Ray Stadia

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?

Obviously the law now has to run it's course, as it has with Michael Le Vell (Turner) and will do with Rolf Harris, Max Clifford etc. But it still does not take away Michael's achievements as a rider. Do we really expect our riders to be perfect citizens? Ideally yes, but it is not realistic, as the stars on TV can have flawed personalities, but can still be entertaining. I hope the accusations are incorrect, but if not, he was still a great rider.

I am not sure he gets Google on the houseboat?

Is Trevor Hedge still building/tuning? I could Google, but like SCB said, I can't be ar5ed!

Due to some short track meetings using speedway tracks, there will always be this spat that short track is not speedway and it isn't! It is more like a moto X bike going round a speedway track, different techniques etc. However, for me, the 'pilots' aboard the bikes have my respect whether it is flat track, GM speedway or F2 speedway.

I remember being told this as far back as 1985'ish, when GM's were abound! I have to say, I was shocked then! A well known tuner told me. But all said and done, that is still fine for those who can afford it, but for the newbies/starters, yes they can buy old secondhand engines, but perhaps there should be a cheaper, 'off the shelf' alternative for the beginners and lower NL division?

I think the timing differences are mainly between different cams, but what is interesting, is we are falling into the trap of 'you can't have a standard engine, with standard settings etc, because riders have different requirements'. Maybe the top boys need a special set up, but those at the bottom end could work with a standard 'out of the box' engine, no special cams, flywheels, conrods etc and start to hone their skills, which is what F2 is trying to achieve, I believe.

I have a Jawa 897, which I have had apart and yes, there are marks on the flywheel, but not on the pinions and camshaft chain wheels. I marked it up myself, but without doing that you would need dials etc. For as long as the 'engine manufacturers', are in the back pocket of the tuners and vice versa, things will not change. Mind you is it engine manufacturer, i.e. GM only now, which really, are just engine casing forgers, with a bit of machining. Therefore, the name GM means nothing, as the tuner has probably created as much as 50% of the engine.