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We had it once Mike. We called it the National League. How it was allowed to be sold down the river in the name of amalgamation and the needs of one club in the nineties is still a mystery.

Totally agree, time to let the Poles and riders who wish to race there go. Rebuild our leagues using riders that are far more sustainable and start putting on a show for the viewing public with better presentation, tidy up some of the stadia and concentrate on making it a good night out.

2020 Update is here... It can now be downloaded from this Dropbox link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/jxxywvs6cwn479r/Speedway Promoter 2020 Update.7z?dl=0 2 ways of getting this working, I would suggest downloading Notepad++ if you haven't already - https://notepad-plus-plus.org/downloads/ The 2nd method is the best experience. Option 1 (Easy method) This method just involves copying over the files and a simple edit of the 2020.dat to edit to your Preferred team name. Unzip and Copy all 3 files from the 'Speedway Promoter 2020 update folder, into your current GDW2002 game folder; So it now looks like this; Now open up the 2020 file with either Notepad or Notepad++ (Preferred) Edit the line containing "ENTER YOUR TEAMNAME HERE" to Your Teamname, with or without quotes is fine.. (Line 2159 in Notepad++) Then load up the 2020 Saved file within the Game and you are good to go.. Option 2 (Preferred Method) This option is preferred as it gives a random fresh start to the Game each time, but requires a tiny bit more editing; Unnzip and copy the ride2002.dat file into the game, load up Speedway Promoter and start a NEW Game After starting a new game and configuring your options and Team name, instantly Save and Exit the game. Load up the saved game in Notepad/Notepad++ Edit Line 133 in Notepad++ ; Edit the "2002" part to "2020" The Last part is to edit the all of the Team Names to reflect the below, has to be in this order, you can simply copy and paste this list into the Notepad file so it looks like the below Before and After screenshots; NOTE: Quotations are not required Berwick Belle Vue Birmingham Ipswich King's Lynn Eastbourne Edinburgh Glasgow Isle of Wight Lakeside Kent Peterborough Poole Leicester Somerset Sheffield Swindon Mildenhall Newcastle Plymouth Redcar Scunthorpe Wolverhampton Workington BEFORE; AFTER; Let me know how you get on and if you spot any mistakes in the data

Without going 'all our yesterdays', watching the many various meetings on YouTube from the 80's showed just how it worked too.. Crowds seemed to be very healthy indeed when compared to today.. Hardly any full time professionals on show, and all mainly with one decent bike and a 'good enough' spare.. The best riders were also in the main, the only ones who rode in the top league at the same time, and for many of them it was a 'toe being dipped into the water' to see if they could compete at that level before moving up permanently, rather than the necessity it has become for dozens of riders of various standard so they can earn more to afford the cost of riding.. It was interesting to read Shawn Morans interview in the SS a couple of weeks back where he said he got £35 a point riding for Sheffield in the early 90's. That's equivalent to £88 a point today. I wonder how many world class No1's in the top league ride for £88 a point today? (And given their outgoings even be anywhere able to afford to).. Indeed. Could you get away with paying £88 a point to a second tier No1 nowadays? As you say, they had a pretty good business model, heaven knows how they lost sight of it..

Been the obvious next step for around the last decade or so... Yet, for some reason, British Promoters have steadfastly chosen to have their businesses hugely adversely impacted by running disjointed fixture lists, using many contrived septets of borrowed riders, (to accomodate individual riders own agendas), all on many nights when you wouldn't ordinarily want to be running a 'show' in the entertainment sector.. A very strange business plan..

I think that for a while Nielsen knew he was the best in the world and it got to him. He over-rode in a few finals and it cost him. He was even guilty of it when winning his first title and was lucky to get away with it. I think a GP would have enabled him to settle a but, although Gundersen might have been the master of the GP when they had the KO system instead of regular heats. It's weird to say it for a 4 time World Champion, but I think he under achieved. I've never seen a rider anywhere near as good a Nielsen. He should have been the undisputed greatest of all time.

Nielsen was the best rider in the world from 83-89. I don't think he would have won every year under a gp system, but i reckon maybe 5 of those with Eric winning a couple - maybe 84 & 85. He would have lifted himself for GPs.

Bob definitely held the track record at Exeter at one time. I remember him being in The Guinness Book of Records as the fastest speedway rider - which was always the Exeter track record holder.

I've followed this from a distance while you and the other clever buggers have been working on this. Frankly am amazed at how you've all got so far with this.. i do hope it can be made available with the chance to donate a few beer tokens to say thanks. Cracking work gents.

Well done. I played around a little and of course put myself in the game with a realistic 9pt average

Means nothing then as its not theirs to sell.

I thought there was some sort of covenant on the land saying that it had be for sporting use.

JAMES Easter has been a mate for more years than I can remember and both he and TPT have made a tremendous contribution (s) to speedway over the years. Unlike some of his predecessors, when thousands travelled to World Finals, James has remained loyal to speedway and puts his heart, sole and considerable reputation into his tours. No one is forced to go with them but hundreds who do come back every year because they like the itineraries, know that the hotels and travel arrangements will be perfect and that everything is taken care of. I make no apology for any favourable references to TPT.

