sandman

i defer to your speedway knowledge norbold. however, i must point out that a few of your choices were riders who came out of retirement for ivan maugers troupe, and no longer competitive league racers, although still quick, too old for constant british league action..and of course further world title aspirations... i was really refering to the sport in general rather than the exceptions..i know all about ronnie moore at wimbledon, as with briggo, and of course ivan, but it seems that in this day and time riders remain competitive longer,... in general... than in the past.. where is my anorak?

Mr. Fisher was a gentleman and scholar. He would be welcome for a free drink at sandmans anytime...The only man i would trust to help me rig the sails on my new old boat, and know it was done right..

this thread is so hard to answer. i could come up with at least twenty names who were head and shoulders above most in their day, some never winning a world final. sometimes being top of the averages and track records, and the long ago open individual meetings may point to a more fitting best rider. some were best all year long but couldnt put it together either in the qualifying rounds, some of which were harder in different countries than others, or on the big night itself. i am not diminishing the great achievements of former world champions, just food for thought. Terry Betts, Kenny Carter, John Louis come to mind as does Phil Crump. Who is to say that at times they were not the best in the world? or for argument sakes, deserving of the title, one of the best ever? also is it just me, or does it seem todays riders on average have longer careers than previous ones?

there wasnt in the history of the sport any tougher than phil crump. the deeper the track, the rougher it was, nobody could touch him. as to his big night jitters, twas a well known fact. great rider, remember when he went to newport and really did ride up the boards. it is true after breaking his femur, he wasnt quite the same, but still... well.. like a young pc on steroids.. great rider..

if i can make it i will be staying on the main park bench, under the local papers for a bit o warmth. oh and a bottle of imported Old Grandad Whiskey by my side..dont worry bout me i will be fine, .. i hear they have fine accomadations in Cardiff tho..

all due respect,... Kenny was a hard rider with a big ego...sometimes he could back it up and sometimes not. i was a fan of his..

i think rick was a good ambasador for the sport, shame we dont have more like him now...

George, outside of being a quality rider and a nice person,.. he was really funny. great sense of humour and i think anyone who ever had the pleasure to meet him never forgot him. a real character and a true scot. i will never forget when he thanked his fans for the support, and then said he would wear it every time he raced.. great person..

hey middlo, the last time you came down here to the bananna republic for a visit, just wanted you to know since you had to leave in such a hurry you left owing chongo and one eye for the last round, and they are mighty sore about it. nothing a twenty wouldnt take care of. after speaking to them both, i got them down to a boomerang or a Trick hat... each.. awww, you know you can always reach em on the shortwave... 24 hours a day, sandmans bar grill and bait shop, always sort of open, dont worry bout the time change.. chongo is angry, tread lightly.. off topic again.. sorry folks but i have a near mutiny on my hands..

i think that is always a danger for someone who starts at a really early age. also, i think things came a bit easy for him, at least more so than most riders. he was fun to watch, you could pick him out a mile away with his unusual style. none quicker when he was on form. in the end, if a rider who you paid to watch, left some good memories, well, they did their job. it is just a shame that his personal troubles sometimes over shadowed his accomplishments.

he was so good, and focused even at 16 it was scary. his father groomed him to be champion. he had the very best of equiptment and, thanks to his father, became a very accomplished tuner as well. he succumbed to outside influences and rebelled. the rest is history, but unlike the majority of riders, starting from the beginning days of the sport up to the present, he did become world champ, and deservedly so.

Although he is guilty of bad judgement, which he has dearly paid for, and outside of the fact he was one of the all time great talents, from what I gather, he is really a nice person. I think that counts for something. I too was fortunate enough to see him ride at 16, he was worth the price of admission even then. My opinion, although it doesnt count for much I know, he was good for at least another one or two titles had he not gone off the deep end.

i am gonna stay silent on this one..

Posa is a true anomaly in any kind of motorsports, let alone arguably the most dangerous sport in the world. For someone his age to still be competitive speaks volumes for this great man. He is welcome for drinks, on the house, for the rest of his life at Sandmans Bar Grill and Bait Shop. ummm, well as long as i am in business, i have heard those Swedes drink like thirsty horses..Anyway well done to Posa from Ganja Bill and the Lads!

sigh...... ask honey...

why not ask a harder question that will tie someone up for a month trying to figure out the answer to?

sigh...

i have two.. both yanks.. one, who raced speedway but killed at the indy 500,... Swede Savage.. and another who was better known for flat track racing, but had a go at speedway, Dick Hammer. movie star looks and a very tough customer. . on his helmet he had painted.... Dick... then a hammer coming down,... Hammer.. although i always thought the name was well suited for one in the porn industry? great man and nice to everyone to boot! tough as nails, pardon the pun..

Boys... Boys... Stop fighting!!! it upsets sandman, who is off his medication at the moment.. get a Bob Marley CD, and relax... if anyone wants to know the truth... well, I shot the sheriff..but i didnt mean to shoot no deputy..

we have a few bahamians going over to support Posa... figured it would help light a fire under him.. may go faster to get the meeting over with to get away from the loonies.. seriously, hoping for a podium for the great man...

Er...this is supposed to be about which one club could field the strongest team. I don't think all those riders rode for one team. errr.. ok norbold.. should have put it as favourite non bees team, such as top of page.. man, yer gettin cranky and persnickity...

a little tail heavy tho..Here are mine.. Tony Rickardsson, Jason Crump, Phil Crump, Ronnie Moore, Ivan Mauger, Bruce Penhall and Mark Loram? only the old ones will agree on this.. consistent, team players, not hot and cold although depending on which, some like Mauger, and Phil Crump were prone to great meetings and terrible ones..still good balance between talent and getting stuck in..would be hard to beat even today... of course i did not take into consideration a huge clash of egos..i would pay good money to see them have a coin toss for gate positions.. heh heh..

that team would be hard to beat, son.. i think you win the hooligan prize so far..depth and talent. great mix of new and old..

er...you did for 16 years what about John Titman? at least we know his preferences... i believe his nickname was .... titters... good one steve almost forgot.. wasnt there a brian woodcock?

is there anything more attractive in a person than humbleness? hear that gem? and i actually think all things considered,... bruce has always been pretty humble.. in the end guess it doesnt matter much,.. we all get old if we survive youth.