norbold

Just to add this is a fantastic site and you deserve a lot of credit and our undying thanks for putting it all together. If it wasn't for people like you a lot of the sport's history would be lost forever.

He should be suspended for at least two years for not knowing the difference between your and you're!

I see Darcy couldn't even get BFD's name right! Darcy Ward #4⃣3⃣ ‏@D_Dublu_racing R.i.p Dave paxley. Top bloke Incidentally, what happens if the unthinkable happens and Darcy Ward is cleared of all charges? What happens about his suspension, the money he's lost and his chances in the Grand Prix?

Welcome back, Darcy!

Not only that but there was almost always the odd rider from GB, Oz, NZ etc who were surprise finalists as well but got there on merit by getting through the qualifying rounds. Geoff Mardon made it to reserve when he was a third division rider. Jack Young made it when he was a second division rider (I can't remember how he did that night!) and, more in my time I remember the sensation when Bryan Elliott, a Leicester reserve, qualified. It was all felt to be the "romance" of the world championship in those days and the riders in question were congratulated for riding above themselves not villified for having the temerity to qualify when they shouldn't have done!...

Is Bomber the new Andy Smith?

Quite frankly, sidney, that is complete nonsense. No one single rider is bigger than the sport. Greg Hancock will soon be retiring; will speedway come to a s top when he goes? Tomasz Gollob ditto. Nicky Pederesen can't be far off retiring either, or at least, no longer in the top flight. Did speedway come to a halt when Chris Holder missed a year? Nothing will happen to speedway that isn't already happening just because Darcy Ward might not be there.

I've just caught up with this, reading the last five pages. I've forgotten who Darcy Ward is now or what he did. Can anyone remind me?

I agree with that mostly, Oldace, except that I'd put the revival at 1960 rather than 1965 with the formation of the Provincial League and then a gradual upward curve boosted by the British League.

34 teams in 1950, down to 9 in 1959. I'd say the 50s easily matches the 80s in decline.

There should be a law against failing to rehydrate....

A top 10 from over 50 years of watching. A difficult call! But I'll go for Stan (the man) Stevens, Jimmy Gooch, Reg Luckhurst, Malcolm Simmons, Ove Fundin, Ken McKinlay, Dave Jessup, Peter Collins, Mark Loram, Jason Crump (as you can see I didn't go much in the 80s!).

A six month ban? let me see...September, October, November, December, January, February....oh finishes just in time for the start of the next season. Fancy!

According to Twitter there are "some legal concerns". No idea what they are.

Can't wait till we get to 1955 to 1964 and 1965 to 1974....

What he tweeted was, "@oakes_pe: So we'll have to wait until next week at earliest for any FIM news on @D_Dublu_racing" Note: "at earliest"

It's a bit worrying that the editor of a national journal - albeit a sporting one - doesn't know that, Humphrey. Anyway, I think the major powers we need to bring back is the right to have curved cucumbers if we want them.

Ron Johnston has sadly just died. A great rider and such a friendly and helpful man. I contacted him several times over the years to ask for information or his personal memories. He was always very patient and helpful, spending a lot of time giving me full answers and also sent me some photographs. He will be very sadly missed.

And what was wrong with West Ham?

Whilst on the subject of birthdays...today (28 July) is the 86th anniversary of the opening of Belle Vue and West Ham

We all have our little foibles....

Happy 91st birthday to Split Waterman. Captain of my team, New Cross, in the first race I ever saw back in 1960. Twice runner-up in the World Championship and British Match Race Champion. One of the all-time greats of speedway.

I agree with lucifer and falcace. I saw speedway at the old Wembley stadium many times from league matches to world finals and there was something really really special about the atmosphere from arriving at Wembley Park Underground Station right through to waiting on the platform for the return journey. It was like no other stadium I've ever been to - and I've been to a few! BUT....the new Wembley Stadium and its environs are not a patch on the old Wembley. I went there for the Olympic Games football and, actually, not only was the atmosphere gone, I found the whole thing a fairly unpleasant experience which I really wouldn't want to repeat. I used to be a great advocate for bringing the British Grand Prix back to Wembley, but not any more. The Millennium Stadium knocks spots off the new Wembley. It would be a big mistake I think to move it back....not that there is the slightest chance of it happening anyway.

Thank you for buying a number of my books, iris, I am very grateful.

My first Internationale was 1961 at Harringay...but I can't remember what the queues were like.