Garry1603

Yes, 9-00 I think after a 7-00 start on a Saturday night. Meetings usually ran like clockwork. You could tell what time it was by looking to see which race was on!

I think the debate about the BSPA ruling is overlooking the fact that Belle Vue were well beaten tonight with only Fricke (and to a smaller extent Lidsey) coming out with any credit. The two point deficit flattered the Aces and unfortunately it looks like we are a little short of top class when it comes down to it. The most concerning thing for me is the form of Bewley and Worrall who both look (understandably) a level below last season. I think we all suspected that entrusting Dan with a heat leader role was going to be a leap of faith, but sadly it looks like he's going to take longer than anticipated to step up. Don't think we need to change any personnel, but we might just have to live with an 'if only' season and review again in the winter.

I guess it comes down to the question if the sport (as opposed to the promoters with vested interests) need two 'top' leagues or not. If keeping them separate to allow the top riders to ride / earn at the top level, well that clearly doesn't work with only Doyle of the true 'Elite' still riding here. So why not accept the facts and adapt accordingly. Having a different team visiting each week rather than seeing a rotation of a few teams every couple of months would surely encourage the general fan base to come back each week. Clearly, there's not a big gap between the leagues anymore. so integration would be so much easier than in previous attempts. I used to hate the Rider Control idea as I was a Belle Vue fan, but needs must and if the sport is to survive, EVERY team needs to be competitive and more importantly, viable. When I was 11 in 1971 and going to my first season's meetings with Mum & Dad I'd be reading the Speedway Star on a Thursday and extolling the abilities of Reider Eide or Martin Ashby to them to 'persuade' them to take me on a Saturday to Hyde Road (they always did!) - I can't Imagine a young person now saying "oh, it's Brady Kurtz, Jacob Thorsell, Chris Harris coming to the NSS for the THIRD time in the last two months, can we go to watch.?" Adapt or die I'm afraid,

Really interesting article about brothers in speedway with an interview with Peter Collins. Always wondered if there was a reason that each successive Collins brother didn't quite achieve what their elder brother did!

When it came to the track design at the NSS, I wonder if there had been detailed plans retained about the Hyde Road track (length / width of track, gradients etc) or did Mort just design it from memory? Also, did he take into account the different aspects of the bikes these days? Either way, he did a fantastic job.

Every time I see a race like that at the NSS I secretly thank Chris Morton.

Yes, a well thought out and reasonable reply. Speedway at that time had other issues rather than 'tittle tattle' rubbish from the tabloids.

At the end of the day, that's the crux of the matter. TV bosses these days want a finale to their sports events, whether it's an end of season Super Bowl, Champions League Final or whatever. If they get a Premier League going down to the last day, it's a bonus. On a more event based basis, they want each GP to have a winner, so they can promote it for the next one, to try to attract viewers.

Very sunny in Manchester now - might end up being dusty track conditions unless they've heavily watered it.

Thank you for posting my question to Martin and to him for the excellent, well thought out reply. It's nice to be able to get an honest answer from a man who was at the centre of our sport when it was at it's best. Pity we don't have more promoters like him now.

Yes, the 1978 team were an excellent blend of youth and experience -so tragic about Wilkie.

I agree that Jack Millen was extremely hard - his battles with Frank Auffret were something to behold. No love lost there at all!

Interesting read that Moxey. For various reasons I had fallen out of love with the sport from the early 90s, so although I knew that Belle Vue had won the league in 1993, I never realised the circumstances behind it. Still, the record books show that we won it! Thanks.

Very interesting interview with Kym Mauger, so good to see that he made a success of his life in a different field. Must be so hard to be a son of a legend if you try to go into the same sport.

From a personal point of view, I don't think expanding the coverage would stop anyone from buying the magazine as long as it stays true to it's 'Golden Era' of the 70s. There will always be new angles to take with riders previously interviewed. As far as the 90s goes It would certainly be interesting to hear about the riders / promoters views regarding the dawning of the GP era and emerging riders of the time (Crump, Rickardson, Loram, Adams etc)

BV have the potential to be play off contenders but there are several unknown quantities this season. The starting seven will probably not be the team come around June anyway (like most clubs) so there's no point speculating their final position yet.

I must admit that I fell out of love with the sport for most of the 90s so I'd welcome the chance to learn more about that era.

I love the magazine and it's a real delight to receive it very couple of months, but is it time to move the timeline from 70s/80s to 80s/90s? It would open up a lot more riders to be included (and let's be honest, just about every decent rider has been discussed / interviewed now). Might even tempt some 90s fans to buy it as well. Not meant as a criticism at all, just an opinion.

Great post pathfinder. Personally I'd like to see some regionalisation to try to attract a few more away fans to local derbies. There can still be playoffs between the Northern and Southern champions to give the tv companies an end of season finale, but it might keep costs down a little and create more local rivalry if for example Belle Vue meet Sheffield four times over the league season. More technology needs to be integrated into the sport, which surely wouldn't be difficult to achieve, and riders encouraged to get out to speak with local journalists / sponsors / marketeers. It is very noticeable that the sport is still very white / male orientated too with only Antonio Lindback in the top category. In the current era surely a more ethnically diverse product could gain more support? Races for women should be encouraged too, perhaps starting as 'second half' rides after the team match but hopefully increasing as time goes by.

Sadly, long time Belle Vue Starting Marshall Peter Morrey has passed away. There was never any messing around at the starts when he was in charge! Belle Vue released the following press release today:- It is with great sadness that we have to report the death of long time Belle Vue Start Marshall Peter Morrey after a short illness. Peter was a member of the Belle Vue track staff from the early 50s where he worked for the infamous Johnnie Hoskins along with older brother Allan, who was Clerk of the Course for over 40 years. He was a tremendous servant to the club and was well respected by all the riders for his calm but firm approach to the many tricks they liked to pull to gain an advantage at the starting gate. Peter died peacefully at his home in Poynton in the early hours of Sunday morning (21st October) surrounded by his close family. Belle Vue Speedway wish to pass on their sincere condolences to the family at this very sad time

Don't see many of the current GP riders being able to be consistent enough to win over a season - but in a one off world final there were often around ten riders who 'could' put it together in one night. Most of the current GP riders can win a GP. but very few are professional enough to do what Tai / Greg do which is to be consistent and win a championship

Tai Woffinden is an exceptional rider who is certainly a worthy multiple world champion in the current era. Good luck to him and he has achieved more than he (probably) thought he would. I don't personally think that he is a genuine all time great, but that's not his problem - he's proved that he can be consistently good at the top level in current times. Would he be as dominant if he had six to ten genuine world title contenders (as opposed to a couple) like the Nielsens / Gundersens / Collins / Penhall had, I'm not so sure, but it's all a matter of opinion.

Brilliant race yes, certainly the best I've seen for ages. Congrats to all four riders and track staff. An old chestnut, but I still can remember the great Collins / Michanek race off in 1973 at Hyde Road and I always regarded that as the best ever.

Praying for Dan.

So sad to hear, especially after we lost fellow Great Ivan Mauger so recently. I saw him ride in my first ever meeting at Belle Vue in 1970 when he was lading Wimbledon in the Cup Final. Even then I could recognise that he was truly great. Sympathies to his family and friends.