martinmauger

The problem with standardised motors, good idea it may be, is what to do with existing engines. My suggestion would a BHP limit together with soon-ish the to be introduced rev liniters. Riders would get their power read outs carried out as proof at a local motorcyle test centre or a speedway tuner, with random testing done by SCB or ACU using a rolling road in order to police such limits. That way riders could keep existing engines but change internal component(a) at their own discretion in order to reach any hoursepower limit.....

Care to explain in broad what these gizmos were, vaugely not in detail obviously don't want anyone compromising themselves. On a similar subject I bought some jackets of a guy who told me he was developing a 'special ignition system which help riders make better starts' in conjunction with a top English rider' (name witheld) mentioned to me and is very well known. That same rider is still in action in two leagues, though not currently, but neiher his starting nor his form in general really improved, so either he didn't use the new system or it offered no real benefit.....

I once asked the late, great Ivan Mauger, who knew a thing or two million about the Brough Park / Newcastle Stadium track, why he chose Newcastle for son Kym's first club. He replied (words to the effect) "it's a bit of a tricky track but if you master it you should ride all tracks better or at least you will improve as a rider. Plus the Geordies up there are great, friendly people and if they can see you are trying your best, then they will support you all the way which is very important especially when you are starting out". Couldn't have put it better myself....

Fasinating stuff, Mr Ore. Oops, turnpikes, standpipes, any kind of pipe really . Point taken, my bad, '76 was a long time ago . There has been the odd water leak in Hull with water gushing powerfully into the air, like you see in American movies with kids playing in it til the Fire Dept turn the water off, often gushing many gallons for a full day creating a stream flowing along the road....

Sarcasm aside I recall way back in '1976 - the year of summer', there were turnpikes in the streets and and on the news they would show water levels in resevoirs were down "and for the first time in many years ruins from the lost village of whatever can be seen from when the valley was flooded to create the resevoir". We've had (relatively) decentish warm summers since '76, no turnpikes I'm aware of but still news reports still sometimes say "ruins of the lost village of whatever can be seen from when the valley was flooded to create the resevoir". Global warming ?...

Other than 'that summer' in 1976, which will be spoken about as almost a fable by elders to disbelieving young children seated in circle in front of the fireside for many years. It was the year it didn't rain for few days (or weeks or months) and even the temperature stayed more than 10 degrees above freezing for while, I seem to recall 1995 was pretty good weather-wise....

Think the above is the main future issue. Social distancing is certainly doable in outdoor speedway stadia, possibly not the more enclosed arenas like Cardiff, but think medical cover will be very difficult to secure....

Really hope the Speedway Star gets many more subscriptions and is able to continue for 2020 season and beyond. I'm still pleased I 'Sub the Star', and 99/100 the mag arrives crisp, dry and sharp (no biffed corners) each and every Thursday. A great read and something I very much look forward to each week, especially in these difficult times. Keep up the good work Phil Rising & Co ....

(Non) fun fact: pretty sure Stoney's blue & pink kevlars were stolen. Anyone know what Ian Thomas is pointing at on and finds amusing Stoney's neck ? ....

Same here, sadly almost word for word, especialy hi-lited emboldened part, + a much younger family member hospitalised with full-on Covid-19 symptoms. You could also add staff wandering from department to department and and / or standing around in huddles gossiping - all without the sometimes 'fashion item regarded' PPE gear that some bleat on they so desperately need. There are of course many very caring, dedicated and hard-working NHS staff too. I'll stop in order to calm down and before I say something I may later regret, except s*** got real....

Yeah, brilliant issue of the Speedway Star this week, including part 1 of a UK track anorak's paradise . I do love reading rider's opinions of the tracks, 'Subscribe To The Star'; you know it makes sense....

Ah that's a shame, I enjoyed reading his speedway articles (and agreed with a lot of what he said). RIP....

Me too, as I spend mot of my work hours staring at a screen. I often read at work where peeps will sometimes ask "did you see last nite's match, wasn't it great" I deliberately reply "Oh you mean Belle Vue v Swindon (or whoever) when Fricke came from nowhere to win , brilliant!" . They often reply "no, Man U v Liverpool or (whoever)" . But whatever works for you, great read either way....

It is indeed a VERY goord read, highly reccomended as is the follow-up 'More Confessions'. Tony ain't paying me either ....

