Robbie B

I personally think that there will only one British in the GPs next year I would go for Lee Richardson, because of his record this year in Britain, Sweden and Poland.

I personally think that there will only one British in the GPs next year I would go for Lee Richardson, because of his record this year In Britain, Sweden and Poland.

There is a very nice tribute to him in the new Clasic Speedway magazine (Autumn 2009).

I didn't know that was a rumour about Argentina entering the SWC, but more teams the merry I say Very nice pictures Iris123

Iris123, I do agree with you that Morten Hansen and Arne Pander were world class riders in their day. Qualifying for World Finals years ago was very much harder then today, where if you finish in the top eight places or if your face fits the right GP criteria you are in. Even Ole himself and other World Champions in the past never qualified for the following seasons final. Speedway would still exist in Denmark even if Ole never rode a bike, but I don’t think this nation would be as strong as they are now, without his influence. As for Argentina, I know that speedway has been running their but not in massive (ie having teams in World Cups or other major International competitions) for many years, and long may it continue I say. It would also be good for speedway if other nations that has have much success like New Zealand and the USA having a strong complimentary of riders challenging for titles. And it also is nice to see them back in the World Cup challenging for the title again. I remember the day at White City in 1979 when New Zealand won. They surely would have won many more titles if their riders didn’t have to ride for Great Britain.

I' am no doubting that Denmark had some good riders now and again before, Ole Olsen. But it was during the end and after of Ole's racing career that the Danes came to the forefront of international speedway. Arne Pander despite being a very fine rider never made a World Final. The first official test between England & Denmark didn’t take place until 1981, at Hackney. I was there watching the Danes getting beaten 62 – 46 quite easily by the English team, I wish we could say that would happen today. Ole’s, three World Championship must have inspired many of the forthcoming Danish riders that followed him. From the late seventies into the early eighties onwards there has been a glut of very talented riders from Denmark. Ole’s master stroke I reckon was building Vojens stadium. Then he brought the worlds’ best riders into Denmark to inspire the locals. Danish speedway really took off after this. This left a legacy that continues till this day. He may now have his critics with regards to the speedway GP series, but you can’t dispute his overall influence to Danish speedway for the last forty-odd years.

Sorry Iris123 I have to disagree with you, without Ole's influence speedway in Denmark would not be what it is today. You say thar there was a number of top class Danish riders before him, I wish you could would name them. In 1973 the Danish & Norweign team had to conbine to make a creditable team, for that years International tournament, because there was not a enough riders from either nation, to make a full team. Where were the Danish top class riders then?

That’s a terrific tribute to Ole, who was a brilliant rider in his day. He made an enormous contribution to speedway, especially in home land. Without him Danish speedway might not exist. Ole would never have ridden for Hull in 1976, as he said at the time. If he was not riding for Coventry that year, he would not ride in the British League.

I personally would not waste spending loads of money going to GP’s, until you can guarantee that there is some dirt on the track to let the world’s best riders race, and show off their skills. How long will it be before Sky TV and other companies get bored, with showing GP speedway due to the lack of action. Can’t the organisers see that they are shooting themselves in the foot by producing race circuits like last night’s Slovenian GP. With no TV coverage, the sponsors could soon follow.

I think it's just me Iris123, I have never liked graveyards, and do intend going into one, for as long as I can.

Iris123 I said eerie not scarey. I wasn't that old at first, sometimes I could swear I heard people moving around the graveyard (my imagination I guess)

If I remember, got the bus outside Kennington Park, down Clapham Road, Clapham Commom, Balham, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway, then off the bus down the bottom of Blackshaw Road. Walked up Blackshaw Road which seemed to go for ever, then into Plough Lane, and then happiness Wimbledon stadium. I done this every Thursday between 76-79 then got took by either car or motorbike. On Bank holidays no 155 bus so had to go by car lift. Must have speedway guy seen without knowing it.

Thanks for the info Bavarian. Can you remember if Great Britain won the 1959 European Team Cup Final?

Sorry Norbold I don't know they no longer consider them to be unofficial. They should be classified as official, I think.

I remember that after a lateish meeting, walking down Blackshaw Road, with the cemetery beside you was well eerie when I was younger, on my way getting a 155 bus back to Kennington.

The World Pairs Championship maybe no longer held, but in 1968 there was a World best pairs competition held on September 1, in Kempton, West Germany. I know that the FIM no longer consider the 1969 championship as official, but everyone seems forgotten about the 1968 championship. I don't have any Speedway Stars or other speedway magazines from this year, but the details were published in the 1969 BSPA handbook. And also in the 1970 version of this book it listed the 1969 winners Ivan Mauger & Bob Andrews, with reference in the roll call to the 1968 winners. The 1968 details are listed below Sweden 24 (Ove Fundin 14, Torbjorn Harrysson 10) Great Britain 21 (Geoff Mudge 12, Ray Wilson 9) Norway 16 (Odd Fossengen 11, Ovid S.Berg 5) West Germany II 12 (P.Barth 9, R.Kast 3) Wes Germany I 10 (Manfred Poschenreider 8, F.Aberl 2, R.Jungling 0) Denmark 6 (J.Hauser 4, K.Petersen 2) In the magazines of the time, did they list this meeting as being an official World Pairs Championship?

