martinmauger

Think Boris measure were brought in earlier than planned partly as reaction to the idiots behaving like lemmings / locusts who rushed to the seaside and gleefully queued up for fish & chips & ice cream. Still, good to see Hull City Council workers are out and about today cutting the grass, 'essential services' obviously must continune in these difficult times . Stay clean & safe everyone...

From the top of my head: The Will To Win by Ivan Mauger & Martin Rogers, Wembley And Beyond - Barry Briggs, The History of Hull Speedway 1930-1981 & Hull Speedway: Craven Park The First 10 Years both by Roger Hulbert, Wheels & Deals by Ian Thomas, Booey - Around In Circles by Eric Boocock, Confessions Of A Speedway Promoter & More Confessions both by John Berry, Simmo - The Whole Truth by Malcolm Simmons....

Similar here, most weeks myself & 'the girlf' visit an elderly relative in a Hull care home. Well Thursday nite (12th) we were advised the building will be on lockdown for at least 2 weeks from Friday 13th. Not good obviously for anyone but I feel for the residents who won't understand why they haven't had any visitors....

Moving slightly sideways once more, which is what we do in speedway, had me a check up at the local hospital. I sat down & picked up a photography magazine, first page I opened was an article on sports photography, first picture I saw was the no.7 Peterborough rider from 2019 (forget who it was). The verdict, BTW, was: "I'm sorry Mr Martin M, there is no cure for your interest in speedway you will likely watch, read & talk about, and occasionally (try to) ride it, indefintely". Plus I was only waiting for 5 mins so a good result there....

Recall at Hull's Craven Park there were / are disabled parking bays literally behind the main stand and there was / is a lift inside the actual stand, just inside what was the turn 1 entrance, which took folk right up to the bar(s) then the seating area. It will be understood that I've had no reason to visit CP since 2005, though I've had the odd look-see since, not a trace of speedway left....

Oh but he has, he most certainly has. He's no doubt already contemplating his next battle and would likely blow a gasket if I told him about the disabled parking discussions regarding Peterborough, which I hope get sorted asap BTW....

Taking this thread slightly sideways, which is what we do in speedway, my cousin who never, ever backs down from any argument or fight, probably why he looks 10 years older than his actual age, well his dad, my uncle has a Blue Badge parking permit. He complained to a large well-known supermarket about non-Blue Badge holders parking in disabled bays thus preventing his Blue Badge holding dad, who has severe walking problems and mostly uses a wheelchair, from parking in them. The large, well-known supermarket replied "we don't criticise people for using the disabled bays who are not entitled to, as they may not return to the store"....

Well Crumpie's score won't lie, hope he goes well and reckon he's a positive addition to the PL. Ipswich fans, and also Sheffield fans with NickiP, must be well-excited for the new season. Reminds me a bit of the 'buzz' around Hull in 1978 after signing Ivan during the close season....

Les defo rode a JAWA to 2nd in 1982, read somewhere that the 4-valve JAWAs were tricky to set up, 'specially ignition timing and valve clearences, but once sorted they pretty much 'flew'. Les came so close to winning, he'd already beat victor Penhall, but ran a 3rd in one heat, but 2nd was still a great result....

Forget exactly how many matches Egon rode for Hull 1976 but know he averaged 8.75 so none too shabby, he was a more than decent speedway rider but think he was strongly 'encouraged' to ride speedway in order for his permission to ride to ride longtrack be processed quicker & more hassle free, long / sand / grass track being his first love. I have the official VHS video of 1983 Final with Barry Briggs translating Egon's German commentary, recall the start marshall, who got skittled by an Engine Failed rider (Hans Nielsen) - how often did that happen in a World Final, was at school with Egon. As well as 'road developing' his bike, he took just the one machine - how's that for confidence, Egon later admitted to practising all he wanted on the Norden track prior to the final. He also appeared to 'advise' on track watering / grading during the actual meeting. It's true Hull ran R/R for Egon in 1977, Ian Thomas said Hull fans would be required to pay adult entrance (75p ?) + £2.50 each to meet Egon's demands, so maybe today's entrance + £30 ? Also, anyone who saw Egon ride will recall Egon's super-wide, 'cow horn'-style handlbars. He wasn't a cheap rider but when the mood struck he was dynamite, had speedway been his main thing reckon he would have been unstoppable....

Yeah, wasn't overly clear but he would certainly be in the car with us if his Blue Badge was used, pretty sure it does contain his name & photo and he carries it with him at all times for parking use....

It occured to me after posting that the car park at Scunny is landscaped pretty flat, it isn't tarmacced with permanent parking spaces painted but 'parking lanes' are marked with what looks like whitewash, similar to the stuff used on starting gates. There aren't any disabled spaces, as far as I've (not) noticed, but everyone seems to park where they should and I personally haven't experinced being blocked in. They have a 'gateman', sometimes it's a 'gate woman', to take you parking fee and stadium staff / marshalls are available if anyone requires help.....

