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Marginally better than Garrity Way.

https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/875/adi-funk https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/1654/franz-leitner https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/2327/toni-qpilotto https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/199/andreas-bossner

Archie Freeman makes it a Happy Christmas for Newcastle Diamonds Newcastle-born teenage speedway star in the making, Archie Freeman turned 16 at the back end of November, and had now made the day for his home club and supporters by putting pen to paper on a Newcastle Speedway full contract with club owner, Rob Grant. Club co-promoter, Dave Tattum said: "This is a key moment for the Diamonds, signing a superbly talented, locally-sourced prospect as Archie Freeman is a vital move for us and our aim to cultivate a vibrant squad of young up-and-coming British riders in our squad and as Archie is a Geordie it makes it all the sweeter. "He's won lower cc class British Youth Titles a couple of seasons ago, and he's been involved in that important series of events all through 2020, on his 500cc machine, when other events weren't allowed to take place, and he has made more excellent progress, maturing into a fine speedway rider with bags of potential and we cannot wait for the winter to pass to get him on track next season." Team manager Darren Hartley added: "It's brilliant for Newcastle to get this strong young local lad into our squad, and while initially he will be in our National League side, once he gets more and more racing under his belt, we'll be looking at introducing him into the Championship Diamonds' side to continue his impressive progress. "However, we'll be bringing Archie along to all our Championship level matches in 2021 anyway as part of the team and he will be looked after an integrated into the Diamonds pit activity to get him accustomed to the whole match atmosphere at its heart and that in itself will bring him on in leaps and bounds with experience of real matches in progress. "We have massive belief in Archie's ability, and his future progress, which we at his home track were always desperate to make sure took place with us, and Brough Park is a track he's learned a lot about since he started training there on small bikes, many, many years ago, and the crowd who watch the second half racing will know what we're on about having seen his young racing, and this signing will be good for him, and good for us." Archie Freeman himself also commented, saying: "I’m over the moon to be riding for Newcastle, this has been my ambition ever since I sat on a bike at Newcastle Speedway, and from then it’s been a lifelong ambition of mine, and for it to become reality right now is amazing. "Next year I aim to move up into the main body of the team and to consistently score, and hopefully to attract more sponsors. Overall, I really can’t wait till next year and hope to bring in some more faces to Newcastle. I’d just like to thank everyone who had helped me over the years to get me here. Especially Colin Poole, David Rowland, Mark Hubbard, Lawrence Heppell, Trevor and Lynn Strawbridge and obviously my Mam and Dad, not to forget about Rob Grant for giving me this brilliant opportunity." From Newcastle Speedway Facebook page. Great News. Sounds like the right way to develop. Got #8 just need to find #7... once the points limited is decided.....

