young,Pope,Evans rode regular.Young looked good and did quite well for Oxford by the end of the 77 season Holloway was beating Young quite alot.I miss the second halves for me it served its purpose that was then and since then the sport has changed in a different direction.
    • Like 1

  3. Posted · Edited by Sidney the robin

    ...that may have been true during the early sixties with the formation of the Provincial League and the later old Second Division (1968) when there was a shortage of riders to fill the teams and the second tier of racing was basically a development league before the criteria began to change during the middle seventies.

     

    However during my formative "Rebel' years (1972 - 75) I can only recall one rider who fitted that criteria and that was Julian Wigg (Simon's brother) who first appeared in second halves (1972) riding his grass track bike and late in the season putting in an appearance for the team at, if I remember correctly, Sheffield.

    How many riders made a career for themseves after starting out in old second halves? some of those were novices.At Swindon they used to have a junior jaunt race that produced a few riders over the years people forget Ashby and Kilby were juniors they started from the bottom.For me from 1970 to 86 that was a very strong period the NL was also a decent product as well and the meetings i saw were very good indeed.Young riders going in with the likes of the quality of the Owen Bros), Jackson, Hunter,Etheridge,Woods,Brown,Mcdermott,Shields,R.Hunter (ect) was a tough ask.This myth of riders turning up with 1 bike on the back of the car with a fag in there mouth gives the wrong impression sure people are generally fitter now but i dont think they are better.And today i have just looked at the 2018 series line up not inspiring in my opinion ( Moxey may have a point???) again showing there is still a closed shop syndrome in that event

    I recall exceptional sixteen year old talents...Chris Morton, Michael Lee & Kenny Carter to name three...but I don't recall that it was as common a practice back then...certainly not in the upper league although the lower league's criteria was somewhat different as quoted in a previous post having personally closely followed Eastbourne & Peterborough whose riders often took part in second halves at Cowley due to the promotional tie up during that period.

     

    Certain promotions (Belle Vue & Ellesmere Port come easily to mind) ran dedicated Training Schools in an attempt to speed up development and give aspiring riders an opportunity to ride. Eastbourne (Thru' Arthur Nutley) would scour the Kent Grasstrack scene and give second half opportunities to promising talent.

     

    I shall re-read some of the back numbers of said magazine as well as the 'Classic' magazine to re-jog the memory cells as it was a period that I was very familiar with having attended many tracks during that era.

    Doncaster,Screen,Loram,Tatum,all were thrown in at the deep end in a really tough BL league i cant remember to many wobblers riding then.🤓
    • Like 1

  5. Posted

    Race jackets i loved the old versions no thrills my favourite i suppose was the Halifax Dukes jacket.I always felt riders then looked more like team riders and they had there own individual leathers John Davis would take some beating in that department and also his aquipment was superb.

    • Like 1

  6. Posted

    Of course.As i pointed out Nicki won 3 titles against those you named.He must rate better than Gollob and most probably behind Crump.But he isn't that far behind Crump not to be mentioned at all.Then we have Greg,who has more titles than both Crump and Nicki......so that is 2 ;) Just look at the facts rather than judge with prejudice because you don't like a rider

     

    When you have a top 15 you cannot pick everybody can you ? something has to give.Pedersen has had a great career but Gollob for me was a better rider he could pull off moves on the track that Nicki could only dream of doing.When judging a rider i dont just go on how many WC they had won Pedersen won as many titles as Olsen yet for me was a level below him.Yes i go to speedway now enjoy it mostly is it Better NO is it FASTER of course it is that is the real difference now it is faster.

  9. Posted · Edited by Sidney the robin

    I have replied to your PM.

     

    Best.

     

    Ian.

    I left home to buy my first house and my mum cleared out alot of my speedway memorabilia i was gutted.I have recovered some of it over the years but alot of special stuff i have still not replaced and a old Swindon Robins racejacket with Briggs name on it was one of the items.😤

    • Like 2

  12. Posted

    Well done Doyley you will be a great World Champion a fine example to everyone that anything is possible.I just hope we are able to see him in the Robins colours again in 2018 i would like to see Jason,Nick,Tobi, Zach be the first four names on the teamsheet.

