father jack

My Dad has put some old Cine Film on to video, and it shows a couple meetings from the old Somerton Park track in 1968. One meeting is Wasps V Sheffield, I recognised all the Wasps riders, but the only Sheffield rider I could recognise was Charlie Monk. The other match is an England V USSR match. The only English riders I spotted were Jimmy Gooch and Martin Ashby. Does anyone have any details about these matches ?

Following the great success of Speedways tactical ride rule , Rugby Union has followed suit. The New rule states ' If a team is more than 15 points down at half time then any points scored by that team in the second half count double ' This now means yesterdays Wales v Scotland result should now read Scotland 41 Wales 46 .

I watch some of the vetrans races they put on at Newport, and I 'd love to see some of todays stars riding those old JAPS, I wonder if some of them could cope !

1968 was the first one I saw, I remember Briggo won it, and the result rested on one of the last races, when Briggo, Toby Harrysson and Ivan Maugerall had 11 points, Toby fell and Briggo passed Ivan on the last bend, then Soren Sjosten beat the previously undefeated Eric Boocock, to force the run - off which Briggo won. A great meeting, amazing atmosphere. The place was packed , I had to watch the meeting sat on my Dad's shoulders.

The last rider to win a race on a JAP engine could be Mike Broadbank, sometime in October 1977, Newport V Eastbourne, the last ever meeting at the old Somerton Park track. I do know Mike won a race that night, but I cant remember much else apart frm the fact that Newport lost. ( Nothing changes )

I remember Mike Broadbank trying a 4 valve jap conversion built by Bob Kilby when he rode for the Dragons in 1977, I dont think it lasted a race !!! Mike raced the season on a 2 valve jap engine, and I think he boasted a near 7 point average. I belive Dave Jessup tried out a jap in the 80's, not sure about that one though .