FAST GATER

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

The track is still in tact and IMO would take a little time and some money (pits fence udate etc) and a charm offensive on the locals for the sport to return. . Being totally serious the place could be got ready with the right imput as the basic setup is there.

Two valve Jawa engine and frame and a rear sprocket the size of BIG Ben's clock face.I as not there that night but was told that the track was deep and wet which suited BM down to the ground.He was a good solid team rider but was never going to make the big time in s/way as was already stated an excellent grass man though.

Just finished reading mine Tony your article on Mauger /Ricko was spot on Ivan is the complete rider over all, the rest of the mag was excellent aswell keep up the good work and Merry Christmas to one and all

Nicky also rode for the Ellesmere Port Gunmers in the 70's as well on ex Mauger engines and Guy was forced to retire from being injured after falling from the tractor on a lap of honour i believe!!!

Sounds the perfect start to teambuilding for 07 (just a shame Snr is not a couple of years younger otherwise it would not be so funny )still a great rider in his time IMO

There's always a chance Rob/G snr can make this year's Potters team if rode as recently as 2004 make a good reserve and he is British is he not!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another nail in coffin was the career ending crash of Joey Owen ripped the guts out of the team and fans alike and I think your right CL at least to start.Even if planning was given it would for 2yrs at first before it was granted permanently.This seems the way councils deal with new or reopened tracks today but IMO there is a fan base in the Port.