All Time Exeter Falcons Dream Team

[idh]

Exeter Falcons Dream Team

Now’s the time to get into the swing of things.

A little something to get us all involved, how about we pick our ALL TIME EXETER FALCONS DREAM TEAM (top 7 riders). Riders can be from any era.

Feel free to pick your all time greats and list them 1-7; if you like give your reasons.

From all the published teams I will collate the voting and we can then surely publish the Exeter Falcons Forum ALL TIME DREAM TEAM.

ALL TIME EXETER FALCONS DREAM TEAM

[Peregrinner]

I am happy to start:

I moved to EXETER in 2003 so I do not have that many riders to choose from.

I was lucky enough to support Ivan Mauger when I was at university in HULL so I can safely include him as he always won the races that I watched. My favourite rider back then, however, was one Kelly Moran who more often than not picked up drive and took opposition riders out. Great entertainment for an irresponsible young man.

So to my team:

You have to base it on an era and the rules of that time so I choose 2004: Top two at numbers 1 and 5. Reserves at 6 and 7.

1 MARK LEMON

I went to Newport at the start of the season with the phrase "The Falcons never win away" ringing in my ears. This man, in a green helmet, led the way by winning the first heat and we went on to win the Premier Trophy match. That WAS the start of something.

7 NICK SIMMONS

The most entertaining rider of recent seasons. Who can forget his antics with the Reading mascot after we had won the trophy in 2004? Who can forget his crash which lasted the length of the back straight, half the straight on the bike and half the straight off the bike? Who can forget that after a string of reserves all scoring zero points he came in and earned us points (any points) with his brave riding around the outside of the County Ground.

5 IVAN MAUGER

My experience of watching him was restricted to HULL but you cannot leave out someone who won almost every race he competed in.

3 MICHAEL COLES

He was the reason I became an Exeter Falcons fan. When I arrived we tried the football and it was not value for money. We tried the rugby and at times the ball was lost in the scrum so we had trouble following the action. We tried the speedway and there was a hero then riding at number 5 who won the match for the Falcons. It was great entertainment and I have been a fan ever since.

2 LEE SMETHILLS

Never quite a heat leader he was always there or there abouts as a second string and seemed to fit very well into the number two slot. My greatest memory of him is not something that won us a point but it was when he showed how quickly he could put a bike down as an opposing rider fell directly in front of him. Number two is a difficult position but he handled it well.

THE LAST TWO POSITIONS ARE UP FOR DEBATE

6 PAVEL ONDRASIK

When the Czech rider dropped from the body of the team to the reserve slot he performed very well picking up points on a regular basis but a big memory of him is when he came off the high side of his bike on turn two of the County Ground. He came back to the pits smiling and ready to race again straight away.

4 ROGER LOBB

He was inspirational during the Premier Trophy win of 2004. We as a family, however, will never forget him as he became part of a private joke during a poor spell in his career. He had been scoring poorly for about six weeks when we rode away at Poole. On the way home we were passed by several motorcycles as we left Poole and we joked that it was the Falcons on their way home. As we got to Honiton a lone motorcycle passed us. We looked at each other and together said "LOBBY!"

Some memories last forever.

So my choice is -

1 MARK LEMON
2 LEE SMETHILLS
3 MICHAEL COLES
4 ROGER LOBB
5 IVAN MAUGER
6 PAVEL ONDRASIK
7 NICK SIMMONS

[vintagebikes]

First went in 1961 aged just 10, and lived close enough to the County Ground to listen to it over the tannoys if the wind was in the right direction
Impossible to pick just one select team, you could put forward 5 or 6 teams, but as its one ....

1. Has to be Ivan Mauger - not just for his magic on the track but his inspiration to other riders.
2. Len Silver - and Captain of my select. Like Ivan a great inspiring rider and always gave 100%.
3. Bob Kilby - Simply a joy to watch.
4. Scott Autrey - the greatest rider never to be a World Champion.
5. Jimmy Squibb - Mr Speedway, the sports greatest ambassador during the 60's.
6. Michael Coles. - for his Loyalty and dedication amongst other things.
7. Chris Blewett - as someone once said - "it was worth the admission just to see his cavalier antics"
So my line up is.