What they should do is; the bottom seven GP riders at the end of the series, to meet the top nine riders from the GP challenge. Then the top eight riders from another meeting qualifying for the following years GP. Get rid of the nominated riders, if your not good enoughyou shouldn't be riding in them. Scrap the wildcard which most of the time are a complete waste of time.

Maybe get rid of the averages system and return the rider control, that was used upto 1977. It take away any team thoughts of manipulating riders averages. This would also allow riders to stay at their present tracks far longer then now, thus the riders would be able to bulid up a following with supporters, and sponsers.

Tommy Jansson, I'm sure would have been World Champion. Other riders I would say Vic Huxley and Kenny Carter.

MR Hancock for me please

Can't wait for Part Two either

Hans Andersen for me please

From various Wimbledon sources I have 1929 Mike Seiffert (Capt), Cecil Brown, Sid Cambers, Freedy Cooper, Dudley Cox, Les Dearth, Bert Gerrish, Vic Huxley, Jim Kempster, Jack Kidwell, John Leete, Alf Sawford, Alf Summersby, Howard Trayner, Sonny Wilson 1930 Jim Kempster (Capt), Dicky Case, Mart Eiffert, Del Forster, Bert Gerrish, Billy Lamont, Len Parker, Alf Sawford, Ray Tauser 1931 Vic Huxley (Capt), Dicky Case, Dick Etherington, Ernie Evans, Dick Forster, Bert Gerrish, Ivor Hill, Jim Kempster, Billy Lamont, Dicky Maybrook, Len Parker, Claude Rye, Alf Sawford, Charlie Spinks, Len Stewart, Ray Tauser, Arthur Westwood 1932 Vic Huxley (Capt), Dicky Case, Con Cantwell, Bill Dallison, Ivor Hill, Wally Hull, Billy Lamont, Wally Little, Mick Murphy, Len Parker, Claude Rye, Alf Sawford, Ray Tauser 1933 Vic Huxley (Capt), Frank Arthur, Frank Bond, Ted Bravery, Charles Blacklock, Jack Chapman, Keith Harvey, Walter Hull, Dick Hutchings, Tiger Lewis, Syd Jackson, Gus Khan, Billy Lamont, Fred Leavis, Mick Murphy, Wal Phillips, Geoff Pymar, Claude Rye, Alf Sawford, Dick Smythe, Bill Stanley, Ray Tauser, Harry Walther, Arthur Warwick, Rube Wilson, Dick Wise 1934 Vic Huxley (Capt), Ron Howes, Syd Jackson, Gus Khan, Fred Leavis, Sammy Marsland, Wal Phillips, Geoff Pymar, Bill Rogers, Claude Rye, Horace Rye, Alf Sawford, Rube Wilson 1935 Vic Huxley (Capt), Eric Collins, Syd Jackson, Gus Khan, Fred Leavis, ? Lemon, Wal Morton, Wal Phillips, Geoff Pymar, Claude Rye, Alf Sawford, Jack Sharpe 1936 Vic Huxley (Capt), Eric Collins, Syd Edmonds, Syd Jackson, Gus Khan, Fred Leavis, Will Lowther, Wal Phillips, Geoff Pymar, Bill Rogers, Claude Rye 1937 Eric Collins, Eric French, Ron Howes, Wally Key, Gus Khan, Wilbur Lamereaux, Fred Leavis, Wally Little, Wally Lloyd, Bryd McKinney, Wal Morton, Wilf Plant, Geoff Pymar, Bill Rogers, Alfred Rumrich, Claude Rye, Rol Stobart, Ray Vigor, Miny Walin 1938 Eric Collins, Norman Evans, Eric French, Benny Kaufmann, Wally Key, Wilbur Lamoreaux, Fred Leavis, Wally Lloyd, Geoff Pymar, Bert Spencer 1939 Eric Collins, Norman Evans, Eric French, Benny Kaufmann, Wally Key, Wilbur Lamoreaux, Fred Leavis, Wally Lloyd, Ron Mason, Geoff Pymar, Crocky Rawding The info comes from Wimbledon home programmes of 1978 they listed all of their squad members up to that year, and also fro the 'complete history of Wimbledon speedway book' that they could find. Hope this helps.

Greg Hancock for me please

Ian, normally the adverts on Sky are after every four heats for a league match and GPs.