Penny Cross

Who said bottom of the table? I didn't!

Crap signing. I love to watch guys race to their limits to get points for the team. Fisher goes over that limit time and again. The guy is plain dangerous on a bike. His rants and raves when last at SBA were childish and pathetic. I certainly will NOt be attending any Testimonial for him. Swapping Barker for Fisher is a massive error, imo. Bottom half of table AGAIN at this rate. My visits to SBA will be severely curtailed.

Pure class,simple as that. By the way, Gote is pronounced 'Yerta' One of the most elegant riders on a bike. Awesome for Poole in 1967 and always had time for the fans. Im sure I read in Tommy Janssons book that Gote actually died in a track crash,around 73/74. Fortunately they got him back. In Sweden for the World Final in 1977, I left my hotel without my ticket. Trying to explain to the lady at the ticket office was difficult. Up stepped Gote and got me a free upgrade! He ran over Ove's foot in the 1997 Poole Golden Greats meeting, much to my dads annoyance. Still as elegant as ever though. He was at Poole around 5/6 years ago and look fit and healthy and that big smile lit up his face. Definitely one of the all time greats for me.

Good meeting all the same. Just wish the Dorset Pirates had won.

Try here.. http://grasstrackgb.co.uk/picsvidsreports/bobs-dvds-extra/

I found this website recently, featuring Somerton Park and Newport in general. Shows the fearsome (so some say) speedway track. http://quietwomansrow.com/#/county-7475/4534183014 Great memories of the PL. My own upbringing meant I was forced to watch Gilbertson, Mudge Lewis and co each week. Hard, but someone had to do it! My one and only visit to New Cross turned out to be the last ever meeting there, with Poole winning too!

Plym 11 IPS 13 after ht4. Both Newman and Benko fell while leading Hts 1&2 while Devils on 5-1's. Track dusty as could be. Good luck in Final Witches.

I agree with you Bryn. Essentially, race times are irrelevant, as the other riders are slower than the winner. The quality of racing is the biggest single factor of my enjoyment. Team racing far outweigh individuals for me.

Fair enough,I always called it the bobs! I can still see the brakeman breaking into a sweat trying to control the speed on the scenic railway. Oh and I only rode the back of that thing once.....after going over one of the drops and leaving my seat and hurting my back. Health and safety would go bonkers today! Good times.

First ever visit to Hyde Road was back in 1968, for the BLRC. I was 13at the time. Parked up with what seemed like hundreds of coaches. Seemed like more than when I went to Wembley for the 1965 World Final. The fun fair, lights, noise and pure buzz and atmosphere was electric. A ride on the 'Bobs' gave me my first look at the track and inside the stadium. The impressive stands, big flat track, but hang on, its black not red shale! What the heck? (I hadn't been to Halifax either before this). Oh how I wish tracks would use that stuff now. Never quite the same once they changed to red shale. Found our seats on the 4th turn, just above the pits exit. Great view. Then something happened that I had never seen at speedway before. Although the track was lit up by the lights, as the riders came onto the track, they seemed to power the lights up even more. Wonderful,almost magical. Briggo went on to beat Eric Boocock in a run off. I said to my Dad then that I loved this place. Everything about it. I made sure I visited the place every year at least once and did so until the final BLRC there in 87. Saw some superb speedway over that time.Mauger, Morton,Collins,Sjosten, all superb, riding seemingly impossible lines. I can only image what it would have been like to watch Peter Craven each week. You lucky people. Some great fun in the funfair too, with our idols enjoying themselves as well. Chris Pusey trying to get Zenon Plech to stop playing the horse galloping race! Riders taking on fans at the go karts. My only claim to fame was beating PC AND Simmo on the karts. They took the first 2 karts, but as they were concentrating on each other, I slipped through, and despite being rammed and bumped a few times by both, I hung on. My reward was to be booed by those watching as I got in their way! I recently visited Belle Vue for the meeting v Leicester. So sad to see, no atmosphere, no dirt on the track, sparse support and so far from the racing. Not a patch on when they first went there in 88. To be honest I couldnt get out of there fast enough. The only thing in common was the dulcet tones of Ken Wrench on the microphone. Hyde Road will always be one of my favourite tracks. There will never be anything like it again.

Here is a photo of the Southern Rovers team. The nomadic team with no regular home base, but did use California, Rye House and Swindon. Only ever rode in 1956. Looks like the photo was taken at California. Apart from Eric Hockaday and Colin Gooddy, I have no idea whos who! https://www.flickr.com/photos/119751419@N03/?details=1

Absolutely correct. I was there that night and he could of easily won this meeting in a star studded field. Christer is still my ALL TIME favourite rider. Geoff Swindells of Weymouth got excluded at Eastbourne for 'not making a bon afide attempt to race'. Jimmy Squibb had literally dumped him through the fence on the 1st turn. After about 15 mins Geoff got up and appeared for the rerun. He raced for approx. 2.5 laps before his injury forced him to slow a little.He finished less than a quarter of lap behind the race winner!!

