longlivefrankie

My uncle was I n the Welsh guards so spent many weeks in school holidays in London in sixties. For me Wimbledon was my favourite seemed like a different world to Somerton park to me One of my earliest memories is Ollie Nygrens white boots and was lucky to attend nearly every internationale on whit Monday's

For me the classics are as already mentioned From sixties & early seventies Belle Vue Wimbledon Wembley Cradley Heath Coventry Long Eaton Newcastle I had a collection of cards with dozens of these old race jackets which I sold when I sold my whole collection a few years ago

I would love a track in ystrad mynach I lve nearby in newbridge, there is a greyhound flapping stadium there but it's right next to a hospital so no chance Bristol Newport/Cardiff/the valleys Exeter Reading Oxford

I thought the Tai bashing season didn't start till march the first

As a long suffering Newport fan I can sympathise with bees fans , a very sad for the sport in this country. I fear we have seen the last of the bees. A short list of the great clubs that have folded in my time who I thought were untouchable as a supporter is frightening. Wimbledon, Exeter, Reading , Oxford, Cradley Heath, West Ham, Hackney, Etc and now it seems Coventrys also I fear for Swindon

Best - winning at Swindon in 1975 after years of losing there Newport reopening 1997 World finals at Wembley & blrc at belle vue in 70s Worst - Witnessing Lawrence hare crash Newport closing twice Get beaten up at cradley in 1976

Riders I've seen race Nigel boocock Peter Collins Michael lee Tai woffinden Chris Morton Mark loram Kenny Carter Les Collins Martin ashby Malcolm Simmons

I sort of agree, when I starting losing interest I sat down and tried to figure out why. One thing that struck em was how skilful I thought riders were in the 60s 70s 80s etc but not necessarily the fittest. And the conclusion I came to that speedway was trying to hard to be a top end motor sport with the riders striving to be superfit etc and have top end equipment. And the likes of ally golden, Jim tebby, wouldn't survive on pure skill anymore mores the pity. Often those riders were my! Favourites dos u knew they were using every inch of experience & skill to try & beat often younger better equipped men. Also the characters & entertainers seem few & far between these days as a ell. I think speedway used to thrive on these characters

In no order - Phil crump, Peter collins, frank smart, Neil collins, Stuart Robson, Ronnie Moore, toby harrysson,

Just watched "time of your lives" on sky again with lee, havelock & loram some interesting comments re speedways decline on there Especially re team riding Edited before a political debate starts

IMO if you don't touch the tapes, the ref should let it go, if he touches or breaks them he's out, if the rider wants to gamble on that fair enough

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh but posts around fond memories of how things used to be aren't going to solve speedways problems and perhaps there lies the problem. Is speedway a sport that is too retro and hasn't moved with the times in the areas that matter today. E.g facilities, etc and is run by a small group of older people with too much self interest . Do we need to ask the "younger generation" what they want in a sport like speedway that would attract them, I feel it would probably be the opposite of what most want on here.

See post 30 bobbath some greats in yours I missed out

Wasps favourites ..for me anyhow Somerton park Nordin, Harrysson, Biggs, Crump, Eide, Street, Herne Hayley stadium Watson, Smart, Iversen, Fry, Gjedde, Neath, Henriksson Probably change my mind tomorrow

Perhaps we being selling too many Danish pasteries and Sernik in the past?

I'm sure they be fine arch rivals suddenly become teammates isn't that usual Never gonna happen but fast Freddie would be a outstanding number 1 round the NSS

Well in the Ryder cup the USA crowd were called fat idiots by someone's IMO it's often quoted here that we need more characters more incidents etc Yet Tai love him or hate is certainly a character, usually entertaining and is probably a villain to most now The lindgren cookie spat added to the evenings great entertainment I for one thought this is how speedway was once... Glad it's not gone completely For me lindgren Man of the match closely followed by PK Great to see cookies passion And a engaged crowd We need the bust ups, tough riding, villains etc

Tatum very biased commentary IMO well done wolves, good effort from Newman & Ellis

Crikey looks the sky pirates are back in business someone pass Tatum a blue & white scarf

Apparently the crowd in Manchester getting excited about the racing in Wolverhampton

Going back is not the answer, but personally I team speedway needs to be just that . Teams used to a 7 or 8 riders who represented your team for season if not often seasons. It seems to me they are almost select sides now.

Speedway's walked away from me twice Newport closed both times, I did after the first closure attend Bristol then Swindon for years but wouldn't even consider that now. Have attended a few meetings but next year maybe first since 1965 I walk away from speedway.

What about team nicknames ..Liverpool Chads?

Yes , for me anyhow but I wouldn't have guests anyhow so I guess I'm biased

Personally feel perhaps speedway comes across better in a programme like that GP challenge package