I went as a 10 yr old cradley fan with my dad ... i will never forgot the experience ..the noise .. the brilliant races ... the atmosphere .. awesome ....
I was there too, Dad took me and my brother. Lots of Tommy Knudsen fans on the Tube making, plenty of friendly banter, it was a great day out. Penhall was just the best even when Cradley gave us a hiding at Poole. Was gutted when he retired. One of the greatest nights in speedway this '81 final 👍
A Cradley rider wins a World Final! I was so excited and wanted to soak up every last minute of celebrations I missed my train back to the midlands and eventually arrived home just as dawn was breaking.
I think Bruce's bike was a lot faster than Ollys but he used his track craft till the last bend there knowing that all along and made a mistake there thinking Bruce was inside of him. Olly did a fantastic job throughout that race but youth and a faster bike won in the end. Olly should have won that race on skill alone. That was a fantastic race at that level. I was there and still remember it all. Stevie in Fife.
Hope DJ sacked his mechanic. 2 e/fs in the 78 world final and then this one - smacks of poor preparation on the big nights. Shame, talented tidy rider - looked good in the 80 world final in Gothenburg and came close. Bruce was supreme on this night though and thoroughly deserved it.
