Midland Red

There's another "Sky" thread on the Elite League section of the forum, and I've just posted a ramble on there - I don't think it's right to post the same thing into two threads, so rather than duplicate it, I thought I'd mention it if anyone cares to read it - thank you

However it has been spent in the past (and let's not go into that!) any money Sky have put into the sport/promotions has been very welcome. However, I still wonder whether regular televising of league speedway achieves anything that benefits the sport, as many of the televised meetings (for whatever reason) can become long drawn-out affairs which do nothing to attract non-followers to our wonderful sport. In addition, I also wonder how many speedway fans who are also Sky subscribers (not just for speedway, but for PL football and rugby, etc) choose to opt out of attending meetings in favour of their weekly TV fill. If these two points have any truth in them (and it has always been my own opinion that they do) then a deal with Sky (or another broadcaster) only to televise but not to sponsor/fund the sport can only have a detrimental effect. The sport cannot afford to lose its long-term followers who may, for whatever reason, decide to stay in their armchairs for their speedway, and it cannot afford to deter any new followers by televising unattractive meetings - bear also in mind that the atmosphere, the smell, the comradeship of real life speedway does not, and cannot, come across on the TV screen. If we had the situation as in the past where we could stage big meetings like a GB v USA test series, televising such events could attract a new audience to our tracks, particularly as all the riders (the Collins, Penhall, Carter, Moran type stars) could be seen in our league programme, but sadly those days are gone. I don't feel that we have a decent enough product to put in front of a TV audience and attract new punters, but I do feel that those who get out of the habit of attending because they can watch some speedway on TV will not come back. I love our sport, ever since my first meeting in 1964, and I've travelled all over attending meetings, and in the "good old days" there was a great attraction to have the odd meeting covered on TV - I now think that there's too much of it to be just an advertisement to entice new followers. Sorry for rambling on but there you go!

You seem to delight in putting the blame for this on Chris Harris He hasn't struck, either once or again None of this is his doing - he is simply the recipient of any moves the rules allow or the authorities deign to make If all of this means that he will appear in the 2014 SGP, do not place any of the blame on the rider, or be disrepectful to him as a person or as a racer of considerable ability Thank you!

Les Kellett, please!

And for those of whose first language is English . . . . That's not saying very much for it, though, is it?

Today's Coventry Telegraph carries an announcement of the death at 76 of John Ivor (Nick) Nicholls [Coventry 1954-61] RIP Nick

That's why I have often suggested that the second half rides count towards qualification for the * * * * * * * League Riders Championship at the end of the season, thereby making the second half races more meaningful than just "Rider of the Night" and hopefully ensuring that team members appear in the second halves rather than flit off to the next country they are due to ride in

R/R then! Best wishes

Anyone care to tell me what the @@@@ Ermolenko is talking about?

And for those of us . . . . . . ? Which train is this, by the way? Savoy Brown's by any chance?

And for those of us whose first language is English . . . . . . ?

Why wasn't Matej Zagar riding for Czech Republic? Or couldn't he have guested for Great Britain on Thursday?

Why on earth do we have to have this wretched title "Team GB" AFAIK the teams at Kings Lynn were : Denmark, Australia, United States of America, and . . . . . Great Britain It's Great Britain, folks, not Team GB!

Absolutely brilliant coverage by British Eurosport - hope it can long continue, and expand into league racing as well Just two small points, though . . . 1. I think I'm right in saying that in all the GPs so far, including Cardiff, they have cut to a break immediately after showing the Heat 20 result, without showing the final cumulative scores to that point - which is perhaps the most important item that they should be showing 2. Sophie Blake failed to ask any of the riders "how important is it?"

Don't forget, there were heavy tyres as well !!!

http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw027277?search=coventry&ref=250 http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw035992?search=leicester&ref=8

I'm sure that back in 1958 Nigel was well underrated compared to the fine England No 1 he was to become in later years

Blackbird Road Ray Wilson Erik Gundersen Hans Nielsen Nigel Boocock

Reminded me of one of my all-time favourite moments at speedway when it was played at the Olympic Stadium, Wroclaw, in September 1970 - happy days!

Colin Cook and, er, Nigel Boocock (ooh!)

There's also interesting shots of the stadia at Lythalls Lane, Coventry, and Blackbird Road, Leicester - well worth a look

Quite right - the percentages for multiple answer questions should have been calculated on the number of people who filled in the questionnaire - so the percentage for Cardiff would be 75.9% and other GPs 32.3%

Sort of - Charles Knott Gardens, Southampton

When I saw the headline I felt sure it was news of the dreadful Peter York leaving Brandon

How about Antal Kosco 17pts from 6 rides for Bradford at Coventry, 1992?