Leaderboard

I do not detest you. I have often defended you, and I have given you friendly advice. I don't believe you are stupid - I have often said that - but to be that far off when you are adding FOUR simple numbers, does seem bizarre. And you did that for all three teams... The reason I wondered if you were seeking attention - and I do apologize if that truly wasn't your intention - was that "knowing my bad luck on the BSF" comment. Your problems on the forum have nothing to do with "bad luck", and the crazy totals you came up with here have nothing to do with bad luck. Your decision to even contemplate making an unnecessary (and seemingly pity-seeking) comment like that was exceedingly ill-founded. Steve

Well I for one am looking forward to reading about Rob Godfrey's thoughts about sports broadcasters in this week's Star.

I d normally advocate a youngster, BUT I can't think of anyone outside the GPs who can feel more hard done by then Hampel. So for me he should get the wildcard. Just to add if he was any other nationality then Polish I am certain he would of had a wildcard place.

....call it mutual respect from a distance!

We agree with each other more that we realise Steve.

...and of course the classic Brian Johnson and Jonathan Agnew interlude!

I liked their little stories, when time and excitement allowed. Good chat in the box during the last test matches.

But raided the clubs rider assets first .

Don't forget John Arlott, Brian Johnson, Henry Blofeld etc... Steve

What is there to be offended about? Don't do it if you don't want, do it if you do. I coached football for donkeys years and never got a penny for petrol or time - no one made me do it

What is there to be offended about? If you want to help your club, you can. If you don't want to help, you don't have to. If you've got some time to spare, you might be able to help. If you haven't got spare time, no one is forcing you, or penalising you for not helping. Lots of clubs, societies, sports teams, theatres, churches, schools, scouts etc etc rely on volunteer help. Whether its helping paint the changing rooms of your local football team or speedway team, helping out at the kids' school sports day, donating costumes to the local theatre amateur dramatic society, making chutney for the church jamboree, or organising the Rotary Club annual dance, the world might be a better place if more people gave up a few hours of their time to get out and help an organisation close to their heart rather than sitting at home behind a keyboard moaning and being unnecessarily offended by everything.

Quite honestly, it's nothing new. A lot of speedway clubs - and even smaller football clubs - have requested for fans to help with things, whether it's painting and fixing things, or just clearing up trash. Nothing wrong with that at all; if you want to help, fine, and if you don't want to help, fine. Not like anybody is forcing you to do anything. With the fragile financial status of most clubs, it makes sense. Even if they weren't in that state, I would have no problem in helping. It can actually feel good to be involved, and to make a difference. Give me free drinks and biccies, and I'll be there! Steve

Sadly it seems the first rule of commentating is to ensure no silences, but of course this is the age of constant noise, much of it of poor quality. Barry Davies was another from the old school now consigned to obsolescence, Peter Alliss is probably the only surviving one. I am certain that Rob Godfrey would agree with this.

As far as i can see there were 4 over 40's in the SDL last season and possibly 1 in the MDL as i never actually know how old Craig Osborne is.

who said there was anything wrong with lady riders?, Rachel improved lots during the season, we had an older chap at a few away matches - will find out the name. Nothing wrong with that either!

Certainly won't disagree about the craters in the Rye car park but they have been present since day dot. Lighting could be resolved by simply running on weekend days and negating the need for floodlights. The toilets do need an upgrade but that is a comment that could apply to almost every speedway venue. I am not saying the old place is perfect, far from it in fact but stating it is not fit for purpose seems hypocritical from the BSPA. I would still rather see a run down Rye House in operation than lose it forever.

What a fantastic post, hats off to you SS and massive congrats to Darcy and his missus.

To clarify for the benefit of others. Brian's excellent 'Internationalspeedway' website is still open, but since the advent of Windows 10, after almost 15 years, his site-builder programme no longer functions in Win.10, So no updates or additions, - for any area or Tests - , nor even an explanation, are possible. There has been no 'business as usual' for about 2 years. The site is, in effect, frozen.

Apologies Tsunami if that came across wrong i wasn't digging the NJL i was actually praising the fact that the majority of sides bear the main club name which indicates a level of support from the main team despite the dreadful lack of NL teams further up the country.

1973 and a couple of memorable races between PC and Michanek Here is one of them https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QWbsJ6bd8K8

Are you sure that RobGodfrey is aware of the difference between, freshwater fish, UK sea fish or tropical fish? An area for confusion if ever there was one were he to be asked to comment on it.

You can’t stop it

Brilliant , absolutely brilliant ! Thanks for posting SS

You know what he meant.

I don't know which is worse bad P.R or no P.R. It's certainly not the way to keep sponsors though.

Didn't notice Mildenhall on there either.

So, if you didn't have updates for home meetings, how would the away fans be able to follow them ?

Plus this year I will see the 'superstars' riding Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the Polish League and Tuesday's every week in Sweden.. And then watch them regularly in the GP's too... All in glorious HD from the comfort of my armchair.. No 'mystique' sadly anymore.. You went to watch Collins, Mauger, Olsen, Penhall etc etc when they visited your track, as it could be the only chance you got all season to see them, apart from the Saturday highlights on World Of Sport of the big meetings...

Absolutely. It goes back to what we were saying earlier about the nights when Mauger, Olsen, or Penhall came to town; we had been looking forward to those for weeks! One of the other factors you mention that destroy the aura is familiarity. We would generally only see those riders once - maybe twice - a season. Smaller leagues and multiple matches against the same teams means they become a "part of the furniture" so to speak, and they lose that aura. Steve

My favourite rider of all time was Mark Loram right from the point of watching him as a mascot and my uncle sponsoring him all the way through to the Holy Grail. It doesnt however cloud my judgement as to his ability.......He was a one time world champ whose overall form was worse than most other world champions..............couldnt ever stand Havelock but without doubt in 1992 he was the dominant rider on the world stage that year bar perhaps Per Jonsson. I never saw Fundin ride and not much of Mauger either but im not foolish enough to think Mark was better than either of those. But yet out of Rickardsson and Loram i know who i would prefer to watch and pay to see

Bandits meetings have always had updates since the service began in the early 2000’s

Mike Bushell can claim something that probably 80 percent of us forum users cant, he has fallen off a speedway bike. He has done pieces with Tai and Ruthless in the build up to British GPs.Dont know if he actually has any interest in the sport outside of his work life but unlike many Sports Presenters he treats every sport he covers with 100 percent respect. Be it Olympic sports right the way through to the highland games and everything in between.

It would have virtually no effect whatsoever. 3500 workforce. If 1 in 100 went it would only be 30 odd fans at most. And these workers would not be made redundant as they have plenty of time to find new employment. Surely none would be there the day the place closed up. 220,000 people live in Swindon.

That's what happens when you try and take on the establishment. Usually there is only one winner.