OveFundinFan

And who won the debate that caused the 20 minute delay, the referee or Peter Adams?

Bob Duckworth, the New Zealander that rode for Belle Vue in the 60’s. Always willing to chat, and a gentleman as well.

Thats gone above me..... explain

Must be the biggest wind up of the year so far. and yes I was there in the 70's, almost every week - yep, speedway every week!

Perhaps you should take those dark glasses off, they restricting your vision. i not a woffy fan, but I do reckon he would have loved Hyde Road track and been as good as anyone there.

There is no doubt Tai is very good, how good is difficult to determine. Why? For one, the money is so good in top class speedway today there is no real need to push yourself in every race. With 3 meetings a week todays racers will have ample opportunity to earn good money - though the professionalism is higher then it ever has been I think. With regard to world championship meetings, pre the gp system every world champ qualifier was tough and just one engine failure could mean you out for a year. With the gp's, though its never good to have a bad meeting, its not the end of the world either. So in some respect it could be said its easier to be a world champ today then say 30+ years ago, though I doubt the riders think so. The meeting that started this thread off, and particularly that race 7 with Tai v Nicki (I not watched the others)..... nothing special to me, just Tai hunting down Nicki, winding it up on the outside and eventually passing on the run to the flag. Notice Tai never really put himself close to Nicki, which was clever of him cause you never know what Nicki is going to do.

Do you really want to go back to "the good ole days" . Referee and start marshall may as well as stayed at home.

There are other ways of legally viewing but sport ie speedway, without having buy the monthly tv package. Do a internet search on Ways to view bt sport. Sure you going to have to pay, but not necessarily with a tv package.

to be fair, Swindon have had all winter to re-jig two corners, whilst Manchester CIty Council and their sub-contractors had a winter to build a complete stadium, lay a whole rack, bend 3/4 the last parts as machinery moved out of the stadium. Add to that, the rest of the track was race-able on that first night, just bend3/4 that the MCC sub-contractors messed up.

Any of you guys go to Raynes Park cycle speedway in 1964, particularly September 1964???? I only rode once their, it would be a Saturday afternoon (cant remember the date) but the meetings were the National Cycle Speedway Association championships. Juniors on the Saturday, Seniors on the Sunday. I rode for Belle Vue Gladiators in the Junior team final on the Sat'day afternoon against another Manchester team from Hyde. BV were favourites, but Hyde beat us by 2 points. Same afternoon, maybe less then an hour later, I rode in the Junior individual final and won it with 13 points. Thats was 4 wins on the trot then 3rd in my final race, when I only needed 1 point, and I was against 2 guys who were favourites - Pail Rennie, Gorton Manchester, and Chris Hunt from Wembley. Was any of you there???? Obviously the track suited me, does anyone have any photos or video clips of (any) racing there. As I said, only saw it the once.

What track was the cycle speedway? good clear videos for the tear.

Good race, enjoyed that.

Back in 1977 went to Bristol to see the return of speedway - first night it was, well afternoon I think. It was a shambles and vowed never again to go to the opening night of a new track (which is what Swindon is this year). Never been to one and not going to.

Sorry Orion and pinny, but you have the attitude “you know best” and in spite of what was said as an alternative you both went on as if you were right others wrong. What we don’t know, unless I missed the headlines, what part did the speedway promotors association have in the final outcome. There seemed to be a lot of jealousy from some quarters, “the cheek of it all, someone getting the council to not only support a new stadium in the middle of housing, but to actually get them to pay for it, millions at that”. Maybe you two are of that class, after all, one of you shows location as Aussie, and the other in noodle land. Anyway, this is a Swindon thread, so as pointed out we are well off topic.

You said "With the amount of money they borrowed it would be hard to put a foot wrong regarding the whole stadium and track, but of course they did". Mort and Gordon did not borrow money to fund the stadium - MCCouncil built the stadium, the promotors were renting the stadium from MCC, as now. As I understand, M&G could not be involved with the building of the stadium, including the track. Not allowed by MCC, who worked through its sub contractor, not M&G. I dont know what went on for them to be behind with the rent, probably you dont either. However the cancellation of the first meeting, caused by MCC/Sub contractors would have been a heavy loss for M&G (star field needing paying etc). Perhaps they were having a tussle with MCC for compensation, and at the same time having to sort out paying the stars, and trying to run the club - difficult I would imagine. As I said "I want to read the book". More then likely someone like MCC will have gagging orders. but may be in years to come we will know the truth. Its all been said before on this forum.

How much did they borrow? I thought it was MCCouncil that invested in the stadium, a sports stadium in what is a planned development of sport in that area of Manchester, a sports area in the 3rd largest city in the UK. The council, as I read, had the contract with the sub contractors, Mort/Gordon didn’t have much input, I understand, in the construction of the project, design of the track Yes,construction No. The bends 3/4 were the last to be completed by the sub contractor, and in a rush as the first meeting was imminent. They were working out of the stadium. Seems in the rush anything was dumped on those corners - why was that ? I don’t know, perhaps the subby hadn’t ordered the right stuff in time for a delivery, or was just dumping rubbish from another job, we don’t know, and won’t know officially because the council hasn’t released deaptail, and probably won’t. When the test riders said it was spongy wasn’t it thought it because it was freshly laid track that needed to settle? Bit like some have said about Swindon’s freshly laid corners right on top of the season start. As I have said before, there is likely a lot “we” don’t know, and not likely to for a few years yet the true facts, if ever. I will read the book with interest if ever released. still, the UK has got a brand new stadium, excellent race track, good facilities, built right amongst a housing area, not in the middle of a field, a track that produces racing relating to the original Hyde Road which is historical and world renowned, and yet there are knockers. Seems some cant be satisfied.

Thats how I understood it too. MCCouncil took control of track building via their sub- contractors. If that was so, how could the blame be on Morton/Gordon. And if they were told to keep their nose out, they probably were no where near when the mistakes were made. No doubt the haters will have a different spin to suit there own agenda.

Amazing how Plechanov mastered Wembley very quickly when other eastern bloc riders couldnt. Boris Samaodov was another who did well, but not to Igors level, A mention must go to Sverre Harfeldt - a nearly champion, but not quiet. He would have been popular. And I have sympathies for Dave Jessup, again, so nearly but too many opportunities missed.

As I have said on other threads in the past, orion, I would love to know the truth behind all the things that went on a BV, someone will write a book some day, I be buying it. Maybe the rot set in when the first meeting, Peter Craven Memorial Trophy, was called off. Must have cost a packet, it was star studded meeting, and all the riders were there., and the track problem was the work of Manchester Council and their sub-contractor.

How was Gregory Laguna coping?.

You would have to contact Manchester City Council, they were managing the track build. Along with their sub-contractor they made a right pigs ear of it. Fortunately Chris Morton had a big say in the design of the track which has turned out perfect.

Its one thing riders taking 2 minutes to get to the tape area, its another thing if they all get their early then start digging. Anyway, this has got off the original post.

Problem solved, riders have 2 minutes to get the bike, with rider on it, to within 2 metres of the tapes, last one there triggers all riders have 15 seconds to be at the tapes ready to race.

Could be a long tedious season if every race takes as long to get the riders lined up ready to start.

Might have been a good racer, but as a good human being he fell short.