Halifaxtiger

Stayed at the Heart in Hand a couple of times. Landlord's a bit of a misery guts but he makes a top breakfast, serves a very good pint of real ale and his rooms are spotless. The speedway pub used to be The Gunners at Ellesmere Port. Its still there, but I don't think its called that any more, nor does it have the speedway memorabilia.

I'd forgotten about that. The view from the back straight terracing is superb. The ones at Weymouth were two portabogs on the third/fourth bends. I was once sitting down and getting on with it when a child yanked the door open, to my horror and the crowds amusement. I am surprised no-one has mentioned the infamous back straight toilets at Workington. They have been knocked down now, and where they were is a sign saying that anyone caught urinating there will be ejected from the stadium.

On current circuits, best track (for racing): Scunthorpe, by a short head from Mildenhall, Plymouth & Peterborough. Worst (for racing): Buxton. I avoid speedway food if at all possible with one exception - and there I deliberately eat at the track: Berwick. Mr Anderson's burgers are quite superb and am I told that the pies are even better. The best stadium is Kent. One or two other positives: Tracks that have stepped up their game in the last few seasons: Berwick, Lakeside & Workington. Belle Vue's track has improved considerably, too. Best fans: Plymouth.

Two weeks ago.......

Last time I went there all I got was soaked.

Based upon my (limited) trips to Glasgow, a little harsh George.........but only a little. Love the description of the 'two cats' chippy

That is truly extraordinary. I would say that the best tracks (purely in terms of the quality of racing I have seen) are Peterborough, Mildenhall, Plymouth & Scunthorpe. The best shaped track for racing, though, (and I'll await the howls of derisive abuse ) is Stoke.

According to their website, all of the Saturday matches with afternoon starts have been postponed..............

Very good point, Screm. If Wolbert had scored 8pts, Glasgow would have got the same as Workington - the pre season PL favourites. No consolation at all there, Paul. Take it from me, they are a very good side and probably the last team you needed after a defeat like that.

Once again, Rob, my problem is not with Scunthorpe are doing but with what some of their supporters (and indeed others) are saying that the other NL clubs should (or should not) be doing. It was stated that Ford, Godfrey & Chapman have the 'greater good' of British speedway at heart; at least you have set the record straight (which I never doubted anyway). I should say good luck to Scunny & Poole because, again, I have no issue with that at all. I also have no problem with Scunny running double headers (I have been to two so far, enjoyed the PL meetings in particular enormously and will be back next Sunday). Its the comments about clubs running the same standard of riders while utterly disregarding the financial implications of the likes of Mildenhall doing so (Adz has very eloquently made the relevant point earlier) that I object to. Only on your third point would I say that you are definitely wrong, because that implies that the quality of the opposition makes no difference to attendances. It does. As to your final comment, well said indeed. You and I might cross swords on this subject occasionally but there's never been one single word of personal abuse and there's no need for it at all. Its not because I disagree with your point of view that I have described your views as nonsense (although I won't deny that I do disagree with them) its because I regard them as precisely that. First you state that if teams disagree with Scunny's team they could always move up. Buster Chapman apparently does, so your view is that the Young Stars should think about going into the PL. Then you say that Godfrey and Chapman have the 'greater good' of British Speedway at heart, suggesting that their primary motivation for blooding youngsters is for our country's future prospects. As Rob has confirmed, in Scunny's case that's just not true and I'd say it most definitely isn't in King's Lynn's either. As I have said, Rob and I have crossed swords on this subject (although, as I have also said, my problem isn't really with Scunthorpe at all) and we have disagreed on occasion. I nevertheless have a healthy respect (for the most part) for the position he has taken and have indeed acknowledged that. That, too, is nonsense. Eastbourne, in fact, were extremely successful at NL both on and off track and it was only when they went up a level in 1979 (due to the closure of White City) that the club fell apart. When they returned to the NL in the mid 1980's they were again extremely successful both on and off track. Word I got is that they pay the riders out of the programme sales............. In my view, the way to judge it is if the rider was heard of before they came into NL speedway. Auty, Lambert & Haines are examples that were. Birks and the Worralls were not, neither was Scunthorpe's biggest success, a certain Mr Woffinden. Whatever anyone's view of what Scunny are doing this season, their success at bringing into speedway talented young riders is unquestionable. I think this is spot on and exactly how all fans should look at the NL. There has to be an acceptance that the different type of teams (ie stand alone or double up) have different agenda's, that those differing agendas will lead to different approaches, values and intentions, it is perfectly reasonable that that is the case and that there has to be a degree of compromise if the league is to grow and prosper. Personally, and unlike some, I have absolutely no problem with what Scunthorpe or Cradley are doing and indeed have done in the past.

I thought the referee got it right, too. I also agree with your view of Greenwood's fall in heat 2 at the showground - the referee got that one wrong.

Reidar Eide rode for four different teams in the BL during the 1980 season.

Dave Trownson scored half of Edinburgh's match total (34) in a home match in 1982 (can't remember who against). Gordon Kennett scored a 21pt maximum in a cup tie at Swindon (1980, I think) with Kai Niemi scoring 19. Eastbourne still lost.

