Bryn

Yours truly is here in Oz for a couple of months having arrived yesterday and, as usual when in Sydney, am stopping with Ron and Shona Malm who really are great folks. Now that surname might ring a bell with older fans for Ron's dad happens to be Alec Malm who rode for Glasgow many years back. Had hoped to meet up with him over Xmas but he can't make it alas. MIGHT be able to get him to answer some questions on this thread though so fire away and I'll see what I can do.

Awaiting full details but have heard top three in Queensland Under 21 title as follows: 1. Darcy Ward 2. Josh Grajczonek 3. Kozza Smith

I'm asking that question after reading an intriguing posting from a Polish member of the UK Yahoo speedway list today that reads: The Russian big money bag, attracting world's biggest speedway stars, may soon be empty. That's if you believe what is being written in the Russian language speedway internet forum www.forum.speedway.ru. Not so long ago top riders were openly saying that for one match in the Russian League they could get around 50 000 GBP. There signs are that the world wide credit crunch has even reached Russia , and the big sponsors will prefer to spend their money elsewhere. It has been announced that the Oktyabrskaya club will not participate in the 2009 season, and all signs on heaven and earth are saying that the Salawat club will not ride either. The main sponsor Nefiechimash, in order to survive, has cut workers wages and financial backing to sport, health care, and educational organizations. Similar situation can be found in Balakovo, where the main sponsor, producing mineral fertilizers, stopped production for at least three months. Employees have been sent home on unpaid leave. Reasons ? There is no demand for their product. source:www.sportowefakty.pl

Well you've got to take something to ward off the ccccccccooooolllllldddddd over here!

Courtesy of Sir Lunchalot: Ty Proctor took out the Bacchus Marsh round on what could best be described as an "interesting" track. To be fair I don't think the track had seen bike racing in a good many years and I'm not sure what was the state of the track before work commenced on it. For all I know it may have been a minor miracle the track was the condition it was in. Some good and bad points to the track, excellent site for a speedway in a amplitheatre like setting (it might have been a old quarry ?) with good viewing everywhere in the venue but not so good that the bike track is inside the car track and a long, long way from the paying public. I'm sure it loses something being that far away. Proctor only lowered his colours to Sam Masters in qualifying first on 11 points. As expected the other riders just returned from the UK were well to the fore, James Holder qualified 2nd on 10 points and Richard Sweetman qualified 4th on 8 points. They were split by Sam Masters who was impressive in amassing 8 points despite an ef in his last ride. I couldn't honestly say the racing was brilliant but the riders did their best to put on a show. Semi Final 1 Proctor, Jackson Milne, Josh Munro, Masters fell, Semi Final 2 Holder, Sweetman, Jake Anderson, Wayne Morrison Final (Rerun) Proctor, Sweetman, Milne, Holder (fell excl) Holder was unlucky to fall in the final on turn 4 lap 2 when leading but being hard pressed by Proctor. Holder was also lucky not to be collected by Proctor, it must have been a very close thing. Proctor was closing fast and it would have been interesting to see how the heat would have ended if left to run it's full course uninterrupted. In the rerun Proctor was untroubled in recording the win. Cheers Howard

Oh what the heck! Winter's in the UK wouldn't be the same without at least one trip to hospital so Shazzy..... think you better put your reading glasses on as I stated Andy was FORTYthree today NOT FIF......

Yes I'm finding it hard to believe myself but tomorrow (Thursday) 'The Great Galvini" alias Andy Galvin will be celebrating his 43rd birthday!!! Having watched him from the days he practised and practised as a young teenager at Iwade and right throughout his career I've got to say what a talent he was - just a shame that he eventually was forced to quit riding by injuries. Anybody know what the old boy is doing nowadays? Bryn P.S. knowing he's 43 tomorrow is making ME feel really old!

Yet another one here who would have loved to see the legendary Fundin in his prime at Norwich. And other tracks I would have liked to have witnessed racing at are New Cross and Harringay - two London circuits where racing had ceased prior to me getting hooked on this great sport of ours.

Tony Childs and Brian Foote had a few shall we say 'disagreements' in their time! Legend has it that at one match when they were on opposite sides, Childsy went up to Footy in the pits as soon as he arrived, dropped his kitbag and said, "we going to have a punch up now to save doing it later?"

If you're after comparisons sdb then it might also be useful if anyone able to provide the info you've requested could also give some sort of idea as well as to wage levels on average in those countries.

Just about everything people have already mentioned Dashing away from Kingsmead on a Saturday night aboard the ex-wife's Austin Cambridge and whilst she was driving at breakneck speed (or what seemed like it!) across to the Kempton Manor Hotel on the A20 at Hothfield, muggins here was struggling to change in the car into decent clobber en route in order to go to work as The Welsh Wizzard in Mr. Toad's Music Show! Laurie Etheridge and Alan Sage as double tactical substitutes in heat 8 in Crayford away matches. "Having a few" in an away bar at a match and foolishly agreeing on the coach back to Crayford with a guy called Dave Turner who was in charge of the printing at Woolwich Poly, that it would be a good idea for me to type the Kestrel News on my ancient portable typewriter each week if he would print it as we both missed the Speedway Stop Press. "Big Arthur" flogging the Speedway Mail etc., etc

Thanks Tomasz - I'll pass the info on and should the person who emailed me want Borut's details, I'll get back to you. Thanks once again for your help. Bryn Williams

I've received an e-mail asking me if there are any websites carrying photos from the meeting - can anybody help with some suggestions please? Thanks in advance.

Yes indeed DO come back Lunchy mate and simply DON'T let the few twerps that come on this BSF from time to time spouting absolute piffle in the vain hope that they will get noticed get to ya! Bryn

Is it me or does anybody else feel that there's a fair number of people who have contributed to this thread that really ought to make appointments to see their local optician to get their eyes tested as soon as possible? Quite how anybody can argue against Nicky and Tomasz's exclusions is totally beyond me as they were quite simply the only logical decisions that could be made!

For Aussie dates go to: http://www.ausm.info/race_dates.htm

Alas the EKKA is a bit of a long hike from where you are - it's in Brisbane!

Former Test rider and Aussie Champion John Titman will take to the Ekka track again for four demo rides between 9am and 2pm, during next Saturday's (13 Sept) Vintage Speedcar Day. John has only ridden twice in the past 13 years, so it's quite a special event for those who remember his glory days.

Especially at your age I would have thought Robert!

Why?????

Ye gods! 8am on a SUNDAY morning??? Does that time exist?

Alas my Sky "TV Guide" doesn't seem to work weekends so can some kind soul tell me what time the repeat showing is on later tonight please? Will be en route to / at Rye House so won't be able to watch live and haven't got any blank video tapes either!

Would appear so AndyP - 2nd attempt to stage it tomorrow

As you can imagine KevH, he was soon nicknamed "intensive" by the knowledgeable Islanders! You never know, when I'm over there next Tuesday I'll check to see if their records show his d.o.b.

Now now sandman - stop trying to tempt him!