Ray Stadia

Maybe that is where the problem lies, the engines are sent over needing a tuner to finish off the job. Surely this adds an extra layer of cost? Also, from experience, if you strip these engines down, there are no timing marks to help with reassembly. The internal workings and setting up are almost a trade secret!

Perhaps it is a couple of things. 1. The number of meetings the international riders are being involved in and needing to make a living, means probability tells you an accident will happen at some point, i.e. luck runs out. 2. Due to social media, i.e. Facebook, this forum, Twitter, information is circulated quickly and with in-depth detail, whereas, yesteryear if it wasn't covered in the speedway press, nobody knew about an injury or even if it was covered, could easily be missed. Therefore, I am suggesting on the second point, perhaps the same number of injuries happened yesterday as they do today? Just a couple of thoughts.

The above is true, but the idea of F2 is for those starting out in Speedway. I know a few people who will buy a brand new MX bike at the beginning of the season, race it for a season and apart from washing the air filter, changing the oil now and again, changing tyres, lubricate the chain and a few other bits and bobs, do nothing else, certainly nothing major, as the engines are reliable. I am talking about riders who are at expert level. No, not professional, but the bike is put through it's paces. At the end of the season, the bike is exchanged for a new one. It really depends whether Speedway wants to reduce costs for everyone, newbies and professionals. If it is just for the newbies, someone like Jawa, GM and dare I say JAP (no longer in existence, but perhaps could restart), build a simple cheap engine, perhaps still 4 valve, but a push rod engine. And an engine easily maintained. If it wants to reduce costs for the professionals, that is going to need more thought and international co-operation, which, in my opinion, will not be easy.

Oh well, back to the drawing board then, for those who want to reduce the cost of Speedway!

Japanese spares and especially Motocross spares have always been expensive. I had a Honda 250 Motocross bike in the late 80's and the big end went, cost a lot of money for new barrel, piston etc etc. However, my mate had exactly the same bike, had no problems at all. Sometimes bad luck creeps in.

Using different engines is nothing new in the Grass Track world, which is not a million miles away from Speedway. Over the years, I have seen many engines used, particularly in the 250 cc and 350 cc class. Engines, such as BSA Gold Star, 350 cc and 500 cc, running methanol. BSA 250 cc C15 engines and many Motocross engines. The engines have been used with much success, particularly in the 250 cc class. I think with Speedway supporters, nothing other than a 500 cc, air cooled, methanol burning single cylinder engine with countershaft will do and ideally, lubricated with castor oil!

Sounds like you are onto a promise TWK! Have fun!

I apologise! Good call....I hope his op goes well for him.

Perhaps in view of the lad's injuries, slightly in bad taste if you are making a joke, if not and genuinely letting us know, sorry.

Not sure if it was a wind up, but someone said the Croppers have a Stoke Speedway sticker in the Morris Minor shooting brake! I know it has opened up a lot of P take, which has been fun, but glad they made reference to OAJS!

Sorry, didn't notice it had been posted elsewhere. Perhaps admin can cancel mine out! Is it just me or are others finding the site very slow?

Coronation Street episode last night (Friday), Hayley Cropper buys Roy Cropper a cap for his birthday and when he puts it on, Hayley tells him he looks like Dirk Bogarde from the film 'Once a Jolly Swagman'. Roy said he hadn't heard of the film and asked whether he played a train driver. Hayley said no a Speedway Racer! Perhaps a speedway loving scriptwriter?

And we wonder why the rest of the world doesn't like the British!

And Basil Brush, I understand, has skeletons in his cupboard! Ha ha ha, boom boom!

Really! But if Mike 'was' smoking weed or popping speed at the height of his career, that may have enhanced his performance. And as we know and maybe still is, the world of cycling is 'so called' drug ridden. If Lance beat people who were also on enhancing drugs, doesn't that level the playingfield? Who remembers Bobby Schwartz with affection? I do. but he was caught with drugs concealed in a Weslake engine! I think he still rides today (bless him!) in the USA. Does that situation colour my opinion of him? Not at all!

So why don't you like Mike Lee? And who is in the bigger league of 'disappointments', Lance or Mike?

SCB..how can you say you don't like him? That, with respect is ridiculous. It's as ridiculous as me saying 'I like him'. None of us really know any Speedway Rider, unless they are close personal friends. We just know them for their track craft. So, are you saying you don't like him because he takes/has taken cannabis? You went to Uni, how many of your associates took something? Many I reckon, so you say 'I don't like them'? Lance Armstrong used to be the darling of the Tour de France. Look at his name now. Personally, I still think he was a great rider.

At least Michael Lee is an 'open book'. Did you have an inkling about Jimmy Savile, Stuart Hall, etc etc and perhaps some of the sports stars/TV stars that you hold in high esteem, have skeletons (no pun intended) in their cupboard.

I think 'normal' people would say 'kick a paedophile', but do we think we should kick a drug user?

But those MS sufferers that say they get relief from cannabis are the ones smoking the stuff available on the 'black market'. I don't think the medical version is giving much relief. I certainly would never condone drugs, whether it be cannabis, speed, steroids, ibroprofen abuse, paracetamol abuse, alcohol abuse, too many fags etc etc. But many do one or some of what I have mentioned. I admit, I probably drink too much. I think the 'hang em and flog em' thrown at Michael Lee is way way over the top. For those that have said he was a great rider in his hay day and are now disowning him, perhaps you should hang your heads in shame. You cheered and revered the guy on the way up and if his personality is, he couldn't handle it, then indirectly, you contributed to it. On his way down, many have deserted him, which probably also contributes to his problems.

Good point...or is Heat Hen1?

Michael Lee has probably received a greater fine than anybody else, due to his 'previous'. Although classed as illegal, the drugs were pretty low grade, they didn't find crack on him. Personally, I have sympathy for him. I went through a divorce a few years back, after 13 years marriage, Michael, an 11 year relationship breakdown. Me, I certainly took to drinking more, Michael, a bit of cannabis and speed, which he says was used to help with his work load. I wonder what the traders in the city use to keep them going, god only knows! I wish Michael Lee all the very best and hope his life settles down.

May be a silly question, but if they do build an academy, could it be possible that a speedway track could be included too? After all, it would bring additional revenue to help support the academy.

Sounds like he could lose his payment to HMRC. They say they are carrying out 'due diligence', I bet they are!

Wow! What a can of worms!