daveallan81

Figures for all meetings scheduled (inc. challenge, etc) up to and including 15th April for each year: 2013: 90 matches - 21 off (23.3%) 2014: 97 matches - 17 off (17.5%) 2015: 95 matches - 17 off (17.9%) 2016: 106 matches - 33 off (31.1%) (assuming Plymouth goes ahead) Some other samples from the past: 1967: 67 matches - No postponements 1977: 143 matches - 7 off (4.9%) 1987: 92 matches - 20 off (21.7%) 1997: 84 matches - No postponements 2007: 143 matches - 9 off (6.3%)

Number 6 isn't Middlesbrough...

That's a solid 6 from Steve, but zero from two for Team Dibbley!

19 National League tracks operated in 1979. Here are brief 'reviews' of 12 of them - can you identify the tracks in the spotlight? A league table from the season can be found here http://www.speedwaygb.co/history/leaguetables1979.php but how many can you get off the top of your head? #1. Track under a motorway flyover! Best thing is the excellent snacks served in the stadium. #2. Beware of a nearby carry-out and stick to bottled beer at the track unless you're familiar with the local brew. #3. Interesting place to spend a day. Good selection of shops and eating places in the town and excellent overnight accomodation near the town centre. Many old, interesting 'refreshment' establishments. #4. Pleasant country setting if it's a nice day. Boating trips are recommended. #5. Interesting and historical place for the visitor to spend a day. Most impressive stadium, even if they do serve bottled beer, and numerous places for bed and breakfast available but seek local advice. #6. Very much in the middle of nowhere but the facilities are above average. Cheap and adequate accomodation in Newcastle. #7. Without doubt the number one track for facilities although in the middle of nowhere. Don't arrive too early! Locals always friendly. #8. Not the most picturesque of settings and on a bad day there can be quite a few unusual smells drifting through the stadium. #9. Can always do a bit of train spotting if bored. Local ale house tends to be too crowded. Good accomodation available if you ask at the track. #10. Beware of the plastic cows! #11. Friendly locals who appreciate good racing. The facilities now are second only to <blank>. #12. One of the worst circuits for watching unless you sit in a bar or a restaurant. Don't waste your time looking for accomodation.

Ah, I see what's happened here - it should be no-breeks-uk

Including today, and assuming Lakeside goes ahead tonight, the EL has had 10 of it's 21 scheduled fixtures called off. I ran cancellation & abandonment figures a while ago, I've now added two graphs to show the steady increase in both since 1967. https://www.dropbox.com/s/trhbefu9j4uubgr/Abandonments%20%26%20Cancellations.pdf?dl=0

Ivan and Kym Mauger, Barry and Tony Briggs, Kenny and Adam McKinna.

Edited for accuracy.

Has anyone ever died on a Wall of Death?

You certainly can't accuse Tigers fans of being hopeless...

Rained off 22nd June, restaged 23rd.

I thought there was something about this Wild Angels cover that seemed a bit...off. Take a closer look at the crowd. Granted it looks like a warm afternoon but do you see any sign of team colours on display? Any programme boards being held? Strange. Is there any case to be made for the Weir Stadium at Rayleigh? Edit: no there isn't now that I've had another look

Thanks. So it would be reasonable to assume that Woffinden and Harris would be kept apart in the draw?

Are the semi-finals seeded?

It seems pretty clear that either everyone has completely forgotten about the incredible live acts they saw at speedway tracks or, and I accept that I'm going out on a bit of a limb here, there aren't any to remember. Right, opening myself up to all sorts of potential litigation I've uploaded a clutch (see what I did there?) of tracks (how good am I?) with a speedway theme to this link https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xx97wiwbmztilrr/AAByi3O4c_c8KtRRlMYPZ5ORa?dl=0 Lots of genres to suit even the most discerning of tastes. There's rock with the Rebel Army doing an honourable version of Billy Idol's Rebel Yell. Or should that be Wyvern Yell? Or the Mythical Beastie Army? You've got to cover these bases nowadays you know. More rock with Rocket Ronnie. It sounds like they did the vocal part as he was plummeting to his death down a lift shaft and I'm seriously concerned about what he departs the scene to do around the 2 minute mark (strangely enough). That sounds like it needs batteries, not methanol. Oh well, each to their own. I know I won't think of a 2-minute buzzer in quite the same way again. We've even got some whacky Swedes who possibly graced Eurovision. While I'm sure it's probably about how the club was started by a guy who fitted an engine to a hollowed-out moose, it's all in Swedish so there is a chance they're actually chanting some sort of Swedish death mantra as Swedish isn't really my forte. Whatever, I bet there's a moose in it somewhere. A really angry one. Our friends from above The Rivals are there with both A and B-sides. I must say there is no mention of these men being held against their will in the article linked to above so it must be just an impression I get. If you ever wanted to define what a wet Monday morning sounds like, start your search here. Did Hoskins ever ride? That would have been great if he had. Old timers could fondly regale us with tales of the various ways he destroyed his helmet after every meeting. Tell me you're not at least guffawing mildly. Enjoy. Oooo, if I said you had a beautiful body, would you gie us a guest booking, ooo yehhhh.......

