Post by Administrator on Aug 5, 2011 7:19:32 GMT
MALCOLM SIMMONS Exclusive interview
He was one of England’s greatest, finished second in the World Final and won three World Pairs and four World Team Cup winners’ medals, but former England captain and No.1 Malcolm Simmons still reckons he underachieved in speedway. In this in-depth interview Simmo reflects on his early racing days in the Provincial League with Hackney, followed by senior British League spells with West Ham and King’s Lynn – his highs and lows.
Following an illustrious career spanning 27 seasons, few are better qualified to comment on how speedway has changed since he began racing on the shale in 1963, so we also asked the ever-controversial Malcolm for his views on British speedway past and present, which often make grim reading for the modern era!
In a separate feature headlined ‘The Trouble With Speedway’, Simmo says: “When I rode for England there were plenty of riders complaining when they weren’t picked but attitudes have changed and nowadays riding for your country doesn’t mean as much to some people.”
And in a damning indictment of the lack of quality and depth of talent in Britain today, he adds: “You also have to question the attitude of many young British riders. Instead of getting on with the job, some of them are too posey and just want the bit that goes with speedway, without actually putting in the time and effort to become good at it. Most of them are just not good enough.”
Crowned British Champion in 1976, when any number of top riders could have won it, he says: “It’s now an absolute waste of time meeting. You know whose going to win it and the three riders who will contest the final – Harris, Nicholls and an Australian, Tai Woffinden. Well, at the end of every year he talks about ‘going home’ for the winter to recharge his batteries, and home to him is Perth, Western Australia, so in my book he’s an Aussie.
“Scott has won the British title six times but he now only has a couple of others to beat each year. It makes a mockery of our so-called Elite League.”
TONY ROBINSON Exclusive interview
In a Provincial League initially dominated by near-veterans sensing easy pickings, Tony Robinson was a true discovery. The former Belle Vue junior recalls how his big chance seemed to have disappeared until the intervention of another Yorkshireman who made his speedway name in Lancashire, former Belle Vue idol Frank Varey, and how he went on to star status with Sheffield.
CYRIL FRANCIS Q&A
The former Stoke, Wolverhampton and Newport rider recalls the highs and lows of his career, including an off-track accident in Germany that left him with two broken legs, a fractured skull . . . and no insurance.
JACK YOUNG: LEGEND
They called him ‘Laid Back Jack’ but the former Edinburgh sensation and West Ham legend became the first to win back-to-back world titles. In this in-depth profile of the popular Australian, Ivan Mauger pays tribute to the help and advice he received from ‘Youngie’ which kick-started the then young Kiwi’s career.
When West Ham closed at the end of the 1955 season Young returned to Australia for a couple of years, then signed for Coventry. He remained a class act, and during his last season in England, 1961, he was able to work the old magic one last time when he won the Tom Farndon Trophy at New Cross, beating a field of top internationals that included Moore, Briggs, Craven and Bjorn Knutson. There were two more years racing in Australia before retirement in December 1963 after winning the South Australia State Championship.
Young died of emphysema, lung disorder, on August 28, 1987, aged 62. There were stories that he pulled the plug on his own life support machine when he was being treated in his last days. What really happened was that he was in an oxygen tent because even minimal lung function was difficult, and he maintained his sense of humour to the end by asking one of his visitors on the last day for 'a f*g'. He died later that day due to insufficient oxygen to maintain brain function.
Jack Young is still revered by older fans in Edinburgh and he has a street named after him on the housing site that used to be West Ham's Custom House stadium.
Plus . . .
Eternal divide of Roundheads and Cavaliers
In trying to distinguish the difference between the two factions, this is an article in defence of Johnnie Hoskins’ proud claim to have been speedway’s founding father.
Tributes to JIMMY GOOCH, LES BEAUMONT, BINGLEY CREE and DON GODDEN.
SECOND STAR – this time it’s Eastbourne teenage sensation DAVE JESSUP.
How one Halifax rider in the 60s quit speedway, found God and became a missionary.
Your letters, GOTE NORDIN centre spread picture after one of his two Internationale victories at Wimbledon and the 1970 WEMBLEY LIONS in full colour.
www.retro-speedway.com