Think he said he'd rather folk bin his book after reading, rather than donate to a charity shop . Seriously though, it's a good book and I still have my (signed) copy....

There used be a range of Raleigh bicycles, not quite BMX but today we would call semi-mountain bikes, one was a Grifter (the one I wanted) and a smaller model called a Striker or Strika; tag line, along the lines of "aimed at the young speedway rider". Thiing is, it really didn't look much like a speedway bike, anymore than the rest....

That's it, it's why we are all here, flippin' brilliant sport . When the conditions are right ........

That's what my mum does, TBH she started doing it accidentally, my dad just puts the phone down sometimes telling such callers to "do one". Me, despite not giving my phone no. to anyone for years, being ex-directory and having a 'block' on my number I still receive quite a few, if it's a number I don't recognise I just don't answer, if it's important (it next to never is) they will text or write to me....

Would have been nice if Ivan had won in 1973 as he was riding a long-stroke, longtrack JAWA engine and was pretty much passing for fun that day, though it has to be said the starts were, interesting. I only got to to see the meeting years afterward but imagine the tension if it shown on live TV (don't think it was) : a winner take all run-off between the current World Champion (Ivan) v local rider in the form of his life (Szczakiel), just as Ivan is about to make his move they clash, and we all know the rest....

I believe so too, not sure why that was exactly so won't comment. I do love my books and I've prob listed only 1/4 of my speedway section, but I read widely on many subjects and likely own many 100's of titles, probably 'training' from my student years....

Got the Wiggy book too, also books on Swindon Speedweay, Sam Ermolenko & Jason Crump, Chris Morton's When the Can Ran Out, not got brother Dave's book or John Louis' book yet.. The Moran Brothers, Kelly Moran - Hell Of A Life (to say the least), both by Brian Burford, Ivan Mauger - The Man Behind the Myth by John Chaplin. 'Slight' Hull bias in my collection but i like all speedway books...

Was that due to flying in general or because you flew in a Comet ?! I saw cut-away sections of a Comet at an air museum and all of the, not sure of the phrase, but the 'corrosion' or 'air bubble casting faults' within the alloy / alluminium components were frightning. Though in it's Nimrod form, the Comet became a well-sorted aeroplane. Shame they were all broken up, now replaced with Boeing 737 'Poseidon' aircraft. Yeah, I enjoyed the Splish Splash Show 1977 World Final too, and 1972, 1973, 1976 & 1979 were also good ones....

As Luck Would Have It by Len Silver, Raw Speed by Tai Woffinden & Peter Oakes, Tommy Jansson, Legend Who Died Young by Magnus Nystrom, Both Sides Of the Fence by Reg Fearman. My list goes on, books all about speedway obviously but also books to really get one's teeth into and really get into & behind the stories told. Though I don't reccomened actually eating any of the titles ....

Back From the Brink by Michael Lee, Tragedy - Kenny Carter by Tony McDonald, Light In the Darkness by Alan Carter, Tears And Glory - The Winged Wheel Story (Reading) by Arnie Gibbons. It coud be said I do like a good read, especially speedway (no, really).....

Sadly we likely won't be watching any live speedway for a while I'd encouage people to subsctibe to Speedway Star, and possibly also the excellent Retro Speedway publications of Classic Speedway and Backtrack. Think the Retro Speedway mags are subscription only anyway, happy to be proved wrong there, but the Star sales will be massively hit by lack of track sales and now at supermarkets. I began 'subbing The Star' by accident so sick was I of the mag 'being late' according to newagents and you know what, I wish I'd subscribed much earlier, it arrives crisp and early on Thursday mornrings and one saves on the cover price of £3.00, paying only £2.30 per issue, the price of some programmes. A 3-monthly 'Star subscription of 13 issues is £30, a yearly sub to Backtrack (6 issues) is £25; both roughly the price of 2 meetings we won't be seeing anyway. We are in self-lockdown and need something to occupy ourselves, are lacking in speedway so I reccomend helping out Phil Rising & Co at the Speedway Star and also Tony McDonald & his team at Retro Speedway, if only for the current difficult times til we can enjoy live speedway once more. Stating the obvious disclaimer: I set up & pay for my own magazine subscriptions and posted the above only to express my own opinion. So, cheques in the post then Phil & Tony ? ....