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ianmartin

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Posts posted by ianmartin

  3. Posted

    Barry Briggs has been a Hero to me since I first got interested in Speedway 46 years ago. The man is a true Legend of the Sport. I have been fortunate enough to have met him on a number of occasions over the last five or six years. He is still my Hero. He had time to talk to me, allowed me to have my photograph taken with him and was at all times a perfect Gentleman in the true sense of the word.

    So he used some industrial language on a DVD - So what - a warning was given. Speedway is a tough Sport and Riders have to be tough to take part in it. A few swear words won't tarnish my memories of 'Briggo' - in fact it could be said that he is showing an obvious passion for the Sport.

    Finally - 'Briggo' has my total admiration for what he is attempting to do for our disabled Speedway Riders - it is good to see that even at his age - 'Briggo' has not yet settled for his pipe and slippers.

  4. Posted

    Thanks for reminding us Dave. Agree with the comment that no rider who has given his life for the sport should ever be forgotten.

     

    Still remembered at Weymouth as a great rider, best ever captain and a one of the thoroughly "good" guys.

     

    RIP Vic

     

     

    Yes - as a Sunderland 'Stars' Supporter - I would like to thank you for reminding us too. Vic was very highly thought of up here in the North East. His name still comes up regularly. He was a great Rider and a truly lovely bloke. He is much missed by the friends and Supporters here in Sunderland.

     

    Vic - R.I.P. +

  5. Posted · Edited by ianmartin

    As there is not a Topic here on the Classic Speedway Section for Forum users to suggest Riders who they would like to read about - I thought I would start one.

    I was prompted to do this after I had returned home from a Long Eaton Reunion. Whilst there I met a very interesting former Rider called Ken Vale - I would love to read more about him.

    Ken Sharples is another who springs to mind.

    Any possibility Tony.

  7. Posted · Edited by ianmartin

    Another excellent Edition. I though the Kelvin Tatum piece was terrific. I would have liked to have known though, which Public School Kevin attended. Unless I missed it - It didn't say.

    Looking forward to the next copy of BackTrack dropping through my letterbox. :):):)

  8. Posted

    I've just returned home from a weekend away in Hertfordshire. Whilst there I took the opportunity to visit the British Speedway Museum. It is situated in the Paradise Wildlife Park. If you are interested in Speedway and it's History - then a visit to the Museum is a MUST. They have everything you could think of in there from old Rudge Dirt Track Bikes, JAPs, through the upright engines - Jawa, Weslake etc. up to the present day lay downs. That is not all - there are at least two Bikes that were ridden by Ivan Mauger, I saw one from Peter Collins and one from Chris Morton and one too from Bert Harkins. Present day Riders are not neglected either Jason Crump and Leigh Adams have Bikes in there too. It is not only Bikes - there are loads of body colours displayed, lots of Trophies won by Simon Wigg. Photographs, old Posters abound. There is a reconstructed Pits from the Thirties/Forties. There is a Tableau showing Peter Craven (statue) in action. I could go on and on. This REALLY is the place for the Speedway afficianado.

    I will be returning for another (third) visit - there is just so much to see. It has changed since the last time I was there - but that is the way it is run. It is a living Museum that regularly changes stock and moves things around.

    I can highly recommend this as an EXTREMELY interesting day out as you can see all the animals in the Wildlife Park too. If you went on a Saturday during the Season - you could take in the Speedway at Rye House and REALLY complete your Speedway Day Out.

    Please go - if you can - I'm sure you will enjoy it.

  9. Posted

    Today, on April, 30, 50 years are carried out from the day of the first official race of Victor Trofimov.

    Then, in 1960, it took part in a two-day tournament the „Spring prize” which took place on mototrack in Rovno.

    In the first day Victor Trofimov in additional arrival won for a racing driver in Sukhumi Vasiliy Rukhadze and conquered a right to participate in the finale of day.

    The strongest in the main start of April, 30 was an experimental racing driver from Moscow Vsevolod Nerytov, and Victor Trofimov took the 3th place.

     

    And yesterday, on April, 29, grandchild of the glorified racing driver – Victor Trofimov-junior, also first started in Rovno and was the best among youths in championship of Ukraine in the class of motor cycles with the volume of cylinders of engine to 125 sm3, winning 3 arrivals from 4.

    Collecting 9 points, he became the winner of the 3th stage of these competitions.

     

    Good gift to the grand-dad to Anniversary!!!

     

     

    What a GREAT tradition Gorka. I saw Viktor in the World Final in 1972 at Wembley. A VERY good Rider as I remember. :approve:

     

    It would be good if you could keep us up to date with the young man's progress. :):):)

  10. Posted

    There will be an Oxford Speedway reunion at the Plough Inn, Wheatley on Sunday, July 25, 2010.

     

    It is a free to attend the event, which will take place from 11.00am until late. There will be a raffle, etc and any profits will go to the Speedway Riders' Benevolent Fund.

