Grachan

Sound interesting. I don't know Gus Kuhn and Buster Frogley, but they're fantastic names! I used to collect Autographs in the Seventies when I was a little laddie. I'm sure I still have my books somewhere, but on the few occasions I've tried to located them I have failed. It wouldn't surprise me if my mum chucked them out at some point though, which would be a shame. My two favourites were Tommy Jansson, who I managed to get at Swindon when he won the Golden Helmet only about a week or so before he was killed. I also got Ivan Maugers autograph, which was effectively an 'I' with a line, which he decided to do in the middle of a loop in John Davis' signature. I hope I find them one day, but I'm not holding out much hope!

I think that was probably me, although I've only just popped on here so I may not be long. The site was www.dk4.dk I've got it on at the moment, although it's very stop start. Can you not get anything? Try clicking the TV set at the top left of the page, where there is the word 'NHYET' - or something like that.

I have to say, my eyes welled up reading this article. I'm fortunate never to have seen a fatal accident, and it's always been hard to imagine. Normally you get all the cold, factual details, but seeing it through the eyes of a 13-year-old boy really brought the whole thing home. The image of poor Vic being wheeled off the track, face down, with his helmet still on has lingered in my imagination ever since reading it. Well done for really giving Vic Harding the personal tribute he deserved. I'm sure the attendance at his meeting will rise as a result.

Not sure I 100% agree, although he certainly had a unique style. He certainly never had any problems getting round Swindon, and a move to a small track like Eastbourne never helped his career. I think it was more a case of a rather casual attitude than anything else, and I suspect that is what Ivan saw in him.

Here's something that might be quite intersting. It's Andrew Silver being interviewed by a typical 80s 'yoof TV' programme called Network 7, when they did a short piece to promote the 1987 British Final. Network 7 Clip 1 Network 7 Clip 2 Ooh, I've gone all Silver-stalgic now!

Ah, I've got it now. Thanks. Good to see there's one of him wearing the 'Suicidal Tendencies' hat!

Is the address correct? I can't get anything.

Wolves 1975 George Hunter in the front row, but I don't know who the big hairy DLT type lurking in the background is!

The race is Heat 4 of Swindon v Ipswich on 29 August 1988. Final score: Swindon 51 Ipswich 37. See my signature for the riders in the race.

It's great isn't it! I love the collective 'gasp' from the crowd when he picks up extra drive on the second lap.

He was number 8 in 1987, and joined full time in 1988. It's not often you actually want someone to be absent so you can use your no 8, but that's how I used to feel. Same as you, Jeffster. I was so pleased when he joined full time. He may not have ultimately fulfilled his potential, but he was by no means a failure in my book. It was a real joy to watch him ride, and when on top form he was totally amazing. I used to love it when he missed the gate on the outside, looked across and waited for everyone to go ahead, then cut under everyone on the first turn to come out in the lead. I saw that happen quite a few times at Blunsdon. I reckon his 'decline' came about because he had his hair cut, kinda like that Samson bloke. (No, not Lou or Mike! The one in the bible!)

Rothmans Middle East Speedway Spectacular at the Royal Kuwait Sporting Club during the 1978-79 close season (2 day event) Peter Collins 28 (15+13) Les Collins 25 (11+14) John Louis 24 (13+11) Chris Morton 21 (8+13) Dave Jessup 18 (7+11) Tom Owen 18 (8+10) Barry Thomas 17 (10+7) Jim McMillan 15 (7+5) Bernie Leigh 14 (8+6) John Davis 13 (6+7) Craig Pendlebury 13 (8+5) Reg Wilson 12 (11+1) Ian Cartwright 12 (5+7) Dave Morton 5 (3+2) Richard Greer 3 (0+3) Neil Middleditch 3 (1+2) Information obtained from 'The Peter Collins Speedway Book No 3'. There's a 4 page article on the meeting in there. See below: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

Wasn't he invited to take part in an open meeting somewhere (Arena maybe?) a few years after his retirement, and surprised everyone by nearly winning the meeting. He was a bit of a World Class Snowboarder too, if I remember rightly.

Probably the most exciting rider I ever saw! Fantastic rider, but my feling is that he never really took Speedway that seriously. I don't really know what happened to him actually, but it's a shame as I think he could have gone on to great things. I remember him riding for Eastbourne and averaging around 5 points a meeting. I never could understand that. During his time at Swindon he was - when the mood took him - one of the best passers and team riders I ever saw.

Leigh Adams wins!

You may well be mad Longlivefrankie, but you're not wrong. It was the 1975 final. The track was terrible and became more and more dusty as the meeting progressed, so (if I remember correctly) some angry supporters took a hose pipe and put some water on the first bend. Peter Collins was on the outside gate in the next race and hit the wet patch, causing him to literally slip into last place and lose any chance of winning the title. Still, he made up for it the following year.

Crikey!! He looks like my Mother-in-law! Scary.

Maybe not the best quality, but there's one here: http://www.geocities.com/gam_noticeboard/rh79.html

Thanks Steve. I'm hoping to go to a meeting in Japan at the end of May and wondered if there might be some names to look out for, but if he lives in USA then I guess not.

I don't suppose you know the names of the 2 current riders that have ridden in the USA do you?

There may be a clue in the 'Classic Matches' thread, 21CH.

My thoughts exactly, Norbold.

I reckon I know!

Let me guess. Swindon 40 Belle Vue 38 from 1976?

So did you write the Belle Vue v Sheffield article in Edition 1 then Falcace?