CRADLEY'S Arthur Price and Wolves George Hunter get Tangled up in Speedway

Description Typical Cradley versus Wolves Speedway race on a rather bumpy Wolverhampton track, as the slow/mo shows.

[@pauldunne861]

King Arthur - one of my personal favourites from yesteryear at Dudley Wood during the halcyon days of the 70's... Always remember proudly wearing my rosette (remember them) with his photo set circular in the middle of the Cradley colours of a Saturday night when I was a young lad! Crikey they were happy days, the likes of which I don't think we'll ever see again! Ommer 'Um Cradley!

[@arthurprice1512]

Thanks Paul, nice comment bringing back happy memories, that at the time you don't realize how important they are.

[@christopherharris9645]

That was Cradley in those days. Speedway is more professional now, but I feel the magic and characters have gone. I used to watch the brummies from 1974 to today. Big Arthur was a real character.

[@arthurprice1512]

Christopher, you missed my maximum and second half final win when Boston won there in 1971, it was a great place to be on a Monday night I often went there, still you've made up for it since.

[@radec1744]

It is rather sad that speedway isn't as popular now, I am from what I've seen the only teenager in north London that actively follows, watches and loves speedway, even my dad stopped watching when many teams began to close.

[@arthurprice1512]

London was once a hotbed of Speedway, how times change.

[@hasyourgulaggotplanningper2459]

Dave Perks and Arthur Price! Takes me back. When I was a kid I was a big Cradley fan. I am pretty sure I was at that meeting too. I started going when Sandor Levi rode there! My Dad before me and my Grandad before him. I could've sworn this was Wolverhampton though. Those three bumps on the back straight look very familiar.

[@arthurprice1512]

Cradley support was a family thing, Sandor was a great character and top rider, it was Wolverhampton.

[@Paul-bx3ey]

@@arthurprice1512 I’m confused. The two Cradley riders were wearing the red & blue helmet covers which indicates home riders and yet you say it’s at Wolverhampton, where the home riders seem to be wearing the away team helmet covers. An interesting one.😊 Paul

[@DavidLee-no9uc]

"Liked and Suscribed!".. Great Racing!.. and Greetings from Reno, Nevada U S A

[@arthurprice1512]

Thanks Dave, glad you like it, Arthur

[@robertseldon3168]

There is a lot of chat on Steve Dixon’s post about which track it is. It is Monmore Green, the helmet colours are ‘wrong’ because it was a triangular tournament between Birmingham, Cradley and Birmingham - hence Heat 18 in a team match - checked it out in my Daily Mirror Yearbook

[@arthurprice1512]

Hi Robert sorry I'm a bit late but yes you've got it all right, thanks for you and all the others on Steve Dixons post for showing a interest.

[@robertseldon3168]

Never expected a reply ! Hope you coping OK in lockdown. My best memory from your career at Cradley was you finishing ahead of Ole at Dudley Wood in a British riders or Midland riders qualifier. in 75. Think you and Dave Jessup shut him out. Arthur Price beats Ole Olsen - not many did that year

[@arthurprice1512]

Great that you remember that, what a race I got by Dave Jessup on every bend but being a gentleman type of rider (unlike George Hunter) I left him room on the Straights and he kept passing me back we must have gone over the finish line together it was the last race of the night what a finale I spent quite a while in the pits after but I was amazed to find I was mobbed by a Crowd of Cradley fans when I walked back to those old dressing rooms how they hated Ole, I do now after seeing all those animals he's shot, I wish I had that race on film me and Dave must passed each other about 20 times, I beat him the year before at Monmore Green riding with Howard Cole a really nice bloke but I was always too shy to say much to anybody in those days, that was a Midland cup match, I remember Ole came blaring under me on the last bend in a dignified way (unlike George) but I cut back and got him on the line, like you say not many people beat him in those days I counted up how many times he was beaten in 74 and it was about 12 his match average was very close to 12, he must have had a bike a lot better than everybody else, not as I was into that sort of thing I was daft enough to think it was the rider not the bike ( that's why my career went down the pan) because when the four valvers came in it was not such a great thing to have beaten Ole Olsen which I did twice at the right time, there's lots of other great memories of my time at Cradley riding there really the highlight of my career, I must mention when I won the 75 world Championship Qualifying round after run-off, with........George Hunter passed him at the start of the last lap, you deserved reply's for letting me know that I'm not the only one, oh and my sister, who remembered me beating Ole at a great time, Thanks Arthur

[@stephannickson3164]

nice to read this, fondly remembered at kings lynn and boston

[@harryhirsch8527]

love the sound of the machines...man...today sspeeday machines sound like toys...true..the track is awful bumpy

[@arthurprice1512]

Harry, don't forget R40 smell chrome bikes black leathers lights music crowds atmosphere great days eh! Arthur

[@keithdch658]

Right Decision by the Ref. George Hunter Swung his Back Wheel into Arthur. Nice to See John Jackson Riding For Wolves. I Still See Jacko These Days. I Will show Him This footage Arthur

[@arthurprice1512]

Keith, John Jackson was a great rider and like me probably has loads of happy memories I remember his father always seemed to be his spanner man (I think), although I can't remember talking to him, I was very shy in those days hope he's keeping well.