     

    The driving force behind the event is Ann Booker (nee Cross), a very well-known figure at Oxford Speedway in the 1980s.

     

    More details to follow.

     

    All the best

    Rob

     

     

    Sure that should not be New Cross - lucifer sam. :wink::wink::wink:

  11. Posted · Edited by ianmartin

    Thank you Mikal and Berwick for a memorable evening. I was very impressed with the running of the Meeting. I thought there was a worthy winner in Chris Harris. The Crowd looked to be a good one - which is no more than Mikal deserved. Nice to see his Mum and Dad there for him as well. Great atmosphere and, as scarletrider said, the PIES were to die for.

    One of the highlights (of which there were many) must go to Jade Mudgway - I thought that considering his experience he was absolutely brilliant. He was never off the pace and his Second Place was superb. I think Berwick have found one for the future here - he will go far in the Sport. :approve::approve::approve:

  12. Posted · Edited by ianmartin

    Typical 'Colemanballs' - Private Eye would have liked that one. :approve::approve::approve:

     

    I am sorry - BUT - I should also have Posted:

     

    A brilliant Commentator who will be sadly missed.

     

    R.I.P. + Harry.

  13. Posted

    I wished i had taken more money with me last friday to Armadale, Barry was standing behind me on the back straight and was selling the book, Champion Briggs dvd and Sports Relief t-shirts, i could've got a personally signed book...i did buy the dvd though, i thoroughly enjoyed it, some great old footage on it!

     

     

    He did say on the mic that he was hoping to get to all UK tracks so i'll have to keep my eye on the Berwick website, and make sure i take enough money to buy the book when/if he comes to town!

     

     

    Thanks for the 'tip' falkirkbandit - I will do the same when he comes to Redcar. :approve::approve:

  14. Posted

    I noticed in the obituaries for 'arry that one of his first journo jobs was as Assistant Editor of the Speedway Gazette in the late 40s/early 50s. He also was a Greyhound Racing journalist before moving on to the noble art.

     

    It brought to mind the occasion when the presenter of Grandstand at the time (may have been David Coleman) introduced a boxing bout and then said "now I'll hand you over to Harry Commentator your carpenter".

     

    A

     

     

    Typical 'Colemanballs' - Private Eye would have liked that one. :approve::approve::approve:

  16. Posted

    The winning ticket numbers are:-

     

    05651, 04302, 10813, 05016, 15406. All winners have been contacted.

     

    Cheers for that Norbold. :approve:

     

    I've maintained my consistancy levels for this sort of thing - I've not been contacted. :cry::cry::lol:

     

  18. Posted

    You are correct. A 'charva' in the provence of Geordieland is usually female, used to be adorned in everything Burbery but now predominently in anything pink, large earings and excess jewellery, hair drawn back severely back off the face into a ponytail, never worked, chews all the time, swears like it's normal, smokes heavy and likes a drink and is always on the mobile. :angry:

    BTW the bairn that she is pushing is also dressed like her and is in the best pushchair that the benefits office can provide. Thinks Tories are a waste of space.

     

     

    Dead right Tsunami - AND - the bairns usually have a Greggs Pasty stuck in their gobs to keep them quiet. Not very successfully I might add. :angry::rolleyes:

    Just watch out for their little greasy hands that's all. :shock::angry:

  20. Posted

    I was very saddened to hear of the death of Bernie Aldridge who rode for Sunderland 'Stars' back in the Seventies. He also rode for Ipswich 'Witches'. His death was announced at the WSRA Dinner on Saturday.

     

    Bernie Aldridge R.I.P. +

  21. Posted

    Having read the piece in my 'Classic Speedway' and now this, it just goes to show what Characters some of these Speedway Riders (ex or present) are. What with Jimmy here and 'Briggo's' Ride - these 'Old Timers' are putting some of us younger folks to shame. More strength to their collective elbows - they are a great example of showing that you can do lot's of things despite being an elder statesman. :approve::approve::approve:

  23. Posted

    While there's no excuse for what he did , how come he gets a custodial , and that tosser Pete Doherty , who gets nicked every other week for drugs offences still retains his liberty ? Is it ok coz its rock 'n' roll ? Stinks like the bog door of a kipper trawler to me.

     

     

    When you look at it like that - it is a disgrace what has happened to Andy. I suppose what they will trot out about Docherty is that it is for his own use - no-one else's. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

    It does seem as if when you are a Celebrity or a Footballer you can - by and large - get away with it. :angry::angry:

  24. Posted · Edited by ianmartin

    Poor Andy Galvin was just trying to earn a crust. :blink:

     

    All the best

    Rob

     

    I suppose you could say he got toasted for it. :unsure:

     

    On a serious front - I hope that he will be OK when he comes out - this is very sad really.

  25. Posted

    Despicable and narrow minded atitude!

     

    Don't they see that if they were in favour of suc a move they would look better in the eyes of the local community and therefore more people will use the store?

     

     

    Too short sighted for that. :angry::angry::angry:

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