salty

Excellent issue as always, just like to make a point about the Kevin Jolly article. Good overview of his career, but I am almost certain that he rode for Boston in the NL before he moved to Plough Lane. A programme I have for the 1986 season at Wimbledon confirms he rode at Number 1 for Boston and mentions that he was on loan from Mildenhall. Can it be that Kevin's year riding for the Barracuda's was so traumatic that he has wiped it from his memory????

Belle Vue unknown 68-2 Ken Moss?

Can confirm that this meeting was a double header with Leicester (Midland Cup semi). The Speedway Yearbook quotes the crowd as "near 20,000".

Can't have a thread like this without mentioning the 3rd Owen brother, Ritchie. Can remember him at Ellesmere in the mid 80's I think?

I would like to know what influence Ole has over track surfaces at the GP's. Common feeling is that he is the man responsible for the slick surfaces, maybe he can tell us if that is true and if so why does he feel that slick surfaces are best.

Agree with those. I would also venture Cradley 71-1 Malcolm Ballard 73-1 Dave Harvey Either 72-3 or 72-4 is Mick Handley

I moved down to Kingston Poly in 1981 and was a regular at Plough Lane for the rest of the decade. First match was the 38-38 draw against Cradley which was a pretty good start. I used to love the smell of the bikes coming up through the wooden terracing on the first bend. The free pint I invariably got from Doris on the bar, the idiosyncratic announcing of Ken Tozer who would often not notice that a rider was missing from the parade. The guy in the beret on the pit gate. Enjoyed the Russell Lanning years when you really felt the club was being promoted. Fav riders.. Malcolm Simmons, Kai Niemi, Toddy, Nathan Simpson and Terry Mussett. Always feel a bit guilty that finances (or lack of them) dictated I rarely went for the last 2 seasons. You never know a change of ownership or policy with the GRA and there might be a return in the future.

What about a Collins Brothers special?

Do enjoy these threads about these riders from the late 60's and early 70's and finding out how they are nowadays. The only problem is when I see their name on the latest post I do have those few seconds of worry in case the reason there is a thread about them is to impart sad news. Of the last 2 veterans mentioned I remember Geoff Mudge when he was in the Poole title winning team of 69, didn't realise he continued riding in the UK for so long. My main memory of Norman Strachan was the beautiful, careful way he wrote his signature compared to the normal scribble.

Might be wrong but I think Finn Thomsen used to wear green leathers as well. Can't believe we've got through so many posts on this subject without mentioning one of the most distinctively attired riders of the 70's..... the Polka Dot Kid himself!!

You're right the Speedway handbook was my source, but I also have acopy of Speedway and Short Track racing by Dave Lanning that shows a 1974 pic of Jim McMillan with the word SMITHS showing on both arms and the old Smiths Crisps logo on his leg. Regards

Looking at team pics from the 1969 season, apart from the Leicester team leathers the most noticeable coloured leathers belong to Alan Knapkin, Bruce Cribb, Barry Briggs and John Langfield. A few black with stripes down the side and a good smattering of Rugby/Football shirts (Coatbridge, Newport, Bernie Persson, Jimmy Squibb and the Eastbourne Eagles). No sign of any sponsors though, apart from Ivan Mauger having Jawa on his shoulders.

Totally agree with you Steve. The point I was making was that by 1972 coloured leathers were more common place and Ivan's wearing of black ones on that night was a deliberate ploy.

Dewayne Keeter only rode 1 season in British Speedway and that was the previously mentioned 1969 campaign with Leicester when the whole team wore identical coloured leathers.

Nearly certain that Ivan wore black leathers in a World Final as a deliberate ploy to be possibly mistaken for a Russian or Pole. Almost certain it was the 1972 Final as at that time Western riders were almost exclusively wearing coloured leathers.

What about the "Briggo" leathers as I called them, which were mainly red and had very noticeable thin black stripes down the arms. A number of riders wore these as well as Briggo (Martin Ashby, Scott Autrey and Graeme Stapleton were 3 I seem to recall). If memory serves it was some sort of promotional tie-in, can anyone elaborate???

Leicester had red and yellow team leathers in 1969, the season they rode every match with the same 7 riders. Other team leathers in the early 70's were Wolves in 71? Also Cradley had team leathers in 1972 but opted rather strangly for a dark brown colour.

Think he might have survived that and still got a nomination if Holta hadn't got in the top 8. Then it became a straight choice between Jarek and KK.

That would be the Greg Hancock who finished 2nd in 2006 would it? Having said that I take your point. We used to be in a position where riders like Crump or Sanders would sometimes be out of the World Championship race before the European season had even started.

Surely you can't be referring to Janno? One of the most exciting riders in the past 30 years. Probably got an interesting story to tell as well. Hard to believe it is so long since his retirement.

The only major nation not taking part are Britain. Sure it would be good experience for our up and coming riders.

Come on Ron tell us who it is!

Can't see Zagar getting back in. Too far behind in the points to have a nomination ahead of Holta or Jagus, previous 9th and 10th places have got in the following year. I have doubts that it is that important to have a Slovenian in the series, surely he would just be a Wild Card for Krsko.

Interesting in this week's Speedway Star to read Philip Rising's report of the Gp Qualifying Final. The paragraph in question read ...."Lindgren, though disappointed, has the consolation of knowing that he will almost certainly win a seeded place for 2008 but the case for Kasprzak, despite his place on the podium in Bydgooszcz, is less clear". Given that Philip Rising is also Deputy Race Director for the GP's (or some such important title) I think it is fair to surmise that he has a rough idea of the way the nominations will go. Kasprzak's hope of a nomination are clouded by the claims of Holta, Jagus and Hampel.

Wish I could share your confidence with regard to Rune. Got a horrible feeling that Kasprzak and Hampel would get the nod over him if it came down to nominations. I think he has shown throughout the season he has got the ability and he has featured in some excellent races, I just have this niggling feeling that other factors such as sponsorship profile might go against him.