pete cc 322 Posted March 6, 2015 Not a wheel has turned & people are already bemoaning about young british riders. Get behind them, they will over ride,fall off or do something daft but without our support they will not improve. just sit back and see the progress they make. You may be surprised. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sotonian 610 Posted March 6, 2015 (edited) Always remember Alf Hagon, brilliant on the grass yet only really made reserve status on shale. Not all riders are able to do both, Malcolm Simmons was one who could. I'll raise you Simon Wigg, Steve Schofield, Simon Cross, Jem Doncaster, Mark Loram, Kelvin Tatum and Joe Screen, all Britsh grasstrack champions as well as GB speedway internationals. Edited March 6, 2015 by Sotonian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunters 210 Posted March 7, 2015 A bit unfair on Alf Hagon he was more than reserve status. I saw him every week in the mid fifties and he was a very competent second string in a league of few teams which included virtually all the World finalists at the time. From memory and without bothering to look it up I think he partnered Jack Geran. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flipper11 134 Posted March 7, 2015 Be interesting to see how the current world grasstrack champion gets on on the shale in the premier league or will he be another grass/longtrack specialist. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
robolots 35 Posted March 7, 2015 It's Couzins, not Cousins or Couzens. Jamie has ridden in the MDL last year, he turned out for Rye House on a few occasions. He has also ridden at Eastbourne. He would of rode for Lakeside in their Anglian League team a few years ago, but unfortunately broke his collar bone playing football which essentially ended that season, so he then decided to concentrate on getting a trade and is currently in his last year of his mechanics apprenticeship. At round the time he was regularly riding at Lakeside he was riding with Jack Kingston a lot and I would say they were on par with each other. Jack obviously carried on riding and has improved year on year, so I see no reason why with a little bit of luck (we all need that sometimes) and determination that he wont progress. Along with his mum and dad they are making sure Jamie has the best equipment that he / they can possibly afford so that he will be competitive. He is under no illusions that it's going to be easy or cheap, but only wanted to ride when he knew that he could give it a good shot both in regards of time and finances. He has a good team around him and will be calling on the help and advice of professionals on both side of air fence throughout the year. All he is asking for is a fair crack of the whip! no more, no less. 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nikko 181 Posted March 8, 2015 Just wanted to say the above post is one of the most sensible and articulate I have seen on here for a very long time. Good luck to the lad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
teaboy279 1,038 Posted March 8, 2015 It's Couzins, not Cousins or Couzens. Jamie has ridden in the MDL last year, he turned out for Rye House on a few occasions. He has also ridden at Eastbourne. He would of rode for Lakeside in their Anglian League team a few years ago, but unfortunately broke his collar bone playing football which essentially ended that season, so he then decided to concentrate on getting a trade and is currently in his last year of his mechanics apprenticeship. At round the time he was regularly riding at Lakeside he was riding with Jack Kingston a lot and I would say they were on par with each other. Jack obviously carried on riding and has improved year on year, so I see no reason why with a little bit of luck (we all need that sometimes) and determination that he wont progress. Along with his mum and dad they are making sure Jamie has the best equipment that he / they can possibly afford so that he will be competitive. He is under no illusions that it's going to be easy or cheap, but only wanted to ride when he knew that he could give it a good shot both in regards of time and finances. He has a good team around him and will be calling on the help and advice of professionals on both side of air fence throughout the year. All he is asking for is a fair crack of the whip! no more, no less. As an ever present home and regular away fan all I can say is I give all 7/8 riders in a kings jacket my full support. As I have stated previously my choice of reserves are Jamie and Liam. I get the impression you know Jamie and if this is the case let him know after his second half rides I consider him part of the family already and will be proud to cheer him on this season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rebel1 72 Posted March 9, 2015 That's not how I see Alf Hagon's speedway career! http://www.speedwayatoz.co.uk/alfhagon.html Not sure that the statistics are doing anything other than substantiating my thoughts. Peaked in 1957! Just under 7 points! I will take