martinmauger

Query re Brandon Stadium, just a thought: what condition is the back straight stand in ? There's been lots of talk on needing to rebuild or at least refurbish the main, home straight stand, but don't recall the back straight stand being mentioned. I mean if Coventry are able to resume at Brandon, I wonderded whether the back straight stand could be used, temporarily moving the startline to the other side. Obv still long way to go but it's looking more positive, like I said was just a thought....

Could well be a tad out of her depth in this meeting, but won't know if she don't try. Nutshell she is is (mostly) 'just another rider' with a head, 2 arms, 2 legs with a (broadly) similar motorcycle to the rest of the field / league and the 'proof of the pudding' will be when she is actually on-track v the rest. You can't hide in modern speedway, everyone's scores are available for the world to view & discuss, if not instantly, then very quickly. An interesting addition to the British League for sure, good luck to her....

+ someone to carry your kit bag, another holding a fan to your face to cool you down (Nicki P), Bruce Penhall commented "I never had that and I know what my mechanic would say if I'd asked him". Prob "do it yourself", or similar ....

Can confirm; defo not easy, much more difficult getting the technique right than you would imagine, a speedway bike is much, much more tham 'just a 500cc motorcycle without gears or brakes', needs to be tamed bit like riding a wild beast i.e. wild stallion or cheetah - not necessarily the Oxford version. Kudos to all those who can, and do....

Did same at Reading v Hull, 2000 season. Had a chat with Hull riders pre-meeting, hung out with mechanics whilst riders got changed, only left on 'warm up' as we were obv in the way, potential hazardeous area, riders need to get 'in the zone' - and we woudn't have heard ourselves think . No-one from home promotion said a word, pit exit to car park was open, occured to us we coulda poss wheeled a bike out "gotta swap it, he needs the other bike out of his van", and coulda been off with it. Very lax security, done same at other tracks but was at least asked what we wanted & warned we needed to leave at warm up time....

Well there you go, though it was Briggo who I first read make the suggestion, forget which track but wasn't at Glasgow / Blantyre 1 or 2....

Yeah, having supported 2 tracks, which weren't as wide as would ideally be, esp the Boulevard, 1st bend room at circuits around ball game pitches always at a premium & things can get, dicey, if all 4 arrive together. Been to Shielfield before the banking was added then lockdown era (?) mods to the straights, maybe recent mods are down to Stewart Dickson's arrival, but there doesn't seem to be any more room seen the track work pics on the website. Stiil, the track 'is what it is', you still have speedway in Berwick & come to the tapes every season, obv doing something right (obv) so much credit is due.....

Transponders are a good idea, true, but surprised priority was given to spend a 'five figure sum' on such things for more accurate race times given the current financial state of speedway in the UK. And, yeh what is the current position re: rev limiters ?....

1stly, which pic you referring to. Mid-1970's Ivan did a few match races on 'division 2' circuits with other 'division 1' riders, likes of Jimmy Mac, also Briggo, PC & Dave Jessup. Thanks for replies, an obv position of start / finish line would be half way along the straight but one concensus of opinion seems be a tad nearer turn 4 as it gives riders more time to get into position on the line they want before going into turn , all 4 together....

Frustratingly had UC on the TV last nite while awaiting the following prog on the 2003 Columbia Space Shuttle tragedy (seriously, do not get me started on that), had sound turned right down whilst catching up on phone messages, so, deep breath, missed the speedway bit. Oh well, guess I shoulda listened also....

Interesting (to a self-confessed track anorak), why is start line being moved please and where to; forward or back from its current position ? For interest, similar 'football / rugby tracks', as described by Shane Parker, at Hull's Boulevard the S/L was approx half way along the home straight but was moved 10ft or so nearer turn 1 mid 1980 or '81 as the outside starting gate mechanism obscured something relevant to the rugby club (I forget what exactly). At Craven Park the start line was always about 1/3 along the home straight, from turn 1, and remained there throughout. I did say I was a track anorak ....

This^^. My 1st was 1981: recall Jessup had a reasonable race with Penhall til his bike packed up, & also 1985. Couldn't make 1978 (folks deemed me too young to travel alone on supporter's club coach ) or 1990 (was ill), took a while to acquire much-ballyhoo-ed 1990 WF on DVD, racing no better than '85 IMO....

