asturmer 0 Posted December 1, 2007 I,m sure the spectacular Mike Broadbanks wore red leathers when everyone else was in black!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spin king 1,930 Posted December 1, 2007 Was not Frank Varey the first to where no black leathers, sure his nickname was the red devil. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chunky 6,154 Posted December 1, 2007 Frank Varey was dubbed the "Red Devil" by the Argentinian press during tours there in the early 30's. The reason was his red painted machine. This storey was related to me by another member of the tour party Sid Newiss I never saw him race and have only seen black and white photos but I do not believe he wore red leathers; at least not on a regular basis <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I believe that to be the case also. Steve Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spin king 1,930 Posted December 1, 2007 Frank Varey was dubbed the "Red Devil" by the Argentinian press during tours there in the early 30's. The reason was his red painted machine. This storey was related to me by another member of the tour party Sid Newiss I never saw him race and have only seen black and white photos but I do not believe he wore red leathers; at least not on a regular basis <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You are probably right about Frank, I did know that there was a story about the Argies calling him the Red Devil, but I could not quite remember how the nickname came about. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Hamilton 1 Posted December 3, 2007 When Barry Briggs joined the Saints he wore a black and white jumper over his leathers. Some Saints fans decided to knit him a new one in red and white. Unfortunately, his wearing of the red and white jumper seemed to spark a run of bad luck for him and he ceremoniously set fire to the jumper - on the centre green if I recall correctly. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Old Saint, If I remember correctly, when I was a lad in about 1958/59 I read somewhere that Barry Briggs used to train with Millwall Football Club and supersticiously wore a Football boot on his right foot when riding. Any thoughts on this one? Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
star ghost 7 Posted December 3, 2007 I thought he trained with Chelsea. His big mate was David Webb. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
star ghost 7 Posted December 3, 2007 Simmo wore "Kawasaki Green" leathers when with Kings Lynn for a time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FAST GATER 855 Posted December 4, 2007 I know that he never raced in it but Jack Millen used wear a cape on his parade laps at Crewe ( think he had a crown on aswell) only he would get away with it .How we miss these characters in the sport today Sky would lap it up Millian the Villian you can just see the head lines now . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barcroftlad 4 Posted December 4, 2007 Ken le Breton,the White Ghost, was probably the first to breakaway from the norm with his white leathers,probably about 1950-51. Arthur Forrest at Halifax in the early '50's was known as the Black Prince. His black leathers were so shiny they might have been patent leather. As a teen I earned my pocket money by cleaning the riding leathers of Norman Hargreaves,captain of Fleetwood Flyers. Try as I might, I could never match the shine on Arthurs leathers. Norman was one of natures gentlemen who died in 2003 aged 90.Cheers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Old Saint 3 Posted December 4, 2007 Old Saint, If I remember correctly, when I was a lad in about 1958/59 I read somewhere that Barry Briggs used to train with Millwall Football Club and supersticiously wore a Football boot on his right foot when riding. Any thoughts on this one? Brian <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I am afraid that I cannot comment on that one as it was before Briggo joined the Saints. I cannot recall seeing him wearing anything other than normal speedway boots. To be honest, he was usually riding too fast to be able to notice his boots anyway Possibly a Dons fan could help out on this question? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,184 Posted December 4, 2007 Ken le Breton,the White Ghost, was probably the first to breakaway from the norm with his white leathers,probably about 1950-51. A Yes, and also Merv Harding, the Red Devil, at about the same time with his red leathers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tele52 4 Posted December 20, 2007 He may well have worn black leathers at Wembley in 1972, but he definitely wore them in 1969. Steve <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You are correct Ivan wore black in 1969 but his first venture into coloured leathers in the Uk was at the Wills Internationale at Wimbledon, a meeting won by Trevor Hedge. I remember comments from the crowd because of the colours in the leathers. Briggo was also wearing coloured leathers at the same meeting. Pictures in the 1970 Speedway Star Parade book show the leathers but unfortunately in B/w. Ronnie Moore wore black leathers with a double red stripe down the leg and yellow stars on the sleeves In the same book there is a picture of Graham Plant in what looks like the Leicester team leathers of Yellow or Gold top and Red bottom half So in one way or another colour was certainly starting to come in in 1969 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sandman 0 Posted December 21, 2007 (edited) nobody has mentioned that in the 70's the proliferation of the Ian Dury & the Blockheads look hair cuts.. that.. was chillin cool... polyester suits, platform shoes.. kinda oils up the ol insides doesnt it.. Edited December 21, 2007 by sandman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Killer Cat from Mars 16 Posted December 21, 2007 All the Aces turned out in silver team leathers i think it was in 77, didn't last long tho <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes, I believe the leathers were donated by a sponsor - the story I have heard is that they were worn until PC injured his foot on the drain cover at Hyde Road just before the World Final in '77, and the leathers were then considered unlucky and all the riders got rid of them. Someone told me that the riders were actually presented with them at that match, which makes them a one match wonder, but I don't know if that is true. That was also the year that a competition winner in the Manchester Evening News designed a dreadful body colour that the Aces were saddled with all year. The riders and fans hated it!! Do you remember, the one with the diagonal stripe, and the Ace on one side and the number on the other.....urghh!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chunky 6,154 Posted December 21, 2007 You are correct Ivan wore black in 1969 but his first venture into coloured leathers in the Uk was at the Wills Internationale at Wimbledon, a meeting won by Trevor Hedge. Ah, Trevor's finest moment... It was just that I wanted to clarify that Ivan wore black leathers at the World Final. Pictures in the 1970 Speedway Star Parade book show the leathers but unfortunately in B/w. Ronnie Moore wore black leathers with a double red stripe down the leg and yellow stars on the sleeves So did Maido. Ronnie was more commonly seen with the two yellow/one red stripes on both arms and legs, as shown on pages 18, 36, and 79 in the above book. Briggo also wore them occasionally (p18 and p76), and so did Hasse Holmkvist (p40) and Geoff Maloney (p51). They weren't uncommon at the time, and I thought they looked pretty smart. Steve Share this post Link to post Share on other sites