Leaderboard

SPECIAL feature on the 'Tiger' in Speedway Star next week...

I agree it isn't a "great" line up in the sense of world class GP riders - In an ideal world we would want to see Tai Woffinden, Greg Hancock, Nikki Pederson, Freddie Lindgren, 2 or 3 top Polish riders, Jason Doyle, Emil Sayfutdinov, Hans Andersen etc etc. You could also argue that a "better" line up would include the likes of Robert Lambert, Danny King, Craig Cook, Jack Holder, Chris Harris etc etc. However this is a testimonial meeting and most of those riders won't be available, or will be reluctant to ride for the basic pay on offer (You only have to look at line up for the Ben Fund - very similar to Ben's line up!!) What Ben has done in assembling his line up goes very much in tune with his character, he has all his new team mates on board (except one who is unavailable) as he sees the value in giving them track time and it will help to build team spirit for the coming season. He has made the gesture of including Workington (a good commercial decision if it entices comets fans over) and giving the likes of Simon Lambert and Kyle Bickley the opportunity to get additional races under their belt and remind promoters they are available. I assume the invite to David Wallinger is a thank you for all the assistance he has given Ben whilst he has been with Redcar, again a typical gesture from BB. So no it isn't a "great" line up in the true sense, but when you look into the reasoning and thought behind the line up it is a very, very good one and I hope many fans come along to support all the riders

Wow !! what a surprise...….. I'm of the impression that this idea of keeping the team a secret, is losing far more interest from the fans than it is generating ..

John has given Sterling service to Ipswich speedway as a rider and as a promoter. Genuinely humble and a top guy. I think he should be nominated for a MBE or OBE. Not sure how you go about that but perhaps someone out there can advise as John really does deserve to be recognised. A genuine legend.

OMG they certainly know how to get the fans adrenalin flowing, had a sleepless night with the anticipation and was not disappointed. Haven't been so excited since I got a pair of socks that didn't fit for Christmas

I always use the industrial estate. Easier to get away after the meeting.. I don't think a pound is bad. Maybe make it free for disabled and blue badge holders, so they don't have to walk far.

Or Ole in 1982 Vetlanda with Bo/Erik.

Looking at social media and reading the comments (and there isn’t many ) this drip feeding of announcements on the team to maximise interest in the media is having a near 100% negative affect . If social media is anything to go by fans are definitely losing interest

Not entirely surprised that car parking price has been introduced eventually, expected it years ago to be honest. Doesn’t make it any more palatable though. The car parks are better than they have been but I believe the one behind the back straight will never be done with tarmac or concrete as it belongs to the council and not the stadium. When it’s muddy and full of puddles after bad weather its not really good enough for a sports venue which asks for eighteen quid to get in.

Charging for the parking has pissed me off a bit. I’m not one of the guys who moans often and I don’t value the oppinions of those who don’t go but moan daily as equal to those that attend regularly. So don’t get this post mixed up with those guys. This is an attendance increase. The car park isn’t owned by a 3rd party so it’s a bit of a con really. I suggest nobody parks in the car parks until the charge is lifted. It’s only full when we have the big meetings. Charging a hidden charge like this will alienate current fans. If your going to make an increase then do it as the admittance. Its a bit of a slap in the face for the regular attendees. I’ve not read it myself yet though so if it’s a misunderstanding then all is ok. If it is real though then it’s pretty delusional. I can take the slow anouncemnts even though itsucks the fun out of it. I can take the poor entertainments meetings as it’s sport not entertainment. I can even take the ridiculous tractor grading to keep the track in great condition. but charging for the car park is a spit in the face really as it makes the poor value for money product that speedway is as even less value for money. Terible choice. It’s another straw on my camel back. deflating

I don't think anyone has argued against Wolverhampton being extremely unlucky in 1993, and very possibly being the most unfortunate team of all. Wolves were extraordinarily unfortunate, although fair play to Belle Vue, who rose to the challenge on the final night, especially their lesser lights. But BWitcher seems unable to acknowledge alternate answers. Every team mentioned on this thread is valid to a certain degree. It's a discussion and there is no one right or wrong answer. Here's another to throw into the mix. Oxford (the National League champions of 1964) were well on their way to winning the first British League in 1965, when No 1 Ron How was injured in a GB v Russia test match at the start of July. In a season where there was no guests and no rider replacement (e.g. no chance of bringing a rider of the calibre of Henka Gustafsson to score paid 16), they were allocated a rider of junior standard, Jimmy Heard, to replace one of the best riders in the country. Somehow, Oxford remained in title contention until September, and finished fourth, just seven points behind champions West Ham. As well as Hammers finished the season, it's easy to locate four additional matches that Cheetahs would have won with Ron How in their side. I'd still say Wolves '93 were even more unlucky, but if anyone said Oxford '65, it is also a valid answer.

