Ray Stadia

If from the above post you are saying Romford is successful and Wimbledon isn't, as a dog venue, why should that be? Is it because 'Essex man' is more of a dog fan than 'South West London man'? Or is the Romford venue, better run/promoted and offers more palatial surroundings?

At the end of the day, you are dealing with the lower end of speedway. Sure, it would be difficult to regulate and restrict the top end of speedway, but those starting out and NL riders can be regulated. You can insist the riders and their fathers adhere to a restriction on engine tuning and special internal parts. If need be, do random dyno testing, whatever it takes. But if you can't control the bottom end (excuse the pun) you have no chance of controlling the top end.

Depends what you call 'pootling around'. A Jawa/GM will last longer on grass track, as it is a different discipline, but would not accuse grass trackers of 'pootling'. And MotoX is different as the bike is running for a far longer period of time. Yes much of that time the revs are not on the limit, but a wet meeting or a sand track and the revs will be up. However, unless Honda/Kawasaki/Yamaha or whoever, are onside and willing to supply just engines without complications, it is unlikely to work. It would be more 'healthy' if GM/Jawa and the tuners produced a proper budget 'trainer/NL' version of their engines.

Sounds like many of the ones mentioned might now be dead! However, Rye House is in Herts and the one time Milton Keynes track in Bucks. To my knowledge, Beds has never had a track, certainly not in the fairly recent time. I wonder why? I reckon there have been plenty of riders in the past based in Bucks during the MK days and Herts with Rye House, surely? Herts used to have a great grasstrack in Ware, but was stopped due to roman ruins underneath, as I recall.

Not sure if the above is a pop at me, but my tyre question is not taking the p155. Genuinely, if wet weather tyres are used in other motor sports, why not speedway? After all, you rarely see a motoX meeting cancelled. May not be the best days racing you will see, but you would at least see something. And possibly, the track would dry out a bit and normal tyres could be used later in the meeting. Just another thought. To be fair, your opening heading did not explain the information you were looking for, you said what scenario would covers be used in speedway? Then you altered it to when was the last time they were used. If you are new to the forum, you will need to lighten up and get a thick skin, as compared to some forum members, members like me are a pussy cat. I have had many many caustic postings thrown at me, but all part of the territory, but also can be fun too! Relax mate and have a bit of fun. And I am serious about my tyres question.

But JTS, I would like to know, why is he/she is asking the question in the first place? There are speedway/grass track riders all over the UK! What is behind the question? Is Luton thinking of opening a track?

Danny Dunton was involved with Peterborough as a promoter as I recall, did he moved to Cambridgeshire? If he did, he is out of catchment! That is the only name I recognise TWK/Gustix and I am 55!

Are you a prospective promoter thinking of starting a new speedway/grass track?

What are you planning to do with this new information, Never too old? This question about track covering has been discussed before and the problems associated have been discussed before. The chances are, as we have had a good summer, the promoters will not be concerned until we get another 'wash out' summer, which could be next year. So it is worth discussion, but there does not appear to be a cheap solution, which is what the promoters will be looking for, understandably. I am going to ask a question too, which may sound silly, but could there be a wet speedway tyre or tyres, for wet conditions? Speedway tyres are geared for relatively dry conditions, but could there be a tyre, geared for wet conditions? This may have been discussed before too.

That is my personal ambition!

I don't think it will matter TWK, Talk Sport is really 'Talk Football'. They really only give a small glance to other sports.

Perhaps, when it starts raining?

Sums me up rather well!

If this has been posted elsewhere, I do apologise, but here is a link to a Guardian newspaper article, which is quite moving towards the end and is worth a read. Link:- http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2013/oct/11/tai-woffinden-speedway-world-championship-sport

LOL! Yes, TW has been well jabbed!

Because it's raining outside!

I think people like David Beckham, Robbie Williams etc etc who cover themselves in tats, are being irresponsible to their young followers. People like DB and RW are never going to have to get a 'proper' job and impress a perspective employer. Many many youngsters need to and it is really hard for them to get a job as it is, covered in tats up to your chin is not going to help things, surely? Speedway does not manufacture many millionaires as we know, therefore, even Tai may need regular normal employment in the future. All youngers need to look at the big picture.

I do take your point, but I still say, Tai, who like Penhall, is a good looking fella, would still have massive appeal to the young without the tattoos and black ear buttons. And here's the bonus...he would appeal to the 'old farts' too! Win win!

I think if you were a member of Mensa, your brain would tell you not to ride a motorbike without brakes and you wouldn't ride speedway! However, the image you portray is even before my early years as a young fan. I remember in the late 60's and early 70's, many riders with coloured leathers and tassels on their sleeves, long (pop star) type hair cuts and looked very cool, charismatic and edgy. Some may have had tattoos and some may have had earrings, but whether they did or didn't, they were still my heroes at my very young age and they did, to me, offer a pop star/sports star image!

I think he would still look like an edgy motorcycle racer, if he didn't have the tattoos and black buttons in his ears. Bruce Penhall is a perfect example of someone who had the appeal to both male and female and apart from highlights in his hair, it was just Juicy Brucey! I don't think Valentino Rossi has any of the stuff either and is hugely popular, worldwide, young and old.

In fairness to Gustix, I have always looked at people with tattoos on display as either threatening or people to keep an eye on. Perhaps unfair, but in my experience, people with them, can be 'trouble'.

Why does it have to be Jack and Jeffery? Why can't it be Raj and Winston? *racist*

I have to say, I do not sport any, but I did go through a phase of wanting one or two, in mid to late teens, but as I worked in an office, I was worried about losing my job. I have a daughter, who sadly, has a tattoo inside her forearm, but works in an office and seems as though they are cool with it! But, I am not sure I get at all, tattoos on hands and neck. There is a chap in Ipswich who has the union jack tattooed right across his face! I don't think he works in an office!

I understand, allegedly, Michael Lee stole 3 black jacks from his local sweet shop, when he was 7 years old. I hope the black jack theft won't come back and haunt him!

I would like to 'look after' his mum! I am a bit worried about those ear decorations though, will he ever have normal lobes again if he ever removes them for good?