[@reyn1962]

Arthur you were riding for England against Russia the first time I went to Cradley I think 74 .I used to love to watch you Arthur . proper speedway .I remember the bloke on the Mike tried to nickname you king Arthur but you weren't keen

[@arthurprice1512]

I was unbeaten in that Match, mind you I think I only had one ride from reserve we slaughtered them but it was a big occasion the RUSSIANS at Cradley! I was proud to be King Arthur at Boston in the days when they had good supporters not now, but at Cradley I never got close to being King! with Michanek Persson Boulger Cribby etc etc etc, but it was the best track I ever rode on except for Hull.

[@Fastade80]

Bad bumps going in to the bend, must have been a pig to handle the bikes back then, upright engines, high handlebars, and less power than today,a lot harder to ride in them days..... great for spectators

[@arthurprice1512]

Ade the best time for high Speedway handlebars was from 1946 to about 1972 when the renthalls came in either Ole Olsens or Ivan Maugers god there were some weird shapes before then all individually made I always thought it would have been a good idea to for someone to have kept a collection of them, thinking about it now I suppose your right you can do a lot more things on the bikes these days if you tried to pull the front wheel up on the 2 valver you went right over the back it was more skilful then, now its more of a contact sport that was probably because of the high handlebars get too close and you got tangled up, thanks for your interest. Arthur

[@peterhodes6708]

I remember Johnny Edwards of Cradley having crazy wide ,bars in the 60,s .Split Waterman ,i recall, was asked why his ,bars were twice as wide as a normal rider,s ...."I,m no normal rider !" he replied !

[@ronsteadman4988]

John Jackson one of CREWE KINGS longest serving riders of 5 years.👍👍👍👍👍

[@arthurprice1512]

Jacko! a great rider, I have many happy memories of CREWE SPEEDWAY.

[@angliscsaxon1288]

Refs decision is spot on Arthur had right of way as he was in front

[@arthurprice1512]

AngliscSaxon thanks for a perfect comment, Arthur,

[@milles02]

Didn't realize league speedway was televised in 1976 - do you have any more of this meeting?

[@arthurprice1512]

I thought I'd sent you a reply.

[@michaelcampin1464]

If I remember a lot was shown on Anglia. I lived in Essex and could get Anglia on a good day.

[@markparsons5549]

Wow that track was rough!

[@steavyd]

A bumpy Cradley track!!

[@michaelrudge3927]

Yes the track was terrible

[@arthurprice1512]

When I went to Cradley in 74 I soon came to the conclusion it was the best Speedway RACING track in the country, with that old black shale stuff they used then, but uncle Dan McCormick (probably out of fear) started using red shale about 76 because the supporters preferred the colour red, but the track was never quite as good again.

[@michaelrudge3927]

Did it make that much difference......who else did you ride for other than Cradley Arthur.....Check out Todays Express and Star......Ariel Photo of Cradley overlooking the Track . How ironic is that......Are you still local

[@michaelrudge3927]

You must be impressed with todays speedway standards in the grandprixs. I know track design has changed and equipment too. But its worlds apart ....So many lines and of course the speed also.....some times its seems majestic to watch

[@1061andy]

Steve Dixon it's Monmore green not Cradley!

[@milles02]

Do you have the rest of this meeting? Great post

[@arthurprice1512]

Milles thanks for your interest I was given it by a great bloke on the understanding I was not to pass it on to anybody else and besides that it was the only good race I had and George Hunter spoilt it, mind you I'm beginning to wonder if he did, if I 'd have won the race without trouble would I have got the 21k + views its got, would have been nice for me though that's is all I've got of my career, why are you so interested are you a Wolves or Cradley Fan? all the best Arthur

[@milles02]

Arthur Price No sorry, Birmingham & Coventry are my teams i’m afraid. I was particularly interested as i’d never seen any footage from this meeting before. I wasn’t aware league speedway was on TV in 1976, thought it was only the world championships & big individual meetings.

[@grahamjordan1040]

Got to agree with other comments it’s lost something along the way I used to watch kings Lynn stars I was there when it started after it moved from Norwich seen some of the greats there.

