stratton

Graham Hambly was brilliant in his time at Swindon and the guy in the 70s i think his name was Graham Guthrie? I am not sure ( Grachan will know?)a no frills kind of man but a great presenter.

Fourty riders is unrealistic but as SCB suggested one is that to much to ask?. If they were all at the level of say Ellis Kerr,Howarth,Birks, not a problem anyway.

He didn't get the crowd buzzing when i went people got restless i used to go in the new stand which then was a superb complex.But as someone else said for me he was to much he was to overpowering and commentating in the middle of the races Na not for me.He obviously is a knowledgable man and i am an old fart who is stuck in his ways but his style certainly now is old news have that with crap music a recipe for disaster time to move on.

I used to go to Oxford most weeks in the Nielsen days, he was on the mic in the middle of the races he knows his speedway but he was a poor presenter.

With the meeting being held on Monday, it is a bit of a worry that they're is a gap until the play/offs on the 23rd.Will this mean a few of our riders would of been inactive for a bit.?

When you put it like that Aces1 it looks pretty dismal,i am not that bothered what happens really staying the same or one big league.The quality in numbers of top class riders are long gone 30 years ago Ward would of been just a name in amongst endless other top class riders. Of course it is a treat to see someone of that ability now and of course we would all miss him but if sky pulls out something has to give.

But you would have to say Aces1 though from 1970 until say 88? they're were loads more top class / very good English riders/ and second strings available.Now the numbers are very low in comparison i think as SCB said start at one at first and even those riders would have to have the right criteria.If the league are missing the likes of Ward(ect) it makes it even lesser of a problem as the huge gulf gap in class will be bridged as we all know the EL is a badly watered down product now.

One of my favourites rob first see him in a WC qualifier at Swindon i think in 1972? when he was a second division rider.Also see him alot when a team mate of Streety later on carried the Robins home and away for years a special rider Legend.

Hunter in order my favourite tracks were Hyde RD, The Shay, Blunsdon, Sheffield, Kings Lynn, Exeter, Leicester and Hackney.A great list and my worst track was Newport Somerton Park went only once a home win 61-17 a terrible homer track.

But they can't though can they? practice with all our health and safety bulls... and stupid curfews speedway has no power in those matters so that is never going to change.And it was me who said the young Pole has a massive advantage over a English lad.If our lads had the help and practice facilities and were then failing then i would except it Lambert had to go to Germany to improve he was forced to i dont believe he would of got the laps in England.

No doubt about it this is a great post maybe some promoters might take note.?

So is the PL sub standard in your opinion? Ward or no Ward many more meetings like last nights dross and the sport will be in the mire.

Well all things have to be considered, speedway is now at a stage where the promoters have to take notice of the fan.Are you telling me if say Poole for (ex) took Ward and Holder off the wage bill they could not take a couple of quid off the admission.Your way of thinking basically the like it or lump scenario has no chance speedway without the sky money would be knackered within a few years. You are in total cookoo land if you believe that,if say a young Pole can go to his local track seven times a week to practice and also get help on the mechanical side.Has he got just a little bit of an advantage over a young English lad? who is lucky to get one day a week to practice.Grass roots we have some great people who are busting a gut to help the young ones over here but there hands are tied.And if your last sentence is correct why is that outstanding talent Lambert based in Germany.

Well you are entitled to your opinion 'orion but the word charity is a silly statement and believe it or not i see riders half a lap behind now and who knows it might be less than 17 pound.?

Thanks for that Fromafar' is that because of the expense or inconvenience? if so such a shame really!

If the Wards of this world are not in the league and say you have the top level of rider of the calibre of Watt, King,Harris,.The gap between those riders and good PL/ D/uppers and PL second strings there is not a huge gap.Now is the ideal time to do it in,the EL it is at its weakest since the 90s do you suggest no change and carry on with a broken product? and that is with SKY'S capital being pumped in.

How would it put the crowds down? i here plenty of gripes from people who believe our lads should get a helping hand now.Also with Woffy leading the way and the Lamberts,Ellis, Birks,Howarth and Kerrs of this world on the scene Brits coming through has got to be good for our sport.One thing that you seem very naive about is this country has far to long been a breeding ground for foreign riders (alot i may add who are no world beaters and expensive) to earn a living.SCB on his post puts across good suggestions and that's a start and we can go from there.

If there was a new league do people believe it should be made compulsory to have at least two Englishmen in the side.? I believe now is the time to push this through cutting down on costs and giving our lads more prolonged chances.Are we in law aloud to insist on this? i don't know the answer to that question but say if they're was a 16 or 18 team league is insisting on two Englishmen to many.?The only concern i would have is would we have a few to many out of they're depth or maybe without the GP stars the gap in class would not be that noticeable any thoughts.!

When i have seen Berwick on sky and the U21s ( ect) it looks like a terrific racetrack.The promotion there really seem to have done a brilliant job they promote very well the same with Workington and Newcastle.But i have heard on the forum that sometimes it is hard to pass why is that?i watched the Newcastle match again.Couldnt they cut off more of the football pitch on bends 3 and 4 so it is not so narrow when you come off the banking?.Saying that the races i have seen on the Internet i have enjoyed reminds me of the SHAY if they could get the track more consistent this track would have to be in contention for more big events surely.

In my experience of watching sport luck has a big part to play you need talent of course but you need a break.Also Kerr was deemed not good anough for a regular spot at Leicester Newcastle had faith and they got the rewards.Thats what i mean luck and your face fitting being in the right place at the right time your assessment does not happen in most cases .The odd one comes through but endless others for all sorts of reasons fall by the wayside when they should not of.

Absolute nonsense that last statement ask Sturridge at Liverpool always had quality never given a proper chance now he is showing his talent.Also this applies in speedway you have to be given a chance to show it sometimes if it goes to one big league alot of the mediocre foreign riders will be ousted.All those young Brits i named are worth a chance Mr English at Newcastle has shown it this year with young Kerr.With your attitude no wonder we are not much of a force in some sports even Beckham said now he would not of been given half the chances he had as a young player it is ten times harder now.

Going back to that era,Bernie Collier belle Vue ( ect ) and before that if a junior won his race he went in with the big boys.I always felt this brought some on quickly obviously some were out of there depth.But those races added something to the night especially when the junior mixed it with the big boys and give it a go.

It is not just about the cost hopefully some of those young English riders will take preference therefore getting better.The same with div 1 and 2 football two many mediocre foreign players getting chances taking a place up robbing a Brit when often they are no better.Cost cutting giving a Brit a chance its got to be good hasn't it?

You have gone right off topic but it does not matter the question first of all was about cost cutting.If it is one big league then you will see the point that was being made.The likes of Kerr, Greenwood,Jacobs,Bates,Starke,Lambert,Rose,Carr, and other youngsters don't have to be all Brits all getting regular chances.Therefore they will take preference over the mediocre foreign rider costing an arm and a leg that's also better for GB longterm also.

Did he ever say BRITS ?a simple answer is the double uppers the likes of Robson, Auty,Worrall,Dyer,Summers,Morris,Tungate, all are good anough to go full time but they want to stay busy and earn a living that's why they ride PL.Thats why it makes me laugh when the EL snobs criticise the PL without those d/ uppers and PL guests the EL would be a worse product than it is now.