Take a look at the SJL 1984 folder in the Dropbox link below. I'm still looking for some of the results from both the SJL and Junior KOC. Edit to add: I think there was a Wessex Junior League as well.

Methinks those first two meetings are from 1989. Unfortunately I can't be of any help with the videos.

I'm clearing all the programmes I accumulated during my 1978 season research. The main bundles have gone and I'm left with a few odds and ends. Programmes are all in good used condition though please note that the Bristol programmes all have a single punch-hole in the top-left corner except those in bold. Some are marked, some are blank, further details on request. 20p per programme plus postage, payment by Paypal only. Belle Vue 25/03, 01/04, 22/04, 26/04, 06/05, 20/05, 27/05, 03/06, 10/06, 21/06, 08/07, 16/07, 22/07 Birmingham 29/03, 10/04, 10/07, 21/08 Boston 23/04 Bristol 17/03, 24/03, 31/03, 14/04, 21/04, 28/04, 05/05, 12/05 (tear on cover), 19/05, 26/05, 16/06, 23/06, 07/07, 14/07, 28/07, 25/08, 15/09, 22/09, 06/10, 13/10, 20/10 Cradley Heath 13/05, 17/06 Hackney 24/03, 14/04, 21/04, 02/06, 07/07, 20/10, 27/10 Halifax 13/05, 20/05, 03/06, 24/06, 22/07 (two copies), 23/09 Ipswich 18/05 Milton Keynes 13/08 Peterborough 16/06 Poole 29/03 Rye House 02/04, 18/06, 25/06, 02/07 (two copies), 06/08, 20/08, 01/10 Scunthorpe 27/03, 15/05, 29/05 Sheffield 04/05, 18/05, 25/05 (two copies), 14/09 Stoke 15/04, 06/05, 02/07, 08/07, 16/07, 22/07 Swindon 18/03, 06/05, 31/08 Teesside 27/04, 08/06, 15/06, 22/06, 29/06, 20/07, 10/08, 17/08, 31/08 Wimbledon 13/07, 20/07, 27/07, 07/09

The match went ahead, Rebels won 48-30. The original staging date of 14th April was rained off.

If you can open Microsoft Excel files you'll find full season results lists at the Dropbox link in my signature.

Are you willing to accept Jensen's score of 14 and Gundersen's 10 at face value or do you have other results to back that up? Download the file above again - I've added reports from the following weeks' Star that mention Jensen's 13 and Gundersen finishing 5th. The 1986 yearbook page is also attached at the back.

Speedway Star w/e 29/07/78 reports: F. Jensen (Denmark) 13 K. Jolly (England) 12 N. Middleditch (England) 12 S. Finch (England) 12 E. Gundersen (Denmark) 11 H. Nielsen (Denmark) 10 B. Karnas (Czechoslovakia) 8 J. Juza (Czechoslovakia) 8 O. Keirjk (Poland) 6 B. Rjszild (Poland) 6 F. Birbini (Italy) 5 U. Johansson (Sweden) 5 H. Mananiv (Bulgaria) 4 K. Nieuzjsliw (Poland) 4 A. Gigioli (Italy) 2 J. Romin (Poland) 2 Scan of the report here https://app.box.com/s/4hgjlbo0g68qap5jev149v81yq7ati9g

Having watched the Superbowl half-time show I think I'd go for those ant chaps. Lack of dancing insects is killing the sport...

I am having one hell of a day. Right, try again... 1984 BLRC - Star reports John Louis 1 from 3 starts (1, 0, NF, N, N). Coventry 1984 file reports same. Louis' point came in heat 2 after Knudsen fell while leading. 1985 BLRC - Rained off Saturday 6th October, restaged 20th. 1986 BLRC - https://app.box.com/s/wm7cfpcwle17ebtue3q3/1/505477329/4163566187/1

1984 British Final - Speedway Star reports 4 (fx, 2, 0, 0, 2). I know you said 'no internet' but Stuart & co's 1984 Coventry file also says 4. Do you have a corresponding scoring error for another rider? 1985 was rained off on Sunday 9th June and restaged Wednesday 12th June. From 1985 yearbook. 1986 marked programme (not mine) here https://app.box.com/s/wm7cfpcwle17ebtue3q3/1/502516913/4134965833/1 Andy Smith replaced Alan Grahame at #11.