1980s part two

David like Ivan Mauger came to us from New Zealand, like Ivan pronouncing his name took a while before his riding ability made it a household word (amongst Tyneside speedway fans anyway) . David's team riding was brilliant he would shepherd his partner around to score maximum points whenever possible. Long time partner was English rider Derek Richardson and we all expected them to be first and second every time with David sitting behind and Derek sweeping around the outside. Great to watch.

Barghy rode for Newcastle 78,79,80,81,84,90,91,92 which means he spanned 3 decades, sorry if that makes you feel old David.

This is an email message from Barghy to Andrew Ward: Hi Andrew,David would like to say a big thank you to Newcastle speedway fans for all the fun over the years and good times it has been good to look back
on, would love to do it again all of which could not happen without the fans and promoters. I would like to acknowledge all the help I had from a lot of good people. Have been earthmoving contracting for the pass 19 years building river stopbanks, roading and tower sites for New Zealand windfarms, also doing subdivision work for new housing in Palmerston North and irrigation dams plus other farm work building cow races. Would love to come over at some stage say hi to Rob Gittus for me please let Eddie, Tom, Chris know all is well may be meet up one day Regards David and Vickie Bargh PS Rods a prick LOL.

The unmistakable and "Steady" style of the second great Kiwi to ride for Newcastle

Update D A Farrar has been in touch, he says: Further to your request for information on the David Bargh race jacket, it appears to be the symbol for Pi and would therefore have been for an individual meeting at Berrington Lough sponsored by the infamous Terry Lindon whose computer company was called Pi and used the symbol. It was probably taken in 1990.

Barghy wearing the Federation Specials race jacket in 1986. The team lost it's Diamonds nickname due to the sponsorship deal with the Federation Brewery but the tie up only lasted one season and in 1987 The Diamonds nickname was back much to the relief of the supporters. This was the second time during the long history of the Diamonds that the nickname was changed. The other occasion was way back in 1949 when they were known as The Newcastle Magpies.

Update: D A Farrar says: Bargh is wearing the 1987 Newcastle race jacket when the Diamonds were the "Federation Special Diamonds", which was a compromise with the sponsor. In 1986 it was the "Federation Specials", but in 1987 "Diamonds" was added.

In my opinion one of the best action shots on the whole website. David Bargh, one of the all time most popular Newcastle riders. I hope that one day Barghy will email from NZ with some of his memories of his time with the Diamonds.

Courtesy of John Abel

David Bargh with his mechanic, John Abel, May 1981

John Abel says: In red jumper is Mike Fullerton with Keith Bloxsome and Rod Hunter, In the background to right of Keith, the man in the yellow boiler suit is Mick Oldham, former pit staff, who still keep in contact. To right of David leaning on wall is Tony Coupland in yellow shirt, former Teeside Team Manager talking to Mike Caroline, Berwick rider and local Newcastle Boy.

Courtesy of John Abel

David and Derek Richardson leading the Red Star Prague riders May 1981

Courtesy of John Abel

David and Derek again with a Red Star rider in between them. The track looks like it could do with some water

Courtesy of John Abel

David heading the field on the way to the first corner. Team Sponsor in 1981 was Lada and their cars are on the centre green

Courtesy of John Abel

Looks like David was the winner of another trophy, I think 1992 John Abel says: We had a visit to UK, left to right- Paul Ridely, Carol Gullen, Barghie, Anne Innard, Trevor ? and Ken Hedley, all friends from Speedway and Forest Hall.

Both photos courtesy of John Abel

David with a sponsors name on his cap and here he is with mechanic John Abel

Team manager Dave Younghusband and injured captain Tom Owen flanking Derek Richardson

Derek Richardson receiving a pat on the back from Co Promoter Brian Larner in 1980

4 pictures of Rod Hunter. Rod was Newcastle's longest serving Australian rider. A lightning fast gater, he usually won races from the front but when he needed to he would squeeze past right on the fence or cut back, get his wheels in line first and power past the opposition on the white line. Rod possessed bags of talent and could give lessons in throttle control! His controlled whole lap wheelie celebrations are still a talking point at Brough Park today.

