I am now in my fifties' and have supported Edinburh Monarchs since 1966. My neighbour David Lamb first took me to Meadowbank. He worked on the track. The smell and atmosphere - it was electric. We loved to hate Ivan Mauger and Charlie Monk, but what style they had. We can't turn the clock back but I do miss the characters and the racing seemed closer, but thats nostalgia for you.

Harkins	Hunter

Reidar Eide
True commitment, never knew when he was beat. At Coatbridge I worked on the track, he was knocked off in front of me and I helped him back to the pits. We chatted walking back to the pits and he never blamed the other rider, just dusted himself down, shook his head, and said that's racing. Great guy, great racer.

Bertola Harkins
Characters like him I really miss, never seen the best of Bert at Edinburgh or Coatbridge. Oh you lucky Londoners!

George Hunter
Has to be the best ever Scot on a speedway bike, On a bad day he could outgate Mauger, Olsen and company. Always unlucky in world championship rounds.

Charlie Monk
He should have been Scottish, talk about dour, but what a great rider. Hated when he came to visit, no-one was getting a maximum when Charlie was in town!

Ove Fundin
What can you say? 99.9% sure he was THE GREATEST EVER champion. I only saw Ove race twice - 1967 at Wembley and an International at Coatbridge, he was just amazing.

Bruce Penhall
Probably the best World Final I'd been to. Lovely style and tenacity, retired far too soon.

Bernie Persson
Hard choice to make as there so many other possibles, but Bernie the bolt had class, abilty, style and he was one of us, sociable, very easy to talk to. Great rider, a gater but he could come from the back. Cradley fans you got one of the best.

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