Dream Team : Mike Edwards

I started following speedway at Peterborough in 1972 and King's Lynn regularly in around 1977 when we moved home. I lost touch through the nineties but have recently started to take my kids to the same two tracks again. The memory plays tricks but the seventies and eighties seemed to have so much going for them and some great riders and teams. Seasons at King's Lynn always seemed to start with great expectation and end with disappointment except in our KO cup winning season. While Promoters and Martin Rogers in particular took a lot of stick in fairness they spent money bringing highly rated riders to the track and rarely got the return they expected. Gordon Kennett was one such rider who rarely went well at Saddlebow and never really settled when joining the Stars, home or away! This team if they could be got together under a points limit would match any team any time!

Betts	Gagen

Terry Betts
Although toward the end of his career, still good enough in the late seventies to win heat 1 on a regular basis and give us a good start. Probably allowed to go a season too early when leaving for Reading.

David Gagen
Not a star (no pun intended) his team riding with Bettsy in Heat 1 and ability to win Heat 8 against a rider replacement made him invaluable.

Michael Lee
What can you add to what has already been written? A great rider, a good team rider and such a waste that he didn't win more. Superb from the back when his machnery was up to scratch.

Phil Crump
Good enough average at Kings Lynn to qualify for Rider Replacement when injured doubling up with Crewe in Division 2. A class act and again let down at top level by his machinery but a legend.

Malcolm Simmons
A super rider and spectacular, missed wherever he rode. Left to be Number 1 but always welcome back at Saddlebow and always left you wanting the next race.

Richard Hellsen
The super swede and a nice guy to talk to, always gave his best and at his best very good and capable of beating anyone in the world. very spectacular, often with both feet off the rests coming off bend two!

Ian Turner
The tiddler, all the more loved for being local, a great trier and again at his best around Saddlebow where he could beat anyone. Always struggled with his gating and never really a facor at most away tracks as a result. But in this team for his whole hearted efforts on a speedway bike.

This article was first published on 31st May 2007

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