FAST GATER

I remember he rode in a team there with Jimmy Mac ,Finn Thompson ,Liefe Berlin( forgive the spelling) and John Jackson( who I spannered for) doubling up from Elle/Port,George was a true gem and told me many stories of 60's s/way.He was tough but fair rider on many occassions team riding Jacko home. He told me he wanted to ride for ever as it was better than working for a living ,this was borne out by the fact some said he rode a couple of years too long.

1987 would be about right hung himself in his garage I believe would make him about 29yers old no age at all what a waste

It must be getting on for 20yrs ago I think he was in in his late 20's but not 100% sure.

i knew Ian personally his mother worked for us for awhile and my father was Ian's first sponsor at Elle Port ,Ian was a fine man and a resonable rider .It was agreat shook to hear of his death and agreat waste of a young life ,I can't image why he took his life although he did have a very sensitive side to his nature that very few saw RIP Ian.

Ivan Mauger may of had some influence !!!!

I believe that Cyril was or still is a regular visitor at Newport ,rode for us at Ellesmere Port in the early seventies right at the end of his career .Did a season for Stoke after us and then retired he was in the very first race I ever saw as a 12 yr old funny the things you remember.

Some nice pics Tony( love the gold bike still better looking than today's IMO )and Ole was a great rider but I don't like his attitude to the sport. He is a businessman with a great brain sadly his ideas IMO have been detrimental to our leagues and he can't deny that no matter what he says.

IMO Joe had one of the best riding styles I have ever seen i believe this was put down to exceptional physical strength but sadly this may have made him a little to brave for his own good.As has been said would have been an even more successful rider only for injury .

IMO the safest rider i ever saw was John Jackson only saw him fall off once in his time at Elle/port ( I was in his pit crew) and I believe he had NO serious injuries during a very long career .He was one of the few riders the Owen brothers feared I remember Tom saying to a team mate that if Jacko gets in front you will never catch him!!

The first promoters were Ian Thomas and former rider Graham Tatersall ( team manager aswell) of the Gunners that is if my memory serves me right.

I know that he never raced in it but Jack Millen used wear a cape on his parade laps at Crewe ( think he had a crown on aswell) only he would get away with it .How we miss these characters in the sport today Sky would lap it up Millian the Villian you can just see the head lines now .

Talking of scarves Colin Goad ( ELLE PORT mid 70's) wore the top half of womens tights (around his neck) instead of a scarf for fear of it getting caught in awheel or chain of the bike.

I think your right there it was an incredible track but I wonder whether it would have been deemed too dangerous.They would have been doing 70 plus mph and only have those sleepers to save them ,frightens me to think about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One reason Anderson was so quick was that he had the use of OLE Olsens gear as he also spannered for him when not riding.

i It was at Weymouth that I had my chat with him I think by then he was out of the team and just doing s/halves and was cover for anyone getting injured in the team.In his last couple of years he rode for points money and didn't get any expenses just to get a team place .He said he just loved to ride and would do what ever it took to get a team place .Shame that a great career should end on such a sad note he said that s/way was a ruthless sport in every respect but he had loved every moment of it.

Met Jimmy right at the end of a long career( almost 50 I think ) and found him a great fellow to talk to had ridden with and against most of the greats of the 50- 60'S and must of had one of the longest careers of all time.

The world will be a poorer place without Speedy Pete RIP best wishes to his family I just loved him on that Jap!!!!!!

IMO the style riders use can make them look taller on the bike always thought Tom Owen looked big on is bike but was not that tall really.As for bid Arthur he just looked awkward but got round and scored the points, nice fellow as well.

Not much he hasn't done but he did thump his promoter at Stoke( who's name escapes me was either Bragg or Blagg I think) once during an arguement.Gave him a lovely black eye for his trouble they did kiss and make up though Jack was like that!!!!!!!!!

For all his antics on track was sad that he died quite young in a car crash but always had a funny story to tell a real character which s/way lacks these days IMO anyway!!!!!!!!!

As I said on another tread the GP'S have RUINED British league s/way IMO and I too loved the old system but sadly it will never return.

All seems sad when a perfectly good track is going to waste ,with stands and the makings of a good track.Starting from cold would be expensive and may well put a prospective promoter off look at what has been done at Redcar and it will be years till it is finished.At BRUM they just ( iknow there is lot involved) had to create the track and improve what was there.If they could just get a couple of meetings( informal races) at the old track say CL racing even if it was in the form of a training school to see how if affected the locals etc.Then at least there would be something for everyone to draw from rather than people guessing about noise,parking pollution . You may even find that the younger people of the area would take to the sport as alot say there is little to do for their age group.

Just need someone like Mr Mole to get on to it and I am sure Noise and traffic would not be a problem ,just the council ,highways ,residents ( within 5 miles) who can't see or hear any thing and any other busy body who hate m/sport.It seems easier to knit fog than get anew track these days look how long it took B/ham.

I saw him race for the Dukes in the mid 70's he looke older than mid 30's but was great round the Shay and had an arm chair style.Was he one of the last to use a Jap as I remember?

I to pass the track every day and think that there are no greater problems than at P/BARR. It did not close because of local res but other reasons not least the end of Joey Owens career sadly.We just need Mr Mole to work his magic and we might get it but I can but dream