martinmauger

Nutshell: Not sure of the exact regs or rider opinions on then night but as the meeting didn't reach a satisfactory result to 'just let the previous winner keep the title' is a new rule on me. Obviously very disapponting to the riders well in the running, gotta feel for Harris & Brennan in particular, and surely once the meeting, pretty much any meeting, starts there is no holder of the title as it is effectively vacant and so up for grabs. Of the top of my head way back 1977 the then World Junior Final, now World U21, after 3 rides each (I think) the meeting was rained off with Joe Owen & Alf Busk, and maybe Les Collins, tied on 9 points so a coin toss decided the winner, which was Busk. Ok many moons ago and an FIM event, opposed to an SCB / BSPL meeting, but the coin toss was between the two 2 (or 3) leading riders at the time of the stoppage. (can't recall anymore as it's 2.49am & I'm v tired) TBF Ellis didn't look too happy at still being British Champion and securing the Cardiff GP Wild Card given the circumstances, but sadly the 2022 British Final had an unsatisfactory ending for everyone.....

Yeh I was there, but kinda wished I wasn't, terrible crash hope Kennedy is ok, a real 100% trier bringing entertainment and enjoyment in spades, wishing him all the very best ....

Cold, cold ?! I laugh in your general direction (cleaned up Monty Python quote) . At Hull's Craven Park it was ALWAYS cold, benefitting as it did from the 'cool freeshing breeze' directly off the River Humber . Tip for Monarchs promotion:- BEFORE you start digging for the new, planned Edinburgh West Lothian Comunity Stadium - hold a wetted finger in the air to check from where the wind blows, fans will thank you in the future. But seriously, best of luck with the new stadium; remember 'wetted finger in the air'...

Text editor issues, double post....

I was at Scunny on Sunday and can confirm Masters took one heck of a knock on1st bend of ht5, dunno about his track perferences but he easily won Ht1 after blasting from gate 4 like a scalded cat, winning by almost length of the straight....

All the very best to Dave, family & friends, hope he has a quick and complete recovery....

Track & set up looking good. Even better (?) are the raised viewing areas, speedway looks so much better when viewing the track from at least a bit of height....

Speaking as a neutral; some of the racing last nite was brilliant, the likes of Douglas, Allen, Worrall, Lawson & King (late on) gave terrific entertainment, loved it. A meeting where you could've dragged non-fans 'kicking & screaming' (!) to watch and they would've said "that was great, I can understand why you enjoy speedway". Good stuff ....

Jumping in late, don't always agree with Rob Godfrey but he did good by fans allowing re-admission tics for Leicester match to be used, I was due to attend that meet but couldn't last minute due to, reasons. So Scunny v Redcar, never really fan of afternoon meetings as tracks dry out and go slick, it happens, but the racing got better and main thing I enjoyed it and will defo return. (I'd have returned anayway as I love speedway). Oh, and I musta missed any announcement but is the ever-trying Connor Coles a permanent replacement for the desperately unlucky Joe Alcock ?......

And in days of yore people said the likes of Exeter, Hull (Boulevard), Newport (Somerton Park) & Newcastle (early 1960's) were a tad bumpy . Still, it was experience for the riders not used to such choppy comditions and hopefully the riders who spilled weren't too badly shook up. And new GP scoring takes a bit of getting used to, not 100% sold on it myself but it is what it and being speedway could well change at the end of the current season....

Correct me if I'm wrong (or I didn't pay sufficient attenion) but don't think cameras showed the home stand last nite. My point being when the YTV Trophy was filmed at Hull, Boulevard 1974-81 often few fans stood on the terracing at either end, while both stands on the straights were packed, so would give the impression hardly anyone was there. Just sayin'....

Jumping in late: I watched the event live at a mate's house and then the hi-lites on Quest; it came across great and people watching may just think "wow that looks cool I'll check that out", hopefully they may do. Just a tiny critique, think the text graphics are still a bit too small. The hi-lites package 24 ish hours later on Quest came across good too, better if were shown at 10 or 11pm as opposed to midnite. But Discovery have produced an excellent TV slot for speedway....

This is true. As I stated before the facility at the Abbey was a recent convenience, a modern 'Toilette De Stade' if you like, built as it was in 1947 compared to the more tue historical 'back straight cess trenches' circa 1895 at the Boulevard in Hull , which I visited once - and only once. Ironic that Hull Angels, Hedon finished up at the Abbey in 1949. But historical interest (sarcasm ?) aside, as a self-confessed track anorak I watch the developments in Swindon with interest, the shortened and re-shaped track was great & better than I thought it would be if I'm being honest, just needs a stadium around it.....

