The White Knight

BackTrack just gets better and better. The piece on Robert Henry was EXCELLENT. I have always said that there is a place in the Magazine for the Maugers and Gundersens of this world - BUT - there are other Riders with tales to tell too. Hopefully there will be more to come from Mr. McCaffrey.

I thought he was Slovenian.

Is Sunderland included??

Cheers Tony - I'll be in touch about one or two of these. Thanks again. Ian.

Hi Tony Are there many Photographs of Sunderland Speedway??? Cheers Ian

Michael Lee - an enigma. Had Michael played it by the book - there are those who would say he could and possibly should have been World Champion on a number of occasions. But would he? Without his wildness and his headstrong way of doing things - would he have been the same Rider??? I wonder...............................................

Come on folks - the dispute is over. Let's put it all behind us and move on. PLEASE!!!!

Well - there we have it. A pretty poor Statement - BUT - Coventry and Peterborough are back and that is the main thing. Perhaps now we can concentrate on our wonderful Sport - let's leave all the name calling and nastiness where it belongs - in the Past. The BSPA and Coventry and Peterborough seem to have come to an accommodation - we, as Supporters, can do no less. Here's to the new Season - may we ALL get some GREAT Speedway on the Track and, hopefully, harmony, toleration and peace off it. I forgot to say - Congratulations - to Coventry and Peterborough. A TEN Team League should be excellent.

I support you 100% Humphrey. Don't worry - after THIS close Season I suspect that I will be classed as a 'moaner' too.

Can't let this chance go: Sunderland 'Saints' Sunderland 'Stars' Sunderland 'Gladiators' of blesséd memory......................................

Another 'cracking' Issue. I thoroughly enjoyed the Tommy Roper and the Tony Clarke pieces - Tony is a very lucky man. Talking about Ronnie Moore - There are Books out about Ivan Mauger, Briggo, Simmo, Michael Lee etc. What about 'Mirac' surely his life must be worth recording too. Perhaps RetroSpeedway may be interested. Just a suggestion.

It will be no surprise to anyone that my favourite Speedway would be at the Boldon Stadium watching Sunderland Speedway 1964, 1971 to 1974 (inc.): TRACK Sunderland : Boldon Stadium. CAPTAIN: Russ Dent. OTHER RIDERS WHO HAD TO BE IN THE TEAM: Graeme Smith, Jack Millen, Jim Wells, George Barclay, John Goodall, Peter Wrathall. PROMOTER: Len Silver. TEAM MANAGER: Colin Armitstead. ANNOUNCER: Barry Wallace. RACE NIGHT: Sunday, 3.00PM. MARCH OUT MUSIC: Entry of the Gladiators. It was good in 1964 too: CAPTAIN: Ken Sharples. OTHER RIDERS WHO HAD TO BE IN THE TEAM: Gordon Guasco, Jim Airey, Vic Ridgeon, Colin McKee, Maury McDermott, Dave Collins. Ahhhhh Happy Days and Memories. SPEEDWAY!! - you just CAN'T beat that!!!!

BUT!! - cityrebel - That is the beauty of BackTrack and Classic Speedway Magazines - they CAN and DO bring back the Memories. Even the black and white Photographs evoke thoughts of the GOOD days in British Speedway. I think the Sport was better then - and - these Photographs confirm and reflect that.

Judging by the Daily Mail Trophy quoted to be worth £30,000 these old Speedway Trophies must be quite valuable. Are the 'Golden Helmet' and 'Silver Helmet' Match Race Trophies still around from way back. I can't remember seeing them in the Speedway Museum. Could be me though My memory is dreadful.

This BackTrack is superb (it usually is) but this one excels. I have been happily reading about the 'good old days' Division 2 style. Thank you Rob - will this continue - I DO hope so.

GREAT to see some Division 2 stuff starting to be a bit more prominent. No point in saying that I am looking forward to the new Issue - I ALWAYS DO!!!!!

Well said AndyM - I can empathise with that.

Sorry to hear about your ankle Rod - hope it is healing well. Perhaps we could meet at Leicester as I am hoping to get to the first Meeting there.

A sense of surprise, the possibility of something different. Even if this hypothetical Rider embarasses himself - at least he has had the opportunity. If Jack Young could do it - maybe somebody else could too - given the chance. It COULD be possible, even today, given a level playing field. It won't happen though - the System is rigged so that the so called 'Superstars' get into the Grand Prix EVERY year. If that isn't rigging - then I'm not sure what is. I know I am/will be regarded as a bit of a Dinosaur - but whatever happened to honesty, integrity and straightforward good sportsmanship. I don't see much evidence of that in the Grand Prix selection System. Ooops!! - should I have said Qualifying System??? - I DON'T THINK SO!!!.

I can only mention Jerzy Scezakiel (spelling) 1973 - was a no hoper who was allowed to chase his dream in the World Championship. He took his chance and won it after no less a Rider than Ivan Mauger fell. THAT is a great example of the unpredictability of our Sport. Jack Young won the Title as a SECOND Division Rider. He would not be able to do that today. Why??? Because of the System. Why should Riders be SELECTED or given Wild Cards.?? I doubt very much whether a Premier League Rider could win the Championship these days - why??? Because of the System. The Speedway GPs are rigged - they always will be rigged as long as Riders are selected and do not earn their place. It is not enough to say that because they finished in the top eight THIS year that they should be invited back the next by right - that is wrong. Half the thrill in the old days was to see the odd 'Star' fall. Not much chance of that these days - it's just not allowed to happen - how can that be right?? The reason the 'Stars' are 'put through' is because of that magic word MONEY. BSI are only in the GP Series to make MONEY - nothing wrong with that - but - it is not in THEIR interests to have a Star Name tumble out in the early Qualifying Rounds. So currently the System AWARDS places to quite a lot of Riders. Those places should be EARNED not AWARDED. Because of the Awarded positions - and I include Wild Cards in this - the System lessens the chances of a 'bread and butter' Rider getting through - it can happen in rare cases but the chances are considerably reduced. All I ask for is a fair and even playing field for ALL. How can anybody argue with that???

Yes - but you are not a Formula One Driver. In my Post - I DID Stress Riders. I implied Speedway Riders as this IS a Speedway Forum after all. Ooops - I DID say Speedway Riders. We meet again Philip. Greetings - I hope I can say - my friend

Grand??? Prix Speedway!! The WINNER is World Champion - what a JOKE!! MOST Speedway Riders never get a chance to ride in it. Ohh!!! I forgot - unless you are SELECTED of course. How can you call yourself World Champion with MOST Speedway Riders excluded from the Competition. Seems plain bloody DAFT to me. Just my opinion.

Perhaps we Scots should ban BURGERS!!!

GREAT to see you on this Forum Rod. Ian Muir Martin

I couldn't agree more BOBBATH.