oldace

All pretty much standard issue on the speedway terraces to this day.

Now you are starting to argue with yourself Ian In the past you have extolled the virtues of the old system where the underdog can be world champion, you have cited 1973 as a typical example od this. In 1973 we had a very poor rider who hadn't qualified to be there winning the event and yet you think this was great but you think it not right that Woffy is there. And in that year 5 riders were gifted places on the strength of nationality. The swedes were given 5 the year after although they held a final to decide the five, the Brits were given 4 in 1978. For what it is worth plenty of people agree with you on the Woffinden thing but you lose credibility when you keep suggesting a tried, and patently worse, system be implemented

I can understand that people like, or otherwise, certain aspects of the sport (tac rides, play offs etc) but I really cant comprehend how anyone can advocate a sytem whereby the sports world champion can be nowhere near the best in the world at his chosen profession. The excitement of an underdog winning something is OK for a clubs once a season individual event (although no one has them anymore) but not as a way of determining a world champion

You dont have to imagine that scenario, similar happened most years pre 1995. Of course those wanting a return are usually the ones who took a friend to a league match who loved it until the tac ride was used then the fantasy friend immediately didn't want to go again. You can usually substitute tac ride for guest rider, R/R etc or whatever the argument is at the time. Now I remember having a conversation with a fantasy friend on Sept 6th 1976. Fantasy Friend "That Pete Collins must be quite good, world champion eh, did he beat Olsen easily" Me "Well no he didnt beat him at all actually" FF "Huh" Me "Well each rider has 5 rides and the one with the most points wins" FF "OK that seems reasonable so other riders beat Olsen then" Me "Eh well no actually because despite being one of the best riders in the world Olsen wasn't there thanks to 2 exclusions in an earlier round" FF "So in a season of 1000s of races you are telling me that an exclusion and an engine failure in just two of them means he cant be world champion, well no way am I going to watch that sport"

I remember when my kids used to make statements like that. It was cute in a 4 year old. "I wont talk to you unless you apologise" Dear god!!!!

Jesus Christ man, wind your neck in. You have gone on over the years about the lack of a qualifying process. A patently untrue stance that until recently you and your cohort trotted out over and over.

Ian you have constantly used untruths in your quest to discredit the SGP. Fine if you dont like GP racing and prefer one off finals, there are plenty feel the same but you have gone to ridiculous lengths to get your point across.

5 different winners in 5 years doesnt back that cobblers up does it. When did that happen in the "variety" fuelled 60s or 70s or 80s

Indeed he is, and I have no problems with him not liking the GP but when he starts making patently untrue statements then it is frustrating. Yes World Finals were magnificent events, I went to many and always enjoyed them but the system of qualifying was so badly flawed in that many top riders were prevented from qualifying and many no hopers were seeded in order to ensure a crowd. A qualifying process that was fair and open to all was always totally impractical, it would have needed many qualifiers and repercharges and more qualifiers than would be humanly possible. There is nothing wrong with opinion but to keep merely saying the same thing when it is completely untrue starts to make him (and Derek, and the other silly bint) look a little foolish

For goodness sake, that is what the current system is all about. You have been banging the drum for a return to world champions like Szackiel and Muller

So you want a system that denies the best riders in the word a chance to qualfy, like the one we used to have. A system where a country like England had PC, Chris Morton, Malcolm Simmons, John Louis, Gordon Kennet, Dave Jessup, Doug Wyer etc. All capable of making the World final in 1978 but for a qualyiying system that allowed no more than 4 of them through. Or a country like the USA in the late 70s who had Penhall, Sigalos, Schwartz, the Morans, Autrey all world class but no more than 2 could go through. There has never ever been totally open qualifying whereby the worlds best 16 could make the final. Ok so we now have 4 seeds who are usually among the best in the world but that is preferable to having 5 seeds who were never anywhere near the best in the world merely because the continentals were gifted 5 places in the world final. I too attended many finals and enjoyed them immensely but it beggars belief that now that we have a genuine world championship contested by arguably the best 16 riders in the world, that anyone would hanker for a return to a system so flawed as in the old days.

Of course, but when you look back you are judging all those riders on their form at the peak of their careers, not at that particular time Ermolenko wasn't a contender by 96, Loram, although good, still hadn't made that breakthrough to world class. Gollob was only at the beginning of his career in 95, he was nowhere near the world class rider he was to become.

Thinking outside the box, a bit radical I know but it could work for all clubs. After they have tried lotteries, duel football and speedway tickets, vouchers for 1 free match in ten etc it may be worth considering, as a last resort offering fans a value for money night out at a price on a par with the entertainment on offer. Like I said a bit radical, maybe just go back to the tried and tested strategy of accepting lost fans by upping admission costs to the rest and ignoring why the fans are walking away in the first place

If every fan brings someone along that would be another potential fan lost to the sport. Don't you get it!! eben fans of many years serice with a real affinnity for the sport are stopping going in their droves, there is zero chance of anyone wanting to repeat the first time experience with the sport as it is. First off address the reasons why fans no longer go before you even think about any marketing excercise.

Don't understand the problem really. According to The White Knight the Premier League is in good shape and yet in recent weeks, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Workington, Berwick, Redcar and Plymouth have all expressed grave concerns over their futures. Maybe the Premier League has all the same problems as the Elite after all. Too expensive and not enough entertainment,

No his choice of words show him to be a complete turd and render any opinion, if he is capable of one completely pointless

Indeed cause that way this could have been on at 11.00 AM this morning when it was released

What about him?

It was Staechman and Larsen, neither rode but Staechman was 17th by virtue of his higher placing in the series to date. It was a strange format that year where there were 17? permanent riders with the two who finished last dropping down to reserve for the next GP. Well it was along those lines anyway!!!!

The "what went on" was never in doubt. The case was, as you say, was it consensual or not. The jury decided it was and so however unpleasant the act Darcy is not guilty of any crime.

And the little guys dad really covers himself in glory in that clip doesn't he

As long as there are mugs daft enough to attend these events then undeserving riders will keep milking the system, who can blame them.

He was one of your favourites at Hyde Road was he Ron, after this move from Newcastle. Dont let the fact that he never raced at Hyde Road cloud your memories now will you

Your confusing the announced line up with the real line up. The announced one contains a few big names in order to draw a crowd. The real one is only disclosed 5 mins before tapes up with the big names replaced by National League riders

What on earth are you talking about. He has been in an industry for 10 or 12 years, changing jobs a few times along the way. Has it escaped your notice that this is a situation repeated millions of times over in many industries around the country. Occassionally if a person is with the same employer for 10 years they get some sort of perk, maybe an extra weeks holiday per year, the speedway equivilent used to be a testimonial. Nowadays it appears everyone who has been in the sport 10 years, which in reality is approx 90% of the riders in the leagues, is awarded one. Like I said it is a total nonsense and fans are merely being fleeced by these undeserved events