Yeh I got the racing at Odsal / The Shay the wrong way around, s'what happens when you post when supposed to be working. i.e staring into, rather than at, the screen to check no-one is standing behind. Racing at the Shay prob looked more spectacular as you could get more than up close and personal, was my first permitted away trip as a youngster; "no Halifax isn't far, I won't be back late" (nor from Berwick, Coventry, King's Lynn, Reading, Swindon, etc, etc, LOL!). Would welcome speedway back at Odsal, you never know, always enjoyed my visits there....

Very shocking news, RIP NIgel....

And Hull. Gotta say, obv more hope for Swindon & Coventry as the venues still exist, well kinda in Coventry's case, but goes to show, tracks can and sometimes do return even at new locations. Very good news....

I visted both the Shay & Odsal, in days before & after Hull's 1995 return, and enjoyed both. As at Hull, Craven Park, the view from the main stand at Odsal was great but of the two I preferred The Shay though, reasons of smaller stadium so better atmos and in pre-2m safety barrier days (which must be said was defo needed at The Shay !) one could literally get more than up close and personal with the racing and great pits viewing too. Racing was mostly brilliant at the Shay, unless it was a hot, dry day and then it got pretty slick, otherwise it was great. Both sadly missed venues still, Odsal has a shale track once more so looking good for poss speedway return.....

When I was a kid I'd have been 'all over' this new speedway sticker album years ago I bought a similar WWF, now WWE, album and bought stickers of all the wrestlers, comentators, other characters, etc to complete it. Kids may like it (and may not, dunno sadly I'm no longer a kid) and it may inspire them to attend tracks & turn some into supporters. But here's the rub; my WWF album was sold in newsagents everywhere, and I do mean everywhere. Obviously WWF / WWE was / is much bigger than is speedway, if the speedway sticker album is only sold at tracks, only kids who attend tracks will get the album unless it is also be on sale elsewhere....

It matters, especially in the above case if you happen to be a Thompson Twin and / or when it's your team. Relting a tale: I recall chatting to ref folowing a match at Hull, Craven Park wehere the ref's box was pretty much in line with the start (this is important) , he was quite friendly so a mate mentioned he'd got the result wrong in heat ?? in giving it to the Hull rider. The ref replied "oh yes I know the race you mean, well it was a close finish and I wasn't 100% sure who'd won so I gave it to the home rider to keep the crowd happy" . Words fail(ed) me, which I'm told doesn't happen often ....

Great read as always, obviously I love the Siggy article but also the Golden Helmet info. Good stuff....

At the risk of suggesting the obvious: I assume the Northside / Workington promotion have had a long chat with Rob Godfrey re; ending their vandalism problems. Scunny suffered similar issues a few years back but they were sorted out and no longer occur, as far as I know, sure hope not. Good luck to all at Northside / Workington....

Upgrade looks good just hope in time, or when season starts, the 'news' page becomes the first opening page. I prefer to initially glance at the news to see what is occuring and then read the rest of the info later on when I have more time....

I did say 'most' and not all riders enjoy Arlington either, but variety : spice of life and all that. If time & money were no object I'd love to visit every track in the UK, and in the world if my lottery numbers come up (fat chance), been to probably 70% or current circuits. Ticking off tracks is always interesting as with almost everything they are different to how they appear on TV. And obviously if Belle Vue did sign Woffinden it would be very interesting. To say the least.....

This ^^. It's why the Aces usually struggle to win trophies, most riders thought / think "oh boy we're at Belle Vue next week, brilliant", especially in the Hyde Rd days & now at the NSS....

I'd already seen Pt1 of the Chris Morton episode and viewed Part 2 last nite. 2 quick points Morton & Gordon did AMAZINGLY well to deliver the fantastic NNS, it must be gutting beyond belief how certain things panned out, blooming well done Mort & Gordon you should feel so proud . Also, I'm not in the last bit surprised it took 10 years (or whatever Chris said) to finalize the project. Nutshell: (without compromising myself) obtaining finance and securing a suitable site is almost the easy part of building a new speedway, even just 'a track in a field' facility, and there is nothing at all wrong with that, let alone a full-on stadium. Smaller nutshell: it would be (much) easier to take up the hurdles in the Olympics or a hoop-jumping event . Still, the NSS is here, still flipping brilliant and one day I promised to take my lazy carcass along to enjoy the experience myself. One day....