Not a bad meeting at all. Some lively racing throughout, with a couple of races that Sky would be crowing about. Getting a bit tiresome with the number of unsatisfactory starts involving Newman. I think that's his 3rd or 4th warning (here at SBA) from referees. Getting as bad as when Todd Kurtz was here. Agree with Former Devil about team riding in general from the Devils team. I hope they were watching HT3 last night.It was a perfect example of how to do it. Risager and Worrall side by side for all 4 laps, they never once looking like losing it. Stood close to us was a guy and his young daughter, supporting Ipswich. Chatting throughout the meeting it was refreshing to see and hear them cheering on BOTH sides for some good speedway. Although disappointed that their favourite rider, Adam Ellis didn't have a good night, they were well pleased with what they saw. Oh and his daughter was so excited when we told her she could run round the track after Ht14. When she got back, it was like Christmas, she was so excited to have been given a lollipop! Mike on the Mic was once again cringworthy. Making very crude references to a childs t-shirt.Not the least bit funny. Oh and for your info Mike. You clearly stated that anyone is welcome to take photos provided you don't use flash. 100% WRONG. See page 3 of the programme. Under the heading PUBLIC NOTICE.. It CLEARLY states 'Betting and unauthorised photography is strictly prohibited' As a presenter you are responsible for pointing these things out. Also,please welcome the away supporters while doing the introductions on the parade. Week after week you forget and only remember after a couple of races. Edited to add.....3 times Graham Hambly tried to announce the riders individual scores and 3 times you interrupted him.He provides the fans with important info whereas you just talk jibberish most of the time. Useful warm up for KO Cup Semi Final. A little more from Franc and Benko should be enough to counter any improvement from Hawkins and Ellis. It really does all come down to how well the Devils ride at Ipswich.

With the KO Cup Semi Finals around the corner, I think an Ipswich win tonight would give them a huge physcoligical boost. I hope this one is as good as last weeks, where there was some very good racing.

Programmes for tonights meeting are only £1. They are the original print from the rain off, but with an insert. A lot depends on how Tungate goes. A little bit hit n miss down here. Risager usually starts well, but tends to fade. Shame Gino wont be riding, but the Witches do have the riders to take something from this meeting. Which Jensen will turn up tonight? His scores at home recently have been poor, 4pts last couple of times. He has been scoring very highly in his Danish fixtures and again at Somerset last night.

Strange not to run Ht15. Even more strange for Worky to nominate Howarth over Campton. Very odd. The rain had stopped before HT14, and they even ran the usual childrens race after Ht14. Barker not fit for this meeting, but is available to ride 2 meetings in a day for Coventry on Sunday....

You need to update the Devon details. You changed Plymouths!!! The track length is officially 207 metres. NL track record is held by Matt Bates @ 51.80 on 14th June 2014

I wonder what sort of impact it will have on Plymouth now that Ben Barker has signed for parent club Coventry? As Coventrys home night is generally Fridays, who will have priority on his services? Not sure about the revised pairings for this fixture. Newman and Jensen didn't ride well together earlier in the season. Id have gone for Jensen at 2, and Wright at 4. Also Newman at 5 with Franc at 3.

I believe the artist is Mick Hooker,who used to work for Speedway Star. I think he also used to do the 'Xmas Specials' for them.

I believe the artist is Mick Hooker,who used to work for Speedway Star. I think he also used to do the 'Xmas Specials' for them.

Were Plymouth that good or were Rye House that bad? Ive come away thinking that Plymouth got away with it last night. Kennet was, as expected, superb,except for being shafted by 2 poor refereeing decisions. Boxall, Garrity and Greenwood had their moments,but that was it. Mellgren and Bunyan should hang their heads in shame.Shocking. Bowen after his nasty fall in Ht1, then getting disqualified, didnt really get going. I hope I dont offend Devildodger here, but Ht1 needs explaining in more detail than on updates. Both Bowen and Newman gate with neither giving an inch.Bowen tried to move Newman over, who wasnt having it.As they came off bend 2, Bowen,slightly behind,clipped Newman and high sided in to the air fence,only just catching the last panel. Newman got pushed into the kickboards,lifting wildly and almost being sent onto the centre green. Meanwhile, Barker and Kennett tangled behind these 2. I dont know exactly what happened, as I was watching the other 2. Barker and Bowen down for ages,thankfully both getting back up. Somehow or other, the referee declares a rerun with all 4! In the rerun,Bowen rightfully disqualified for bringing Barker off on turn 4, even though,imo, he shouldnt have been in the race anyway! In the rerun, Barker gets a flyer. Even Concorde wouldnt have beaten him,it was that obvious.Newman continues, but Kennett slows expecting a rerun. Shocking decision from Mr Entwistle. Ht7 was superb speedway. In the 1st running, Garrity got a flier, equal to Barkers in Ht1, but this one got called back! In the rerun, both Franc and Garrity were side by side for all 4 laps, each giving each other room to race.You could tell they both enjoyed it, as they enthusiastically shook hands down the back straight afterwards. Ht15 was a definite case of all 4 back. Barker and Newman gated, Barker went from the inside and moved out to exit turn 2 out wide,no doubt anticipating a blast from Kennett. Newman had by then had almost locked up to cover the inside gap.Kennett off gate 4, had nowhere to go,expect down. Far more of a case of all 4 back than Ht1. Plymouth Herald should be ashamed of their meeting report. It gives me the impression the reporter wasnt even there. Lots of facts are incorrect, and has even incorrectly quoted comments from the Liveupdates page! For instance, in Ht1, he says Kennett got a flier but pulls up! Very poor from them. Still I suppose with football returning, what should I expect? http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Plymouth-Devils-54-Rye-House-Rockets-41-Match/story-22753526-detail/story.html

Sincere best wishes to Compo. Spare a thought for Pontus, he saw what happened and could do little to avoid him.

Trigger not being on the ball? Ive said that since he got the job in the first place. Doesn't have a clue how to motivate riders,unlike Gary Spiller. He is Plymouths weakest link,not the riders.

I have sent you a PM which I hope explains this appalling PR gaff.

Brilliant stuff tonight. Easily the best meeting I've seen anywhere this season.