stratton

Yes i do agree with him sometimes,but i don't always tell him.My first memories of the Abbey is having a cheap and a dearer side to go on,to go on the starting gate side then was a treat.I used to go on the cheap side go in the pits and get autographs they were the days.Also collect the coke bottles and get some money back what a laugh that was great memories but the track for me is a a standout whatever. The new stadium you have will never replace the superb Abbey racetrack ever but i suppose time has to move on.

Fair play you have always said and have been wary of the supposed new stadium.I have never really thought about it but the vibes and what I have heard is that speedway is not top of there priorities.

What about the bogs yerropes''? an utter disgrace no i am joking i am happy with what is there a decent track a good night out.

I ent, i don't know about you Orion? Rather stick with our run down site the track is unique and like Hyde Rd will never be replaced. Bugger the houses build them somewhere else the vibes are not good from what i have heard and it is worrying times for all Robins Fans.

Spot on Grachan, i think Addio forgot about Szczakiel,s performance in the World Pairs.? Mauger said himself on home soil he was a threat, but you are right about Plech he was the darling of the Poles and he came out with the rough edge of the stick in this meeting.Looking back Mauger really should of won 7 titles? saying that i don't class him the best of all time anyway so maybe it was justice.

No you are right and i was as chuffed as anyone,but in all honesty Tai should not of even been in lasts years WC was that fair.?Like the old WC you know the rules take your good fortune as it comes along Tai did and he was a deserved winner.

You are right about the rollers,but lets be honest Ivan had his fair share over the years.Also in that run off it was his riding that cost him the title.

Right was that when you used the word Pillocks and being worthy!!

I don't pretend to know,all i know is they're are others who have commented on this thread who have years of experience who join in the debate and listen to others opinions whether they are right or wrong do you.?

Dave i can't disagree about Jerzy, i can remember Ivan saying that he knew Sczcakiel was a force and knew he had as much chance as Plech for that final.Ivan if he had used his head would of picked him off i have no doubt but as in life it is sometimes swings and roundabouts.Ivan in my opinion was lucky in 72 but your good point about the old qualifying system is so true.Riders knew the rules before they set out on they're path and real favourites of mine in all honesty had poor records in WFinals (ie) E.Boocock, P.Crump,S.Autrey, relative to there real ability so as you said all of the real greats won it at least once? Farndon and Duggan would of no doubt? and often wondered why Jack Parker did not ever win it. You still have not answered the question, why is your opinion more worthy? They're are other members who have commented on this thread who are well respected in speedway and are still involved.They know more than most what is happening now and what has happened in the past but they listen to others opinions which is what debate is about isn't it.?

What makes you think your opinion is anymore worthy than Halifaxtiger?

Did you go to many Finals? are you telling me in the series now? the gate positions now at times are not a lottery.Also like other oldies on here, we are not old fans we have not stopped going i have also said they're are alot of good things in speedway now but they're are certain thing,s in the past that were good also. Why be sorry? a great thread different OPINIONS which is what this forum is all about.

. A great post Dave, you are like me we both liked the Old Finals and we were both very lucky to see them.You also seem to acknowledge that things have moved on and you have also said like me that things were not always perfect back then.The GP series i have come around to liking it,but at some of the rounds i do get bored with it.The old World FInals what i liked about it there was a chance for the UNDERDOG national league riders could pitch in with the big boys they were involved.Now dress it up as much as you like it is a closed shop in reality,and your best point being we all know they're are a few in the field now like years ago that have zilch chance of winning the championship.In my memory i think JERZY was the only winner who in my mind didnt deserve to win a title.Even Egon who we all knew was a great motorcyclist deserved to win on the day he was the best.So in all those years of the old WC maybe? we had 1 undeserved winner that isn't bad is it all the true greats won with a load along the way that were unlucky.

But the old World Final has served its purpose! ok it had its faults but now the GP series is just as unfair a closed shop (ie not every rider now can even enter the WC.

No i think you for one are just grasping at straws, the sport has been in a far healthier state than now but has not moved forward.Hand on heart now i really fear for the future, don't see much hope and most of the positive stuff i hear are from people who have been involved in the sport for years.No innovation no new ideas no real new blood no one new who could make a difference.

The past is something that most supporters new or old would not mind a bit of at this present time.

I would say that i believe both Pawlcki brothers are and i rate as high as Jensen now.Jensen,s record in Britain was no great shakes either has he progressed that much in the last year?Both Pawlicki brothers are real quality Shamek oozes class.

Totally wrong ok life moves on but you have to sometimes shrive to emulate what has happened in the past.That is the benchmark for me now to be honest the sport looks out on its feet certainly in the EL the Premier looks ok.As for PC god you have to listen ok you don't have to agree with everything he says but i listen to every word he contributes (ie) a great rider and has seen thing,s from every angle.

Have to agree ER i doubted what you said about Nick, felt he would not improve you said he could be a potential big hitter and you have been proved right.The second half of the season he was our most exciting rider from the back he was exciting and that is with Mr KIldemand.

He spoke to me when manager of belle vue when at Swindon a couple of years ago he signed a couple of old pictures for me .He took time to explain to a few of us how the new stadium issue was going, honest give us time that meant alot to me.As i know how good Morton was as a rider awesome at Hyde Rd that ride when he took Carter from the back in the Northern Riders champs will stick in my mind for ever great rider nice bloke.

What a great point Cook who I like very much hope he does well and he will .Cog you are the only one recently on this forum who says Auty has ability.I watched quite alot of him gives everything is exciting to watch is a poor gater but for excitement brilliant.Ask the Scunny fans when he is on he can be very good gutted he hasn't a EL spot but he could have a good year he will be Scuunies no 1 this year.

I believe both of the Pawlicki brothers are class acts i will certainly make the effort and pay 17 quid to watch either of them.

Two Brits now Birks and Auty have been shafted by this pathetic rule Birks what was his average 3.06.?why wasn't Birks in the draft? and is he as experienced as Newman.Again this badly thought out rule has hurt certain riders and also is going to provide an inferior product for the supporter for the same amount of money.As Orion said they might save money but i don't believe for a minute that the crowds won't go down i will be very surprised if Swindon get anymore than 1200 most weeks maybe a few 1500 crowds but mainly 1000 plus if so won't Swindon still lose money.?

There are only Ward, Woffinden, Iversen,( that are real stars) anyway so that wouldn't of been that much of a loss.My take on it that there should of been a longterm plan, proper research done on what is really needed to steady the ship.But this new rule has been rushed through we still don't no fully how it will work do we.Do you think people will pick and choose meetings because of the admission? i do personally because dress it up as much as you like it is now an inferior product as a whole than it even was last year.

Exactly the same Robin, i don't think i will be going everyweek this season i will just pick and choose meetings.