Post by PLUSTAR on Jun 5, 2010 17:15:44 GMT 1
« on: September 23, 2009, 02:04:35 PM »
Question 1: Where did you first start your speedway
BC: Edinburgh - Meadowbank
Question 2: How many clubs did you race with?
BC: 5: Glasgow twice, Edinburgh twice, Wembley, Poole & Berwick
Question 3: Who was your biggest sponsor?
BC: Smiths Crisps
Question 4: Have you still got that red escort? it was a cracker!
BC: No, I wish I had it today! because it would be worth 10K!
Question 5: Who was the best at team riding that you were paired with?
BC: Me and John Wilson had a great partnership at Coatbridge
Question 6: Do you think us Scots should get back into the World Team Cup? 25 years on
BC: Definitely, Yes
Question 7: Whats your happiest night in your career?
BC: Getting 14 points at Coatbridge riding for Scotland and being the top scorer. Plus being 2nd in National League Riders Championship at Wimbledon.
Question 8: Who was the biggest roller at Coatbridge?
BC: Dave Gifford
Question 9: Would you become a speedway rider now at the cost?
BC: No way
Question 10: Do you still attend speedway meetings?
BC: Not a lot
Here are some more questions from Jim Neil of Glasgow
Question 11: You have ridden for a few big teams in your time. What was it like when Wembley reopened to much publicity in the 70s?
BC: Very prestigious to get the chance to ride for Wembley and to ride in the Wembley Stadium but they only opened a small part of the stadium and there was no great atmosphere. But we had a great bunch of supporters at Wembley. Also Wembly was a good home track because it was quite a difficult track to ride.
Question 12: I seem to recall that the great Ove Fundin rode for Wembley then. What was it like to be rubbing shoulders with a speedway living legend?
BC: I partnered him for a while and learnt a lot, the way he rode, the way he thought and he loved to win (all the time) Also we had Gote Nordin riding at Wembley.
Question 13: I remember that you were sponsored by Smiths Crisps at Coatbridge and had their company name and logo emblazoned on your leathers at that time. Who organised the sponsorship? Were you one of the few riders who had such a sponsorship at that time? It did seem rare.
BC: Bill Harold was a keen Glasgow Tigers supporter and he was the Scottish area manager for Smiths and that was the connection. Smiths also sponsored Jimmy Mac for a while when he rode at Hampden.
Question 14: Do you still attend speedway?
BC: Not very often but still like to keep in touch.
Question 15: There is a thread on Easy, Tiger! at the moment lamenting the fact that there is no Scotland speedway team now. What are your memories of competing for Scotland and what are your thoughts on the present position which sees us in the international wilderness?
BC: I raced at Coatbridge for Scotland against England and scored 14 early in my career, I remember that night beating people like Ray Wilson, Martin Ashby and was a great honour to top score for Scotland. When we competed in the world team cup we actually never came last in that competition but the control board wanted the Yanks in so we got kicked out and unfortunately we never recoved from that situation
I am disappointed that we do not have a training facility for the young riders now to encourage Scottish youngsters to the sport. If you look at the Glasgow and Edinburgh teams there are very few Scottish riders in them.
Question 16: A hard one for you Pogo, but you had a fantastic night at the NLRC at Wimbledon in 1975 where you were ultimately pipped by Laurie Etheridge for the title. If you had that night over again would you have done anything different?
BC: Laurie knocked me off in the run off for first place before the 30 yard marker and the referee did not stop the race so never got a fair chance so came second. Not much I could do against a London referee and a London rider!
A few questions now from ET Forum Members....
Gary Moore:
Question 17: You moved onto Poole after Wembley closed, I don't think there have been many Scots who have ridden for the South Coast Pirates, how was your time with them?
BC: I loved it at Poole, best time of my life riding at Poole, Wembley and Glasgow.
Question 18: Why Pogo?................keep it clean!
BC: I broke my leg in 1966 and to help me get the strength back in my muscles I used a pogo stick and the nickname stuck after that
Nicky:
Question 19: Did you think about returning to Scotland in 1972 to ride for the Tigers at Hampden? and did you ask to go Poole that year?
BC: No and No. Wembley closed in 1972 and the Control Board allocated the riders and I was allocated to Poole becuase when I rode for Wembley I stayed at Poole so was a great move for me.
Thanks to Brian for taking part!