Sotonian

Thanks for the updates, a great win for James Shanes.

This is completely at odds with the oft-mooted move to a fixed race night though. Without the option to run NL matches what else would fill the void on away match weeks? Individual events and challenges are no longer attractive and/or cost-effective.

Umm, how about hefty subscriptions?

European Grasstrack Final Result and an all British podium of: 1. James Shanes (retained his title) 2. Andrew Appleton 3. Edward Kennett

When people ask me why I still bother watching speedway I'll show them that final. It was immense.

Golden showers for the Pirates

Wherever that is. Poole race at Wimborne Road.

It was Peter Shore and he was Labour not Tory. Bloody left-wing tree hugger! :-)

Didn't one of them get abandoned after the track was 'watered' with slurry? I think the bowser had been filled from a nearby river which, unbeknown to them, had been contaminated!

Would those stadiums accept disruption to their surfaces? Cardiff is palleted and easy to remove/replace. Are they? What evidence is there that Wembley would get 'a seriously decent crowd' ?

IoW was not purpose built for speedway, it was formerly a cricket ground.

I'd guess TV viewing figures would take a big hit.

Cook not so much putting himself in the shop window as through it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpjOieUADZg You'll need to use a VPN if you are in the UK

We still want to hear the bikes though so that wouldn't help. An option to mute just the commentary would be ideal.

Why should those criticising be expected to do any better? They are unlikely to be professional commentators are they? One can be a critic without having any expertise in that field e.g Barry Norman didn't have to make films to be a film critic.

Nor bring the sport to this country.

If it's as ideal as it seems, why wasn't it considered much sooner than now? Or was it but something has changed in the meantime?

Jason Bunyan's female mechanic (wife/girlfriend?) used to wear flip-flops in the pits too.

Yes, and although they could win the event they still couldn't deprive a local of a qualifying spot afaik.

Peter Collins MBE

I'm told that Coatbridge was even more banked than The Shay.

I noted this result among my programmes and wondered if there has ever been a higher winning margin of 70 pts in a single match? 13-Apr-1948: Southampton 89 Wombwell 19 This was in an 18 Heat match. I guess higher is possible in a 20 Heat match but am not aware of it. Any takers?

Ivan Mauger. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have missed seeing him for the world, but in reality he was always dull to watch, having gated and gone.

Full results https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155082538703673&set=gm.1893885674184778&type=3&theater