Is Speedway Playing The Joker?

[Paul 67]

How ironic with the going’s on at Ipswich last night, that 45 years ago to the day a similar fracas took place between Hackney’s Jackie Biggs and Sheffield’s Bengt Larssson. But this was on the track by the pits gate at Owlerton and was pictured by Wright Wood. This great picture of the ‘punch’ between these two riders can be seen at http://hackneyspeedw...Welcome-to-1968

I feel that the speedway authorities have a difficult job in this day and age and with the strict PC brigade watching their every move, this doesn’t help them. But in years gone by for those of us who have been around the speedway scene for a few years, confrontation was part of our sport. Brian Foote [Romford] and Tony Childs [Crayford] didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye either on or off the track, but the fans loved it.

I always remember when at Romford Speedway Dave Lanning walked on to the Brooklands centre green the fans would boo him. He would of course play to the crowd, we just don’t see that type of showmanship anymore. Promoters would be allowed-especially Len Silver-to say publically over the PA system how they felt at a decision made by referees. Today if this happens the person who controls the meeting in a lot of cases wants to be the star of the show and not the riders and its fines, fines, fines.

The Speedway Star & News has also to be so PC. Again in years gone by it could be controversial. It had Ivan Mauger in his weekly column telling the then BSPA how the sport should be run. Its editors wouldn’t be afraid of speaking out at various speedway authorities. But in 2013 we can’t say anything anywhere whether on Twitter, Facebook, or in the press in case that individual or magazine is sued. Just imagine a speedway publication speaking out at say the FIM, BSPA or SCB, they’d ban the publication from being sold at the tracks the length and breadth of the country and that publication wouldn’t be able to survive.

Hackney Speedway’s Hawkeye has written a very interesting piece on his views of the recent Speedway World Cup. Why Denmark are the real champions. He’s also writes about Nigel Pearson and his sidekick-my words not his-Kelvin Tatum and also an interesting piece on what the USA team would be without the great Greg Hancock. He also talks about darts in relation to speedway and of course mentions the ‘all party parliamentary group for speedway’ I wish someone could explain that one to me! The whole Hawkeye article, plus others Hawkeye has written this year, are available to read at www.hackneyspeedway.com

[TeamBouchard 31]

Superb summing up, Paul. I'm with you all the way!

[A ORLOV 8,628]

Agree, very good and thanks for link to old Speedway information.

[The White Knight 9,039]

Jack Millen and Frank Auffret didn't like each other on or off the Track either. Jack used to get invited to all the Open Meetings at Teeside because the Promoter, Ron Wilson, used to reckon he would put lots on the Gate just to see Frank Auffret and him clash (sometimes literally). You can't do things like that nowadays - but - it really added to the ENTERTAINMENT which IS, at the end of the day, what Speedway is supposed to be about.

 

Jack once needed a Police escort out of Peterborough due to his antics. Not the CHARACTERS around these days like Jack, Frank, Tony Childs etc.. The more's the pity. :sad:

 

HAPPY DAYS!!!

[stratton 1,491]

Riders who come to mind who had personality the ones already named Cowland,Ivor Brown,Mullarkey,C Pusey,Les Ott .Endless others as well great days these blokes did put extra bums on seats.

[SCB 15]

It's funny, they're characters here yet look at the Ips/Edi thread and they're terrible thugs who are dragging the sport down.

[BWitcher 12,453]

Jack Millen and Frank Auffret didn't like each other on or off the Track either. Jack used to get invited to all the Open Meetings at Teeside because the Promoter, Ron Wilson, used to reckon he would put lots on the Gate just to see Frank Auffret and him clash (sometimes literally). You can't do things like that nowadays - but - it really added to the ENTERTAINMENT which IS, at the end of the day, what Speedway is supposed to be about.

 

Jack once needed a Police escort out of Peterborough due to his antics. Not the CHARACTERS around these days like Jack, Frank, Tony Childs etc.. The more's the pity. :sad:

 

HAPPY DAYS!!!

