Tigerblade

With that Middlo interview, it is poignant now to look at that picture of the 1975 British junior championship 1-2-3, no wonder he considers himself lucky. It was interesting to read about Eric Broadbelt as well, he still comes to Sheffield from time to time. I remember he wanted to join Sheffield the year he ended up going to Halifax.

I had forgotten all about that until reading these posts, at the time I thought Tommy had just got it although it was damn close.

I remember that too!!! They disappeared into a crowd of people at the pits gate and the next thing, Tommy was back flipping over the gate We actually had some very fierce rivalry with the Bees at the time. He was a potential world champion really, but he suffered bad arm injuries in 1982 and 1983 (it may have been an aggravation of the original thing actually), in fact could have gone into 1984 as well, and it put him back years. He certainly had the potential and aggression for it. I'm surprised Joanne hasn't seen this thread yet

He came to Sheffield on his "tour" as well, and went around in about 56 seconds, which hasn't been done on a normal bike even now! Nobody had seen anything quite like it at the time. He used to spectate at Long Eaton a lot in the late 80's as well.

I think the Derbyshire Constabulary have made me pay for that game more than any Cov City fan could lol Late? Five months before the event is well organised for me let me tell you

You're not kidding, about the title of this thread! I have to agree with Diamondsareforever, I rang a couple up who never even looked once I confirmed it was indeed the speedway weekend, just said they were full. I've no doubt they are telling the truth, but it left me thinking well, how do you know what I was specifically going to ask for? Anyway, I have managed to get in at the Travel Inn North Caerphilly. I have stayed in the other lodge there, can leave the car at the station, there are trains to and from Cardiff about every 15/20 minutes, only takes about 25 minutes to get there, and the last one back on a Saturday night is 23.13. Just laughing about the Celtic Manor having spaces, my 5 days in Prague is cheaper than what that would be for a weekend

No, but I seem to remember the name being linked with Sheffield at one time. We did "sign" Sergei Kuzin but he never appeared, I remember the rider replacement facility doing us proud!! RIP to Rinat though, early 40's is certainly too early in life

You have lost me there Kev, has Joanne's side of Wenceslas Square got a reputation or something?

Well folks, I've done it............... I am going to Prague 7th to the 12th July. I have booked through Czech Travel Ltd. of Braintree. They can arrange pretty much anything you want from whichever airport you like as a package, but the more advance notice the better. It also helps if you can be flexible with the dates, my ideal choice was Weds 6th to Mon 11th, but there was a better flight deal for the other dates. In my case they have even been able to arrange me the plane seat of my choice! They do have a website although it's basically a front cover, so you would be better off speaking to them direct, their number is 01376 560592. I posted earlier on this thread that my parents went to the hotel Prague Center (also with Czech Travel), they had no problem with it at all, but recommended me to the Hotel Alton as it was a little nearer Wenceslas square and the tram/metro. Joanne, I'll probably e-mail you in the next couple of days.

I have done Glasgow (Shawfield) v Newcastle in the afternoon, and the return at Brough Park at 7.30 in the evening. Think it was 1993. I also went to the 1988 World Pairs at Bradford, afternoon start, and then straight to Sheffield for a 7.30 start, that was on a Sunday night. 0 - 0 races, not seen one myself, but didn't that happen at White City, when all four riders in Heat 1 were excluded for 2 minutes, and then the ref subsequently put the 4 reserves on 2 minutes as well and excluded them?

I did actually wonder if it was something like this, as wasn't it only about the mid 70's that the Anzacs went off into their own qualifiers? I know that Barry Briggs and Ivan Mauger used to ride for GB in the team cups. But then I discounted it due to being unsure about Mick Powell and I'd never heard of Oyvind Berg, and I knew that Mick, Jack Young and Charlie Monk had ridden for Edinburgh at some time.

Yes, although quite why it took about 4 months to come to light I have no idea!! If it had done so and they'd thrown him out before the Inter Continental final, it wouldn't have looked so ridiculous. If memory serves me correctly he claimed it was a sore throat or a cold.

No. 5. Eric Boocock, 1974, presumably at Halifax. No. 8. Edinburgh?

Lack of support vs high running costs. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Wasn't it also because Odsal was going to be refurbished into a "super stadium" and it was either delayed/put off for years and the Ham brothers subsequently lost interest.

Me as well, only really read the Phil Crump interview so far though. Interesting stuff indeed.

Hey Joanne, hopefully I am going to Prague as well Mum and Dad are going there on the 13th, they are going with Czechtours who can arrange just about anything to suit so they will tell me where everything is etc. No doubt also going to Cardiff with my mum.

I definitely fancy this now I know it is going to be July. Mum and Dad are going there for a few days on the 13th, staying at the Prague Centre, so will post back on afterwards to say what they thought of it. www.hotel-net.cz/detail_en_1284_PRAGUE_CENTRE_HOTEL_USD.html

Now there's a thought to contend with It would be nice for Britain to have the last GP.

Yes, maybe it's a bit delicate, but did they ever really patch things up before Billy left us? I'd be interested to know how he felt about the 1976 World Final and then winning the WTC at White City a couple of weeks later. Phil and Billy were a World Pair in 1977 at Belle Vue, but finished bottom as Billy had engine trouble throughout - in one of my Ivan Mauger's Speedway Extravaganza books it says an engine blew up in the pits just as someone bent down to listen for any trouble

Mine arrived yesterday, thank you!

Shove over, it's now my turn to sit on the stair and wait. (Not sure about them blue and white stripes mind you lol )

Hi Lou, I remember your dad racing, Wolverhampton and Belle Vue mainly. He was big pals with Doug Wyer and Reg Wilson in the 70's and he wrote a brilliant full page tribute article in Reg's testimonial programme about one of the trips to Kuwait.

Yes, can't remember when though - I do remember going to Wolverhampton in 1985 and the meeting dragged on for hours, Cradley won, am I right?? I'm sure I will have been at that meeting in 1986, but it still doesn't ring a bell. Perhaps because it was so close to the 1986 world final - and I went, by coach!! - it's got lost in the memory mists of time.

Sorry if I sound a bit pedantic but are you sure? I remember us having an England v USA test match where I cheered a la Soldier Boy when Peter Carr went around two Americans from the back one race but I don't remember us having that one. He turned out to be right about PC and Mort, but I can just imagine him yelling it - subtle as a housebrick

There isn't a particular second halfer that springs to mind (no doubt as soon as I've logged off I'll think of dozens) but did any other tracks have "during the interval races" for 14/15 year olds? The most notable one for Sheffield is Andy Smith who signed for the Aces once he turned 16. There was also Glen Parrott who looked like he was going to be the next big thing, but disappeared almost as quickly as he arrived, I think he rode for Ellesmere Port and Halifax - I know he rode for the Dukes as he was in the same team as Steve Finch and Doug Adams had a great time announcing with lots of bird puns and jokes. Then there was a 15 year old Joe Screen in the late 80's who turned 16 after we closed, but I don't know how serious we were about signing him before that nice Mr. Ducker pulled the plug.