The 1960's - Part Six
Dave Gifford
"Giffy"
One of the webmasters favourite riders
Dave Gifford was without doubt, one of Newcastle's greatest assets. Giffy hailed from New Zealand and he settled well on Tyneside, developing a love for Newcastle Brown Ale (allegedly!) Mr G was an instant hit with the fans, we all had his autograph even before he had won anything! He eventually did the business and got points for the team when they mattered. He was a wild man but never dirty as a rider. Giffy was involved in lots of exciting races and he gets my vote as the 1960's Mr entertainer.
Er! whoever put the text on the above picture is not the world's greatest speller it should read Belle Vue!
Dave is active still in NZ., not riding though, he exhibits bikes, memorabilia and trophies, mainly Ivan Mauger's around his native NZ.
The above and many of the following pictures are from Giffy's own collection, thank you for sharing them with us Dave.
Hmmmm? I think we know why you're covered in dirt Giffy and Ivan is spotless! But then again you maybe entertained us more than the great man did?
Giffy with a goatee, handsome Dave posing like a film star for this picture. What follows below the picture is the guy's tribute to all on Tyneside. Dave is an adopted Geordie and it is clear he enjoyed being here.
So there has been 80 years of Speedway at Newcastle, I find that a rather humbling thought. Think of all those great riders of the past who must have raced there in front of the greatest bunch of speedway supporters in the world and all the history they created, it really is a remarkable achievement.
They say you never forget your first girlfriend but I have and a few more besides, but I've never forgotten the first British Team I rode for, that is something you remember for ever if the team happens to be the Newcastle Diamonds.
I've always considered myself most fortunate to have spent five magical seasons at Newcastle and although I cant be with you in person my thoughts are most certainly with all the wonderful people on Tyneside who were responsible for memories that don't fade, even with the passing of time.
I hope the Celebrations are a huge success and may the Brown Ale flow like the Tyne itself, HAWAY THE LADS!!!
Peace, Giffy.
Big thank you to Dave Gifford for the words, pictures and memories. Call in Giffy if you ever pay the UK a visit I will buy the Broon Ale!
Giffy 1966
Courtesy of Dave Gifford
Dave obviously won all his races that night to finish in such a clean state!
Gornik
Courtesy of Dave Gifford
Polish tourists Gornik with Brian Brett centre next to Giffy. We think the guy with the flowers is Antonin Wyglenda
Courtesy of Dave Gifford
Another pic of Gornick's visit to Brough Park. 1965 or 1966? and It might be Pogorzelski on the left, not sure. Not sure how to spell it either!
This photo was in the November 1969 Speedway Post. Do you think it was taken at Brough? If it was then it would be the England V New Zealand match on August 18th 1969. Giffy did OK scoring 14 points from 6 rides. He rode Number 4 and Ronnie Moore rode Number 3, so I guess that’s Ronnie on the outside. The final score England 47 New Zealand 61
Now Giffy has been in touch, and this site has benefited from his input, there must be other riders etc who could help us with our history so come on and follow Dave's lead send an e-mail to Newcastle Speedway History
Courtesy of Dave Gifford
Ivan Mauger chatting to mean and moody Dave Gifford at Old Meadowbank
Here is Dave Gifford's account of Ole and Ivan driving back to Geordie-land from an an open meeting at Wimbledon, a big open meeting he says, maybe it was the Internationale or the Laurels.
SPROUTS AND THE DANE
by Giffy
This happened sometime around 1968 when Ivan, Ole and I were riding for the Newcastle Diamonds.
Both Ivan and Ole were invited to ride in one of Wimbledon’s big open meetings, the Internationale or maybe the Laurels and to cut the costs they shared a car and took Ivan’s trailer.
For reasons that are still not quite clear Giffy was not invited to ride but the story is still pretty good even without me in it. (Dantodan: We know you should have been invited too matey, an oversight and a massive blunder by Wimbledon).
The meeting ran its course, I don’t know who won or any of the details but I do know that after the meeting as they were about to begin the long journey back to the North, Ivan pulled into a Service Station for petrol.
A sweet young lady came out to serve them. Ole was sitting in the passenger seat looking pretty miserable, so Ivan said to the girl "Do you think you could give my mate a quick wink as you go by, he's had a really crap night and it might cheer him up a bit?"
Well the dear wee thing got all flustered, she turned red and spilt the petrol before she was able to stammer out “This is a service station and what sort of a girl do you think I am anyway? I’ve a good mind to call the manager"
Well, poor old Sprouts! he didn't know what to make of all this, he didn't think the suggestion warranted that sort of response and it wasn't till he'd gone several miles up the road that it suddenly dawned on him what had happened.
Whether it was the Kiwi accent or the London lasses ear that was to blame, who knows, but for what ever reason the word "wink" had been misunderstood completely and the poor dear had thought that the request had been for something quite different!!
Which just goes to prove that when you’re a Dane in England and having a bad night it will always get worse before it gets any better?
Cheers the noo!
giffy
Giffy and Ole Olsen
Courtesy of Dave Gifford
Murray Burt with Giffy
Courtesy of Dave Gifford
Mike Watkin, Goog Allen, Alf Wells, Ole Olsen, Dave Gifford, Alan Butterfield with Ivan Mauger on his Bike
Ole Olsen got the track record down to 70.8 seconds on 29th July. I was a regular at Brough from 1961 to 1970 and I feel 1969 was one of the low points in Newcastle Speedway History. No replacement for Ivan Mauger. Guest riders or rider replacement all season what a farce. A sad end to the 60’s and the Mike Parker era.
1969 wasn't a good year for the fans. It is summed up pretty well by the Evening Chronicle's Sam Brookes as follows
Newcastle at Newport Norman Strachan leads Alan Butterfield Dave Gifford and Jon
Erskine