Halifaxtiger

Just watched it - great ride by Collins. Thanks to everyone for their responses. I had a tot up and theoretically the PL could put on a similar competition- England, Scotland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden, Australia & Poland/Germany as teams............ Doubt it, somehow

Spot on, Matt. Ok, we might get a few more in but 3 times as many ? Doubt it very much.

One of my earliest childhood memories of speedway was the run off between Collins and Michanek. Did anyone get to go to this and, if they did, just how good was it ?

Lets put my two penneth in and let everyone tear me to bits. Guest riders, points limits, tactical rides. I am the exception because I agree with all of them. Guest riders are, like 25 year fan has accurately said, a necessary evil. Look at Glasgow. One big star, injured and out for a big chunk of the season and can't sign an adequate replacement. I am certain that the loss of Parker has damaged gate figures anyway but replacing him a 5 point rider or even a CL one would do much more damage. I can understand those that complain about points limits, rider control, call it what you will in that in some ways it penalises success. But, again, its better than the alternative. After all, without a points limit there's nothing to a handful of teams signing up a super strong outfit and dominating the league, leaving everyone else with the leftovers. A bit like the FA Carling Premiership, really. A points limit allows all teams to go in with an equal shout (at least on paper) while also allowing the successful teams to use their financial muscle within that limit. The PL title has been won by 7 clubs in 8 years, and that's down to the restrictions on riders. I am for anything that makes speedway more exciting and there's no doubt that tactical rides do that. In addition, I fail to see any appreciable difference between that and the old tactical substitute rule, only that that was unlimited. Lets go back to two per meeting, I say. At Mildenhall, we have coverage in several local newspapers including the local free rag. That's quite a lot of advertising. Blanket campaigns through out the season, however, are expensive and produce little effect. Target advertising is far more effective. Wait until you have a big meeting (such as an open one or a final) and swamp the area with posters and flyers. If people like it, they will come back. Tracks. I am sure that everyone's sick and tired of me banging on about fair tracks but I believe that this is at the core of british speedway and its ability to survive and prosper. Fixed tracks mean huge margins, processional racing and crap, boring meetings. Fair tracks mean the opposition will have more of a go meaning better meetings, exciting results and closer racing. That's what speedway is all about. I was in favour of the dropping of bonus points because those that fix tracks gain nothing from it. This season gave us a huge opportunity to jump in the right direction where track preparation is concerned but its largely been lost. You can't always guarantee a good close meeting but I am far from convinced that at present everything is done to make sure that is the case and that individual selfishness continues to rule. Its not so much simplification of rules as getting rid of the stupid, contradictory and totally ludicrous ones that exist. There's no doubt that someone needs to take a long hard look at it. Never forget its easy to put someone else's money where your mouth is. Would you be as happy to gamble with your money as someone elses ? Didn't think so. Sometimes I think that some supporters believe that the BSPA are a set of fools and dolts who sit around dreaming up ways to sabotage the sport and their own businesses. Complete rubbish. The likes of Tony Mole, Keith Denham, Stewart Dickson, Allan Trump, Gordon Pairman, Len Silver and Stewart Douglas are all highly successful businessmen outside speedway who wouldn't miss a single opportunity to increase gate levels. I don 't doubt there have been some bad decisions, but to suggest these gentlemen haven't got a clue is way wide of the mark.

Not exactly a punch up, but I got told a story over the weekend about Mario Jirout in the pits at Stoke (I think) last season. He was smoking, apparently, and was informed by some person that that was forbidden and dangerous. He then poured some methanol on the ground, set light to it and danced up and down in it shouting 'I'm on fire, I'm on fire'. The outraged official then wanted to know who was in charge of team and all fingers pointed at Main Man.

Sadly Shazzy, it was my intention only to make a final contribution to this thread.

As a final contribution, I wonder if there are any Comets or Diamonds fans who were at the 1981 clash at Derwent Park. After what appeared to be some decidely dodgy referreeing decisions, Rod Hunter was attacked by supporters, Ian Thomas was hit by a flying stone, the referee John Whitaker had beer thrown over him and Newcastle had to have a police escort to get out of the stadium.

Definitely one of the best that is no longer in existence. I went there for about 2 seasons just before the team moved to Kirky Lane and it always had a special atmosphere. Mind you, I took the girlfriend (now wife of 20 years) there a few times so that might have something to do with it. Only went to Cradley once (in 1984), but it was memorable because Wimbledon ended their long unbeaten run in the league. Amazing places no longer with us that I visited include Park Road, Barrow, Crayford's tiny track (that'll start Bryn off) & Castleford. I have a few favourites currently but if I was forced to pick one it would probably be Newport. The riders apparently hate it but I have never seen a bad meeting there .

Got a picture of that in old Speedy Star somewhere - 1978 KO Cup Final, I think. Mullarkey has his fists up ready for action and Bob Dugard is being restrained by the track staff.

Stand corrected on the Kennett story; the mate concerned was a great bloke but he did like his ale. Saw an interview with Reg Fearman once and he said that if two blokes were fighting in the pits he would break it up and tell them to do it on the track. Another second hand tale involving the Kennett brothers was the quiet one, Gordon (always one of my favourite riders). In 1984 Preben Eriksen put Kelvin Tatum through the fence at Wolverhampton (breaking Tatum's leg in the process) but Eriksen lost his lunch when Kennett, who was always pretty well built (still is, I believe), went for him in the pits. My mate at Sheffield told me when Vissing knocked Cooper off last year there was a mass brawl on the track at Owlerton and I saw one there in 2002 when Sean Wilson knocked Danny Bird off in the YS Final. Saw another at Newport in 2005 with Danny Norton of Scunthorpe right in the middle. Its strange, because not all punch ups can looked back at with some amusement. I remember Lubos Tomicek going for Rob Grant at Stoke (remember that one, Dave ?) because that was anything but funny. The Des Wilson one takes the cake. Absolutely priceless.

A mate told me a story once about Mitch Shirra decking Dave Kennett (Eddie's dad) in the pits at Eastbourne. Kennett's false teeth apparently came flying out. The best one I heard was Grieves and Fry up at Newcastle a couple of seasons ago, when Zetterstrom was chucked out of the meeting for smashing into Christian Henry. It got a bit heated but had calmed down until Grieves (who apparently suffers from some sort of bad circulation) was shaking his hands and Fry thought it was an accusation that he was a self abuser, making it kick off again.

Got in before me. I was going to suggest Tony Davey. John Berry, if memory serves me correctly, said he was supremely talented but wasn't the same after losing fingers in a track crash.

Might not be totally, Kev. I am pretty sure that the old Pennycross track at Plymouth's surface was composed at least in part of crushed sea shells.