Leicester Hunter

He hasn't so far, and this has probably been the longest running topic on this forum. From what I have heard, as far as David Hemsley is concerned, it's his way or no way. To be fair here, Scunthorpe has been considerably widened to accommodate BriSCa F1 Stock Cars since it was opened, it has lots of different racing lines due to that, but also far shorter straights (that's how it seems to me, anyway) than Leicester. Somerset is another outstanding venue for racing, but as I noted above, David Hemsley seems to have a 'not thought of here' syndrome towards Beaumont Park.

I first encountered Malc Holloway when he was a team mate of Andy's at Milton Keynes in 1978. A real character, greatly missed and the type of individual the sport is crying out for today. Two major shocks from that particular final were the failure of both Michael Lee and John Davis to qualify for the next stage of the World Championship. They scored a combined total of 9 points between them, if my memory serves me correctly.

Yeah, I can fully understand you feeling gutted after 'Crash's dramatic exit in '75, but you've got to admit, that was something special from Ray Wilson in the run-off... I've got to admit, I wasn't really a fan of the Coventry track during the Olsen era, but Charles Ochiltree did seem to prepare a somewhat deeper track for the British Final, and it provided some memorable and also cut-throat racing. Ironically, in 1982, a fair number of Birmingham fans didn't make it Brandon as a thunderstorm of monsoon proportions engulfed the north and east of the city around teatime, many coming to the conclusion that the meeting would be postponed. Just shows what things were like before the advent of mobile phones and social media etc. For me, I travelled down from Leicestershire and it was a relatively rain-free journey. For the few of us Brummies supporters there, 2nd June 1982 was a truly memorable meeting. We saw 'our boy' Andy Grahame win the Championship, it being all the sweeter, as no-one really saw that result coming!

Fairly self explanatory really - anyone getting six out seven questions right on a BSPA test would be generally considered too bright to go on it..... On the contrary, the wording I would have used with the rule would have been Barring genuine injury which would necessitate one month or more out of action, you stick by your chosen FT riders all season come what may. Some teams might have been more careful about their choices then.

Sadly, I think you're right. He's saving himself, so he can put an excellent performance in at Brandon on Friday.

No, Speedway Golden Jubilee celebration meeting, 1978.

RIP Simmo. The word Legend is often overused these days. Certainly not in his case. Very sad news indeed.

That's right, he was hailed as the next most promising youngster from Denmark - following on from Alf Busk No, you're thinking of August Bank Holiday Monday 1979, when he scored zilch at Exeter in the morning, and a 12 point maximum against the same club at Perry Barr in the evening. There's a very strong possibility he's already attended a meeting this year.

Who knows? Sincerely, I hope we aren't. I just wish the individual concerned would either shut up or naff off and be completely negative elsewhere.

I notice you've been highly selective with what you've quoted from my post, and your original post come to that. Who's making him out to be a messiah? Not me. I'm saying the club is showing ambition in signing a highly rated 19 year old from Poland. One last thought. I notice you compared Zmarzlik to Finn Jensen in your original post. Well, he wasn't crap all the time, was he? Frustrating, yes, because we all knew he could do it when the mood took. So, my challenge to you stands. Are you now going to support Birmingham Speedway again, or not?

Every silver lining has a cloud with you, doesn't it? Let's get him to settle in, he may not score big points to start with, but long term, Bartosz Zmarzlik may be the sort of rider this club has been looking for since we came into the EL in 2011. Yes, the club has been getting a lot of flak recently, but this signing shows they are not willing to lie down and die... far from it, Alan Phillips and co should be applauded, they are now showing ambition. So why not support them for a change, give them credit where it is due. And stop making snide comments at their expense.

Could be quite a bit longer than either party initially envisaged, seeing as who Birmingham signed toady.

What a great signing out of nowhere. Welcome to Birmingham Bartosz, hope it will be a profitable enterprise for all parties concerned. All this makes for a competitive few weeks for the remaining top four team members, because as soon as Adam is fit again, I personally would not hesitate to include him in the team again. If Mr Zmarzlik is as competitive over here as he is in Europe, more than one rider is going to be looking over their shoulder now....

I certainly don't. Good riddance to bad rubbish as far as I'm concerned. He's got a lot to answer for both at Birmingham and Swindon IMO.

TBF, Lambo had a decent match and had beaten Lewis Blackbird earlier in the meeting, so leaving him in heat 14 did seem to be a good idea. Yep, Ben Barker was also back to his old self again, and there was some cracking racing throughout the meeting. Well done to both teams for putting on an excellent show.

Birmingham's visit to Hackney in 1982 was quite a close run affair until heat 10. With the Hawks two points in front, their pairing of Finn Thomsen and Jens Rasmussen gated and were on an easy 5-1 over their Brummies counterparts of Ales Dryml Snr and Ari Koponen, until Rasmussen's bike went entering the third bend on lap 2. Straightening the bike up, Rasmussen collided with Thomsen, and the pair both fell off. Whilst they were sorting themselves out, the Brummies pair raced past completely unconcerned. Thomsen eventually remounted and proceeded to pootle round, and when the flag came out, he was well over half a lap adrift. However, instead of taking the flag, Thomsen decided to ride straight into the pits, only to be greeted by an irate Len Silver, who told him very loudly, and in no uncertain terms to "Bl***y well get out there and finish the race", which he did. Too late though, as the referee had already switched on the red exclusion light.... The announcer read out the result, and added that "The rider in red has been excluded for leaving the track without the referee's permission"! Priceless! The resulting 5-0 also had great bearing on the final result. The Brummies won 41-36. Happy days!

TBH, I think it's a combination of all of the above. Sadly, I've heard the same sentiments, both posted on forums and from individuals personally. You're right - it is a worrying trend - and it's not likely to decrease in the immediate future.

So everything you put in the first paragraph of this post you know for a fact, do you? As you put in #114, people won't watch a sub-standard team whether it's £15, £10 or £1.50, and I fully agree with that. But what if the PL team was a good and successful one? Kind of defeats your argument then, doesn't it? Unless you're saying the Birmingham public won't support speedway in the necessary numbers in future. And again, you would probably be right. Oh, and get your facts right about Peterborough. They didn't go 'bump', as you put it. Rick Frost pulled the plug, almost certainly in total frustration after the shabby way they were treated by the BSPA/SCB last summer.

The above quote is a prime example of someone who knows they have lost the argument and decides to let everyone else know as well. Jeez mate, don't you ever have a day off? Anyone would think that both Ryan Fisher and Mick Horton have come to you personally for the money. They haven't. So get over it. And get over yourself as well.

Not really, no. Because similar things have happened in the past.

On this occasion I wouldn't have thought so. Much more cost effective to let the weather do it.

I take it that suggestion has left you slightly underwhelmed!

...And give youngsters some track time. They are, after all, the future of the sport.

Yes. What you've put in your reply is also true. What your original post implied (to me, anyway) was that Nico on his own isn't the answer to our current problems. I agree with you again. He isn't. But couple his signing with a recognised No1 (if budget constraints allow), that could well be the answer.