I saw what you did there .....

Shame, shoulda bin a walk in the park for them but Paul B & the other 'pie guy' screwed up & the woman made more money from the task.....

Abore posts ^^. Speedway GPs 'falling in' with other motorsports in that the most riders score 3-figures points, if TV stations like it well ok, I guess. In F1 spare cars are no longer permitted so a risk that drivers, and also teams, could be 'taken out' of the race by a sprint race accident. Same with SGP, riders have spare bikes of course but could be taken out of the 'the main event' due to injury caused by events in the sprint race. But we'll see, at least they are trying something new....

They just concentrated / showed those who argued, Paul Bowen was very much in the background. I also know of folk who were in the audience on filmed TV shows & the stuff transmitted wasn't how they remembered it. Always bear in mind a lot of what you see on TV, unless live, is manipulated or at least edited to create 'good TV' or in other words drama, whether real or otherwise, is encouraged. Think for yourself & take much TV, unless live, with a pinch of salt....

You will obv know better than most, but didn't the ever quieter silencers brought in over the years also cause the DT500 JAWA 4v to overheat, think Olsen complained unsucesfully to the (then) BSPA & SCB about that. (Sorry to hi-jack thread it's about respecting Graham Drury)....

Quite possiibly an ex-Briggo bike. I know Graham had some leathers off Briggo which he wore in 1977, red with yellow sleeves poss from Briggo's time at Wimbledon. Graham favoured the 4v JAWAs over Weslakes, as did Ivan & Olsen of course til late in their careers, apparently they were 'swines' to set up but despite being a tad top heavy, they flew once you got one going right. Graham was 'on fire' riding it in 1977, posting a 9pt ave, til it went 'bang' & his form never really recovered that year. He was one of what I called the 'Fab 4' at Hull, along wth Bobby Beaton, Joe Owen & Frank Auffret, all spending 5 or 6 years together at the Boulevard....

And a good afternoon to you too. Apparently most things were available FOC to riders taking part; in addition to the fuel, a tyre each, oil if required, tear offs, the odd spark plug + plenty of other help like pushers, or to lend hand with bike issues. They weren't 100% sponsored 'seshes' as such only for riders contracted to the team, but things were on hand to remove potential small hassles so riders could concentrate on their bikes & the actual riding bit. Prob one of many reasons why Poland is 'the place to be' in world speedway these days....

Spoke to an NL level rider, took part in training sessions in Poland (forget which track) said all riders were given generic numbered body colours, to keep, & there was a large central fuel supply in the pits, riders just filled their tanks as required, FOC....

Just seen the sad news, big shame, RIP Graham....

Prob helps that locals said they'd prefer keeping the stadium rather than 120+ houses, or whatever the figure is. Coventry Speedway is of course in the village of Brandon, I have relatives living in Gilberdyke, also a village 26miles west of Hull, out of interest I asked them & their neighbour; would you rather have an extra 120+ houses or the existing stadium with weekly speedway & monthly stox, though you probably won't hear much noise ? All said they'd prefer keeping the stadium. So good news, a 'battle' won, but not yet the 'war', but still a way to go. Gone too far & too much effort to give up now, (as if) keep at it ....

Just to clarify, the 'Star is delivered in an envelope of sorts, it's a largish sheet of paper folded over & stuck down along the side edges then the front flap stuck down so I guess technically it IS an envelope. But couldn't complain if it arrived reasonably on time most weeks & if it saves the publisher's on the cost of delivery & postage, which small business owning friends tell me is rapidly becomming one of their biggest expenses. My copy arrived Saturday this week, tho to be fair we are getting any post only 2 or 3 times a week....

This ^^. My Speedway Star was delivered reliable as when posted in a brown envelope, delays only started when they changed to clear wrappers, so many went missing, and often continues now they use the white wrap around. I appreciate such changes were implemented to reduce costs though calls to Dave Fairbrother always result in a replacement, in a bown envelope, appearing the next day, lost issues remain lost....

Apologies is already posted but fans will be interested to learn Ivan Mauger is feautured in the current Motor Cycle News: 'MCN 4-IN-1 Christmas Special', 13 December 2023 .