DA Farrar says: The photographs of Rod Hunter are probably 1989, since Hunter sat out the 1986 (although a regular at Brough Park on the terraces), 1987 and 1988 seasons. He returned for one season in 1989 and then promptly retired (paving the way for David Bargh), only to reappear for Middlesbrough at the last moment in 1990. Hunter was always a curious little fellow.
Thanks for putting me right! Rod was a favourite of mine, can anyone supply the site with his career details or at least his arrival and departure dates, my memory is a bit iffy!!

DA (Andrew) Farrar says: Rod's career details, as far as I can ascertain and remember:1978 Newcastle and Glasgow - started at Newcastle, loaned to Glasgow (where he rode one meeting) and then returned to Newcastle.1979-1984 Newcastle, although a dispute in 1982 saw him sit out the start of the season, until his sponsor Pat Whelan persuaded him to race for the Diamonds (Hunter had wanted to go BL).

1987 team standing left to right: Mark Courtney, Paul Cooper, Eric Stead (promoter), Roland Tebbs, Bobby Duncan, Dave Morton. Kneeling: Gary O'Hare and David Blackburn, with Joe Owen (team manager) in the middle.

Courtesy of Steve Wicks

Help me with the year and this line up please John

Joe Owen Benefit Meeting

Courtesy of Steve Wicks

L-R Ivan Mauger, Mark Thorpe, Peter Collins, Tom Owen, ? Neil Collins ? Gary O'hare, Dave Perks,? ? Front row: Les Collins, ? Erik Gundersen, Joe Owen, Gary Havelock, Alan Emerson, Kelly Moran and Nigel Crabtree
Dan Gibbs says: The photo of the Joe Owen benefit meeting, I'd like a go at naming them (back row L-R - Ivan Mauger, Steve Wicks ???, Peter Collins, Tom Owen, Kelvin Tatum, David Blackburn, Gary O'Hare, Dave Perks, Martin Dixon ???, Bernie Collier ??? Front row L-R Les Collins, Phil Collins, Erik Gunderson, Neil Collins leaning on Joe Owen, Gary Havelock, Mark Courtney, Shawn Moran and Nigel Crabtree.) that's a pretty good line-up.

Mark Courtney inside Arena Essex rider Mark Chessell. Courtney had a distinctive style, he laid his bike over lower than most on the corners

Andrew Farrar says: Further to the photograph denoted Mark Courtney inside an Arena Essex rider, I came across Joe Owen's damning verdict on Mr Courtney's performances for the "Special Diamonds" in 1987 the other day. Young Owen stated in his "Joe's Own View" programme notes towards the end of the season:

"At the start of the season I was delighted to have signed a rider of the calibre of Mark Courtney. I thought I knew how to get the best out of him and how to continue to keep him at his best throughout the season. But like others before me, I have been proved wrong. Over the season as a whole Mark has been a great disappointment and I feel badly about it as I was the one who talked Eric [Stead, Newcastle's promoter at the time] into laying out a substantial sum of money to bring him here. We have not been repaid with results on the track and Mark's average is only about half-a-point better than the man he was signed to replace, Dave Perks." Suspiciously, Courtney managed to average over ten points a meeting in 1988 for Berwick. I guess Davie Fairbairn did know how to get the best out of Courtney, which was probably a threat that he'd be sleeping with the fish if he didn't give his best for the Bandits. Davie Fairbairn was not a man to cross.

Thank you Andrew, lots of us fans thought the same. Mark was such a talent and for whatever reason his skills were never produced in his time as a Diamond. If a person such as Joe Owen could not get the best out of a rider like Mark that had to be a real shame. I will forever remember Mark riding against us as a Teeside rider, he was quite brilliant!

Gary O'Hare, David Blackburn, Dave Morton, Tom Owen Bernie Collier and Joe Owen in the front, can anyone say what is in the box
D A Farrar says: The box in the Joe Owen as team manager photograph would appear to contain a cake, which, if memory serves, was for Owen's birthday.

Shane Bowes, an Australian who rode for Newcastle Federation Specials in 1986.
D A Farrar says: Shane Bowes joined Newcastle for the 1987 season and the photograph shows him wearing the "Federation Special Diamonds" (1987) race jacket, so it is probably 1987.