Wasn't gonna comment again on this thread but, oh well. In my (limited) experience 'life-challenged’ people wish to be left to cope themselves as far as possible and will ask for help if they really need assistance . They very much prefer to be left to 'get on with it' usually only requiring the odd minor, consideration like in this case being allowed to park as near as possible to the event and ideally not be required to cross uneven ground. A further consideration is that for various reasons people need to arrive & leave venues at different times. e.g. in my own case depending on commitments I like to watch every lap of racing & practice, at other times I need to be out of there as the riders are on the slowdown lap after the last heat. So while using ‘golf buggys’ or other such transport from the parking area to the entrance, is one possible solution I don’t think it is workable. TBH I can’t be bothered with trawling through all the responses but I believe someone mentioned they know the Peterborough promotion to talk to, specifically Buster Chapman, I think he has commented that he is aware of supporters’ concerns so chatting with him about disabled parking issues at The East Of England Arena on speedway days hopefully a solution will be found. In my, and my friend’s dad’s case (who has walking difficulties), if / when we a plan to visit a track we will telephone beforehand, and also confirm on the day of the meeting, whether we are able to park as near as possible to the entrance, using my friends dads Blue Badge. While I cannot speak for others at this time, if we cannot be guaranteed close parking, then unfortunately we likely won’t go….

Awful news. RIP....

Such awful news. RIP....

Awful news. Danny was an all-out tryer and a real character, speedway is much saddened at his passing. RIP.....

Feel for you, really. This terrible and unfair condition has affected my family to a various extent, in some cases extremely close to home, I'll leave it at that. Surprising that the Panthers management seem unable to police parking aspects within 'the stadium section' of the Arena on speedway days as do promoters of most venues, not only speedway. E.g. "you can park here, but you can't park over there, only Blue Badge holders only (BB to be displayed in all cases) can park in the designatated areas. No exceptions, people not complying with parking conditions will be asked to leave." You see words to this effect pretty much everwhere; cinemas, music venues, sports stadia, hospitals, etc. Viewing the 'from the air foto', on my last visit to Peterborough think I parked in the 'gate 3 area' as I said a bit of a trek for me, but reckon it would be too far for disabled people to walk....

Indeed. This incedent ended Billy's meeting and season there and then. There is still some doubt, however, whether Billy broke his wrist in the resulting crash or on Finn's head when they exchanged notes in the pits afterwards .....

Final words on the matter: I'm all for fighting for ones rights, I meant that potentially rowing with stadium staff whilst at the venue, in my opinion is a waste of time, no matter what was promised in advance. In such situations I tend to mentally flip a coin and either do what is required for entry, within reason which varies greatly on the circumstances for each person, or say "no thanks" and just walk away, done both a few times. A shame if Peterborough don't allow close parking for disabled people, I don't speak for others but when / if the opportunity arises to visit any venue, as always we will discuss the pros & cons and then decide whether we consider it worthwhile....

Thanks I wasn't being sarcy, just for once some might say. I know the routes to local hospitals only too well, on behalf of msyelf and others, spent too much time in waiting & treatment rooms and really hope I've attended more funerals recently than most posters; 7 in the last 2 years. Ok put the tiny violins away I'm way done feeling sorry for myself, I was just pointing out that life is to be lived if possible and hopefully enjoyed (like by going to speedway), and that arguing over relativesly unimporrtant things, is a pointless waste of time. So, speedway then a new season will start soon, looking forward to it as always and seeing was much on-track action, on TV and ideally live, as I can .....

To close my own 'can of worms' I try not to comment on things where I have limited knowledge, like Blue Badge use, I'm only interested in convenient parking on behalf of a friend's dad, a huge speedway who has some trouble walking. We are happy to just turn up and all 3 of us will pay as we're only interested in watching some speedway not aruguing the toss of disabled parking, etc, with stadium staff, life is too short for such grief. If the parking is convernient, all 3 of us will consider going to tracks I mentioned (Belle Vue, Peterborough, Sheffield) and hopefully others, if not one of us may not be able to attend. If / when I make enquires, and I will before setting off, we'll hopefuly watch speedway at the mentioned tracks, mostly Peterborough in this thread, I will of course report on what I find out as it may be of benefit to others....

I'm told that some Blue Badge holders are able to take their nominated carer into an event (show, zoo, concert, etc) at 50% of entry or even free of charge, though apparently this is at the discretion of the venue. While I understand this may be a concern, we are just looking at tracks within 2 - 2 1/2 hours driving time and where we can hopefully park as close to the entrance as possible. Admittedly not visted Peterborough for few years, mid 2000's I think, and the car park was fair trek from the entrance / turnstile, bit of a faff ordinarily but likely too for for people with walking difficulties.....

If Blue Badge holders aren't permitted within the 'stadium area' of the Arena it will likely be the landlords / owners' decision than the Panthers' management. It seems strange though as I was under the impression that disabled parking was required within sporting arenas. This has pre-empted a future intended post of mine as I'm considering driving myself + 1 or 2 others, one of whom is a disabled Blue Badge holder though can walk reasonable distances with one of two sticks, to Belle Vue, Peterborough & also Sheffield due to the perceived (by me though I need to confirm this) to the best of my knowledge of the nearness and level ground from the car park to entrance / stand area within each stadium. Using 'golf-buggys' to transport physically-challenged people is one possible solution but some people will want / need to leave at different times. I do of course intend to contact the stadium management prior to visiting any of the mentioned venues, and if the arrangements are not acceptable to us, parking distance-wise, then sadly it means the disabled member of our party will probably not be able to make it, which would be a pity....

How many GTR engines did the BSPA buy and what is happening with them now, anyone know ?...

His first visit to Hull in 1995 I think was just after his coming together with Nagy (who ironically rode for Hull in 1996) and he was soundly booed on the parade. Big shame him passing on, Roman was defo an all-action rider, always entertaining to watch. RIP....