fatface

Previous three sound like crackers. I remember the 83 England v USA series decider at Sheffield as an absolute belter. The racing was out of this world with everything at stake. Morton, Collins, Carter, Sigalos and Moran were all superb. England won 58-50 with 5-1s in the last two heats.

Thanks 21st Century Heathen.

Just curious that's all........

66 - Steve Baker, Shooey, Kenny Carter and I'll eat my helmet cover if that's wrong.

By any chance, has anyone got the heat details for Coventry v Cradley BL Match at Brandon on 30 July, 1983?

So did you write the Belle Vue v Sheffield article in Edition 1 then Falcace? Aye Grach. Got a cracker lined up for issue 2 (out soon).

That's a great shout, fair play to you if it's right. Sad as I am, I would put money on it falcace Pass the anaorak It's all yours mate. Think of it as you might the green jacket of golf. Perhaps SKY could broadcast the touching moment as I place the anorak around your shoulders in a cabin in front of a roaring fire. Taxi! Have you got a bobble hat aswell? That's it, kick a man while he's down. You'll be wanting my four-foot long chain of year badges next.

That's a great shout, fair play to you if it's right. Sad as I am, I would put money on it falcace Pass the anaorak It's all yours mate. Think of it as you might the green jacket of golf. Perhaps SKY could broadcast the touching moment as I place the anorak around your shoulders in a cabin in front of a roaring fire. Taxi!

That's a great shout, fair play to you if it's right.

48 & 52 - I'll try Valentino Furlanetto?

I'll just jump on Norbold's back here (if you don't mind) and make a similar appeal. I'm writing the "Happiness is 40-38" feature for Backtrack magazine and would like to hear of any matches from the 70s and 80s with the famous scoreline that hold particularly fond memories for some.

Been away for a few days, did London Marathon and even my fingertips hurt. 48 - Is it the "Pain Dane" Flemming Rasmussen? 49 - Kelly Moran 51 - if in doubt - Tony Forward? 52 - John Walmesley? If that's right I should get my anorak gold plated! 53 - I'll go for Shooey

Agree with Maddriver, except: 31 - don't think its Vaclav, would go for Stanislav Urban 34 - Barry Ayres

Time to reclaim the golden anorak me thinks.

17 - Shooey (the giveaway is in the throttle cable covering) 21 - Toughie. But is it our old friend Tony Forward? 25 - Les Collins leads Larry Ross and Barry Ayres 26 - Reg Wilson/David Bargh 28 - Sam 29 - Shooey again Just to confirm my nerdishness , no19 (and a few others in this collection) were I think taken at the 1986 British Open Pairs at Sheffield. Mort was bloody superb at that meeting, taking the likes of Nielsen and Moran from the back. The World Final was just a week or two later and I went away convinced he was going to win it. But, hey, if you can't dream when you're young, when can you?

Ah memories eh? Yes fair play, I can see that Reg Wilson is wrong, it is David Bargh. He was a little chunkier than our Reg. As for Ray Morton, that would be my guess but I still would not put my mortgage on it. Might even be Adrian Stevens? Anyone?

1 Tatum, King, Evitts, Jorgensen 2 Mighty Mort, PC, Jorgensen 3 K Moran 4 Mort 5 Evitts 6 Schwartz, P Carr 7 S Moran, Wigg 8 Rob Pfetzing 9 Schwartz, Doncaster 10 Mort, Gundersen, PC 11 Wyer 12 Bo Petersen (sneaky one! ) 13 Ray Morton, Sean Wilson 14 Wigg, King 15 Baker, S Moran, Reg Wilson, King Kenny where've you been my friend?

I'm in agreement with SpinKing. I think there is a consensus that Mike Lee was one of the most talented riders ever. But what frustrates me (and I think a lot of others who would love to have a similar talent) is that he p***ed his talent away. And I'm not going to say it was purely the drugs (I'm sure most of us have indulged to some degree?), or purely his managers/peers or even purely his own nature. I think its more likely that all of the above were factors. But for Mike to criticise the authorities now and back then is really puzzling. Any fans who suffered from a Mike Lee "walk-out" or "non-appearance" would vouch for that. NOTE TO DD - enjoyed your "Jackanory" post. Of course there will be people who have it all and throw it away, there will also be those who have nothing and make something of themselves. But to disregard our peers and our education as non-factors is frankly, laughable.

Balls .............. basically is what I have to say to that comment, everyone is in charge of themselves, don't get me wrong as a child Michael Lee was my hero. You can't blame parents for what kids get up to so how can you blame management or promoters by saying if he'd rode for someone else. Michael is his own person and regrets what he did at the time anyone would think he was a big time drug user. Have to say I agree with a lot of what "dontforget...." says Shazzy. Of course we are all in charge of ourselves. But everybody is influenced greatly by their peers, be they parents or others. I think it is certainly a valid point that a strong promoter or manager can keep a young rider on the right track. Is it any coincidence that under the wing of Peter Adams young men such as Penhall, Gundersen and Pedersen came to this country and blossomed into World Champions as well as decent men? I think another point to bear in mind with Mike Lee is that it is pretty obvious that school and education was pretty low on his agenda from an early age (and that certainly is an area where his parents should have had an influence). He hasn't really turned out as the most rounded individual and I think this can be partly put down to a casual attitude to his education. But it is not just speedway where this can be an issue. I would suggest that most young men with a real talent for sport are allowed to cast aside their education at a far too early stage. It is probably the reason why Football's Premiership is so cram-packed with empty-heads as well.

I must say I really enjoyed John Chaplin's "Coversation with....." piece on Michael Lee in the recent Speedway Star. I too was a big admirer of Lee. I'd even go as far to say he was one of the most talented riders I ever saw. However, in this interview (which was admirably frank) he really comes across as a rebel without a clue. It strikes me that he went against the authorities just for the sake of it rather than for any specific reason. What did everyone else make of the piece?

It would be fantastic if Birmingham did re-launch. I think its important for British speedway as a whole that the sport has a presence in the country's big cities. Also the "Brummies" is one of my favourite speedway team nicknames ever. Fingers crossed for them.

Here, here. Cheers Grach

1.Crump - said it back in October and I'm not changing 2.Pedersen 3.Rickardsson Dark horses: Adams, Jonsson, Sullivan, Nicholls, Dryml You can forget the rest.

Whilst this is sad news, it does seem that Jack enjoyed a very long and peaceful retirement. Well deserved too for a Belle Vue legend. RIP.

Great Minds Grach.... If you couldn't do 1981 WTC Mort/Gundersen/Muller, this was my no 2 pick. Hats off to you and the winner of this race (don't want to spoil it for anyone!)