    • Like 2

  13. Posted · Edited by Sidney the robin

    Wolverhampton have always welcomed ex Wolves riders and the older fans love the fact that ex stars like Ermolenko, Correy etc down to older riders likevArthur Price and Ken Eyre have or are regular visitors and if anything Belle Vue should encourage these to attend as often it can make someone's night that they get to chat with a rider they use to watch week in week out.

    Not sure what other tracks do but think Poole also welcome ex riders

    I am proud to say Swindon is terrific with ex riders great to see them there and enjoy the action Broady / Crash are regular's there and endless other ex riders go i see Dukey there quite a bit to.As long as Rosco is about that will always be the case the history of the club is everything for me the past inspires you to go that bit further.When Doyley wins his maiden WC he will go alongside the Legend Barry Briggs five world titles between them great stuff.🤓
    • Like 2

  15. Posted · Edited by Sidney the robin

    I collect pictures, photos,autographs,programmes that is my main interest i also have endless albums and scrapbooks.My two favourite items are my Tommy Jansson autographs and a TJ 1975 Wembley pennant.Also i have Peter Craven's autograph ( my uncle got it ) there is one autograph i am desperate to get that is Peter Jackson the only member i dont have of the 1967 Budgies title side.

    • Like 1

  18. Posted

    I have been following the progress of some of our youngsters this year and thing's look very bright for the future.Bewley is the standout and for me is a terrific talent he has a great racing brain and his temperament looks superb also he seems like a real humble lad.We also have the likes of Jenkins, Brennan, Powell, Bickley,Hume,Wood,Thomas, Bowtell,Kemp,Edwards,Rowe,Atkins(ect) making real progress in there career's.I know three on the forum who have seen alot of NL racing in the last few years City Rebel/Sommeiler/,Falcon Hammer be great to hear there views and others.Jenkins i really like the look of and Hume who had started great can he get over his horrendous injury?? myself i am really hopeful in the future it would be great to hear some thought's.!!

  19. Posted

    Fair play to Poole tonight they showed real fight and guts give there all there time will come again.Andersen was very good tonight and Shanes what a gutsy rider he is he will improve and Poole should stick with him.Longterm Poole have a bright future based around Kurtz,Holder,Woryna, Shanes i just hope the Robins do themseves justice in the final chuffed for Brad an unsung hero over the season he has contributed in what has been a good team effort.

  22. Posted

    Surely your head says a home win too, ok you may have one or two that have had a dip in for but so have Poole, you look to have a stronger rider in every position except reserve. If Poole make it will need more than one bit of luck which we didn't get in the first leg.

    Without Zach for me we are not the same team we have been unbalanced at reserve.Also if Doyley does not gate i don't expect him to mix it understandably six weeks ago i would of been confident not now Poole have a real chance tonight.

  24. Posted

    Seen him 7-8 times at Scunthorpe and he has been dreadful.. cant gate and doesnt pass much anymore.. at his best he is now a 7.5 point rider.. as i said hes gone stale needs a move.. Most Scunthorpe fans on here werent bothered when he retired abd even less so when he returned.. i was also there when he took the mic and announced he was returning.. was the most flat response ive seen at Speedway and thats saying something.

    You did get it right eventually then he is averaging 7.5 and that is after a dreadful first half of the season.You could be right a change could do him good but he wont be easy to replace i still think he should stay at Scunny at his best a very good home rider the best one they have.
    • Like 2

  25. Posted

    I saw him and No. hes a 6pt man at best and has gone stale at Scunny.. definitely better riders out there

    Are you p..... ??? even on home form alone and just entertainment value he is still a valued team member.Also in the last six weeks he has really mixed it at Kings Lynn done really well and showed in the BLRC at Belle Vue he is not a spent force at Scunny also the last six weeks he has picked up.Six pointer really???? you are 1.5 short on what he is averaging at present Auty for me at his best is easily the best home rider they have.
    • Like 3
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