[@arthurprice1512]

You've probably seen some greats at Kings Lynn as well but those at Norwich to me would be magical greats!

[@brucedickinson2207]

What a terribly bumpy Monmore! Hunter was a bit hard done to there. Price slowed badly on the last lap both on the 1st-2nd bend and again on the 3rd-4th bend. Hunter does well to avoid him on the 2nd bend, but then Price slows again and two-wheels into the 3rd bend. I wasn't even sure if his bike had gone at first. Hunter is coming through and Price slows up. Harsh decision.

[@arthurprice1512]

Bruce did you notice Hunter nearly stuck Dave Perks through the fence on the first bend second lap, I didn't slow last lap 1st-2nd bends George was riding like a screwball and may have pulled a bit back on me, when he went into the last bend he was going far too fast for the line he was on look closely and you will see he shoves his back end out in a classic example of dirty riding you will ever see using it as a weapon and he hit me and if I'd have become the second death on that bend I doubt if it would have been of much concern to George when he rode into that bend out of control, some riders are like that, but there were good referee's in those days. Have you ever read about how Englands greatest rider, Peter Craven, got Killed.

[@dazronch5450]

Modern day speedway has lost something the riders of the just seemed to have something about them we have a lot of very good riders these days but it’s not the same….

[@arthurprice1512]

To me its still the most exciting sport, but thanks to certain riders revelations in the past the media seem to ignore it and put it into the same category as wrestling.

[@jacksonirving4594]

Last bend bunching all four back?

[@arthurprice1512]

Jackson you've got the making of a referee. we'd get a lot more races with that idea.

[@jacksonirving4594]

@@arthurprice1512 the paying public would appreciate it.

[@michaelcampin1464]

I really miss the old hard riders. And greatly miss my cousin Vic Harding who was killed at Hackney in 1979. 43 years has passed very quickly but I'm glad to say the sport is a lot safer than when Romford Bombers had a solid concrete safety (?) fence and Hull was topped with Plywood

[@arthurprice1512]

Tragic what happened Vic, and as we have recently lost Steve Mildoon I fully sympathize with how Vics family must have suffered, I have fond memories of Romford and managing to beat Phil Woodcock, Hull was one of my favorite tracks never noticed the plywood.

[@michaelcampin1464]

@@arthurprice1512 all i recall about Hull was Tom Owen (was it Joe) having a second half incident on turn 2 and getting dragged along the fence by this bike. Thats why i seem to remember it being plywood. Probably to stop the shale flying all over the place

[@michaelcampin1464]

@@arthurprice1512 i dont think we ever had the pleasure of crossing swords but i must admit that Vics funeral was harrowing with all the riders turning up. It was my misfortune to have to identify the body. You may not know that the family called him Victor as his dad was called Vic. My father was also Vic so it got a tad confusing at times. Vic Harding (snr) worked as a designer at Fords and died due to calcification caused by the shock of his sons traumatic death

[@andrewsmith1188]

Sorry to hear about Steve Mildoon… had some second halves at Monmore with him many many moons ago.

[@stevenhighams4190]

@@michaelcampin1464 The Boulevard had high terracing all around, like an arena, and many fans liked to watch from the bends, particularly on the first bend, near the clubhouse over the pits entrance, so shale was a bit of a problem. Only the straights had covering, but the terracing was the same height all around the stadium as I remember it. I never knew in those days that many tracks had only grass banks for terracing on the bends, and often along the back straight too, with only covered terracing on the home straight. The only away BL venues I saw live speedway, Halifax and Kings Lynn, were pretty similar in terms of terracing/covering, only not as high. I think Lynn was only used for speedway in those days; Halifax and Hull were football/rugby stadiums. The incident you refer to was probably the night Joe almost lost his life in a meeting against Hackney in the summer of '78. That was the only meeting I missed in my time, from 1975 onward and I'm glad I never saw that, I really am. Joe was a spectacular rider, but your heart was often in your mouth watching him. Kelly Moran was pretty similar, certainly then. Both were seriously injured that year and I think that cost us the league in '78, though I can't imagine any Coventry fans agreeing with that!

