Split

I recall seeing Pete ride for Wimbledon for whom he appeared a couple of times at the start of the 1964 season That season started in controversy which led to the Provincial League running 'black'. Provincial League riders were warned by the Speedway Control Board that they were in breach of ACU regulations and could be suspended from all competitive racing. I think Pete (and maybe others?) decided that they would try their luck with a National League team rather than face a ban. It seems things didn't work out and he moved on to Wolverhampton. Ironically it was Wolves' refusal to move up to the National League after winning the Provincial League title in 1963 that caused the problem.

It should be mentioned that Ove was probably not one of the favourites in 1967 when he won his fifth world title but he was of course the best man on the night. Igor Plechanov is often mentioned as a contender for "best rider who never won the world title". A third place in his last ride that night cost Plechanov the chance of a run-off against Fundin who he had beaten earlier.

With his last appearance at a World Final in 1959, Cyril probably had his best years behind him when he rode for Southampton in the early 60’s. He was however, very much part of the team that won the National League in 1962. It was a strange line-up in that it didn’t really have a third heat leader. With Briggs and Knutson averaging 20 points between them though it was only necessary for the rest of the team to equal that in order to win the match and they usually had somebody who stepped up on the night.

I think I attended all of the New Cross home matches that year so I saw quite a lot of Geoff Penniket. I seem to remember him being one of the few riders who rode in a helmet with no peak. Cyril Roger was another. It's funny the things that I can remember from those bygone days when I can't remember what I had for breakfast - LOL.

If I'm not mistaken they did sell alcohol at the stadium. I seem to remember having a beer there but my memory might be playing tricks on me.

Wasn't the Angus Kix column in the Speedway Star, Eric Linden writing under a nom de plume?

Ronnie Moore and Cyril Brine. A formidable 1-2.

You're only mentioning him because you were there when he captained Great Britain to a gold medal at the1908 olympics in London

Often on the 'best-ever' lists featured on this forum we've seen riders of a bygone era overlooked. That seems to be the case with this list with players like Raich Carter, Tommy Lawton and Cliff Bastin not included. And Beckham at number 4 with Greaves and Finney at 14 and 15 - the least said the better.

I'm old enough to have seen Sir Stan play albeit at the end of his career appearing for Stoke in December 1963 at White Hart lane.

On the subject of race jackets can anybody tell me why Vietnam decided to adopt the Wimbledon colours for their national flag? Was Ho Chi Minh a Dons fan?

I'm surprised your parting comment wasn't Awopbopaloobop alopbamboom!

I believe that Jim Yacoby who rode for Belle Vue back in the '60's may have been Jewish but I'm open to correction.

Maybe replace Derek Timms with Doug Davies to make five world finalists. I can't think what on earth the five riders would otherwise have in common

As an afterthought, it's appropriate that these three should be mentioned in an 'underrated riders' thread

The previous year they were backed up by Ronnie Genz, Colin Gooddy and Jack Geran who would themselves have made a formidable heat leader trio. It's no surprise that Oxford were league champions that season.

Maybe the riders who had their careers hindered by serious injury such as Stefan Kwoczala or Arne Pander.

Maybe not 'the wordiest' but the longest has to be the heading on the post by Phil on 23 October 2013 - Test Smiles. Why? Because there's a mile between the first and last letter of the second word. Yes, I know it's a very old joke and I can almost hear the groans.

I think it's possible that Björn simply became disenchanted with the sport. I remember seeing him yawning (yes yawning!) during the pre-meeting parade for the 1965 world final. I wonder if it’s precisely because it didn’t mean that much to him anymore that his nerves didn’t get the better of him - as in the previous big meetings - and he was able to become World Champion that night. I seem to remember reading that after retiring from speedway, he tried his hand at car racing but I might be wrong.

Nordin was certainly no newcomer to British speedway as he appeared on National League tracks as early as 1960. https://bellevue-speedway.com/belle-vue-teams-1960s

Colin Pratt also deserves a mention as a former Provincial League rider who came good.

I was also there in 1962 and heat 6 stands out in my memory as it involved four of the so-called 'Big five' of the 60's with Ronnie Moore missing out. Peter Craven came second to Barry Briggs in that race ahead of Knutson and Fundin but he was unbeaten in his other 4 rides and became a deserved world champion on the night.

Exactly the same 13 out of 18 for me which is no surprise as I know Norbold and I started watching speedway around the same time and at the same track - New Cross. I suppose the time is approaching when some of us will have seen all the riders listed which will mean that sadly, we will have lost some great names.

I think I may have mentioned this in a previous post but I remember coming across a stat that said that Vic Huxley had the best start/win ratio of any rider in the history of the sport. Of course it’s difficult to compare riders of a bygone era with those of modern times but a record like that is hard to argue with.

If we extend that period to 1965, Igor Plechanov (twice runner -up) comes into the picture. It’s generally accepted that the “Big Five” – were in a class of their own during the early - mid '60's but who was the best rider outside that elite club? Ron How, Ken McKinley, Peter Moore and Gote Nordin come to mind but Plechanov edges it for me. Many people (me included) consider him possibly the best rider never to win the world title.