nothing away from any man who puts his life on the line when he takes to the track, however, I still believe he was a master on the grass and not the shale. Cannot say too much about the quarter mile records they speak for themselves as do the engineering feats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunters 210 Posted March 10, 2015 I have to take issue with you Rebel1 Alf Hagon was a lot more than a reserve. An average of just under 7 would have been one of the better second strings in 1957, in fact they would love it in the Elite now. And the league was stronger then. If you look at his heat details he beat the likes of Dick Bradley, Split Waterman, Jack Young. Aub Lawson ,Peter Moore along with many others and seemed to have the Evil Eye on Arthur Forrest, Nigel Boocock and Ron How who he beat often. In 1957 he beat both Peter Craven and Ron Johnston in the match against Belle Vue and in 1960 probably his finest hour when despite losing the match he beat both Craven and Johnston twice each for a 15 point maximum whilst Ken McKinlay or anybody else failed to beat either of them. He even managed some good scores away. outpointing Ken McKinlay with double figures at Wimbeldon and a paid 15 at Coventry. It is true he could be inconsistent but I notice he seemed to fall away in the summer and then come good again next Spring. I suspect this was down to concentrating on retaining grass track championships where he was a master class, I don't know why this hit a nerve because I was not a particular fan of Alf but to say he only really made reserve status is very wrong. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SCB 0 Posted March 10, 2015 So he once scored a 15 point maximum but still couldvt average more than 6.08? Take away that maximum and that season he averaged 4.48. It's looks to me like he was a 4.5 rider who from time to time threw in a great meeting. 4.5 men are generally reserves. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rebel1 72 Posted March 10, 2015 I have to take issue with you Rebel1 Alf Hagon was a lot more than a reserve. An average of just under 7 would have been one of the better second strings in 1957, in fact they would love it in the Elite now. And the league was stronger then. If you look at his heat details he beat the likes of Dick Bradley, Split Waterman, Jack Young. Aub Lawson ,Peter Moore along with many others and seemed to have the Evil Eye on Arthur Forrest, Nigel Boocock and Ron How who he beat often. In 1957 he beat both Peter Craven and Ron Johnston in the match against Belle Vue and in 1960 probably his finest hour when despite losing the match he beat both Craven and Johnston twice each for a 15 point maximum whilst Ken McKinlay or anybody else failed to beat either of them. He even managed some good scores away. outpointing Ken McKinlay with double figures at Wimbeldon and a paid 15 at Coventry. It is true he could be inconsistent but I notice he seemed to fall away in the summer and then come good again next Spring. I suspect this was down to concentrating on retaining grass track championships where he was a master class, I don't know why this hit a nerve because I was not a particular fan of Alf but to say he only really made reserve status is very wrong. Still think he was more a grass man than a shale man Hunters. One season does not a speedway rider make! He overall in his shale career never hit the heat leader status which does require consistency. For whatever reason, as you yourself say, he fell away during the grass season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 27 Posted March 10, 2015 So, does anybody know the whereabouts of Danny Ayres? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wiseguy 214 Posted March 11, 2015 So, does anybody know the whereabouts of Danny Ayres? Why, has he gone AWOL? where did you hear this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunters 210 Posted March 11, 2015 Still think he was more a grass man than a shale man Hunters. One season does not a speedway rider make! He overall in his shale career never hit the heat leader status which does require consistency. For whatever reason, as you yourself say, he fell away during the grass season. Never any doubt he was better on grass, his record proved it. That was not the point. I took issue with the ' reserve status' . So he once scored a 15 point maximum but still couldvt average more than 6.08? Take away that maximum and that season he averaged 4.48. It's looks to me like he was a 4.5 rider who from time to time threw in a great meeting. 4.5 men are generally reserves. You obviously have no understanding of the situation in the 1950's which look to be well before your time. I wonder why you even poked your nose in. Presumably just trying to be controversial or perhaps looking to be the next Shovlar. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TurnTwo 317 Posted March 12, 2015 has ayres gone awol?!?! not good start for the kings if mullins has dropped them already!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
