The White Knight

Do you actually KNOW Halifaxtiger? If you did you would not make comments like this. Whatever happened to attack the POST and not the POSTER. I have only met HT a couple of times - but - I believe what he says because I like to think I can recognise an honest person when I see them. Regarding the Crowd numbers - anybody can make a mistake - apart from you it appears. An easy mistake to make when there are a lot of people there. I must say - you seem awfully keen to 'have a go' - I wonder why?

I wish I had seen those in the second list. Freddie Williams especially.

Halifaxtigers Posts are always informative and interesting and worth reading. Which is more than you can say for some people's. Never any unsubstantiated gossip in my experience.

i) Peter Craven ii) Peter Collins iii) Michael Lee iv) Malcolm Simmons v) Chris Morton They would be my 'Top Five' of the post Fifties Riders. Missed a number of VERY good Riders out too. Dave Jessup, Ray Wilson, Eric and Nigel Boocock, Kenny Carter, Gordon Kennett. The List used to be endless................................it's not now. :sad:

Actually Simmo that doesn't look a bad side to be honest.

Ah yes - that was it. I was sure I read about it somewhere. I have all the VSMs so I will check up when I get some time. Thank you kindly for reminding me Knowle. :)

It would be great to see new BRITISH Riders coming through sidney - but - it isn't going to happen any time soon. These things ARE cyclical, of course - perhaps we can always hope.................................................................. ..............sometime in the Future (but sadly not in my lifetime - I can't see it anyway).

Anyone know what happened to the Trophy? I believe it was very impressive. A solid silver Speedway Rider on a Plinth - I think............................................. Quite valuable too - even more so now.

Sadly nowadays there does not seem to be a will to produce really good British Speedway Riders any more. The reasons for this, to my mind are: i) Lack of Training Facilities from a National Acadamy to local Training Schools. I know there are a few Tracks out there doing their best to bring on new Riders. There is, however, NO National Strategy for Training. This should be set up and run by the Promoters (could not be done under the current Financial Crisis) and should have been done years ago. ii) Too many other distractions, a lot of young folk these days would rather stay in and go on the PC/Games/Internet or watch Television. The youth today seem to be a bit of a sedentary lot. You no longer see kids out in the Street playing Football and getting Excercise like you used to. iii) Finally - I know this has been mentioned before but EXPENSE does come in to it too. Speedway is still a very expensive Sport to start from scratch.

That was my guess too............................................. :unsure:

In other words, I think you are saying, the Sport needs to be PROMOTED better. I agree. All of the things you mention plus Play Offs, Double Points, Joker (SWC), GPs. ALL of these things are, in my opinion, detrimental to Speedway - folk have gone on about one or other of these subjects for ages - but - NOBODY LISTENS at the Top Table (the Promoters). I totally agree though - I will keep on going as long as I can - and - NOTHING can spoil the thrill of four Riders hurtling around the Track - they can't change that. .......................or can they???

Well put Humphrey - on BOTH points. :approve:

The beauty of Cardiff is that it located in the City Centre more or less. The same cannot be said of London - which is part of the reason it cannot compete. Perhaps they could clear that lot out of the House of Commons and the House of Lords - demolish Westminster and build a Speedway Track. Now that would be central - and might do us all a bit of good as well.

Personally I think Cardiff is the ideal venue for the British Grand Prix. The MOST important factor as stressed by Philip Rising is the Roof. You are not going to get a rained off Meeting. The Stadium is nice and handy for the City Centre. There seem (I don't drink) to be plenty of local Hostelries around and the people a very welcoming. I'm sorry but I just don't see London competing against Cardiff at any level. Perhaps the Olympic Stadium could be used to bring League Speedway back to London itself but as THE main GP Centre - I don't think so.............................

I had TWO Hog Roasts £3 Each or TWO for a Fiver. you just had to have TWO - I did anyway. Loverly Jubberly!!! :approve:

I enjoyed the 'Hog Roast' at the Pairs Meeting a couple of years ago. BEST I've ever had. :approve:

Exactly!! When you are an automatic 'Pick' you can become complacent, happy just to be there. If EVERYONE had to Qualify - that would NOT be the case.

Charming. I didn't think us Speedway Supporters were like that.

'One Off' World Final for me. I won't put reasons, been there, done that, got the T-Shirt!

Glad to see Fisher has got a place at last. The Premier League need Riders like Ryan - he creates talking points and is a character in a Sport that is becoming blander by the Season. Good luck Ryan, I, for one, hope that you do well.

Never in a million years. As sidney says - Bast would not make my top fifty.

Mike Bast never came over here for a prolonged spell. He NEVER pitted himself against the BEST in the World on a regular basis. In fact his Record over here was distinctly AVERAGE to be kind. He MAY have developed in to an 'All Time Great' had he been prepared to sacrifice the money and the sunshine in America. Had he come over here to Race full time - who knows??? He didn't therefore he CAN be classed as a 'great' in the U.S.A. BUT an 'ALL TIME GREAT' - - - - NEVER!!!! The reason he would have had to come over to the U.K. to prove his 'greatness' is because that, at the time, you basically needed to be riding in Europe in order to put yourself up against the BEST in the World...... Mike Bast never did that.

Hear, hear!!! :approve: Gone a bit off Thread on this. No - I don't think Mike Bast would have been a World Champion.

I remember that the 'Daily Mail' was also involved. I seem to remember a huge Silver Trophy of a Speedway Rider. Must have cost a fortune in those days. Anyone else remember?? - Over to you Norbold.

Good to hear that a Rider I have only heard about and read about is still around. VERY BEST WISHES to him. It really is good to hear about the 'old boys' of our wonderful Sport. Thank you for telling us about this writernick. :approve: