asturmer

Yes he did and I just restored one of his 86 motors he left in Australia, in a jawa frame! He had 4 engines to choose from in those days! Sometimes they took bits back to Europe as hand luggage or expensive freight and otherwise sold their parts to local riders, before returning for British season! Now they have houses and keep bikes here just to use when they come over!!!

Whats Dad,s name?

I can confirm that Denzil Kent is alive and well, living in South Africa, and in regular contact with members of the Southern Speedway Riders club, formed in 2006 when Walkerville raceway was revived! Their web site iis www.speedwaysa.co.za It looks like a nice family club!

Richard Hellsen was always good to watch!

Mike informs me that sadly Denzil was killed in a car crash. I hope this info is correct as I am relying on people in other Countries, and obviously wish the info was wrong!!

Thats exactly what Mike said about Barney in his last correspondence! I have to say Barney is definitely a character never to be forgotten and he brought people in through the gates! A certain Canterbury promoter did tell me that Ferreira was the best investment he ever made so we can dispute that one!!

Please email me as I am in constant contact with roger Johns who rode for Wimbledon ! Your Dad will have raced him several times maybe lots of times! I,m sure Roger would participate!

Mike is very pleased that people are still thinking of him, and it may take a few days to get an answer re Denzil, due to poor communications, as a result of continuous power cuts in Harare!Watch this space!

For those Canterbury Crusader supporters! One of their best ever riders Mike Ferreira is currently living in Zimbabwe since retirement in 1986! He runs a land cruiser business having run a motorcycle Dealership until 2007! He has 3 daughters and is coping ok in spite of all the hardship in the Country!

Hi Steve, Whats your profession or skill set? There are still jobs here, we have not been hit as hard as the rest of the World. Perth in Aus still can not fill vcancies! You need to be 45 or under to get in easy! and what a lifestyle!!! Kids grow up living outdoors with plenty of space, most of the year the temperature is like a nice English summer day! Only now till March very hot! and I do not work for the Government in recruitment!!!

Scores for Estern Big One: Steve Johnston 12 Cory Blackman 4 Cory Gathercole 6 Shelby Rutherford 2 Chris Holder 14 Simon Stead 13 Leigh Boujos 7 ( Good enough to be a National League Rider) Dave Cheshire 5 James Holder 5 Daniel Winchester 7 ( Good enough to be a National League rider) Frank Smart 10 Leigh Herne 5 Samsurry Pigram 2 Leigh Adams 15 Ty Proctor 8 Brady Wbb 3 Semi final : Johnston, Proctor, Smart, Winchester Final: Adams, Simon Stead, Chris Holder, Johnston.

Great night! Would never have found you at the bar due to sheer numbers in attendance! So hot, it was 34 degrees at 7pm! Spoke to Peter Collins in the crowd, and he had just arrived for the annual family holiday!

Roger is living somewhere in the South of England, he looks fit and well, still slim. Dont want to say too much here, you can email me!!!

Thanks for all your help, I,m now in touch directly with Roger Johns, after a member gave me his details!

I appreciate your help and I think he did ride for Wimbledon in those 2 years! At this time of year neither of us want to visit our respective garages, me because I bake in there from what has been a very hot summer, and you probably freeze in yours !!

Thanks Shadders, What a lot of years in the saddle, 21 in total, similar to Barry Thomas of Hackney, and He would have joined Eastbourne aged 16yrs in 1970. Would like to know where he was in 88 and 89? I think he was slightly under rated as a rider although I enjoyed watching him round the outside when there was more dirt on the tracks. In those days he seemed quite tall as a rider,can anyone remember?

Thanks, Iris has given me some finer detail too!

Many thanks!

For my own records on 70,s and 80,s National and Gulf League Stars can anyone assist with the following: Year Roger Johns started riding, other clubs ridden for besides Wimbledon, did he race ice speedway at one time, year he retired, age at retirement, whats he doing now? I,m sure a true Dons fan out there will have some answers, many thanks!

Whats his name or surname and can you email me and any others who request it, the photo?

You may have known Alan!Was Alan Rivett then, the likeable Gentleman he is today?

Alan Rivett competed in a meeting in Perth recently and I was impressed! First he drove from Queensland to Perth, like driving from Moscow to London, then he impressed and just missed a place in the final, then he was spectacular in the races and finally he turned out to be 52 years old . You can just about recognise him in the photo as he is completely bald now like many of us!!

Good point and Steve was a good rider! He seems to have disappeared in to the sugar canes of northern Queensland since retirement!

It is common knowledge that upright Goddens were really hard to turn left ( I just restored one and am afraid to ride it!) I am trying to remember who used Godden machinery and to date can recall Hans Nielsen, Shawn Moran, Mike Ferreira, Barney Kennett to name the ones I watched. Just staying on one for 4 laps makes them superstars, are there any other riders who rode these fiery machines?

Hi Tony, I unfortunately missed out on the Zenon Plech, Roman Jankowski days at Hackney! I once heard that when Zenon broke an ankle at Hackney, he refused medical attention on the friday night, chosing instead to return to Poland for treatment, by car!! On tv he was always spectacular! Its the hottest start to the year for many years here in Perth with daytime temperatures never below 35degrees for the past 2 weeks,normally February weather in these parts!!