1. Ivan Mauger
2. Len Silver
3. Bob Kilby
4. Scott Autrey
5. Jimmy Squibb
6. Michael Coles
7. Chris Blewett

[slipslider]

Must have a go at this then - my first memories of Exeter Speedway were sat atop my dad's shoulders - I was about two - I was told - the riders of that era were the Rogers brothers Goog Hoskin etc.
But my most vivid memories came when Exeter entered the old Provincial League - and the rider who always inspired me to come was Cliff Cox (sadly now recently passed away) - there was no-one more stylish and reckless - at the same time - worse gater than Chris Harris, but my hero then. So must put him in, but for sheer points harvesting - you have to say
1, Ivan Mauger (the greatest of all & Captain)
2. Mark Loram (entertainment and speed)
3. Scott Autrey (such a stylist and so consistent)
4. Martin Ashby (great team rider)
5. Len Silver(never seemed to miss the traps)
and at 6 & 7 a couple of entertainers who could also score some points
6.Cliff Cox
7. Goog Hoskin

[paulboy]

I started going to the County Ground in 1973, aged 5 so my selection starts from then:

1 Ivan Mauger (captain) - nothing more to be said
2 Simon Wigg - only a Falcon for a season but a world class talent and great showman
3 Vaclav Verner - as long as we're racing at the County Ground!
4 Mark Loram - was gutted when we dropped down to the PL and Mark had to leave
5 Scott Autrey - best rider in the world in 1979 but out of the world championship before the year even started
6 Richard Green - a true entertainer
7 John Titman - stylish Aussie whose career prospered after he moved on to Leicester

So many more could be included such as Steve Regeling, Mike Farrell, Peter Prinsloo, Mike Coles, Mark Lemon, Robert Maxfield, Bob Kilby, Kevin Holden, Reidar Eide, Zdenek Kudrna, John Barker, Toni Svab, Paul Fry, Tony Olsson and thats just off the top of my head from my era!

[ghost]

For pure entertainment
captain Richard Green
Lol Hare
lobby in that one year when he was on fire
a throw back to the old days chris fence scrapper blewitt
Vaclav Verner
Frank Smart
Chris Julian
now that team would fill haldon every week

Hi to Richard and lol if you look in on here

[ghost]

or how about
Ian Barney
Roger Osbourne
Andy bossner
hank Bangmar
greg daniels
carl stonehewer
jamie hablin
any one like to better that team

[MAINROADKID]

LIKE TO THROW MY HAT IN THE RING ON THIS ONE:
1:MAUGER
2:STEPHENS
3:HARE
4:LORAM
5:GREEN
6:SIMMONDS
7:COLES(M)

RES:ANY FROM - WIGG FRY SMART SVAB VERNER LOBB

[tonyl]

I have been avoiding doing this one as frankly there have been so many great riders over the years it is impossible to whittle it down to seven.

1. Cyril Roger
2. Goog Hoskin
3. Jack Geran
4. Len Silver
5. Martin Ashby
6. Ivan Mauger
7. Scott Autrey
8. Mark Loram

Wildcards Keith Millard, Mike Coles and Simon Wigg. Oh yes and Bomber

Plus Neil Street, Bert Roger, Jimmy Squibb, Bob Kilby, Paul Fry, Simmo. How many is that? Right then there's the most exciting:

1. Richard Green
2. Vaclav Verner
3. Jack Hart
4. Martin Hewlett
5. Lawrence Hare
6. Broncho Slade
7. Chris Blewett
8. Colin Cook

Plus Chris Julian, Frank Smart, Nick Simmons, Roger Lobb, Alun Rossiter, John Barker, Buddy Robinson, Scott Smith and so many more, not forgetting Alan Pike. Totally impossible to limit it to seven.

[idh]

Gone quiet on here

Mary/ Anne/ Headmistress/ Headmaster/ Squibby/ Paul W how about your teams.

Memories blank or stunned that we are back in business ;D ;D