Honestly What a real shame Chris is a great lad; His dad was a nice fella so was Tom his other "Spanner Man" and little Doreen who lives in the borders must be past herself as she supported Chis for years... Hope things sort themselves out sooner rather than later and he gets back on his feet... Get well soon "Big Boy"... Regards John Oh and on a lighter note a couple of laughs about Chris that I will never forget... His waxing escapade in the bar at Brough to raise money for the air fence (I think) when a flock of women led by Gillian set about him with waxing strips and a razor (I believe) and if you had seen him stripped to the waist it looked like he was wearing a mohair jumper tucked in at the waist and when he came back looking like a plucked pheasant; pink wasn't the word he was actually bleeding... and still with that beaming smile... and the time he decided to take a short cut across the centre green when avoiding a fallen rider and we asked in the bar what he was thinking about and he said he hadn't seen the fallen rider he was going for a gap but forgot he had to go round the 3rd and 4th bends... he said "I though I had cracked it and found a fast way around Brough" and again never stopped smiling... Great kid; some good laughs and always came in the bar for a chat and a pint (usually because (Pepsi) Tom was driving) it was a pleasure to be associated with the Guy... a genuinely nice bloke... Get well soon pal from the BFG; Leah; George; Doug; Kyle and Emily... Regards THJ

Chris is one of those riders who when you watch the racing on YouTube from the past five to ten years or so appears in loads and loads of meetings for a good many various teams, and was often it seems very much an in demand guest.. A rider who came across as someone who gave his absolute all in every race regardless of who he was riding for.. One of those '100% triers' that the sport is built on and the fans often appreciate the most.. Best wishes to him and his family, and let's hope he can overcome his current issues and find himself in a better place in the not too distant future..

Always one of my favourites and vastly underrated in my opinion.

Makes sense. Absolutely great piece of work - really enjoying

Works great @Marksman thanks for the time and effort you put in. Anyone that wants to change any of the files. I'm sure you'll be able to find ther information we've been putting in this thread and have a tinker with it yourself.

Gordon Kennett is a top bloke always prepared to have a chat

There's nothing wrong with using historical perspective but we could now re-learn a great deal from what was good practice then. That's not blind, sentimental nostalgia talking. We had our own stars, a hugely varied fixture list with the league supported by early-season contests, the fours and pairs. The fixtures were full and varied and the crowds responded.

Appear to be two Adam Ellis' in the game (1st time I loaded it, they were both on the Transfer List which made it easier to find). Have deleted one of the Adam Ellis' out of the file and it doesn't seem to crash though so that's good. Also found a issue building an initial team. Partially due to a lot of riders having EL(Premiership) averages and no PL(Championship) averages when they should have. (Drew Kemp being a good example). No idea how to fix that although I'd imagine it'd be fixed the minute they rode 6 EL(Prem) meetings. It's genius work though!

Don’t know if it’s just me ,but I’m not impressed by the Photos of the year,to much Photo Shopping.Look very false.IMO

Apologies...the name Nielsen only conjours up Hans in my mind!

which is why I put them in quotation marks!

Yes she was good company to stand with. Couldn't believe how generous she was with Chris, who was obviously treat like a family member. Lovely lady.

This really is tremendous stuff. Just one tiny gripe though - how Josh Pickering costs less than Scott Nicholls, Ellis Perks or, to a lesser extent, Broc Nicol is beyond me!

One of my favourire "Kiwis" was Rick Timmo for obvious reasons!

Had his rosette on my bedroom wall from 1963 final. Was sad news when my Dad woke me that night to say he had been killed. We followed Bjorn at West Am.Didnt like Ove or Bazza as they were his main rivals.

Stupid post, stupid post.

Is there anyone out there who wants to talk about Speedway at Central Park ? I hear enough about Covid 19 every time I switch on the telly and am getting a bit fed up with it. It is serious of course, but none the less I'd like to forget it for the moment and discuss Speedway.

I've never read such load of crap

I remember that, too. I never heard of him other than for that.

There the two that i missed out on to Steve and Knutsson often gets forgotten a real class act. Craven often gets forgotten as well and he is still my no 1 English rider mainly because of the era he rode in very strong one he also died when approaching his peak.

Would have enjoyed watching those three riders in their prime...alas I was far too young! At least I got to see Ronnie Moore who was still a very classy act and, of course, the last few years of Briggo.

The interview i quoted was made by Bob in 1973 Steve so it could of been later.???? Later on in 1977 ( April) Swindon v Exeter Bob and Ivan had a clash in heat 13 remember it well Ivan took Bob off he got at excluded for dangerous riding.Ivan had to get a police escort out of the stadium that night real drama in that meeting Ivan rode at number 2 with Verner at number 1 Bob had already beaten Ivan in heat 11 and had won all of his three races.

