The White Knight

As the GREAT Roy Castle used to say/sing........................................................ ............................dedication is what you need (if you want to be the BEST)

Thank you too norbold. :)

On another Thread I queried a nickname of Arthur Forrest being known as the 'Black Prince'. Chunky kindly confirmed this for me. However this got me thinking (always a dangerous thing in my case ). I know that Speedway had loads of Riders who had these Nicknames like 'The Red Devil' - Frank Varey, 'Mighty' Mauger, Millen 'the Villain', Ronnie (Mirac) Moore I wonder how he got that name? Also 'Split' Waterman - how did he get saddled with that name? Anyway - I just thought it might be fun to see how many others we could come up with and, if possible, how those Nicknames were earned. Graeme Smith was known as 'The White Knight' - hence my name on this Forum. He rode in white leathers. :)

Thank you chunky. :)

Wasn't Arthur Forrest known as the 'Black Prince' Norbold?

Come on Tony - What about some Northern Tracks? Belle Vue has a great History - surely a set of DVDs for the only Club that has ridden continuously since it started. Perhaps a compilation set of DVDs on Northern Tracks like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Berwick, Workington, Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough/Redcar, Bradford, Hull would be possible.

Whe - me like. Nivvor. Ah nivvor dee nee storrin. :drink:

Well - I reckon that sorts THAT out anyway. :approve:

Do you actually KNOW Halifaxtiger? If you did you would not make comments like this. Whatever happened to attack the POST and not the POSTER. I have only met HT a couple of times - but - I believe what he says because I like to think I can recognise an honest person when I see them. Regarding the Crowd numbers - anybody can make a mistake - apart from you it appears. An easy mistake to make when there are a lot of people there. I must say - you seem awfully keen to 'have a go' - I wonder why?

I wish I had seen those in the second list. Freddie Williams especially.

Halifaxtigers Posts are always informative and interesting and worth reading. Which is more than you can say for some people's. Never any unsubstantiated gossip in my experience.

i) Peter Craven ii) Peter Collins iii) Michael Lee iv) Malcolm Simmons v) Chris Morton They would be my 'Top Five' of the post Fifties Riders. Missed a number of VERY good Riders out too. Dave Jessup, Ray Wilson, Eric and Nigel Boocock, Kenny Carter, Gordon Kennett. The List used to be endless................................it's not now. :sad:

Actually Simmo that doesn't look a bad side to be honest.

Ah yes - that was it. I was sure I read about it somewhere. I have all the VSMs so I will check up when I get some time. Thank you kindly for reminding me Knowle. :)

It would be great to see new BRITISH Riders coming through sidney - but - it isn't going to happen any time soon. These things ARE cyclical, of course - perhaps we can always hope.................................................................. ..............sometime in the Future (but sadly not in my lifetime - I can't see it anyway).

Anyone know what happened to the Trophy? I believe it was very impressive. A solid silver Speedway Rider on a Plinth - I think............................................. Quite valuable too - even more so now.

Sadly nowadays there does not seem to be a will to produce really good British Speedway Riders any more. The reasons for this, to my mind are: i) Lack of Training Facilities from a National Acadamy to local Training Schools. I know there are a few Tracks out there doing their best to bring on new Riders. There is, however, NO National Strategy for Training. This should be set up and run by the Promoters (could not be done under the current Financial Crisis) and should have been done years ago. ii) Too many other distractions, a lot of young folk these days would rather stay in and go on the PC/Games/Internet or watch Television. The youth today seem to be a bit of a sedentary lot. You no longer see kids out in the Street playing Football and getting Excercise like you used to. iii) Finally - I know this has been mentioned before but EXPENSE does come in to it too. Speedway is still a very expensive Sport to start from scratch.

That was my guess too............................................. :unsure:

In other words, I think you are saying, the Sport needs to be PROMOTED better. I agree. All of the things you mention plus Play Offs, Double Points, Joker (SWC), GPs. ALL of these things are, in my opinion, detrimental to Speedway - folk have gone on about one or other of these subjects for ages - but - NOBODY LISTENS at the Top Table (the Promoters). I totally agree though - I will keep on going as long as I can - and - NOTHING can spoil the thrill of four Riders hurtling around the Track - they can't change that. .......................or can they???

Well put Humphrey - on BOTH points. :approve:

The beauty of Cardiff is that it located in the City Centre more or less. The same cannot be said of London - which is part of the reason it cannot compete. Perhaps they could clear that lot out of the House of Commons and the House of Lords - demolish Westminster and build a Speedway Track. Now that would be central - and might do us all a bit of good as well.

Personally I think Cardiff is the ideal venue for the British Grand Prix. The MOST important factor as stressed by Philip Rising is the Roof. You are not going to get a rained off Meeting. The Stadium is nice and handy for the City Centre. There seem (I don't drink) to be plenty of local Hostelries around and the people a very welcoming. I'm sorry but I just don't see London competing against Cardiff at any level. Perhaps the Olympic Stadium could be used to bring League Speedway back to London itself but as THE main GP Centre - I don't think so.............................

I had TWO Hog Roasts £3 Each or TWO for a Fiver. you just had to have TWO - I did anyway. Loverly Jubberly!!! :approve:

I enjoyed the 'Hog Roast' at the Pairs Meeting a couple of years ago. BEST I've ever had. :approve:

Exactly!! When you are an automatic 'Pick' you can become complacent, happy just to be there. If EVERYONE had to Qualify - that would NOT be the case.