PS. Hi Graham,
how are you and how is the engine tuning business getting on?
GJ. I’m very well thanks, been
training for the last couple of months, getting fitter and
lighter! The tuning is going ok, its difficult to please
everyone though! What works for one guy don't work for the next!
PS. You
appeared for Stoke mid to late 80s, what would be your favourite
memory as a Potter?
GJ. I rode for Stoke
from 84 till 88. I had a lot of great memories from those years.
I suppose winning the pairs in 88 was one of the best but also
in 88 I rode for loads of BL teams, guesting too! That was good
being as I was a Stoke rider kicking ass!
PS. How did
you find Loomer Rd as a race track in the 80s?
GJ. I loved riding
the old Loomer road track, bit slick for me though but it was an
awesome track! John Dews prepared it and the grass was green in
the middle, the fence was always white and clean and track was
always awesome! You could almost ride it blind, respect Dewsy!!
PS. How good
were Godden engines compared to their rivals back then?
GJ. Godden motors
were awesome for me a bit hard to ride at times but I loved
them! Very competitive. Hans Nielsen was the god on them things!
PS. How would
they fare today?
GJ. Well if they
were still in production I’m sure they would be very
competitive. Like all engines you have to work on them to get
the best out of them!!
PS. For those
who don’t know who should have represented Stoke in the pairs
you won with Steve Bastable?
GJ. I Aren't to sure
about that, I’m assuming it would of been Crabby. I think he was
injured! The good thing for me that night was, yes we won but I
gave Stevie B the gate choice he wanted for every race! It was
no secret that we didn't get on. He didn't like me that much and
I thought he was a pussy! So for me to come off every bad gate
and battle was awesome cause it was like I was riding against 3
riders all the time, just the way I liked it!!
PS. What was
the highlight of your career?
GJ. I would think
the highlight of my career was being selected to ride for
England! For a country kid like me I thought that was awesome!!
PS. What was
your favourite club you rode for?
GJ. To be honest I
didn't really have a favourite club. The ones I rode for were
all good clubs and I never thought of them as
favourites! I rode for them because I thought it might benefit
my career!
PS. Do you
recall Hans Nielsens' Stoke guest appearance vs. Belle Vue?
GJ. I remember the
great Dane Hans coming to Stoke yes, who wouldn't!! he was
awesome and a good guy too! Made us look stupid if I recall!!
PS. Why do
you think there are so many slick tracks these days compared to
20 years ago?
GJ. I think the
slick argument has gone on for ages. Many done to expense I
would think but also many of today's riders can’t handle proper
dirt anyway! Since the laydowns came in the tracks have got
even worse I think! I was always a big believer of getting it as
grippy as you can and the best riders won!!
PS. What do
you think of the GP system?
GJ. The GP system i
reckon is spot on now! the tracks Aren't always up to scratch
though which is a shame! With the exception of last year our GP
at Cardiff in my opinion has been an embarassment! Great
stadium, great fans. but the tracks a joke!
PS. Who was
your favourite rider to race with?
GJ. I would think
I’ve rode with many great riders in my time but I must admit me
and Crabby did some damage together! I knew where he was most of
the time and he me. I guested a few times for Cradley Heath too,
and Eric Greg and Billy were fantastic to ride with! At Wolves
Ermolenko was a king too, we had some great 5-1s together at
very important times in meetings! Jan Staechmann was a great
team man too! To be honest if I never fenced a rider it meant we
got on pretty good! I aint got time for these guys that say do
this on the track and then they do something totally different!
That really used to p... me off!
PS. You rode
in 2003 as Stoke Spitfires rider/coach, why do you think the
Spitfires went to ground?
GJ. That's a
question for Dave Tattum, probably down to money as always! Its
not cheap these days and I’m sure if it was possible to keep
doing it, Dave would have! I enjoyed that a hell of a lot! You
know a old bloke riding with the kids and kicking their ass most
of the time! Wicked!!
PS. Finally
Graham, you are a bit of a legend on Facebook! Why do you think
that is?!
GJ. Why am I a
legend on Facebook? Didn't know I was! I tell it like it is most
of the time. I got a naughty sense of humour which people can
relate too I guess!! I really don’t take Facebook seriously at
all and I’m surprised I aint chucked off to be honest! If that
happens it would break my heart!!! NOT!! Most people on there
know what I’m like and aint surprised anyways but the odd few
bitch a bit and say I swear to much etc but that's just the way
I am! Anyways they don't cause me many problems cause I just
delete them!! F*** um ay!!
