salty

Previously every point counted towards the title. According to Bellamy to ensure the riders keep riding throughout the meeting they change it so now they don't. I work with kids with Severe Learning difficulties and even they would see flaws in that logic.

Newcastle 1982? The year they got Joe Owen and Bobby Beaton on relatively low averages as they came down from Hull.

Maybe I should have put "generally attributed to"!

Close. It was Gary Player - I think!

Sadly I didn't start going to Cradley until the end of the 1968 season, by which time Ivor was injured prior to his retirement. So I never got to see him ride. I guess the major hate figure for any young Heathen at the start of the 70's was Ole. I suppose as a young kid we were very black and white so it was probably more hate than respect. Not only did he ride for Wolves, but he was bloody good. The local paper also never seemed to miss an opportunity to sing his praises, whilst our Bernie was never given the same plaudits - or so I felt at the time. By the time the Penhall/Carter rivalry came around I was a bit older and never really bought into it. In fact I quite liked Kenny. In later years I probably like to see riders like Pedersen and latterly Lindgren get their comeuppance, but that's a long way from hate.

I remember that feature, Steve, I'll have to dig it out. Having said that, it is just opinion. I think Ivan would have probably bagged more titles in the early 70's, but that would be counterbalanced by possibly not winning in '77 and'79? But who knows, riders tailored their approach to the format that was in place at the time and we'll never know how it would have looked under a GP system.

Really sad news. RIP Wilkie.

Teromaa was signed during the 1979 season to replace Stevie B who was transferred to Birmingham after a major bust up with Dan McCormick. Ila only rode a couple of times in 79 as he was cup tied. The success of the team in 1979 meant that it fell foul of the points limit and Schwartz had to be loaned out. As for Sid's point about reserves, that was the price you paid for having a strong top 4 and why Dave Shields was so important in 1981. To be fair to Nigel Leaver and Paul Fry they came later when teams had to track a junior (if I remember correctly).

They certainly were a strong side as evidenced by their winning of 2 Cups. I think by the end of the season they were the best team in the league, but injuries to Erik, Kristian and Stevie B earlier in the season cost them. Imo a stronger septet than the one that finally delivered the league title 2 years later.

Would have to agree, I loved my Speedway in the 70's. Particularly enjoyed the Johnny Boulger years at Dudley Wood watching Stevie B develop. The all conquering team from 1983 meant that a lot of home matches were less than entertaining.

Pete reached the grand old age of 78 yesterday. Pete Smith that is, not Murray.

Dave Morton, Belle Vue?

Bob Hughes? edit. Sorry didn't see the other replies

He was given a brief go at filling a reserve berth for Cradley in 1969, but ended up back at Long Eaton where he got an average of 9 plus. Last I remember him riding was for Workington the following season.

You can say that again. I know there were reasons it was chosen but wtf were they thinking?

Address in the Star is quoted as 446, Chester Road, Bramhall.

Story was in the Speedway Star last week. House is in Bramhall, Cheshire under the control of Stockport Council and it says he moved there in 1971 and it was the family's last home before he left to go back initially to New Zealnd in 1987. Says he is the second rider to be honoured in such manner, after Jack Parker in Rugby. However, Harry Weslake also has a plaque in Exeter. The article, by Peter Oakes, says it's a done deal, quoting a council spokesman with a planned unveiling in 2021.

I'll have to dig out the Backtrack feature.

I remember Wayne riding at Dudley Wood a few times in 1982. Had looked quite promising in a weak Workington side the previous season, hence his signing (not sure if he was a Cradley or Oxford asset), but he never really kicked on. Just checked and he made a comeback for the ill fated Barrow Blackhawks in 1985, don't know if he rode again after that. Sad news nonetheless, 58 is no age. RIP.

Big difference between you and my autograph hunting youth at Dudley Wood. None of the plush surrounds of the Plough Lane grandstand for us, we used to have hang around the back straight car park in the hope of bagging a few. Like you Chunky I used to stand on the pit band. Always preferred the open air than watching behind the glass, though there were a few late October meetings when the option was nice!

Apart from the bar at the back of the grandstand, pretty sure I used to get a pint from a wee hatch at the back of the first bend terrace when I first started going to Plough Lane in 1981. In later years used to get a pint from the main bar. There was a lady who worked there for years. She lived in Raynes Park and used to be regular when I worked in the bookies in Lambton Road there. Used to give me a pint on the house each week, but can't recall her name - best guess - Doris. Maybe someone else might recall her? What year did they close the back straight stand for Speedway? I'm guessing it was when they went NL in 1985?

Still waiting on my copy! That's the drawback of living out in the sticks in Northern Ireland. Hoping it pops through the letterbox tomorrow. Edit: And it did! Happy days!

As the person who made the initial post, which I came across whilst confirming that Martin knew nothing of Speedway until sent on his first assignment to Plough Lane 60 years ago, I can confirm there isn't really any preamble to his description of you. He is simply telling us who the respective editors of "Soccer Star" and "Speedway Star" were when he started working for their publishers. He describes Jack Rollin simply by his name, but obviously felt the embellishment of "whimsically eccentric" was required in your case. Sadly, there is no further mention of you in his tome (which I have to say is a good read and very informative of his time around (and in) the sport), though he does mention that when Paul Parish took over as Editor of Speedway Star it "took a step up market"!

No worries. Gave me the chance to get my memory working! Monmore is essentially just the main stand and terrace on the home straight now, the old cover on the back straight and the 4th bend has long since gone.

Going back to his book, Martin mentions about starting for Echo in their Carter Lane offices when the "whimsically eccentric" John Hyam was the editor of Speedway Star.