1999 Gollob v Nilsen what a race, how Gollob avoided going through the fence on the last two bends god knows.

I forgot about Rye House closing. So including Coventry at Leicester, though it could be argued Coventry had already closed the year or so before, that makes 5 clubs lost in the last year: Buxton, Coventry, Lakeside, Rye House, Workington. There's hope for them all (except possibly Lakeside at least in the immediate future) as the tracks still exist, but worrying just the same....

Yes the fans must be so excited!! Or are now bored with no news and couldn't give a monkeys what the team line up is anymore.

Shame on u picking on 12 year olds...believe me little blue is not 12.

12 year olds should be in bed by now weekend or not so why are you still up.

Hahahahahahahaha. An none of us seen that coming did We? What a joke of a club Glasgow have become. I will be visiting northern clubs this year after the comets demise, Glasgow will 100% not be one of them, I simply do not agree with how it's run. Feel sorry for the young lad they signed I the 1st place.

Unforeseen LOL.

Erik and Tommy had there successe's against Nielsen at Cowley Blackbird/!Thorp/ Doncaster won the odd race here and there otherwise Hans took the p..., great rider no doubt a great advert for speedway as well.

Yes that is a shame. i realise some less able will have to park in the car park maybe for those people like you they should get free parking.

We've got to accept that half the crowd are loose? Does this come with an English translation?

Yes I was there Rob...the occasion that all of Carl's 'stars were aligned'!

Three races from the same night, with the same result. Carl Blackbird beat Hans Nielsen from behind three times. At Cowley. In 1986. The year that Hans won his first World Championship, and recorded a 11.83 average from BL matches.

Um, didn't a Swindon fan (Auntie Doris) suggest Wolves 2017? And it is valid choice, because Wolves took a fabulous victory in the first leg at Blunsdon, only to be missing the two best riders around their track, thus making them vulnerable at home. It wouldn't be my first pick personally (just as Reading 2006 weren't, for the reasons I stated), but I respect the view of the person who put it forward. To say "they don't belong in this discussion" is a bit silly. And Stevebrum also makes an excellent choice in Mildenhall 2018. They were very unlucky indeed.

DC they finally caught up with you. Take the flags away and leave you there, danglling..

Seems to me it’s because they don’t know what they are doing. They may think they are being tantalising and clever but the strange way the KL promotion is going they will kill off any bit interest there might be in KL or speedway. ???

Nothing beats Wembley for me the atmosphere was electric looking back you are right Vince some of the racing was bang average.The dusty 1975 final was a farce but Olsen was majestic on the night .And the 81 Penhall final was pretty good Len Silver did produce a good track that night Knudsen was classy come of age that night.

As this is about Play-off contenders, I'll back Edinburgh and Berwick for sure (each has three Aussies in the side) plus Scunthorpe and Somerset (two each). Obviously, Birmingham, Eastbourne and Glasgow are non-starters -- no Aussies!

Facilities for the juniors at BV are very good. At a lot of tracks, they provide a quiet area for initial unloading, setting up and warming up, then it's a big scramble to get into the seniors pits when they leaving after heat 15.

Not cheating; team-riding... Not the first time it happened, and won't be the last, but nobody complains when the Brits do it. Steve

Those certainly were the days when speedway was still on the up! I was still crying in Norwich with the loss of my beloved Stars and then only 50 miles away ( along the old A47 ) there was hope! My trusty Triumph Tiger Cub carried me over to the first Saddlebow Road meetings. With the Dereham chip shop so handy at the bottom of the hill for a supper bum break. No Ove Fundin though ( but Terry Betts turned out to be a new Golden Boy )!

In stits and farts or more in the mode of a blind man letting the guide dog do his talking. In trying to make two steps forward he has taken five back. And as for knowing how to make his businesses work - we have no idea of knowing how KLS has been successful as the accounts are not visible. It will be the same at his new clubs, Ipswich and Peterborough. Buster's great skill seems to be in persuading well-heeled sponsors to believe in his "vision". Not in building up the average attendance or attracting the missing new generation of supporters. Which is vital if UK speedway as a whole is to prosper or even survive.

Not forgetting that the charge (under Colin Horton, say no more squire) was originally sold as the club's contribution to the SRBF. That was soon forgotten as it was merged into running costs with the usual shambolic stadium collection

Died in 1982 Steve handy rider.

