Post by PLUSTAR on Jun 5, 2010 17:40:47 GMT 1
« on: February 19, 2010, 03:33:03 PM »
QUESTIONS FROM MAGGIE & LEX
Q Where did you ride your first speedway bike?
JB The Gyle Training track in 1968, run by Iain Bettie, a mad keen supporter of Scottish
Speedway. I was only 14 years old and that’s when I caught the Speedway bug.
Q I remember seeing you race at Hampden Park, was that one of your favourite tracks?
JB The Hampden Park track was very big and fast but quite tight. But yes, it was a great
track to race on
Q Best 7 Tigers you raced with?
JB Monk, McMillan, Hunter, B Beaton, Dougie & Wullie Templeton, Lawson, McKinna’s,
Cafferey, Reid and many more – but not more than seven eh??
Q You were awarded your testimonial, did you enjoy your day?
JB It was a great day for me personally, but it did take a great deal of organising. It was
Thanks to many people fundraising that made it possible.
Q Blantyre 1 – Craighead Park, what was your favourite?
JB Both tracks were good, I raced well on them both, beating some good riders at the time.
QUESTIONS FROM GRASSCUTTER
Q How did the nickname Bimbo come about?
JB Ian Hoskins had a brainwave about a gimmick. I didn’t like it, so he dropped it at my request.
Q Least favourite track visited?
JB Arena Essex, it didn’t feel like Speedway due to the fact there were no safety fences in
the early seasons.
Q How many clubs did you race with?
JB Glasgow (1st Division), Berwick (2nd Division), Glasgow (2nd Division).
Q Which Tiger Rider did you enjoy racing with?
JB Steve Lawson was always great to be on track with, he was always out in front, which
was one less to get past.
Q You drove the coaches on tours, what was your best Tigers song?
JB Driving to Away matches was very hard work, usually because I did all the driving
myself. This combined with racing was very tiring. We eventually managed to get
Caffrey through his test and that was a great help. As for my best Tigers song, I didn’t
Really have one.
Q Best Team Manager raced under?
JB Davey Thomson was good, he was always fair and treated everyone the same.
Q Any moments from your Tiger’s career that stick in your mind?
JB There have been a few, but I always had a great time and managed to come out on top.
Q How did you manage to control your bike with your clutch and throttle on left hand?
JB With great difficulty, but eventually I got the hang of it. Although I suspect the other
riders on the track were more worried about it than I was.
Q Do you still attend Speedway meeting or do the tours?
JB I go to the meetings with my son Scott, we enjoy Ashfield on good days. I also am
involved with driving the supporters coach to the Away meetings.
Q Did you enjoy beating the Monarchs
JB During my time we did manage to beat the ‘Auld Enemy’ both Home and Away. It was
always great afterwards up in the bar at Powderhall.