WembleyLion

Calling off meetings like this is a major contributory factor as to why fans have been deserting the sinking Speedway ship! Even if the track was 'unfit' several hours ago it just isn't good enough on a near perfect day for Speedway!

The average dropping was pretty blatant last night and I felt really sorry for the Swindon fans parting with their hard earned money and having to watch it! I think one of the problems with league Speedway these days is that (unlike the fans who follow their team) many riders have little or no real affinity to the club(s) they ride for.

I know what you mean but you are also lucky to get Speedway in the Summer months at some tracks these days!

I guess they were all at the seaside on such a glorious day - anywhere to avoid a meaningless football match! Unfortunately in land locked Buckinghamshire where I live the seaside isn’t an easy alternative so the local shops (including Tesco Express!) were as busy as any other Saturday that day! By the way the meaningless football match did not even clash time wise! I went to Berwick the week before when England played Sweden and yes during the afternoon the town was quiet but come 7pm there was a really good turnout for the Speedway. Also I don’t think the vast majority of the UK actually watched any of the other England World Cup games so your claim about the third place play off game seems a little exaggerated.

Yes indeed Tony - still a shame though that a top fixture that would have possibly attracted one of their best attendances of the season had it been run in July (notwithstanding a meaningless football match that few were interested in) ends up at the back end of the season when it should have taken place at a time we had a glorious spell of weather and tracks up and down the country were reporting healthy attendances.

Sophie Blake

Eddie Kidd used to stand on the terraces at White City. I recall Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake and Palmer) was a Poole fan.

Funny you should say that a rider was telling me recently he was stopped for doing 60 on a stretch of motorway with roadworks and a reduced limit of 40. The traffic cops seemed very interested in the fact that he was a Speedway rider and even saying they would be watching out for him on tv now they had met him. Whilst they didn't recognise him to begin with he was sent on his way without being booked!

Yes but he rode in a Rye House race suit which was a bit of a shame!

I must admit I always have that sinking feeling when I see the name of Chris (rerun) Gay in the programme!

I went to the very first one and also last night and over 100 in between. Whilst it wasn't my local track with the demise of Hackney, Wimbledon, Reading, Oxford and Coventry I found myself making more visits, often battling with the M25 en route. As I was leaving last night I thought I would try to come up with five Speedway memories so here goes:- 1) The very first meeting back in 1984 an individual won by Bob Garrad. 2) The Lee Richardson memorial meeting in 2012 won by Darcy Ward. 3) Bjarne Pedersen scoring 22 and a bonus although it was a paid maximum (due to one ride being 4 and a bonus). 4) The Glasgow Cup Finals of 1991 especially the first one that ended 90 v 90! 5) England 54 v 54 USA in 1994. I'm sure I'll also remember much of last night especially seeing so many fans walking the track at the end! Farewell Arena Essex/Lakeside!

Trelawny was not a place as far as I can recall.

Let’s hope Schlein isn’t in charge tonight!

No not if Schlein is in charge!

I’m sorry to say that in recent times I have seen a bit more of this not getting changed tactic deployed by riders!

Agreed - the problem is nothing to do with fixed race nights as it happens every year. Last year for instance Rye House went weeks without meetings and then ran a third of their home meetings in 8 days just to squeeze them in by the deadline!

Couldn't agree more - with so few fixtures to complete these days and tracks going weeks without meetings (when the weather has been dry) I think they should be dishing out fines to any club who fails to complete their 12 home fixtures in virtually 6 months! Still it's nothing unusual we seem to have the same issue every year!

Several of the riders don’t look too bothered about riding. Can only see Batch changed at the moment! But the good news is bikes have just started warming up at 7:22! Let’s hope for a good meeting!

Couldn't agree more Tony! I still can't believe they decided not to run against the England v Belgium play off match that most people were not remotely interested in. I have a limited interest in football and like many others I did tune in for the Colombia, Sweden and Croatia games. In fact I don't know anyone who didn't watch at least part of the Croatia match but equally I don't know anyone who watched any of the play off game against Belgium. I certainly would have attended the Mildenhall fixture had Eastbourne staged it that evening but almost certainly won't attend when they eventually decide to run it probably on a cold and damp autumn evening!

Yes indeed - the silent majority would appear to have voted with their feet!

It is a little strange that when they could ride on a Saturday last season it seemed they hardly ever did so much so that they ended up racing 4 home fixtures very close together just so they could squeeze them in by deadline. Just wondering how Saturday has become more practical/desirable this year compared to last season!

Tony - probably by relying on you, me and a rapidly dwindling bunch of other old gits nomads!

Whatever the rights and wrongs this is typical Speedway these days I'm afraid - so glad I couldn't be bothered to make the 270 mile round trip although I was briefly tempted but then I recalled all the times I've been done over for Speedway in the past and opted to stay indoors!

A truly great Speedway rider and a wonderful example to others. I was fortunate to watch him ride throughout the 70’s and win his 4th, 5th and 6th World titles! R.I.P. Ivan

Well done to the Panthers! If anyone has the race times for heats 5 and 6 I would be most grateful if they could share them - many thanks!