Here's Tom Owen in 1987 receiving expert advice from my daughter Helen, after she showed him what he was doing wrong he went out and scored a string of maximums!

A candidate for the most popular Newcastle rider ever? Tom Owen. He had his testimonial in 1982. Tom was the perfect rider for me. He could win vital races against the best and rattled up maximums galore but that was not all, he was ever smiling and was a camera mans dream! Every club would benefit from a "Tom Owen" in the side. Newcastle's greatest ever captain? Probably?

Tragedy struck the Owen family when Tom badly broke his leg and Joe suffered a paralyzing injury. They are both carrying the scars of their great days on Tyneside, Joe still in a wheelchair and Tom walking with a pronounced limp. They are welcome visitors at Brough and have more fans on Tyneside still, than any other riders. They cannot get to Brough very often but hey, come on lads come up more often and shake hands with your old fans and mates. You two are sure of a standing ovation.

1986 only one of two years when the team were not called the Diamonds. Sponsorship from the local Federation brewery sidelined the Diamonds nickname.

Tom Owen and Dave Perks in 1986, can you tell me why Tom is wearing the Diamond John

Ex-Newcastle junior Tony Richardson has been in touch with an explanation of the race jackets, Tony says:
"Was this the meeting for Joe Owen when Newcastle staged a 4 team tournament between 1986 Newcastle team, Joe Owen select team Middlesbrough team & The Collins family team."
Thanks Tony It rings a bell
Update: Andrew Farrar says: The previous answer from Tony Richardson to the photograph of Dave Perks and Tom Owen seems reasonable enough, but a few more details of the meeting. The meeting was a 4TT won by the Specials (27 points) over a Middlesbrough team that included Shawn Moran (25 points), a Diamonds team that included Erik Gundersen (21 points) and a Collins Clan team that included, well, a lot of Collins and Brian Clark at reserve (23 points).

If I may share a personal memory of this meeting, the pits at the time were located in front of the back straight grandstand, so if you got there in plenty of time it was possible to watch preparations and goings-on in the pits while seated in the grandstand. And that's what we did. Ahead on one heat in this meeting, both Gary Havelock and Shawn Moran appeared to be preparing for the same race and since both were riding for Middlesbrough that wasn't possible. They bumped into each other as they walked the ramp onto the dog track and for a moment confusion reigned between them. Havelock must've suggested that Moran check his programme, for the little American came running back into the pits, checked his programme, thumped the side of his helmet and when he took it off looked a little red-faced. He'd been preparing for the wrong race.
Thanks Andrew great story
Rob Best says: The picture of Tom and Perksie was taken at Stoke and the race jacket Tom has was mine (1984 BL season Joe Owens) I am not sure how the picture has ended up public but it does not matter.
Start Marshall Phil Day has the race jacket now as I sold it to him last year for a considerable profit.

Mark second from left. He appears to be taking part in an individual meeting or 4 team tournament

Can anyone supply the years Mark rode for the Diamonds?
John, Six seasons 1989 to 1994. He then went to Swindon. Regards, Joe Wake Joe has also supplied the photos of Mark

I asked my friend Keith Dyer for some info about Steve. Keith says: Hi John, Steve (born 13/1/68) was around for a few seasons. Here's a quick round-up, if you need more detailed info, let me know.

All 6 of these photos (above), of Steve Wicks are courtesy of Steve's photo collection

Courtesy of Derek Green
I do not know all the names or the year, can you help please John

Update: Andrew Farrar says: The second team photograph is certain 1989 (the presence of Rod Hunter gives it away). The two kneeling riders are Mark Thorpe and Simon Green, while Peter Carr is on the bike again. Rod Hunter is standing extreme right of the photograph and it looks like Derek Richardson next to him.
Anyone else in naming these riders? John
Update: Tony Richardson says: I think it is 1989. Back Row: ?, Peter Clarke (I think), Tom Graham (Team Manager), Derek Richardson, Rod Hunter. Front Row: Mark Thorpe, Peter Carr (on Bike), Simon Green.
Peter Baldwin says: The rider next to Anthony Hulme is 'David' Clarke, not 'Peter'.

Courtesy of Derek Green
Simon Green after crashing. Derek Green on left, Tom Graham (wearing cap)