Yes that was at Wembley Doris heat 11 , Dukey did well paid 8 from the ultra tough number 2 position Briggs scored 14. In the home match Dukey rode at number 6 so didn't meet Ove, Briggs got a max Pete Monday ( RIP)beat Ove in heat three as well. Wembley included Fundin, Eide, Wayne Briggs, Harkins have you read the Kilb book Doris ?? a great read still pick it up now and then and read again.

So true but millions use Ryanair as they are cheap and fly to places other firms don't. Plenty who moaned about the Wetherspoon boss not paying his staff and vowed never to use his pubs again will be back in them as soon as bars open.

At the end of the day, as much as it stinks a little, if the PZM insist rider's ride there only if they want the big bucks who can blame them? The amount of money the Ekstraliga clubs pay they should have that right & restriction on rider's. It's a huge financial inconvenience when rider's get injured outside of Poland. The issue that may not have been thought through is with squad systems. You'd know as a rider whether you'd be a certain starter or not. You'd need to weigh up whether a signing on fee & 5-8 matches a year is worth it. I'm sure most would rather then dump Poland for rides in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Czechia & UK (if it survives). That last paragraph alone could put the spanner in the PZM works more than the concerns from the top, top rider's in the world.

2020 Season Update is pretty much done, will share it with instructions very soon.. Took some doing trawling through the searching for Foreign, Retired and Unattached riders to use with all the current teams riders plus their age, averages and nationalities to add but once I started needed to finish it! 353 new riders now added to the game, there's a few small limitations i.e. the Doubling up situation, a couple of missing nationalities and the Game requires 24 AI teams, meaning I had to improvise and add a few recently defunct clubs and National League Clubs in the 'Premier League' (Championship) League lineup now looks like; Elite League Clubs (10) Belle Vue Aces Ipswich Witches King's Lynn Stars Lakeside Hammers Peterborough Panthers Poole Pirates Somerset Rebels Sheffield Tigers Swindon Robins Wolverhampton Wolves Premier League Clubs (15 including your team) Berwick Bandits Birmingham Brummies Eastbourne Eagles Edinburgh Monarchs Glasgow Tigers Isle of Wight Warriors Kent Kings Leicester Lions Mildenhall Fen Tigers Newcastle Diamonds Plymouth Gladiators Redcar Bears Scunthorpe Scorpions Workington Comets *YOUR TEAM* Screenshots; Season starts in March 2020 A few examples of the 'Retired' Rider lists; Premier League Transfer lists; Unattached Lists; Premier League End of Season averages/honours; A 2020 Team I managed to build; @MassMarauder @Cj69 @Sp33dy89 @daveallan81 @Welwyn @Chillman

Thing is, it wasn't even the best trio in the league. The strongest heat leader trio (Penhall, Gundersen, Grahame) backed up by a genuine fourth heat leader and quality second string (Collins and King). Their reserves were as rubbish as Eastbornes. Belle Vue were more classically built, with the 2nd strongest trio in the league (Morton, Ross,Collins) and then two solid second strings and arguably the best reserves in the league. You also had Ipswich and Coventry with similarly strong heat leaders, but much stronger support. Of course the following season Eastborne had an equally weak tail, just without the heat leader trio! Only Woods (along with Courtney the most improved rider in 83?) and to a lesser extent Eskildsten returning scores of any quality.

Was chatting to Barry Duke last year in Mns cafe in north Swindon, he said he couldn't believe that his two heroes Barry and Ove were in same heat as him as Dukey came third for Robins 4-2.

Took a liking to alcohol and went down the wrong path. Was in jail not long ago for robbery in his home country. Started the season on 3.00 average and finished it on 7.03. Busch came in on and assed 7.00.

I think the GP series is EASIER to win if you are the best rider in the world (maybe even top 2) because it reduces elements of luck, or the impact of one bad ride. For anyone else, the one off world final was easier to win, as it required doing just enough to get through qualifying rounds, then 5 good rides on the big night.

Thought it was a vodka bottle?

Do you mean another 5-1..

Exactly. Nobody can seriously give a guarantee that this time next year we are out of the crisis. Or even that we were out, but are repeating the whole thing again

Isolation from Poland is sadly inevitable for both Britain and Sweden. Rather than be at the mercy of PZM's bulying both have to accept that it is not possible to use riders who race in the Polish Leagues and resource their leagues from those who don't. Already the needs of Poland, and BSI have crippled British speedway. It can only get worse. It's time to rebuild employing riders who will be allowed to race freely here. Let the Poles do their thing, even if it means having to say goodbye to some of our own riders. We cannot go on this way. Poland isn't going to change as long as the money's flowing in. We have to.

Sarj has done well for the Witches on many many occasions.

watched this meeting and was very impressed with the whole meeting . i found it a most enjoyable meeting to watch , prob the best meeting i have ever seen on tv/tube .(except the h18tory workington one ) never seen sarj ride better and no tapes things either . a must watch for all speedway fans , except poole ! cracking stuff .........

He probably failed to arrive and a guest replacement was used.