OveFundinFan

Re your first paragraph. I hardly know anything about BV since the move away from Hyde Road cause I never liked speedway on the inside of dog tracks, but when the problems at BV NSS hit the headlines I always thought there were underlying problems that never got out to the general speedway supporters. BUT, I also always thought maybe jealousy of some sort would be at its roots. The very idea that, when speedway was struggling, someone had the audacity to actually get a council to pump a large amount of money into a stadium project that actually put speedway at the centre of it, and what a superb track was the result of it. Also, I still think that the opening meeting fiasco, there was more to that then is generally known. Sure, the track wasn’t good, and now we all know why. But for riders to refuse to ride it when they all had ridden worse tracks may times before, and many times since, I find difficult to understand. Then Buster steps in. Chairman of the BSPA, owner of a track, wanting to take over BV. Seemed a nice gesture, but then I heard what type of Buster was thought to be. Maybe in time someone will write a book and come clean and clear about the details....... unless there are gagging orders. Certainly I would buy a book to find the truth. Re your second paragraph. If that is true, it is very sad to read. The two families were very, very close, I know because I came from the same small village of Partington, knew Bill and Eileen Collins, George and Hilary Morton perhaps more then the kids at that time, I am 7 years older then Peter so had a different circle of friends. The relationship between the Collins family and the Morton family was close and strong, that was obvious. So to hear there has potentially been a break down is really sad.

Bring back the Mort.

A lot of press coverage there........ will it bring in the expertise, money and vision to breathe life into speedway that is much needed.

Well, I must admit I never thought I would see work on the track. I thought it was a gonner. What is the smaller track used for?

It’s a fine line, but sometimes no they are not the same, timing of a run is ultra critical.

But F1 track conditions can also change, Phil. today in Aussie, 20 cars start careering round very fast more rubber was laid on the track, therefore more grip, so they went faster. also, track temperatures can rise or fall during qualifying, which affects “stickiness” for the better or worse.

Just a couple of paragraphs then.

Of those I saw at BV 1958-1982 Ivan Mauger Ove Fundin Peter Craven Peter Collins Soren Sjoston Chris Morton Gote Nordin

Just checked on the go website, the senior concession has gone up to £20. I think that is a bargain for a go, never mind a go at a great stadium. Don’t think you get a seat on the start gate area, but I was always a 3rd bend Belle Vue fan. There is lots of choice and I used to phone to book my seats and ask for end of row seats so ease of getting out to go to loo. Mind, I used to book very early so had that choice available. re the lift, they not going to stick seniors up on the 3rd tier without easy access. As I said, the lift was their, but we could make the stairs, I appreciate others can’t. you could always phone to book your ticket and make an enquiry.

Wife and I went 3 years running 2013-2015 and sat in £19 seats, yes they were in the 3rd tier on the 3rd bend, got a splendid view. We did the stairs, but there is a lift.

For those looking for rooms in Cardiff for the Speedway GP, Premier Inn have just announced the launch of low cost rooms and Cardiff if the first place to offer them. Called ZIP rooms and from £19 per night for 2 persons. The Cardiff Zip hotel is on the east of the city centre, probably 30 min walk from the stadium. https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/zip.html?rid=2783715&mid=123685200&CID=EMC_MKT_BAU_getmore_NULL_NULL_20190307_DM6847

Does'nt really matter which has the largest capacity........ sadly none are going to be anywhere near filled - except BV for the SON

Did he really say "thinking", or did he mean "stinking"

I would love to see a GP held at NSS but would 9k crowd make a meeting profitable for all concerned? Personally, I wouldn’t even attempt to go, and I live just 30-35 mile away. I would imagine there would need to be in place a big Tv contract, and I would expect to pay extra, on top of my current BT subscription. World championship boxing matches charge for one off fights, so why not speedway for the big ones.

It was always the plan to use NSS for other purposes, that’s why the centre green has been marked out as a pitch since virtually day one. Weddings were proposed, perhaps there has been , I don’t know. The function room is there for events 7 days a week I would have thought. Someone needs to manage and promote this side of management t, and I don’t know whose responsibility that is. what are the temporary terracing you mention in your 4th paragraph?

Re the Gordeev brothers.... I was browsing through Wikipedia about a week ago, just going through a few years of world championship qualifiers ie Continental, European etc, and there was a meeting that both brothers scored. Now if they had been the same person that must have been an interesting meeting when they raced against each other. Cant remember what year or what championship, but my eyes did not deceive me.