Issue 101 of Backtrack is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside . . . Subscription only at www.retro-speedway.com DAVE JESSUP – Life & Times A World Champion with Team and Pairs gold medals for England, DJ is unquestionably one of the greatest never to win that elusive main individual prize. But, as ROB PEASLEY chronicles, this diminutive racer with the big heart enjoyed a brilliant career that spanned almost 20 years with West Ham, Eastbourne, Wembley, Leicester, Reading, King’s Lynn, Wimbledon and Mildenhall before a spell as GB team manager. ON THE BOSSES – Maurice Littlechild Love them or hate them, the speedway promoters of the Backtrack era included some of the sport's all-time heavyweights as well as a new brigade of youthful innovators. As a member of the BSPA in the 70s and 80s, a longtime management committee member and vice-chairman, MARTIN ROGERS rubbed shoulders – and crossed swords – with all of them. It’s the centenary of Maurice Littlechild's birth and, but for his premature death in 1972, the speedway involvement of MR may well have been very different. In the latest in our new series on the big names with whom he rubbed shoulders, our resident scribe turns the spotlight on one of speedway's all-time great enthusiasts who promoted at King’s Lynn and Crewe. BRITISH MEMORIAL MEETING NEEDED Isn’t it time for an annual British memorial meeting to honour all ex-riders with UK track connections who made the ultimate sacrifice? TONY MAC thinks so. See if you agree. JERZY SZCZAKIEL Jerzy Szczakiel’s World Final victory in 1973 sent shock waves through the sport. How could a rider, who wasn’t even originally meant to be in the Katowice meeting, possibly beat the defending World Champion Ivan Mauger in the most dramatic circumstances? As a tribute to the Pole who died on September 1, ROMAN CHYLA provides insight and context to his incredible story. DOUG ADAMS – remembering a top mic-man Once the voice of speedway in Yorkshire and host to the stars, Doug Adams remains fondly remembered 17 years after moving on to that great speedway track in the sky. KEITH McGHIE talks to Dougie’s wife Joyce, son Martyn and others who remember a popular, jovial character. TRACK RIVALRIES: Berwick v Edinburgh With new observations from Brian Collins, who skippered both of the featured teams, ROB PEASLEY reflects on 11 meetings between second tier neighbours on opposite sides of the border. BIG NIGHTS: Southern Riders’ Championship Reviewing British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings, PHIL CHARD returns south for an event that marked tragic Tommy Jansson’s first major UK victory. Other SRC winners include Colin Pratt, Terry Betts, John Louis, Jamie Luckhurst, Martin Dugard, Andy Buck, Andy Galvin, Steve Schofield and Brian Karger. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO . . . John Goodall If things had turned out differently, John Goodall could have been sitting at home in New Zealand polishing a World Team Cup winner’s medal. He was on verge of a call up by the Kiwis in 1979 but by the time they roared to glory at White City in September of that year, he’d already returned home. MARTIN NEAL catches up with the former Sunderland, Newport, Bristol and Wolverhampton rider. THAT NAME RINGS A BELL: Newport Whatever became of them, all the ex-riders who had second-half races, junior matches or interval spins in the 70s at . . . NEWPORT? In this memory-jogger, we list all those budding one-time Somerton Park hopefuls, including Kevin Holden, Mike Sampson, Brian Woodward, Danny Kennedy and the tragic Mike Powell, among the many who ‘had a go’. ----------------------------------- Subscription only at www.retro-speedway.com

Nice gesture, well done on winning the comp, I thought my entry was the winner but you've done me.

Toni Pilotto - biography http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/zawodnik.php?imie=Toni&nazwisko=Pilotto

Great, hopefully it will be here before Christmas.....Thanks

Thank You salty......

Same happened to the Middlesbrough Stadium in the 90’s. “ Must be used for sport “ so they built a college on it and added an all weather five a side pitch at the end.

Who cares what you think. The people are just letting Philip know the service is not working as it should be.Your the expert it seems though.

Watched the film online. Was it always there ? But quite interesting, with some info that was unknown to me about his time in the US at least. Sadly no new film of him in action, and did wonder what the old stock film of board racing was doing in there. Nice to see one of the last pics of him looking well. As ever, always seems sad looking back that nobody had a thorough interview with him in the 70s.....and hope he finally gets into the Portland hall of fame

The track preperation is something that they organizer will improve for sure. It was their first time running an ice event, and it won't be the last. I think the overall organisation was quite good, and it wasn't easy with all these COVID regulations and everything. No crowd was allowed so the whole event was funded by TV rights and sponsors. Everybody in the paddock had to be COVID tested as well. They had the paddock on the back straight, but when a crowd will be allowed they will move it to outside in a tent or something. The stadium has retractable stands, so they can have spectators on the back straight too. Speaking about riders: Svensson was awesome. 62 years of age but still very good. Too bad this was his last international event. Zorn his time is over. He can still do the starts, but then he looks scared. Ledstrom was on the pace as well on completely borrowed equipment. Bike from Haarahiltunen, kevlars from Bauer, helmet from Svensson. My photo's from yesterday: https://www.baansportfansite.nl/nieuws/2026/russische-dominantie-tijdens-het-ek-ijsspeedway-in-tomaszow-mazowiecki

Birmingham City Council in conjunction with the company redeveloping parts of Perry Barr, launched a competition a few months back, to find names for the six new roads which are being created on the site of the old University. The names, so they said, should reflect the history and current status of Perry Barr! So what have they come up with? - Diversity Grove, Equality Road, Destiny Road, Inspire Avenue, Respect Way and Humanity Close - all fully reflective of the district!!!!! Comments made by the seven judges were: "We were impressed by the creativity and range of names." "The names are a true reflection of both Perry Barr and the City." "The names in the winning entry just stood out." Who were the judges? Waseem Zaffar, Morriam Jan, Zulfigar Khan, Lincoln Moses, Aisha Masood, Anna Evans and Rebecca Farr.