I think that's fair summary. Came out covered in dust and there was an awful blue line on the first two bends. Its a real shame, too, because there was a massive crowd (and I was informed that the one at EOES was well above normal) some of whom might just have come back if the racing had been good and Ipswich had won. Witches really missed Worrall and, in particular, Ellis as Mills only won heat 2 because he got a flier at the start and otherwise was nowhere near as good. Risager and Heeps were poor and although they improved a bit at Peterborough that's not enough. You can see why the Panthers are one of the favourites for the PL. The top four are all doing a job and the bottom three were all impressive yesterday. I am still wondering how Mick Bates excluded Greenwood in heat 2 to at EOES. There was clear contact between him and Hawkins. That might not have been in earnest but anyone who failed to follow that advice paid for it. That wind was bloody freezing !

Brilliant

I think you are dead right here. Brummies were weak in the first place but those two, in particular, are just not performing at all. I have said before its not totally down to the management, and it isn't.

On the face of it, I'd agree that looks daft. However, the guest system has been part of speedway for 50 years and I'd say its better than the alternative. Ipswich need a guest in the afternoon, Peterborough in the evening. To me, its practical common sense to use the same rider if the averages fit.

About 45, I believe. Definitely will, Sue. Do you want me to do the texting from Foxhall ? Resident texter is rubbish, I understand

At most tracks, yes. It does cost more to have two ambulances but I think its a false economy not to do so. Standing around for what can be literally hours is enough to try the patience of even the most hardened fan, particularly when its cold. Two tracks that do have two ambulances are Plymouth and Newcastle. When Ash Birks sustained his awful injury at SBA last year, the delay was only while they fixed the fence.

Again ?

Again, that's nonsense. The greater good they have is for Scunthorpe and Poole, nothing more. True, what they are doing may benefit British Speedway in the future but it is rubbish to suggest that that is their principle motivation. Of course their agenda is different, it simply has to be. Viability must come first for others. Its all a question (as BP has said) of balance and compromise. If, for arguments sake, Malcolm Vasey's 36 point limit is used but there is a lower limit of 32, Cradley will compromise by 4 points. Scunthorpe would have to by 9. I disagree, Dean. I firmly believe that the NL is the place for young British riders to develop and hence that there should be restrictions on the number of more experienced riders competing. What I would say, though, is that the presence of one senior rider is a very good thing. As far as I am concerned, it was a bad day when you chose to pack in riding because you had (and indeed still have) an awful lot to offer. Very good post, Adz. The point about being a commercial business that has to offer a decent product to remain viable is far too easily brushed aside by those who insist on very low points limits (usually from a club whose team at one time had a starting average of around 60 points and didn't hesitate to sign PL riders if their team was weakened for some reason). I also agree that Mildenhall have got the balance dead right, although I'd say Cradley have too. Both full of young riders yet attractive enough to bring in the paying customers. I believe even Rob Godfrey has admitted that they run double headers for that specific reason. I would say that the majority (or near majority) of those who watched the Scorpions also watched the Stags when I have been there. That was good to see. As far as I am aware, only Buster Chapman has said something. However, if they do say something I think they have fair point because their gates could be affected by the weakness of the Stags team. To me, that's unquestionable. Its very easy for a club like Scunthorpe (or one of its supporters) to say pack your teams with young, inexperienced riders to the stand alone clubs when they make their meetings double headers and charge people for the NL match whether they want to see it or not. Such a policy at Stoke, for example, would see the track close in weeks. As I have said before, when they start running NL meetings as stand alones (and so run exactly the same financial risk that the likes of Cradley and Mildenhall would) they can crow as much as they want. Otherwise, they don't have a case at all. You could easily run meetings on Fridays (Scorpions) and Sundays (Stags) but, you're right, it would be financial suicide because no-one would pay on Sundays. The reason you have double headers is so that people going to the Scorpions match pay extra for the NL match whether they want it or not and thus the NL match is funded. I should say I don't blame Scunthorpe for that, but there has to be an acceptance on the part of their promotion and supporters that the line up of their team will affect others attendances.

All four lined up together for a test match for England at Leicester in 1982, with the Grahame brothers also appearing (Kenny Carter and Chris Morton were the others). That is truly extraordinary.

Weather permitting I'll be coming down for these two - my first visit to Foxhall for some seasons. I think both home sides will sneak wins.

You got that one (mostly) right. Decent meeting, though, with the Aces more impressive than most predicted. One very proud sponsor this morning, too. But for the expensive (and painful) shedding of both chains, Stef would probably have scored a maximum.

That's harsh. Lewis Kerr scored a maximum in the PL yesterday and 10 points in the EL on Friday. He's a product of the Young Stars. Lewis Rose scored 7 yesterday, beating the likes of Roynon, Compton & Lanham in his first season at that level. So is he. If Scunthorpe can claim credit for the likes of Josh Auty, I see no reason why King's Lynn Young Stars can't claim Robert Lambert. He's riding in the EL, too. I was very impressed with Josh Bailey the other day, another youngster blooded by Dale's team. The difference between King's Lynn and Scunthorpe is that the Stars don't have the luxury of being able to run double header meetings. They can't just throw an MDL team in the NL, because no-one would go and watch it.