tonyd

For me I believe the riders do there best to be professional sportsmen and purvey that to image to sponsers and supporters around the country, but im afraid I do not feel the same can be said about some promoters or the sports ruling bodies who seem to like to present the sport as a form of amateur entertainment

Having worked in construction over the years I agree with what you have said, any problem can be overcome but it takes expert knowledge and money (proberly lots of it) and most speedway clubs not just stoke would have a problem with finding extra funds for anything outside of the planned budget. I say Good luck to Stoke, I hope they get it sorted and get back on the track asap as its now one of my local tracks since moving to the midlands from down south.

Well I assume his mum does.

This Polish track guy makes me wonder, no one seems to know who he is but he is supposed to be a top track curator. One would think that with the amount of riders, ex riders, managers and mechanics criss crossing europe each week someone would know him and say so (even if just to say he drove the dumper to take the shale onto the track so it could be spread, or even just a car park attendant somewhere)

Can anyone else see where this could be heading ??? ....... Stadium sold and speeedway told its ok for 3 years ....... Greyhounds gone within days of takeover ....... Old trackman gone and new one brought in to prepare the track for the speedway employed by the stadium. ....... Track supplied is un-ridable but stadium owners still want to use there own man to do the job. ....... Coventry speedway facing an uphill task paying money out each week to riders for no return through the gates ....... In the wost case Coventry speedway have to pull out as there is no bottomless pit of money to keep going on like this. .......That leaves stockcars only x amount of nights a year ...... Stadium starts falling into a state of dis-repair ...... Council talk about the state of it but are told not enough money coming in to do anything about it. ...... Oh dear someone has broken in and burnt down part of the grandstand ..... Council involved again but are told not enough money to repair it but we could pull it down ..... A year later complaints are coming into the council thick and fast about the state of the land (Squatters, dumped cars, Rubbish, fires etc) ..... Stadium owners to council .... If you approve this housing plan for 200+ matchboxes it will really tidy up and improve the situation ......... Hope im wrong and talking out my a*se but this does seem to have a sort of regular land owner / council type senario about it.

A quote thats heard every year on the terraces and one that I that feel needs to be printed in bold lettering on the front cover of the speedway rule book. (is there still a genuine speedway rule book ?)

I have no idea if its a world record or not but I do wonder how some tracks can take over 2 hours to run fifteen heats of speeday at times and 4/5 hours to run a double header. If the amateur meetings can run 100+ heats in the best part of a day why cant some "professional" tracks run just15 heats in under two hours ?

Dont like the Speedway Star or the man keeping it on the shelves for those that do, to tight to buy one but at the same time likes a free read (and leave a well thumbed copy for those that do want one) just incase there is something interesting in it. ????? You just cant please everyone.

On hold pending ???? They should have been torn out the rule book and thrown in the bin years ago.

Because we do not have enough riders to put together a competitive world class team at present. A best pairs trophy maybe and thats about it.

I think this is a great post and true. We have got to look back to move forward. Lets get back to basic speedway, rules that were tried and tested, no stupid double point rides and at the end of the season the team at the top of the league to be called champions. How about putting some dirt on the tracks and reverting back to upright machines .........Controversial I Know but could a cost saving be made ? cheaper bikes? lower mainaince / repair bills for the riders? Happiness needs to be 40-38 once again.

Yeah great idea .......... how about a installing a ramp half way down the back straight and turning the starting gate into a wall of fire on the last lap for the winner to ride through ?????

Did anyone ever find out how Gary came to pass over to spend eternity sitting on a clould with the other lost speedway greats passing the time of day ? I used to love a meeting with Gary in it, you never knew who was turning up .... Gary Middleton the rider that could beat the best on the night or Gary Middleton the rider who could wind up the opposition being Mr controversal ...... whoever turned up you could be sure of a good nights entertainment. For me I think todays speedway needs more riders like Gary a rider you either loved or hated (or loved to hate) but one everyone admired. Also did the book on his life ever get published and into print ?

I lived in Watford for over 20 years, only moving away last year and in all that time never knew or heard anything about this application. I would love to know if the application was rejected by the council or the football club also if it had been approved and racing started would it have stopped Wembleys return in 1970 with the so called 30 mile rule ?

I dont know , have any insider information or anything like that in fact I am proberly talking out my a**se but if the crowds remain good in kent this season could there be a possible licence switch that will see premier league racing at sittingbourne and national league at Rye next year. ?????? As I say I know nothing but just thinking aloud.

You could start reading speedway books where I did ........... get hold of a copy and read "Triple Crown Plus" by the great Ivan Mauger and then follow that up by reading "Briggo" by the one and only Barry Briggs. After starting off with those I then found myself reading any and every speedway book I could get my hands on.

I think Len has finally flipped !!!!! Why sack one of your top three after two matches? One that scores points, turns up each time on good equipment, helps out other members of the team, is a fan friendly and always ready to assist with promoting the club and speedway. Over the years Rye has had a list of riders that should have been cast aside during the season but Len said the fans were wrong and he would do things his way coz he knows best. Well this time he sure has done it his way and its totally out of character for him .......... lets wait and see if he is right and the results start to change and the wins come in thick and fast. (I have my doubts somehow)

I think it must have a Frank Ebdon referee card included.

Well that makes two of us then so your not alone.

Done.

Having had a job where regular D&A tests were part of my contract we were informed that if you smoked some drugs they could stay in your system for up to three months.

Fingers, toes and everything else crossed for planning to be approved and the racers to be back home and racing in 2014-15

Aside from the points of if the event is legal or not and if it can be run as a speedway event, what about the following. .......... How can they ( BSPA / SCB) boot any club out of the league for having one of these events at there stadium? If whoever owns the stadium gets a call asking them to hire out the stadium on such a such a day for the right price how can this affect to speedway promotion of that stadium? If the speedway promoters are not involved with the running of the event then it is nothing to do with them. If the event was run and succesful and they decided to approach say 20 or more stadiums around the country to run events through the year would they ban all the teams or promoters from the leagues? (ok dont answer that as its like asking the BSPA get a gun and shoot each other in the foot) What happens when these events are run regular at Wimbledon and say Oxford and other stadiums around the country where speedway cannot even get a foot in the door? My view is that the BSPA / SCB are running scared of these events being better organised and attended than anything they can put on and they would rather try and kick it into touch now rather than attempt to talk or work with the organisers.

Neither do I, good luck to the lad.

Sleep well Tommy ....... Forever missed and remembered as a Wimbledon legend.