You would think not , but assume people thought the same with tobacco advertising 20/30 years ago?

Monkey nuts sold from a Invacar. The lucky 50 pence piece.

His Scunthorpe obsession lives on

Just wait until there is a total ban on Betting Company advertising and sponsorship!! That is what is funding the Sky/BT coverage.

There was an article in the Speedway Star a couple of weeks ago that 'a Rockets Fan Group' were in discussion with the local Council on the basis that what the stadium operators were doing contravened the terms of the lease, which I understand includes the fact the 'Speedway must be included'!!?

What would make ice racing better? I watched the 3rd set of heats just to see what the Finns were up to, then went out. When I came back the grading took so long I was out of excuses and forced back out...

That's because it's not due until Christmas Eve. It'll be in the East.

Pilotto was at King's Lynn, and Bössner rode for Exeter. Leitner spent a couple of winter seasons in the mid-1990s riding in South Africa.

Jenga I know you like winding people up, but I think this thread should be left to rot, a bit like the said person this thread is about !!

Top three in last year's Russian Ice Championship (exc seeded World champion) got a shot at FIM Ice Gladiators. Next three spots got the Euro nomination. As only 6/7 are going thru to the final it looks like the three Russians riding in Poland today have been seeded to Russian Ice Final. So the Russians riding in today's European are approx. 5th/6th/7th best Russian ice racers.

I think the plans for all of us in 2021 will be to get back into our stadiums to watch our favourite teams....Hope we all get the jab in time.

I think its getting posted out this week.

Lot of things to consider here. The full story was in the Speedway Star last week, the extract linked just seems to pick and choose items. Firstly he would be separated from his family for a time. Hasn't he just got a young child? Jason Doyle says in this weeks Star he and Troy Batchelor really struggled living in Poland this year as well. Then if Craig Cook didn't have any machinery out there, that could be another expense. Plus I'm sure he's had some bad experiences out there before about signing, then not being used after lying out money on transport and equipment. Maybe once bitten...? Easy to sit back and just blame a lack of ambition, but often more to it than that.

League and Cup winners and Our number one was World Champion in 1965.

Next to the Bassets Licorice Allsorts factory, and a bakery.

"As Long As We Know".

First track to use a starting gate.

It's where my parents met!

Split Waterman was the first former speedway world finalist to race at this track when he competed in the opening stock car meeting at this track.

I certainly don't support this team, but my 'fact' would be:- "2nd bend bogs with no roof on!"

"Scotsman's Bonk"

"Let Battle Commence"...Dave Lanning after introducing the riders at Cowley in 1972.

"Monday Monday"(Mamas and the Papas)

Do you manage to get it in Penge, after all you are such a vital supporter of modern speedway, not having attended a meeting for about 15 years and no intention of doing so in the future. Sure all the tracks in 2021 will thank you for your support, as will the Speedway Star

i think we should take the view that if poland stops their young riders racing in gb then thats their loss,also if average british riders think they can succeed in poland they are being naive and misguided.British speedway can indeed prosper without "top stars" as an example british superbikes is a very successful and profitable competition even though everyone knows the top riders are in moto gp,moto2 or wsb,also british riders would know theyd have no chance of moving up until they were at least top 3 in bsb .If a truly talented british speedway rider emerges theres still a route to the top through the gp qualifiers,finish top6 in gps then you can demand the mega bucks from the poles.

Just thought I would wake up the thread. No news or anything to say, other than wishing everyone a merry Christmas, with the hope that we can start next season on time with fans allowed inside stadiums. Oh, and Pirate dominance of course.

I take you have evidence to back your allegation.