 

It's ironic WK that you get very worked up when you feel artificial means are used to enhance the sport, yet back in the day when the sport was often promoted more along the lines of WWE you loved it.

[Grachan 7,365]

Another thing we need is phones by the starting line so riders have to march across the center green and call the ref in full view of the baying crowd. That was great.

[The White Knight 9,039]

It's ironic WK that you get very worked up when you feel artificial means are used to enhance the sport, yet back in the day when the sport was often promoted more along the lines of WWE you loved it.

 

I tell you what BW - there was nothing pre-arranged about Jack Millen, I reckon the same could be said of Frank Auffret and Tony Childs. I worked on the Track at Sunderland and I actually SAW what went on sometimes at close quarters (sometimes too close for my liking). To this day Frank Auffret does not like Jack Millen - he told me so a couple of years ago - there was GENUINE hostility there.

 

Please don't insult the memory of these Riders by saying it was a 'put up job' - believe me - IT WAS NOT!!!!

 

Oh - and I DON'T want artificial punch ups either - the passion of the Sport is enough for me.

Edited July 26, 2013 by The White Knight

[Grand Central 2,654]

Another thing we need is phones by the starting line so riders have to march across the center green and call the ref in full view of the baying crowd. That was great.

 

To have the leaden feeling in your stomach at reading the fateful words in the Programme.

"ACU Steward: L D Stripp."

And then have the cloud lifted by the joyous thought that old Lew might well leave the Stadium with a black eye.

 

Oh the glory days of Ken Walton..

[BWitcher 12,453]

I tell you what BW - there was nothing pre-arranged about Jack Millen, I reckon the same could be said of Frank Auffret and Tony Childs. I worked on the Track at Sunderland and I actually SAW what went on sometimes at close quarters (sometimes too close for my liking). To this day Frank Auffret does not like Jack Millen - he told me so a couple of years ago - there was GENUINE hostility there.

 

Please don't insult the memory of these Riders by saying it was a 'put up job' - believe me - IT WAS NOT!!!!

 

Oh - and I DON'T want artificial punch ups either - the passion of the Sport is enough for me.

 

Of course there were some incidents that were that way, but many others (indeed most) will have been promoted up to seem more than they were. Folk were a lot more gullible back then

[ch958 2,398]

Of course there were some incidents that were that way, but many others (indeed most) will have been promoted up to seem more than they were. Folk were a lot more gullible back then

 

haha this is the most gullible generation ever - you think X Factor isn't fixed and you voted Cameron in

[BWitcher 12,453]

haha this is the most gullible generation ever - you think X Factor isn't fixed and you voted Cameron in

 

Funny that, I didn't realise there were age limitations on those two events..

[stratton 1,491]

It's funny, they're characters here yet look at the Ips/Edi thread and they're terrible thugs who are dragging the sport down.

Great point you are right they're we're more scuffles then typical handbag stuff is the Barker/Cook any different NO trivial move on i say i don't mind either rider.

 

 

 

I tell you what BW - there was nothing pre-arranged about Jack Millen, I reckon the same could be said of Frank Auffret and Tony Childs. I worked on the Track at Sunderland and I actually SAW what went on sometimes at close quarters (sometimes too close for my liking). To this day Frank Auffret does not like Jack Millen - he told me so a couple of years ago - there was GENUINE hostility there.

 

Please don't insult the memory of these Riders by saying it was a 'put up job' - believe me - IT WAS NOT!!!!

 

Oh - and I DON'T want artificial punch ups either - the passion of the Sport is enough for me.

WK being a rider is no different to working in a factory is it?some get on some don't it is not false.Things i have heard about Jack are that most who had run ins with him respected him and he also helped younger riders.I think Brian Clark said? when you got to know him he was a decent bloke.

[ch958 2,398]

Funny that, I didn't realise there were age limitations on those two events..

 

theres a lot you dont seem to realise!