steve roberts

You never know if women's speedway caught on it may even make the BBC TV schedules considering we have women's football, rugby league, cricket, netball and golf getting extensive coverage?

Does anyone recall Arthur Lyness who rode Grasstack during the same era as the Baybutt Brothers? I used to work with him at the Department Of Zoology many years ago.

An opportunity missed in my opinion when his name was put forward. Not everyone's cup of tea but he would have certainly made things happen.

I recall the time that Garry Middleton whilst transporting Barry Briggs's machine back from the continent took it upon himself to dismantle the engine hoping to find why Briggo was successful only to be caught in the act by Barry himself...wish I had been a fly on the wall at that moment!

Sad news indeed. Remember reading an interview with him in a past edition of "Backtrack". RIP

Both his sons Ray and Andrew both rode and Ray had a useful career especially when he moved to Mildenhall after a couple of lean years at King's Lynn. I believe that Billy's name was Raymond but he was always referred to as Billy?

...I was a bit like that with SKY "LIve" meetings one argument being that it would attract sponsorship which it never really succeeded.

I remember that League Cup and KO Cup matches during the late seventies/early eighties ran over 16 heats whilst the league remained over 13 heats. The National League also ran to a different heat formula during that period if I recall?

I used to enjoy watching the variety of meetings served up (4TT, Pairs, Individual,Test Matches...but not 3TT!) but ultimately team meetings was my preferred choice. Trouble was that the punters turned their backs on the various disciplines and many promoters ultimately pulled the plug. Perhaps it's time to "re-invent" these formants in one way or another hoping to reinvigorate the imagination? I recall the 16 Lapper held at Ipswich and Swindon which initially proved successful and I remember going to at least two at Swindon.

Yes I remember most tracks would stage at least one big meeting a season and I personally used to enjoy travelling to various events however fans began to be less inclined to watch them and slowly they were dropped from the programme more's the pity. The BLRC was one of the biggest events of the season but even riders towards the end became choosy as regards putting in an appearance. Perhaps it's time to re-introduce a bit of variety again (4TT, Best Pairs and Test Matches?) in the way that you have suggested?

Trying hard to see if I recognise anyone in that image?

I did some updates on some speedway sites many years ago but for the life of me can't remember how I did it!

Absolutely. It's an interesting analogy because when speedway was first introduced to these shores individual meetings were the norm and altough initial interest was huge people soon grew tired of that concept and team speedway was introduced. Not sure if going back to an individual format would be the answer but that's just my opinion as we now live in a very different world and expectations I guess are different?

In the past the addition of granite has helped track preparation/drainage not sure if this is the case now?

I seem to recall that they tried something similar at Brighton but I've never seen any footage?

Wasn't crushed shells once used or am I imagining that? Of course there was the infamous case of Bristol (Eastville) running with a dual sand surface which caused no end of disputes despite attracting good crowds during its short reign.

I took it as a bit of banter and not offended in the slightest thanks!

Yes I'd truly like to make a visit however my personal circumstances does make it difficult but you never know?

Yes I guess that it comes across a bit like that although I found it refreshing that so many people that I knew are still involved at Cowley in one capacity or another.

I recall the sadly missed Simon Wigg talking about a Grasstrack in France (?) that wasn't the conventional type with a jump, chicane and a right hand bend? In my opinion (and I would imagine most others) what makes speedway different to other forms of motorcycle racing (except grasstracking although a different technique is required) is the ability to broadside which creates the spectacle. To adopt a hard surface the ability to broadside must be retained and allowing the rear wheel to "spin" therefore constructing the right surface, adapting bikes (reducing the cubic capacity?) and tyres would be be a critical element. Certainly the initial meetings held at Wembley Pool caused riders all sorts of problems with too much grip although this was addressed to a certain degree at later meetings. Racing Longtrack style is all about keeping the wheels in line as much as possible and top end speed is the element which is why it never really interested me personally.

Good to hear from you Matt. Glad that you still have the jacket...it saw me thru' those glory years! I did wonder if that was your daughter?

...I'm particularly aghast at the poor standard of goalkeepership (if there is such a word).

Again an old story but John Berry put his name forward but quickly withdrew it when he soon realised that he wouldn't get the backing that was required to make it work.

Something that John Berry questioned in one of his books.

I went to three Wembley Indoor Meetings and a Double Header at the NEC and as a novelty and a winter warmer they were okay but personally I grew tired of the format but perhaps in a bigger arena with bigger tracks who knows. Perhaps the O2 Arena in the Docklands? Didn't think much of Telford however.