iris123

Fair enough.Although I had been to speedway before,1973 was the first season I really got into the sport,so all the happenings over the winter and even the start f that season went over my head.Think there was something in the programme about Mauger maybe joining the Dons,but at the time it meant nothing to me.In fact I think Jim Tebby being dropped into the second halves and then joining another team(Newport?) after a couple of weeks seems to have stuck more than Ivans to do with Rider Control

Bayern Munich,what a team Wondering if it was the continental bookings that made Ivan decide to leave Belle Vue?

I just doubt whether promoters in those days would have stood for it.But I do think there started to be problems with continental clashes by the 70s.Maybe Briggo or Mauger for instance.And wasn't it part of Ivans deal that he was picked up by helicopter and taken to Exeter or a Monday ?

Don't think there was ever a time when a rider didn't try to maximise his earnings.That means if there was an opportunity on a day off he would willingly fly over to places like Germany and take on a booking.Even back in the 1920s they were doing this .Ginger Lees,Clem Beckett and Eric Langton etc

Some rode in the US league,like Bert Harkins and some rode in the German Bundesliga(Mouncer,Cusworth and Cowland I think ) all in the early 70s.Not sure about earlier than that.Most rode in open meetings in Europe in the 20s,30s,40s,50s etc

According to "Homes of British Speedway" it ran the sport from 1928-1937.Track length 396 yards.The first ever meeting was on Boxing day when Champ Upham won the Cardiff City Trophy in front of a 25,000 crowd.In 1929 it seems an amazing 55 meetings were held!!!!But things went rapidly downhill and it wasn't a success

It was the case some years ago here that those clubs that payed Bahnsport for an ad got better coverage than those clubs that didn't.Not sure if this still goes on as I stopped reading the mag when this became evident.More than likely the Spar doesn't want to bite the hand that feeds it.The other hands that feed it though,the customer gets a poorer product when all this one sided stuff gets published and no questions are asked

Chris Holder has a nice new camper van though.

Not a question I can answer John.I only have an Olle Nygren rosette as a possible clue.Might be able to find out when I first attended a Streatham Redskins game though if I delve through boxes of stuff in the cellar

It's just gustix up to his usual stuff yet again.We'll get the "First attended speedway at New Cross in 1946.....! soon.All return to normal when Nurse tucks him up though

Sentiment is fair though.The wording might not be to everyones taste,i agree

Er,you didn't have any trouble yesterday......another 'senior moment'?????

Wasn't one of the top Australian riders born in Scotland?Ron thingmyjig (Johnson or Johnstone.....)

As a personal choice I would lov to have Tommy Jansson back and let him get to his prime. Not really sure that he would be the one to give the sport the boost it needs,even with his good looks and being a decent guy For me it can only really be Briggo or Bruce that could reach people that the sport doesn't mange to at the moment.As a Dons fan if it ges down to just the one,then Briggo is my choice

Got to be careful here.This is the FIM we are talking about,maybe he is just some guy who was passing by with his briefcase and saw the chance to act as an unofficial lawyer

I don't.But on one of the dvd's I have from him there is an email addy.Might be out of date,but if all else fails,worth a try media@rlnvideo.demon.co.uk

But in the 70s the Internationale for instance was an FIM meeting with an attending FIM official and an FIM trophy and they raced over the 1234 yards and the race times were the same as most weeks and in 73 in a run-off between Olsen + Michanek the track record was broken.Nt that it proves much.Rules change from time to time.A couple of years back the FIM changed the rule on how big a Longtrack had to be,so they could include a big speedway track....... Chadster is probably right though and I do seem to recall there was a thread or this topic came up within a thread a while back

Was told a couple of days ago that an U21 meeting with Germany,Denmark and Sweden is being planned.Was years ago when we had an U21 GB team here which included Roynon,Bridger and Robson........

It's probably nothing to do with the FIM,but it would be a bit strange to have two different lengths with two different track records,seeing as they regularly held FIM meetings.Although there was most likely a track or two that did have such things happening.And I think this only came about at Plough Lane after the track was altered,due maybe to the Stock Cars.....

No-one to beat really.Krasnikov is different class to that field.Good to see young Bauer scoring well against more experienced riders

Why not?Sure you can have smaller tracks,but they didn't host FIM meetings.Dohren is one.But I think back then to host FIM meeting you had to have a certain length.Think you also had to have a certain width,as I recall some story of a promoter tricking the FIM inspectors

I thought it was done to come within FIM standards

I don't know,but given his nationality are the FIM acting like a kangaroo court?

Flash Gordon Kennett

Ha ha.Never knew that.I did see Marc ride a few times