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Panthers meetings can pack a punch
THE British Grand Prix briefly turned into a boxing match when British star Scott Nicholls and Russian revelation Emil Sayfutdinov were involved in a Millennium Stadium melee on Saturday.
THE British Grand Prix briefly turned into a boxing match when British star Scott Nicholls and Russian revelation Emil Sayfutdinov were involved in a Millennium Stadium melee on Saturday.The pair were pulled apart after a couple of punches had been thrown, but their scuffle prompted MARK PLUMMER to recall some ugly scenes during Panthers meetings.
PANTHERS v WOLVERHAMPTON (2005)
A mass brawl broke out in the pits after a clash between Sam Ermolenko and David Howe.
The ageing American was excluded for sending Howe careering into the first bend fence, but that was only the start of the incident.
Howe hobbled back to the pits before he and Ermolenko became involved in a skirmish that escalated into a melee involving riders, mechanics and officials of both clubs.
Howe's ability to get involved in a scrap has to be admired considering it later came to light that he was suffering from a broken ankle!
COVENTRY v PANTHERS (2003)
Panthers rider Hans Andersen was punched and stamped on during a full-scale flare-up following a smash after heat 14.
Andersen and Coventry man Stuart Robson tangled and tumbled to the deck just after the finish line following a hard fight for third place.
The pair were then involved in a confrontation before riders and mechanics from both clubs became embroiled in a nasty incident.
PANTHERS v COVENTRY (2003)
Mischevious Panthers man Shane Parker and Coventry rival Billy Janniro came up with a cunning plan to stage a repeat of the above scrap when the sides met a fortnight later at the Showground
The only problem is they didn't let everyone in on their comedy contribution and a pantomime punch-up quickly threatened to turn into another full-scale fight.
The pair of pranksters held their fake fisticuffs during a delay following a crash, but mechanics and track staff were oblivious to the ruse and waded in with tensions running high.
Thankfully peace was quickly restored!
PANTHERS v IPSWICH (1995)
The sparks flew after a clash between Panthers man Ronni Pedersen and visitor Jeremy Doncaster.
A host of Ipswich riders, led by Ben Howe, made their feeling clear to Pedersen during a heated exchange.
Howe then exacted his own sickening revenge on the track by slamming Pedersen into the fence when they met in heat 14. He was fined and thrown out of the remainder of the meeting.
WOLVERHAMPTON v PANTHERS (2006)
Panthers skipper Andersen and Billy Hamill were pulled apart before their feud could go any further than a bout of finger pointing, helmet butting and staring.
Andersen was furious after Hamill slid off when last in a heat 15 decider, potentially costing the Dane victory.
He showered the veteran American in shale and the pair were then involved in a pits confrontation before Andersen returned to the track to win the re-run and seal a dramatic Panthers success.STOKE v PANTHERS (1980)
Panthers team boss Brian Clark was hit with the maximum available fine after becoming involved in a nasty skirmish at Stoke.
Clark was given a 50 fine – not a small amount of money 29 years ago – for his part in an unsavoury incident which started when Stoke man Tony Boyle accidentally took Panthers guest Phil White down after a race.
Boyle attempted to apologise but White reacted angrily and the two traded blows.
Then, as the Stoke man attempted to return to the pits, Clark also joined in the fracas.
PANTHERS v SUNDERLAND (1973)
Visiting rider Jack Millen was the focus of the first really ugly incident in Panthers history.
Millen required a police escort from Alwalton after coming under fire from missiles thrown by angry Peterborough fans.
Millen had been the cause of a smash that left two Panthers riders – Dick Greer and Jack Walker – on the deck.
Millen flew into a rage, smashed the pits telephone on the track and withdrew himself from the rest of the meeting.
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