Grand Central

Yes a very good assessment of the situation and possible routes to some solutions. But probably pointless if one hears the blinkered self interests of riders. Most of whom are listened to by promoters despite their, generally, limited intellect.

Years of following Speedway have informed me that no particular form of meeting can GUARENTEE 'decent' racing. But I think it is impossible to have watched the SGP for the past few years and not been impressed with the consistently brilliant racing. Far better than decent. In my opinion.

Well, it was simple enough for me to do straight after I subsribed. It does represent very good value at the current price and with the plan to add extra pages will add to that. But that is just the opinion of this old duffer. My name? ... Oh yes, J.. R .. Hartley.

As a correction to the above post. Online version of the Speedway Star works very well on my iPad, laptop and windows PC. Via either the app or at their website. Simples.

A very good post.One that puts that case very well. Made me rethink my position just a little. Maybe Mssrs Doyle and Holder could do with you to help their PR. Nothing that they say seems to ever project the reasonable view. They always do it in a way that provokes a 'stuff you' response from many of us

I am not arguing for it as a venue for Speedway. But on my many vists to the Queen Elizabeth Park and The London Stadium I have found the bars and resuarants in, and around, the adjacent Westfield centre to be well up to or beyond the standard in Cardiff.

The more one hears from Doyle, the more he reveals a personality and character that is just unpleasant. I don't like to think of myself as being xenophobic. But what with him and Holder. I'd be happy to wave goodbye. They make me wonder why anyone could come up with the the term 'whinging Pom'. When these dour Aussies have moaning and bleating down to such a fine art. They are in a different league. And perhaps they should stay there.

The piece really does bring home the true state we are in now. i imagine that keeping The Star Ship afloat, whilst the promoters systematically torpedo the vessel from all sides, is quite soul destroying for those involved. I have always been open in criticisng some of the reporting and editorial policy over the years. And still will. But I would be quite lost without my weekly fix. It really is a great magazine and needs to be supported. At the moment it sounds to be suffering . I now have my subscription online, and after years of collecting hard copies, I just love the exact editions version. With the back catalogue instantly available for reference. The idea to odd to that with more online pages is an excellent idea. I hope that increases online subs to add to the coffers. I know no one listens to a word I say on here. But for once I hope people will listen and respond.. If you haven't got one already buy an online sub to The Star.

I think it is fair to say that current riders and ex riders as a collective display the general variation in intelligence and ability to analyse their own opinions in exactly the same way as the rest of the 'normal' population. In my experience some are quite astute. But many are as thick as two short planks. Just like us all. I just get decidedly irritated by their views being taken as being better than others. Just 'because they ride'. As an almost statement of fact. It just smacks of the 'My Dad is bigger than your Dad' way of settling a discussion.

Well of course plenty of people thought it was right AND plenty of people thought it wrong. That is why we are discussing it all, for goodness sake. It May even be 50-50. My view remains the same with what I saw. But I am always unimpressed with geriatrirc pit-dwellers being vaunted as having a more valid opinion. Just because they once rode. Rarely has that ever proved to be the case.

Got to say I do like Smolinksi. Anything that gets PR to start a thread about pussies will always get my attention. I wonder if Peter Oakes could look into this 'in more depth' now he has got Toto out of his system? The German guy is right. Referees are all to often taking the namby pamby option of excluding riders who ride hard and just ever so slightly not so clean. The ones with Balls. And letting the guys who opt to drop the bike 'to get a second chance' way too often. Plus that constant shouting of NP/KT about 'was there contact' every time there is an incident. Really wrankles. It should not decide the man at fault every time as they seem to constatntly bleat. Pussies the lot of 'em.

it certainly looks that way. Every word he has written seems to display a 'personal' element. Like a histrionic teenager trying desperately to let everyone know that 'they' are in the right. Must feel quite cathartic to have access to a magazine to 'vent' publicly.

Couldn't agree more. This week's extra bite at the same subject that was done to the death the previous week was a bit bizarre. Over and over again saying the same thing. We got the message. The guy has mental health issues. What on earth is all the fuss being made about him. I think Peter needs to calm down, he's got terribly over excited about this. Has he just got the internet or something? In truth there are al lot of weirdos out there. Just avoid them.

Frankly, if it is true that this been dropped. Then we should be damned grateful. The method you suggest for deciding teams is just bonkers. More Mickey Mouse than anything I gave ever heard.

Those of who, at the time of the AGM, said that the promotion and relegation malarkey was crap. Were shot down in flames as being doom-mongers by those who saw sun shining out of a Buster-shaped orifice. Sometimes it is better to get the simple things working before promising what is not achievable. In Speedway terms we must always set our hurdles very low indeed. About an inch high seems just too much.

i have been an avid Mauger fan my entire life. No one else comes near. Watching him at Hyde Road in the seventies just took my breath away. When he left I became a Falcons fan overnight. I remember screaming from the home straight stand in 1974 when there was an almighty row over the starting gate. When Exeter came to The Zoo. The atmosphere was just incredible that night. All because of the presence of The Very Best. And one of the best races I have seen in my life was when he won against Simmons and Collins in the World Best Pairs at Belle Vue in 1977. It was just simply awesome. Everyone knew that he was just so damned special. You could just feel it. I wish his family ever future successand happiness. And hope all his memorabilia goes to people who really cherish the items fully. You will be very fortunate people. Ivan Mauger is, and will always be, the greatest.

A comedic episode indeed. After reading that article I'm now not sure that Peter Oakes is really Peter Oakes. His writing oscillates between between various modes. From that of a latter day John Pilger exposing the scandalous activity of an African Dictator. To parts where his wounded feelings at being the intended victim of an elaborate hoax are painfully on show. Written in the style of a pius country parson who has been 'goosed' in the vestry. Clearly this Toto is a nut-job. Which could have been made plain in two paragraphs. But at least this is light relief from the dark clouds over 'real life' Speedway in Britain.

Stuart Shirley.

What sort of strange hold does Lynch have over promoters. Time again he gets picked up for work when he has no discernible talent. Just look at him in the interview with Tatum. Rambling nonsense. Like they let the village idiot in.

I made no comparison with years past. That is quite irrelevant in the context we are discussing. The SGP has pretty much the best riders it could have at the moment. Looking to substitute from the outside right now would not improve the field. The qualifiers that come from the challenge may do that anyway.

Someone always has to finish last and some have to be down the lower reachs of the series. The SGP this year is so strong that those finding themselves in that position at GPs are still a lot better than those outside at the moment. NKI should definitely get the pick over Madsen for that reason alone. Pedersen should be evaluated according to what else he brings to the series. If he can still mix it with the best then his 'panto villain' status gets the vote. But if he cannot get back to that level of performance then he would be a rather sad figure; so be let go..

This question is like trying to find a distinction between a Kn0b-head and and d!ck-head. There may be one. But I'll be off doing something else more fruitful when a decision has been made.

Seems a very sensible decision by the SCB and an equally appropriate sentence.

Yes. Obviously.

Hancock was doing well enough to qualify until injured and still a 'proper contender' going into every round He would be due a wild card for that alone. He has a unique and unsurpassable GP record of twenty years plus. How could ANYONE consider him unworthy of a wild card? I would imagine that he will be able to claim a GP place for as long as he wants it himself. After all, all the people that matter seem to just love him as well. And to put this in context. I cannot stand the man. One little bit. Just because I cringe and squirm at his every appearance on screen. And find the whole 'look at me I'm 84 but still get down with the kids' as nauseating. I know that counts for nothing.