father jack

Not for the first time the team that beats the most opponents has lost a major championship, Reading lost the Ellite Leauge a couple of years back, and now the Aussies are robbed of the World cup. The sport I love is destroying itself by giving artifical scores and unworthy winners.

I was thinking off racing against Neil Street, Phil Crump and Jason Crump.

Maybe Alan Grahame ?

Is there a rider who has riden against 3 Generations of Street - Crump ? I mean Neil Street, Phil Crump and Jason Crump. The only one I can think of is Les Collins, any one else got any ideas.

Yes Ted held it, I'm not sure for how long mind. He beat Jim Gooch at Newport in 1968. Jim beat Hasse Holomqvist by default the week before in a match V Wolves. It should also be remembered that Ted caused quite an upset by beating Briggo around Blunsdon fair and square . He was no mug.

Jacks bar was the County Supporters Club Bar behind the main stand on the Somerton Road side of the ground. Jon is still with us although he used to be a regular over the Hayley Stadium and was team manager of the Mavericks in 98 I dont think he vists as as much now.

Shortly before Somerton Park was demolished Cyril, Jon Erskine and Toby Harryson were guests at an evening Jacks Bar for those who remember the old place. They told stories, some of them hillarious - what charcters they were, sadly you don't seem to get them anymore.

If memory serves me right I think Cyril was very instrumental in getting Speedway into Newport. I belive he informed the Milke Parker \ Bill Briggett partnership about the possibilty of racing at Somerton Park using the old greyhound track which used to circulate round the football pitch.

No - they should abolish it altogether

Problem - Find a proper track in the country that can attract approx 45,000 people . Do you seriously want to go back to Coventry and 8,000 !

The shape of the Somerton Park Track was not universally popular, but there was nothing that could be done about it. It had to be built arond the football pitch and the within the confines of the existing stadium. Although it should be mentioned there were few complaints when the Wasps were weak, and visiting teams often won, when the team was strengthend and used to score 50+ every home match thats when the moans started

Thanks very much. Jon was a very underated rider, and in that particular wasps era was one of the few members of the team who could score consistantly away from Somerton Park

I've found this photo of 'Long Jon ' leading the great Nigel Boocock at Brandon in 1968. Does anyone know if Jon held off the great man ? http://www.retro-speedway.com/extras/autog...ventry_68-1.jpg

Bob kilby had the ability to make a World Final, and I would say Neil Street as well.

But would it do them any good to be whitewashed at home ?

Its a good idea in theory. but Sittingbourne v Poole as a possibilty is a non starter.

Deon Prinsloo, is he the son of the former Exeter rider Peter ?

Why not only allow one old style 'tac sub per ' team per match once they fall ten points down ? Seems simpler . I've always thought that 6 points is to close, we all know riders have thrown races to prevent the trailing team going 6 down. 10 seems about right.

I don't think Stoke, Oxford, Birmingham, Sheffield, are keen on Elite Leauge, and there doubts about Reading. As for Pl, I dont think Sittingbourne and Buxton could afford it not sure about Plymouth and Weymouth. All clubs an the UK have to complete at a level thats viable for them.

Im trying to think of riders that have ridden in world Finals / GPS in 3 decades. I can think of Briggo 50's , 60's 70's, and Edward Jancarz 60's 70's 80's, but no more. Anyone else got any ideas ?

I think it was the Russians bike's and other equipment prior to the 72 world final. One of the Ruskies I remember wore a set of Anders Michanecks old leathers, as his own had gone missing.

Does anyone know what happened to the former West Ham, Wembley, Newport and Wimbledon rider Tony Clarke ? Last I heard back in 73-74, he was doing time at her majestys pleasure.

I'm sure it was 9, Reading almost won that night, so he didn't have a tac sub ride. He was a reserve, in those days they had 3 rides, so it was 3 programmed rides, 3 reserve rides + 3 R\ R rides, in fact if Reading ever went 6 behind he could have had a tac sub ride making 10 !!!!!!! I'm sure theres someone on the Newport Site who's got all the records I'll ask thers as well.

I can remember Bernie Leigh having 9 rides for Reading at Newport the same year.

I'm not sure about this one, but I think I can remember in a match at Newports old Somerton Park track, circumstances prevailed that a rider was excluded from the same race twice ! Cant recall who it was , who he rode for or how it happend. Maybe some one can shed some light.