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Olly Allen came to a meeting of the Nuneaton Supportes Club in February. He has been very active in getting the Poultec apprenticeship going. It provides for recognised engineering qualifications as well as specialist speedway knowledge. This includes bike and engine training, track craft (regular track days under the guidance of senior riders) and other aspects of being a professional rider such as diet, keeping in good shape and dealing with the fourth estate. Olly brought several youngsters from the course with him to the meeting and their appearance, ability to speak, and thier overall demeanour was very impressive. Olly explained that he has been jointly recruited to the GB Team Management with Simon Stead because of his expertese with young riders. What he is bulding is a speedway academy and I, for one, wish him well in this endeavour.

If you are looking to dispel the cliche of a moaning Aussie ... Never interview a Holder.

That wasn't really the point I was trying to make. I was trying to point out that most of society is good on the whole and there are a few rotten eggs that take a disproportionate amount of the headlines, and that is the same for speedway. I wasn't trying to make a point about equality in society. However, speedway is one of the few sports where women are able to compete on equal terms with men and I would hope that if gay men or prospective riders from minority ethnic groups were more prevalent, speedway crowds are largely decent people and would welcome them accordingly.

BEARS BEN FUND RUN It has been a tough year in 2020 for the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund, with a huge drop in donations due to the cancellation of the British Speedway season. The reason for this is most of the Ben Funds income is generated by track collections, with less than £17,000 of the £100,000 annual expenditure raised to date. Redcar Speedway want to make sure that we are doing what we can for them, as we know first hand the amazing work the Ben Fund provides to injured riders and their families. The Bears three promoters - Jitendra Duffill, Jade Mudgway and Jamie Swales - have decided to take on the challenge of running the distance needed to drive from Edinburgh to Plymouth, the most northerly and southerly based tracks in the UK, by Christmas Day. This is a distance of 780km in 54 days, giving an average of 5km each every day until 25th December. The challenge will start on 1st November, and each run will be recorded on Strava and posted to their Social Media accounts as proof! This is going to be a tough challenge, especially as all three hate running! A Justgiving page has been setup for donations, with the aim to raise at least £2000. We realise 2020 has been a tough year for everyone so far, but for those of you who can any donation big or small is very much appreciated! https://buff.ly/3oGEQrq We wish the lads luck in this challenge!

Wouldn't it be ironic if we got an early fixture list for 2021. We've been shouting at the promoters to do this for years. Oh well, it only took a global pandemic.

Two year ago today since that historic night with comets cleaning up. The last night we would see speedway at derwent park. How I miss that place

Yes and yes. Woryna is on his way to Częstochowa.

I see that scum bag Garrity got 7 years and six months jail how low and despicable must you be to do that to two disabled people robbing one of them at knife point should have thrown away the key .

That's shocked me geoff.......I've been a 'Townie' for a great many years, and always will be....yes it was awful to see the speedway track "ripped up", but I think even if it was still intact the Comets wouldn't be flying round it..............money, or rather the lack of it would have saw to that bitter end.

Holder is very bitter, he had his chance in the Torun GPs and looked out of his depth. Only has himself to blame

I doubt many promoters strive to build a team to win the league. Rather a competitive team that will keep the crowds happy and turning up. In the case of Panthers I wonder whether either Iversen or Harris will cut the mustard in 2021. There must even still be some doubt whether there will be a 2021 season. Panthers bosses having had a breathing space to stand back and contemplate the PR disaster they created over BB badge parking( mainly I suspect for their own convenience) would do well to focus on the fact that the paying public are their customers, and pay them some regard

Good luck boys from someone who couldnt run 50 yards never mind 5km a day will be supporting u.£2000 lets try £20,000 a simple £1from everyfan can make a hell of a difference.

You can imagine Polish clubs insisting that their contracted riders base themselves over there for the season and don’t leave other than for FIM events.

I can see quite a few changes to the 2020 teams if 2021 goes ahead.. Those lads with a contract in Poland may not want to risk any further lockdowns, and thus finding themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time if they happen.. The positive of course is that Poland get their act together early so riders will be signed up in plenty of time for the UK to plan in their own season.. For me, any riders with a Polish (or maybe Swedish contract too?) should be avoided, and the domestic calendar drawn up with riders who are 100% available on any given night over here.. As fixture lists too may become a little ad hoc at a moments notice to ensure a completed season. Therefore 100% availability and flexibility will be very important.. As I say, lots of time for this to get sorted for a March or April start so no excuses to stumble into 2021 if the green light to go ahead is given..

Should never criticise others as look what's happened now.. just thankful young granty is at the helm now...

Mr English was very outspoken when Workington were in debt / going out of business, looks like it's now come back to haunt him

Was an article in speedway star a few weeks ago with the guy who hopes to do something, but we are in strange times at the moment, so would not like to guess the outcome, also Workington is home to several families who like to live in caravans !! And our local council have earmarked Northside area for a special site for the said people !!, Which would be an official one rather than the illegal ones they are using in the said area now and it is full of various bits off rubbish or worse left by the said people, so would not like to venture down to watch speedway

Remember to ring Dandy highwaymen taxis when your in the toon & I shall come to your rescue & leave your pockets empty

..... and you could have a beer (or two) in the bar with the riders at the end of the meeting!!!

I can only add I am glad I watched my speedway in the 60’s and 70’s, when British speedway was a “who’s who” of the world’s best.

It’s clear the way things are going with Covid-19 that fans will not be allowed in stadiums for many months, in fact it could be years. Difficult to see how clubs and the sport can survive with zero income.

Big thanks again to R&R for the invaluable information he provides in this thread all season long, it's been the difference between me getting to see much more speedway than I would if it weren't for his kind efforts. Cheers R&R

How does that work ? If the capacity is the bore x stroke the capacity is always going to be the same for a given piston diameter surely ? is an engine is a short stroke engine the bore( and therefore the piston diameter ) must be bigger. If it is a long stroke engine to cylinder bore will be narrower and a short stroke piston wouldn’t fit. Does anybody ride long stroke engines anymore ? I thought they went out with the J.A.Ps in the sixties / early seventies.

It seems a little harsh to say that he was "woeful" this year. He didn't really get a proper run this year in Poland...What did he do? 10 races across the season or something like that? He was in a team that was set up with a good number 8 and often got replaced in every race...In a different team he might have had a better season. I feel kinda sad to see him retire. As you said, he was a bright hope at one point and hasn't delivered on the expectations, but more that that, it's esentially another Country lost to the sport. Croatia basically have no-one racing now.