Shale Searcher

A living testament to his life force, a great and brave son of Speedway...

Yes it did (score flatter) I thought there was a fair amount of passing too, not because of rider mistakes, but riders actually using the banking, putting there bikes in the right place, and attacking the track.... A good advert for Speedway..

Anyway.... I think that it was a cracking meeting, Scott Nicholls was a real man on a mission, he certainly has sussed the track out, I throughly enjoyed it..

Agree, but "newbies" normally get brought to there first meetings by a more experienced Speedway Supporters and would usually explain the "quirks" of the sport.... and therefore do not need this sort of info being spoon-fed by an announcer or presenter.

Well, it is gonna rain, it will start around 4am, light at first, becoming heavy for a time before disappearing around 09:30-10:30 Will actually aid track prep..... no problem Robert72

Ok, 4,guests, for mostly injured riders..... What else could be done? And please don't say "squad system" would have covered this, because what and how do you pay the non riding squad members? Oh, of course, they ride elsewhere!!! Guests are a required evil in Speedway..

The "Dave Lanning" of the cricket world...

Nah, that would mean 15-20 minutes break whilst the sun sets behind old John!!!!!

That is not a fair post, I know the work that was put in on Saturday, just to give the meeting a chance!! Grading is required, in the so called "golden Age" of Speedway, the tractor was out after every race!!!!

What is the prize money/put meeting on costs for a stock car night, compared to Speedway? Just I remember from the old days at Leicester, stock cars (the old BRISCA F1) was miles and miles cheaper than a Speedway meeting to put on........

Looking at the pressure maps, there's not much rotation in the rain bearing clouds, I reckon the rain showers this afternoon will be predominantly be light in nature, however there will be a heavier period of rain betweeen 4pm and 5.30pm, then it's mainly a dry evening with an outside chance of a shower, and their will be some late watery sunshine.... If they have prepared the track to take the afternoon rain (additional tyre packing) then you could be ok..... max temp this evening around 10c

Also, in the old days, let's say 60's and 70's riders did fewer meetings, they certainly didn't ride virtually every night like they do now. The more exposed a rider is to racing, the more likleyhood he's going to get injured....? Also, in the old days, let's say 60's and 70's riders did fewer meetings, they certainly didn't ride virtually every night like they do now. The more exposed a rider is to racing, the more likleyhood he's going to get injured....?

I dont have any stats, I was merely making a point about something we may have overlooked..... But like prisoner numbers no longer rising, that's only because we have no more prison space!! The figures are warped, as a percentage of the population they are now less, because we now have 10 million more people, but same prison places as when we had 10 million less people! If riders injured were worked out as a percentage of total riders, I reckon it would come out as more riders injured today than 30 years ago.....

I think it's down to a multitude of reasons... The introduction of the modern, faster Laydown, followed by the introduction of the pyjama racesuits, the addition of the air fences (which give riders a false sense of security) because injuries are also caused by riders impacting with the track and by being hit by the bikes themselves, and then, the noise suppressing silencers which kill the bikes ability to handle dirt, add all these factors together, and add in the fact that some riders come back to racing before being fully race fit and are prone to getting re-injured by "nothing" falls.. AND here's a factor nobody has considered, the total number of riders riding Speedway now, compared to in the 1960s and 1970s, for example, if there were 25 injuries per 200,riders then, now there are 25 injuries per 130 riders now, if you see what I mean, perhaps we are forgetting that particular issue... Discuss....

And when did any professional sports club reduce the price because it was going to be cold, windy and on the telly box, I think you're living in a dreamworld.. do riders ask for a pay cut? Do refs and other paid officials say, look chaps it's cold and wet, Sky are in town so we'll do our jobs half price tonight, does the spares van turn up and offer the tyres and other bike bits reduced price? No, they don't!!Why do Speedway fans expect a reduction then....??

And when did any professional sports club reduce the price because it was going to be cold, windy and on the telly box, I think you're living in a dreamworld.. do riders ask for a pay cut? Do refs and other paid officials say, look chaps it's cold and wet, Sky are in town so we'll do our jobs half price tonight, does the spares van turn up and offer the tyres and other bike bits reduced price? No, they don't!! Why do Speedway fans expect a reduction then......?

I think there are more injuries today, but not as many more as we think. Social media bring all to our attention, not just the ones close to us in our team and league. I also think airfences are part of the cause... They have given the riders the excuse to over ride, a sort of licence to try moves they wouldn't try with a wooden or metal safety fence, and the bikes are definatley harder to ride, especially in deep dirt out near the fence, then suddenly, they are back on the gripless slick. The modern race suits have not helped with burns and abrasive injuries and to cap it all off, the bikes are I would say a second or two faster per lap, don't sound a lot, but add 4-8 seconds onto a race time and it's significant...

Yes, but the pressure isn't as low as first forecast, and by my reckoning the main rainband will fizzle out around 8:30pm

That's not guaranteed, if higher pressure had been over the east of England, the rain would die out before getting into the Midlands, even though it looks like it's heading this way, that isn't the case today though......

Theoretically, with no baffles in the silencers, the hot gasses will not be impeded and will leave the silencer quicker, which should make the engines more responsive to handfuls of throttle, maybe the bikes will work better in the deeper dirt nearer the fence, more responsive grunt when needed...............

Brian Yarrow? was he really that bad??

Yes, but you wouldn't just have a division 3, it would still be the top league in the Country.. perhaps called the "British National Speedway League" have 18 teams in 14 stadiums, it would run Saturday and Sunday afternoons/evenings and everyone rides everyone home and away once in 18 heat matches. The season would run from April until September, (no play-offs)

Thought helmet cameras were banned???

Wasn't it dubbed "RACING GREEN" I think it's a great colour for older sports cars....

I thought that has always been the case in the British Elite League, requested by Sky I believe?