The Best Rider in the 70's ?

[jimblanchard]

I would go for Ivan Mauger myself. Saw him quite a bit at Wimbledon win the Internationale and world championships at Wembley etc. Even though he dropped points he always seemed to take the trophy at the end of the night.

Should Peter Collins have won more? He was certainly good enough? Ole Olsen perhaps? Phil Crump was there or there abouts but he never seemed to hit it big time. What do you think?

[schumi]

Just a little before my time, though growing up through the 80s the one name that was often mentioned in my household was Peter Collins. Maybe because he was British?

Obviously I'd heard of Ole and Ivan, but not so with Phil Crump until later years. I truly wonder why that was.

[Deleted]

Ivan without a shadow of a doubt . The guy was in a class of his own most of the time . But Peter Collins was the more exciting to watch as he wasn't in Ivan's class at the gate .

[admin]

jimblanchard said:

Should Peter Collins have won more? He was certainly good enough? Ole Olsen perhaps? Phil Crump was there or there abouts but he never seemed to hit it big time. What do you think?

Phil Crump was an exceptional rider, a points piler without compare. But he didn't have what it takes, a little like a modern Australian from the same place. What place? Ask Tony Millard and he'll tell you.

[Deleted]

Not the men from Mildura Sub? Sadly the 70's was a little early for Goldmember.

[admin]

You're on the ball young Goldmember.
Anyway, as everyone knows, Bruce Cribb was the greatest rider of the 1970s. Don't see how anyone could argue with that. One of the best riders never to be crowned champion.

[Doug]

Ivan for me.He was just so consistent in big meetings and especially big heats.He really took the sport on to a new level of profesionalism.But there was something special about PC.You never knew quite what to expect when he came out,apart from it would be bloody exciting.Only saw him once at his Belle Vue home track,where he had all the room in the world to sweep round the outside,but he was pretty good around Plough lane as well.

[Deleted]

jimblanchard said:

What do you think?

got to be one of my first two childhood speedway hero's - Bernie Leigh or Dave Jessup.

[Genghis]

admin said:

Anyway, as everyone knows, Bruce Cribb was the greatest rider of the 1970s. Don't see how anyone could argue with that. One of the best riders never to be crowned champion.

;D ;D

Incidentally, the ahem... "great" Cribb rode for Oxford for a period in 1980 in place of John Hack who departed to Cradley (and Hack sadly suffered a VERY serious accident shortly after).

IMO Cribb was overshadowed by Cheetahs reserve Mick Fletcher, who was, behind Bruce Penhall, the greatest rider of the 1980-1982 period.

All the best
Rob

[Deleted]

Crumpie, got off the plane in the morning and almost won the second half at Earle street that night on borrowed machinery as well
Outstanding rider, but didn't have the killer instinct to be World Champ.

Mauger possibly the luckiest rider ever. He could psych out anyone, probably why he didn't get on with Briggo or Olsen.

Peter Collins very stylish, could have won more, but had no luck at all. The same goes for Chris Morton.

Kenny Carter had the killer instinct , but lacked the luck on the track and with injuries, as well.(It wasn't until I read this back that I saw the freudian slip.)

[Deleted]

genghis said:

admin said:

Anyway, as everyone knows, Bruce Cribb was the greatest rider of the 1970s. Don't see how anyone could argue with that. One of the best riders never to be crowned champion.

;D ;D

Incidentally, the ahem... "great" Cribb rode for Oxford for a period in 1980 in place of John Hack who departed to Cradley (and Hack sadly suffered a VERY serious accident shortly after).

IMO Cribb was overshadowed by Cheetahs reserve Mick Fletcher, who was, behind Bruce Penhall, the greatest rider of the 1980-1982 period.

All the best
Rob

Unfortunate use of the word Departed, can't get more serious than losing your life.

[Deleted]

wacks said:

jimblanchard said:

What do you think?

got to be one of my first two childhood speedway hero's - Bernie Leigh or Dave Jessup.

Wasn't he the one that used to ride an Emu.

[Deleted]

ctylr007 said:

Wasn't he the one that used to ride an Emu.

No that was definently Freddie Lingren in tonights ELRC .

[Deleted]

schumi said:

Just a little before my time, though growing up through the 80s the one name that was often mentioned in my household was Peter Collins. Maybe because he was British?

Obviously I'd heard of Ole and Ivan, but not so with Phil Crump until later years. I truly wonder why that was.

Hmmm, Phil Crump.

Well he probably made one of the biggest impacts ever at the sadly lamented Kingsmead Stadium. In 1973 (from memory) he rode for Crewe and set a new track record of 71.8 as well as scoring an immaculate maximum. The previous record was 74.something, so that puts into context how outstanding he was that night!!

Phil was as tough as old nails and was always there or thereabouts but never really had the "X" factor. He came third in the 1976 World Final (behind PC and Simmo), but his greatest claim to fame would probably be that he was the first rider to use a four valve machine......... something developed by his father-in-law, Neil Street.

Oh yeah, and he's the Ginger Whinger's father of course.

[Deleted]

schumi said:

the one name that was often mentioned in my household was Peter Collins. Maybe because he was British?

It had nothing to do with his nationality schumi........... it was because he was the best!!!!