Wolves '93 had one misfortune after another but were still there and in with a shout in their last match, the last heat. There were so many things that went against the team. They would have chalked up another title but had several really influential riders taken out when it was really only a matter of time before the title was clinched. At the death, their leading light (Sam Ermolenko) was sidelined in the first race of the match against Bradford - a week before the decider vs. Belle Vue. Wolves needed just the aggregate bonus point against the Yorkshire men to lift their second title in three years. They would have breezed it with Ermolenko. Seven days later, in the decider against the Aces, without the expected maximum Ermolenko would have pocketed, and the added points he would have prized from lesser men, Wolves would have just about beaten the Aces and won the Championship. Let's not also forget that Stephen Morris, Wolves' reserve, had a third-placed point taken off him after he had fallen and received outside assistance in that match (vs. the Aces). So many things conspired against them that you can't compare with the Play-Off system, which nullifies being the best team in the table matches and comes down to nerves, how riders fair on the opposing tracks in those semis and the Play-Off Final two legs. A team that is being considered the most unfortunate because it lost the title over 30 Heats of a Play-Off Final cannot be put in the same argument. Getting to the Play-Off is one hurdle, even as table toppers. But the competition more or less starts again for the aggregate matches. The league system pre-2002 Play-offs was different - like the one-off world final is to the GPs. From memory, three other instances of misfortune stick out before the Play-Offs arrived 17 years ago. Cradley Heath were surely robbed of the title in 1982 when Penhall quit. Belle Vue were going full steam ahead for the title in 1978 when they lost Alan Wilkinson, the same season Hull were serious contenders before Joe Owen was injured. Although losing these men was influential - Wolves '93 were like the determined competitor in the game show we've all seen who is walking the pole while opponents are trying to knock them off with a huge foamy implement. They stood up to every obstacle - right until the death. Down went Jones, Dukie and Correy, and remember, Wolves couldn't rely on guests to see them over the line as this rule was for your top man and nobody else. So they got up off their backsides and brought in new men. Indeed, they could only use guest the once - Henka Gustafsson for "Sudden Sam" on the night they finally lost grasp on the title. Henka dropped two points to the Aces - I'd bet tonight's takeaway that Sam would have got an untroubled full 18. We all know what his presence in the team would have done to those around him. I just think Wolves suffered the perfect storm in '93. And, remember, I was a Belle Vue fan in the Midlands that night.

Totally agree! Why they want to do it this way is ridiculous but we have got 3 clowns running the club now so what do we expect lol

you could say that about most championship and premier teams in 19 . use it or lose it ..

I didnt think you were aloud to have an opinion.?

Yeah, I remember Glenn from there too! James' username is "spiegal", I believe... Steve

Sincere thanks to all the forum members who responded to my request. Some good ideas there which I will follow through on as we get closer to the event. While Poole has been my team for many years, now that "noddy" isn't there it doesn't hold the attraction it once did. These days I just support most of our Aussie riders, so with Doyley at Swindon now, will get right behind him. I have worked behind the scenes as an official and centre green presenter (as you British call it) at Gosford when it was around. Not a big fan of Batch or Rory.

I finally found the match I was looking for - September 1978... A couple of weeks earlier, Roger Johns had inflicted the only defeat on PC at the Tommy Jansson Memorial. This time it was a league clash against the Aces at Plough Lane. After a couple of impressive wins against Mort and Les Collins, Johnsy then racked up two brilliant wins over PC to complete an incredible maximum. One of them saw passing and repassing, and no matter what PC tried, he just couldn't stop him. We lost 40-38, but seeing a couple of races like that, with Roger coming up trumps both times, it really didn't matter to us! Steve

Marvyn Cox passing World Champion Erik Gundersen from the back in a Golden Helmet match-race at Oxford in 1986.

When will fans realise that once they have paid their money they serve no useful purpose

Looks more like Doyle’s replacement to me.....

Plus Ambulance.

It's not the fans who have created this atmosphere, it's the non existence of public relations from the management who seem to think giving fans the mushroom effect is the latest fashion trend

that's what i call a real fan . to the 'fan' who started all this GROW UP.

Asking fans for help with pre-season tidying up is a common thing. At Hull , Craven Park there were promises of tea / coffee & biccies, with maybe fish & chips if the work extended past tea-time, sadly I was never able to join the fun as it was always on a week day. Two local girls regularly tidied up pits, changing rooms, etc. On one occasion help was requested to paint the safety fence, one enterprising chap turned up and painted the entire fence, kickboards on straights boards on the bends, all by himself taking some 8 hours. Refused any form of payment, now that's dedication. Also, pit accomodation for 2nd halfers was roomy, in front of the old dog kennels....

Back on topic and I think it is crystal clear from the article and other comments over the years that what Godfrey really doesn't ever want is one big League, I have always thought he sees the Championship as a Northern League and the Premier as a Midland ( south of Belle Vue) /Southern League and probably wants an 8/8 9/9 type split and 2 home and 2 away. I'm not sure how close he and Buster are, but it looks a bit of a dictatorship at the moment The fact that it took so long apparently for Birmingham and Eastbourne to be ratified to the CL in the winter and in that 5 page article he could not mention Somerset; Birmingham or Eastbourne once again proves the point. It will be interesting to see what happens in 2019 and what the reaction to either One Big league or a North/South split is in 2020 as it seems a few Clubs already "hanging on" like Redcar / Newcastle (Nissan) and Swindon (Honda) plus others in Midlands (Wolves / Birmingham / Leicester) could be hit by sudden collapse in Car Industry and associated supply chains; and any even small loss of core support could impact on pretty much every Team, with very few exceptions.