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Okay, here's another one to get you thinking... Reading the thread on Lew Coffin gave me the idea for this; whether they are riders, promoters, or whatever, what people do you think deserve recognition for what they have done for the sport, and why? Here's my starting list... Lew Coffin (see other thread!) Johnnie Hoskins - Regardless of opinions/facts about the early meetings, one has to admit that he did a great deal to help get speedway established in the UK. Ole Olsen - Not only was he a great rider, he really helped establish the sport in his native Denmark, and even after he quit riding, was the brainchild behind the SGP. Sir Arthur Elvin - A great friend of speedway, and promoter at Wembley Stadium. Barry Briggs - One of the greatest PR men the sport has seen, and like Olsen, continued to have a great impact on speedwway after his retirement with the Golden Greats, and even the dirt deflector. Dr Carlo Biagi - The speedway doctor, who helped so many riders overcome their injuries during his long and distinguished career. Neil Street - Instrumental in the development of the 4-valve engine. Steve

Okay, it's time to clarify again... Sorry Tarabanko (and others), but if you go back and reread my original post, this thread was not intended to list those who suffered tragic career-ending injuries. This is for those, such as Dave Morton, Ronnie Genz, Tommy Knudsen (excellent example, incidentally) and others who simply got knocked back one or more times when they could possibly have gone on to greater things; those who carried on riding AFTER their injuries (sometimes serious, sometimes just niggling little things), pehaps not quite fulfilling the potential they possessed before the accident. Sorry if I seem a little pedantic, but that's the way I started the topic. Steve PS Thanks to all who have posted some excellent cases here.

Haven't got full details (yet) but Gary Ford died in September 1995. I'll keep looking. Steve

You're absolutely right, it was Shirra and Niemi. Don't forget that Kelvin Mullarkey decked the starting marshal at Plough Lane! Steve

I only got to Cradley once, Leicester once, and Halifax once, but I did enjoy them all, particularly - as has been said - the banking at the Shay. Of the regular away tracks, I used to love going to Hackney (apart from the poxy drive), West Ham, and of course, the old Belle Vue. Hyde Road really was something special. Steve

Tony was another who had a number of serious injuries. He usually bounced back pretty well, but how much better would he have done without constantly having his career interrupted? I still remember seeing the photo on the cover of the Ipswich programme when he broke his thigh - yuk!!! Steve

Thanks for the plug!!! Steve

Dave was another I thought of this morning, but you managed to post it before me. He was a little overshadowed by Chris, but after such a brilliant 1976, I thought he was really going to hit the big time. Steve

Don't forget Mike Ferreira, and a little later, Dave Steen. Steve

I certainly agree with you there. Steve

Again, some more interesting names, and I was pleased to see Chris Louis and Steve Clarke mentioned. As I said though, this topic isn't really about the Alan Wilkinsons and Joe Owens who had their careers ended in a track crash; it's about the riders who just seemed to suffer an injury (or injuries) that simply seemed to knock them back. Thanks to everyone for their input though, and let's keep the names coming! Steve

Just added David Blackburn (12) to the list. Steve

Tony broke his kneecap riding for Romford AT Plymouth in 1969, after he had spent the previous season at Pennycross. He did make five appearances for Romford in 1970, but made little impact. Also Bobbath, with regard to Les Owen, he actually had a couple of really bad smashes, including his last which left him partially paralysed. I saw Les at the 2000 British GP at Coventry (not too long before his tragic death, I think), and was shocked and saddened to see how bad he looked. Steve

I do realise that, Tony, and obviously, Simmo probably knew more than we did! I wasn't actually saying that it was only the arm injury that affected him, but at that point - and after what he had been through already - that pretty much seemed to be the end of Sverre. My dad was actually good friends with Sverre, and helped him out quite a bit. I do agree with your assessment of Alan Emmett. Steve

Yep, Rob Lightfoot was another than sprang to mind. More great choices. Steve

...and while we're on the subject, what about Paul Whittaker? Steve

See, already we've had some interesting replies... Arne Pander is a definite, although I'm not sure that injury really affected Sverre's career that much before he had really passed his peak. He was still a great rider, but I think that any real potential had gone. I was at West Ham when he broke his arm, and he never really recovered from that. I was also at Wembley when Toby broke his leg. The thing is, did he ever really make a go of it after that? I considered that as one of those possibly career-ending injuries. It did take Norman a long time to recover, and it's true, he was going great guns in 1969, and never really recaptured that form. Excellent choices, Bobbath. Steve

Seeing the thread on Wayne Briggs prompted me to start this. Who do you think could have gone on to much greater things had it not been for injury. I'm not talking about career-ending tragedies, more along the lines of unlucky riders who often suffered niggling little injuries, enough hurt one's confidence, or maybe a broken limb or two at the wrong time, from which they didn't really seem to recover. Wayne Briggs is a prime example, particularly with regard to his wrist injuries. Another would be Ronnie Genz. Although his injuries were often a little more serious, he still bounced back reasonably well. However, what would he have achieved had he stayed relatively injury free? Even though he went on to enjoy some very successful international results toward the end of his career, I often wonder how good Toni Kasper might have been without that broken leg? Even Kevin Jolly, I feel, was never quite the rider he was before breaking his leg. What do you think??? Steve

And many of those photos (including the one of Wayne) are mine! I think I also have one of him in Wembley colours. Steve

Absolutely correct. He scored 5 points, plus a fall and two EF's... Thanks, Steve

Don't ask me - you're the expert! Still, I'm noticing that you're something of a nocturnal creature, 'cos it's only 10pm here. Challenges obviously don't count, but "Training League"??? To be honest, it doesn't really sound like a legitimate and competitive league. Well, when we met, I was actually on my way out of the PDC, basically because of a change in the Ranking System. I'm back with the BDO/WDF again, and in fact, I came over last November to play in the World Masters and World Championship qualifier up in Bridlington. I came very close to qualifying for the World Championship, and I'm only one step away from Bridlington again this year. Hopefully, unlike last year (they changed the dates), it will be held during the speedway season! My wife has only ever seen speedway over here, so it would be nice if we could take in something in the UK. Steve

That's certainly what Barry says in his autobiography. Steve

I did wonder if I should add the clause that an "appearance" should be at least one completed race in an evening, but I never even thought of Efkins. Hey, are we really that cynical? Last time I saw him ("riding" for us) he did make it to the first bend in front, before packing up by the time he reached the back straight - several times. Anyway, so you reckon that Weymouth weren't an "official" team when he rode for them, but Iwade was? Obviously, I have been a little out of touch over the last 16 years, so I'm relying on everyone else here. Steve PS I know who you are... All this time, and I didn't have a clue...

Good call. Steve

Thanks for the info. I was surprised at some of the names involved! Steve