[@stephannickson3164]

watched again and again, Arthur couldn't get bike sliding just before the contact whereas George was sliding, completely unavoidable

[@arthurprice1512]

Stephen Like you I have watched the race again and again but, I could see what a dirty rider George Hunter was and he was riding like a maniac with no consideration for what could happen by his stupid actions he knew he could not get through that gap without banging into me you can see how pushes his backend out to protect himself and the referee was quite right to exclude him in fact he should have been excluded twice for nearly sticking Dave Perks in the fence going on to the second lap, it is plain to see for anyone who's got good speedway knowledge George was going too fast into the last two bends and there is no way he could enter that bend without hitting me which was not allowed in those days now anything goes, supporters think that's great but stupid actions can have disastrous results and nobody should have known that better than George I could put something else in but I am not certain of the facts at the moment, its a bit of an insult to say I couldn't get the bike into a slide on the last lap when I'd had no problem on the previous 3 laps, thanks for your todays comment but I've only got the one fan in Kings Lynn and don't mention Boston the way some of the people there have treated me is disgusting happy memories long gone I have 'come to regret ever riding for them.Anyway is your opinion still the same? Arthur

[@stephannickson3164]

wow, I didn't realise things were that sour, but I do remember at the end of season 73 or 4 when Cyril asked if you were coming back to saddlebow your reply was not if I can get away , im going to watch the video a couple more times, but you were a fave of mine

[@arthurprice1512]

Stephan, lots of bad people there, but now with you and my other fan in Kings Lynn I'm becoming very popular that area I'm only glad you was not the referee at Wolverhampton, let me know your decision, like I say he is going into the bends far too reckless actually it was coming across your comment that got me doing all the recent replies. Arthur

[@stephannickson3164]

the slow mo replay really shows up the bumps, looks like the grand national, hadn't noticed the dave perks incident, so it did appear that hunter didn't have much respect for other riders, how nice in these troubled times thou im able to chat with one of my speedway heroes

[@robertseldon3168]

stephan nickson perhaps we should be throwing in a Happy Birthday to Arthur. Some records suggest today may be the day ? Happy Birthday fella

[@nervo6321]

Excluded my arse its a bloody race isnt it Arthur was going too slow into the bend otherwise he had ridden a good race....

[@arthurprice1512]

Nervo63, Would you have had the same opinion if you had been in my position and be honest, and anyway he should have been excluded for stuffing Dave Perks into the fence on the second lap and I can tell you he was a lot more upset with George than I was. Arthur

[@nervo6321]

@@arthurprice1512 Fair comment Arthur....the track looks as bumpy as hell...

[@harryhirsch8527]

How can you even say ''the ref excluded the winner''?

[@arthurprice1512]

Thats what I thought

[@archieevans4822]

The winner is the first over the line watch the slow motion again Arthur hadn’t started to turn when George moved under him if there a space and you want to win you go for it this is what today’s sport lacks the desire to win apart from good old Nicki Pedersen he would have been so at home racing then

[@arthurprice1512]

Archie Nicki's desire to win doesn't seem to be doing him a lot of good these days, Bartosz is the man now and he does it with skill, not crackpot riding, but I will agree Nicki's record is one of the All Time Greats, but who's reputation would you want

[@heritagewindowsnorfolk]

George had a better run down the straight on his back wheel, while you look as if you're struggling with the bumpy track conditions. You seem to have hesitated and George went in hard and looked to have had a good line. He should have pulled the brake lever!

[@arthurprice1512]

Gav, have you tried Specsavers, oops forgot the " the lockdown" Boris just doesn't realise the way people are suffering. Arthur

[@nealspilsbury5786]

Gav don't you know there are no brakes on speedway bikes

[@heritagewindowsnorfolk]

@@nealspilsbury5786 yes mate, I hit the fence 3 times, one of those times I was taken to hospital and they had to cut off my trousers and my new Daytona boots. I was 13

[@nealspilsbury5786]

Bloody hell Gav that was not good at all did u ride again

[@danahogue1115]

if you are the inside gut you own the outside so he should not b disqualified

[@arthurprice1512]

Thanks for your interest,

[@LordHeath1972]

Yeah I wonder if the referee would have excluded the rider if he was on the HOME team? Seemed a bit convenient and biased to me.

[@arthurprice1512]

He was a HOME team rider.

[@robertseldon3168]

LordHeath it was an odd format of a meeting but George was at home. Arthur’s whist your here who did you like to be paired with best at Dudley Wood ?

[@arthurprice1512]

Didn't much matter, you was always on your own, I liked riding at No2 because you got heat 8, from a status thing Anders Michanek who had the cheek to tell someone I rode with my throttle instead of my brains cause I bumped into him one night at Swindon, which was a definite case of pot calling the kettle black, but anything from him I classed as a compliment, I always remember him going out of his way to congratulate me on winning the 1973 Division 2 Individual Championship one night at Kings Lynn.

[@robertseldon3168]

Arthur Price Thx for those memories- for a while that season with Anders and Bernie we seemed almost unbeatable with them both in the team

[@robertseldon3168]

Checked back and he got 20 points from 7 rides that night - he must have been tired and grumpy

[@andyhowe6140]

Definitely bad sportsmanship