Early 60's to 1970 - loved the speedway asa youngster. Visits by Russian and Polish teams, either national or club. They rode Eso/Jawa with "funny" handlebars clipped to the front forks. Plechanov, Samaradov, Gab Kadirov, Kurilenko etc. For the Poles Zyto, Pogoselski, Migos plus other names I couldnt say. The Swedes starting to rule the roost with Fundin, Knuttson, Sjoston, Bengt Jannsson, Goto Nordin, Bernie Persson (not one of my favourites). Seeing Hyde Road bulging when it was British League Riders Championship, and that continued thro the 70's and 80's. Brilliant days. Then the 70's - Britain became top dog, if Team GB had riders now like then GB would be top again. Some Americans on the scene and of course the next dominent country Denmark. The years Peter Collins/Chris Morton burst on the scene with their style of excitement. Ivan and Olle continued domineering, Anders Michanek andHans Neilson adding to a classic time period. Those were the days my friends (I could burst out in song but I dont have Mary Hopkins voice).

No particular order. Peter Craven, Peter Collins, Chris Morton, Martin Ashby, Arnold Hayley, Clive Featherby, Dave Morton, Simon Wigg, George Hunter, Malcolm Simmons

I understand that there was a cost rise going from 2 valve to 4 valves engines, that was the start of really higher costs. Two inlet and two exhaust tracts to work on for better flow performance. If there was exciting racing then, why go to the complexity of todays rocket ships, plus 2 valves would be easier for the new entrants to the sport to ride as well. All last year, and previous years, there has been some discontent on this forum in respect of cost and performance of todays rockets. I have no doubt will hear the same thing on this forum during 2019 as well.

but you still have a machine which is virtually the only machine on the world market, that newcomers to the sport have to handle and maintain. If speedway was just as exciting on machines of the 70's, and the engines of a modern day 2 valve would be cheaper to purchase, maintain and easier to ride, then why not do a u turn, or is that not allowed.

Why Australia has the privilege of holding the final GP of the season I question. Of course it is coming up to their summer so fits in with other sports needing suitable stadia, but all the main action in the speedway year is in Europe. At this point in time Torun seems very suitable, good race track, nice stadium, and easy for fans to get to. Says it all really - except Belle Vue would be really good, but max spectators is too low for a key end of season meeting, shame really.

I did say MODERN 2 valve engines. What was wrong in speedway in the 1970's, after the outdated JAP engine and before the more expensive 4 valvers? So you tell me, how are costs going to be reduced so that speedway is a cheaper sport to run? Or are we just going to watch speedway in uk continue to die a slow death.

They spending thousands now on engine tuning how many times per season?

Watched on you tube yesterday England v Sweden at Sheffield 1973, a young Peter Collins against Anders Michanek on 2 valve Jawas. It was a brilliant race, and they certainly would be restricted on revs compared to today’s rocket ships, the costs would be cheaper, good market for used equipment to be sold to newcomers/learners that are rideable, and probably benefits in area of track preparation, and as bike costs fall so could entry fees for spectators. Why cant speedway just go to modern day 2 valve bikes, times maybe slower but racing just as exciting.

Whats the point in going "to keep the track open", when not only are you not enjoying it, complaints are not acted on. You good supporters, genuine passionate supporters, that are no longer enjoying what they used to, purely by matters outside of there immediate control - I feel sorry for you, I really do. My take on it is this - get at least 50 of you that feel the same and stopped going, not because you lost the love of speedway, but are fed up of being taken as mugs, get together and go and protest outside the stadium on the night of a match. 50 of you are going to spend at least £20, thats £1000 revenue the management has lost that night, never to get back, its visible to them by the fact you went, and stood before them. And who knows, upon seeing you others may join in. If one night may not succeed in getting a meeting, then do it again, and again if necessary. Make sure it is a peaceful demonstration. You already demonstrated your passion for the sport by keep attending year after year watching the product turn sour, passionate supporters like you deserve more. For different reasons I "left" speedway about 35 years ago, I picked up interest in 2013, went to Cardiff 3 years on the trot, but only been to my "local: track, BV, for the World Team Fri/Sat back in 2016. I know BV has a top stadium, brilliant race track, but what is stopping me going regular to spend £35+ (inc travel etc) of my pension is the fact British speedway is so mismanaged I cannot go and watch it as it would imply I agree with it. Now I subscribe to BT, watch the GPs, Euros etc, but when British League speedway comes on, its so badly run, you know rules are being flouted and wondering is the ref really neutral. I feel for those their that night, seeing a meeting finish on tv generally within 2 hours, knowing the next meeting, with no tv cameras, they could be there for up to 3 hours. Horrendous.