mervjankefanclub

Britains model speedway bikes and riders I remember playing with mine on my mums 70's style carpet, the pattern of which had oval shapes making a perfect speedway track. It was in the hall and the draught coming through the bottom of the front door would freeze the nadgers aff ye, I then progressed to a bit of wood with the white line marked using my mums tea tray as a template, filling out my old progs as I went along, happy days

You sure thats no a herse FB .......that looks like a herse tae me

Even though I wasnt the height of a decent stauner back then, even I wouldnt have touched the local Blantyre bikes

I remember PC coming to Blantyre in his, I am pretty sure it was gold coloured and looked impressive beside the Vauxhall Vivas and Austin Allegros

........great minds DB And I would like to add.... ....riders wearing their old overalls in the wet and sawdust

Second halves Scottish Junior league Helmet colours supplied by colour marshall including white Riders being pushed off from the pit gate Being allowed to wander through the pits at Blantyre 1 after the meeting When the 2 minute klaxon wasnt for all four riders Tape touching Bikes without cutouts having a mind of their own When riders started putting wee name plates on their rear mudguard Rear wheels without spoilers Track rakers actually pulling in shale When speedway riders were hairy arsed hard men, unlike todays prima donnas Being a wee laddie again

Pretty sure he broke a leg at Shawfield that year, dont know if he returned after that

One of my favourite riders of all time is Shooey. I have said it before on another thread, but the sight of him blasting round Craighead Park was very surreal. He was probably the only genuine world superstar who visited that place. Apart from the one who appeared every week, obviously

I remember it and I have seen it Shaleway, but I wouldnt say it was a nasty attitude he was just helping out his compatriots which has always gone on in speedway. To be honest something like doesnt bother me in the slightest, I know the English fans werent happy with him and made their feelings known, I may be wrong but didnt his actions stop an English rider from qualifying, which may have fueled the fire a bit more than it may have done otherwise In my opinion Bruce Penhall was superb for speedway at the time. As for the others I always thought the Yanks from Autrey right through to Hancock were all pretty laid back and approachable guys and they certainly brightened up British speedway in the late 70s and 80s. I remember Shooey Moran coming to Craighead Park for Jim Beatons testimonial and he couldnt have been more charming, and I dont recall any stories of nasty attitudes, although being a NL fan away up here I may have missed something

Didnt his son have a go in the pro ranks, asturmer Another interesting speedway link in the piece is the editors name - Colin Farquharson. Whos namesake was a favourite of mine during his short spell with the Tigers

He always was one of the more rotund riders of his era

I seem to remember him riding for Long Eaton aswell it was probably around 88/89 as he rode at Shawfield

As are all his rants mate

Tony Rickardsson also happened to be a supremely talented individual on two wheels, you dont win six world titles because you have a few sheckles in your tail

Que!?

That was another case of same old same old Paul, because before I went to the meeting I went to the pub in the morning of that Sunday and everyone was in the beer garden as it was scorching and the sun was splitting the trees. Then the clock hit ten to three and the black clouds started rolling in.........see some things never change ...except for me being young,free and single enough to go to the boozer of a Sunday morning

It would only have been rained off mate

glasgow unknown 1 is belle vue junior barry ayres who had a few meetings during the 1984 season before injuring his back

looking forward to reading what neil mcfarlane has to say he wasnt everyones cup of tea up here but i always liked him although dropping super stevie for the home match with exeter wasnt one of his better moves even though it all worked out in the end and he did give us robbie nagy and back to back league and cup doubles and for that the tigers fans will be eternally grateful he was a character from the old school of promoters who liked a bit of controversy and winding people up especially referees which i sadly lacking a bit in our sport these days

looking forward to reading what neil mcfarlane has to say he wasnt everyones cup of tea up here but i always liked him although dropping super stevie for the home match with exeter wasnt one of his better moves even though it all worked out in the end and he did give us robbie nagy and for that the tigers fans will be eternally grateful

i think he came from the north of england kev and a spectacular wee rider he was too

almost certain 'the tash' was a scotsman kev i am sure someone will confirm this

not positive kev but i seem to remember him being a kiwi

thought thats what the former public schoolboy was hired for

ivan mauger, ole olsen, bruce penhall, hans nielsen, erik gundersen, tony rickardsson, jason crump, nicki pedersen need i go on......? all single minded and ruthless in their pursuit of INDIVIDUAL glory the world championship isnt about being buddies in the pits its about focussing on your own performance and idiot the rest its not about helping out your fellow countrymen the bottom line is nicholls and harris just arent good enough in my opinion and if they fail to qualify from the top 8 this year then tough rubbish because they certainly wont deserve a seeded place they have had their chances and they also had the option of taking part in the qualifiers this season but didnt bother their erse