Top Riders In The 1960's

[norbold 7,116]

Good grief ianmartin!

I was a Wolves fan then and couldn't understand why Mike Parker transferred riders around like that. He ran Newcastle, Sunderland and Wolves if I remember correctly. Can someone give me a potted history of what happened to him, and Bill Bridget etc?

There's a fair bit about Mike Parker written by Reg Fearman on John Skinner's "Defunct Tracks" website: http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Reg%20Fea...m#Mike%20Parker

[star ghost 7]

But if you are a Mike Parker fan you might not want to read it though

[ianmartin 7]

But if you are a Mike Parker fan you might not want to read it though

 

 

As a Sunderland 'Saints' Supporter - I am NOT impressed with either Parker or Bridgett. Couple of Chancers as far as I am concerned.

They closed Sunderland to strengthen Newcastle and Wolverhampton reasons given were lack of Support and bad weather. 8,500 penultimate Meeting (source: Sunderland Echo) AND we never had a 'rain off'. If they had wanted to close us - I think we should have been told the truth.

Am I bitter??? DAMN RIGHT I AM!! They introduced me to Speedway - I caught the bug - and then they snatched it away from me after only EIGHT Meetings.

 

It was to be seven years before Speedway returned to Sunderland under Allied Presentations. After we were sold by Allied Presentations we were kicked from one Promotor to another - crowds dropped and we eventually closed again due to lack of support (true this time). Not surprising though. We had been run in to the ground

 

Myself and a lot of others worked on the Track and paid to get in. No-one can say we didn't try to keep it going.

 

YES - we have a lot to be thankful for from Speedway Promotors here in Sunderland - I DON'T THINK!!

Edited October 13, 2009 by ianmartin

[Igor 52]

Just thinking of the special riders ... Viktor Trofimov...!!!

 

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!!!

[ianmartin 7]

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.

 

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

[Igor 52]

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

 

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

 

OK. But it is for this purpose necessary to create a new topic, devoted Victor Trofimov.

 

To you – "and maps in hands"!

[Old Saint 3]

Only just seen this topic and figured out how to post a comment - damn new fangled things

 

I am glad that CHK mentioned Bjorn Knutson who was one of the very greatest riders I have ever had the pleasure of seeing race. He seems to be overlooked too often.

 

Looking at all the names mentioned, I am surprised not to see Brian Crutcher, Dick Bradley and Ronnie Moore mentioned. Also worthy of mention are Alby Golden and Split Waterman.

 

Someone who I saw in his first try out rides was Brian Brett. When I first saw him, I was not impressed but I believe he later went on to have a good career.

 

The 50s and 60s had some truly magnificent riders and some equally magnificent showmen. Where are such people today?

[britmet 233]

 

 

The 50s and 60s had some truly magnificent riders and some equally magnificent showmen. Where are such people today?

 

Brian Brett has gone,sadly; Ronnie Moore is stll around and you can pick up a interview by Briggo on him not so long ago, here

;

 

; Brian crutcher has turned up a few times at 'do's' in the south. There's a biography of him out, and a few up-to-date shots somewhere on a website,......

[Old Saint 3]

Brian Brett has gone,sadly; Ronnie Moore is stll around and you can pick up a interview by Briggo on him not so long ago, here

;

 

; Brian crutcher has turned up a few times at 'do's' in the south. There's a biography of him out, and a few up-to-date shots somewhere on a website,......

 

I have a very special signed copy of Brian Crutcher's biography Needless to say I am very proud of it.

 

All of the riders mentioned were entertainers and also very skilful riders. Today it seems that there are very few entertainers.

[BritPete 625]

I always used to like watching Ken Mc.Kinlay. He was a super stylist, and one of the few that could take points of the big 5, sometimes!

 

The only thing that stopped him joining them, was his inconsistency. A max. one night, and 3 points the next night was the norm for him,

but on his night, he was superb.

 

 

 

He also held the Swindon track record, along with Ronnie Moore, and Peter Craven (twice) It was 72 seconds!

Edited May 21, 2010 by BritPete

[BOBBATH 467]

I reckon McKinlay and How were the top two British riders of the mid sixties-evidence go to the British Final 1964 report.Glad somebody added to this topic-most of the years gone by threads are after my time -does that mean I'm old-I don't feel old!!

[liverpool chad 2]

Top riders of the 1960's

Too many to name but apart from the obvious superstars like Ove Fundin, Bjorn Knutsson, Barry Briggs and Igor Plechanov. Some of the British boys i remember were great to watch, the likes of Ron How, Peter & Brian Craven, Leo McAuliffe, Brian Brett and the Boocock brothers, not forgetting Charlie Monk and Ken McKinley.

[Old Saint 3]

I had two particular favourites, apart from Bjorn K and Briggo, Ernie Rawlins and Chum Taylor. Sadly, Ernie lost his life racing at the Stadium - what a terrible night that was. It was one of those accidents that you fully expect the rider to get up and carry on after. It proved that every accident is potentially very serious.

[Split 179]

<!--quoteo(post=1595156:date=Sep 16 2009, 07:06 PM:name=ianmartin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ianmartin @ Sep 16 2009, 07:06 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1595156"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I had four favourites back in the sixties. Jim Airey and Gordon Guasco who both rode for Sunderland 'Saints' before they were POACHED by Wolverhampton along with Colin McKee. My other favourite was Ivan Mauger. In all he rode nineteen Races at the Bolden Stadium (Sunderland) - and - won the lot. Another favourite was Barry Briggs.

Just to be fair Newcastle also POACHED Ken Sharples from Sunderland too.

My contention to this day is that Sunderland were closed after eight Matches in order that Newcastle - and more particularly - Wolverhampton could be strengthened by the acquisition of our (Sunderland's) Riders. <img src="http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="mad.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="mad.gif" />

 

You've rekindled some memories there M.M.

 

Those were very definitely THE DAYS!!!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

 

Good grief ianmartin!

I was a Wolves fan then and couldn't understand why Mike Parker transferred riders around like that. He ran Newcastle, Sunderland and Wolves if I remember correctly. Can someone give me a potted history of what happened to him, and Bill Bridget etc?

 

 

 

 

Ahhh..........those were the days. Guasco, sadly missed, Graham Warren, Tommy Sweetman (did anyone else ride wearing glasses?), Ivor Brown (we hated him too of course), Jimmy Squibb (who was still riding for Canterbury at 54!!) and others who didn't quite make it to greatness but gave us fabulous entertainment, Dave Hemus, Fred Priest (2nd halfer who once managed to stay on for all four laps, a bit like a half speed early Ben Barker), Kid Bodie,..........

 

Kid Bodie had a riding style very similar to a certain Howard Cole.

[keef 105]

One of the best matches I saw was the GB v. Sweden Test at Swindon in 1968. Britain included series top-scorer Martin Ashby, the local Marlborough-born flyer, who was riding for Exeter at the time. A crowd of 12,000 saw Britain win 62-46, but they lost the series 2-1 that year. Britain tracked New Zealander Mauger, The Boocock Brothers, local Robin Mike Broadbanks, Betts, Hunter, and Luckhurst.

The Swedes included Michanek, Sjosten, 2 Janssons, Harrysson, Persson, Nygren, and Larsson. Briggs and Fundin didn't ride in that match. The queue for climbing in(which I was in) was as long as the turnstile one.

Edited December 12, 2010 by keef