chunky

I think the Olsen race has to be the best. That moment they both lifted at the exact same time was incredible!

Thanks! I did wonder about that, because Q doesn't seem common, and I was hoping that someone here would know.

I've actually seen the same for Christer Lofqvist and Gunnar Malmqvist.

Nor just in the early days. I was watching the video (on YouTube) last week of the 1986 NLRC; it was "Simmonds" on there...

Obviously, Willson is not a common spelling. We did have a large photo of Harry Willson on his bike. Not sure where it is right now; it may still be in storage, so I don't have access to that at the moment. I know you are probably wondering how I know some of this stuff. I really am not the antagonistic troll you think I am; I told you, I just have trouble dealing with stupidity. I was born into speedway. My mum started going to Plough Lane in 1950, and she soon started taking her parents. They used to go to all the London tracks regularly. Their interest waned, but my mum (her maiden name was Valerie Phillips) really got involved and became the Secretary of the Wimbledon Supporters Club, and organised a lot of functions, like the old dinner/dances. She became good friends with a lot of riders. My dad started going in 1958, he met my mum, and then I came along. My dad also got heavily involved, and used to help out riders. When Sverre Harrfeldt would go home, my dad would drive him to and from the airport, and would have use of his car while he was in Norway. We got to know a lot of the riders over the years, including juniors like the Willsons, Bob Warner, and Freddie Sweet. When I was older, we would often spend time with Jim and Jill Tebby, and end up playing darts at Ron How's pub. So, it probably surprises you, but I have a true lifetime of "involvement" in speedway...

Sorry John, the name was "Willson", not "Wilson". Wally and Winnie Willson emigrated to Canada, and used to keep in touch with my late grandmother.

I think he had a brother, Punch...

Uunfortunately, talent and potential doesn't equal greatness. We have three supremely talented individuals there who mustered just a single world title between them.

Don't forget the "sugar-in-the-tank" episode at the 78 British Final... That could have been four on the bounce.

Actually, you can! Rough is "ruff" without the T, so pigs must eat from a "truff"...

I'm the same. Not so much worried about the scamming, i have better things to do than to waste time listening to some tw*t...

I also liked Hugh Johns. I know the Beeb had some good ones, but I always preferred ITV for sport, particularly footy. Of course, BBC had all the cricket...

Never could work out why the Internationale was the only thing they wanted. However, in later years Grandstand developed an interest in grass-track, which was surprising, and Murray Walker did those.

Bob Danvers-Walker did in a Pathe News clip, I know that.

Yeah, that's how I watched it too!

Well, the drama in 72 with Olsen and everybody baying for Persson's blood!!!

It has absolutely nothing to do with editing skills, John! You knew he was a grass-tracker (you had previously stated that), so why did you ask about it this time? If you want to ask for comments/memories, there is nothing wrong with that at all, but you don't do yourself any favours by posting things like that which either contradict what you said previously, or worse still, make you look like you can't remember what you've said.

Yeah, half a crown...

for Hackney...

Come on, John... In your latest post, you "wondered" if Al had been a grass-tracker before turning to speedway. Why would you ask that, when you had already stated it? It is perfectly okay to just dig up a subject and ask if anyone has any memories, or has anything to add, without posting strange comments like that. I am NOT anti-gustix, just anti-stupidity (whoever posts it).

There was an interesting thread on the BSF a while back. It may answer some of your questions...

Scammers always try to lure the old and mentally disadvantaged, so obviously BSF members are at risk from them..

I never said they WEREN'T special. Or at least, they COULD be special. Again, looking at it from an event point of view, we were spoiled by Wembley. It seems to be a case of fans looking for different things from speedway. Do you want to go to Wembley with 93,000 others, and experience a poor meeting with maybe one or two decent races, but a fantastic atmosphere. Or do you want to see an incredible GP with breathtaking racing at Wroclaw. Do you want to see a competitive meeting with AT LEAST 12 of the Top 15 riders in the world, or a meeting which was never designed (post-war, anyway) to field the world's best, and was usually missing one or two of the expected front-runners? Nothing is - or ever was - perfect. Yes, I miss the good ol' days. I miss the gleaming chrome and black leathers. I miss Wembley, Wimbledon, and Belle Vue. I miss Moore, Briggs, and Boocock. But you know, it wasn't ALL great. It never will be ALL great. Life changes, and we change. However, speedway can still be the most fantastic sport in the world - if you just sit down and watch the racing...

Oliver Langton, Clem Cort, Len Myerscough, Frank Varey, Bob Harrison, Eric Langton, Dusty Haigh. Belle Vue 1930.

So you DO have a couple of speedway books by the BSPA Chairman Mao?