Sidney the robin

A real tough meeting for the Budgies,i think Somerset have a big advantage at reserve and that should keep it close.For me Lawson and Hougaard are the key,Lawson has been in great form but he has never really impressed me at the Abbey but he can gate for fun and be very quick in front.Hougaard i can remember him scoring points for fun at reserve once i think he scored 16? so he is well capable of riding well i recon a home win by about 8 points.

Yes Newcastle twice v Milton Keynes and in 1984 when Newcastle moved into the the BL v Swindon Middlesborough never got there WK.I did go to Barrow v Milton Keynes, Barrow i think had Charlie Monk riding with a young Mark Courtney.

I remember Reading doing great food in the Geoff Curtis bar, ---- and Oxford when they had a lovely new restaurant that was a different way of viewing speedway a great night out.

Tiger do you think in the 70s/80s most Northern clubs were rewowned as being poor travellers when on there Southern visits.I often felt that Southern clubs on there Northern jaunts were the Northern teams usually were formidable on there own track and had a big home advantage.I loved all my visits up North great days Owlerton,The Shay,Hyde Rd was a real old treat a great day out it usually P..... down when i went to Hyde Rd.

Is that good anough Beefy for it to be sustainable ? at 14 pound a head (with a programme) i hope so a good night.

Heat 2 with Wallinger and Woodhull was a decent race it just shows you that this level can serve up decent racing.I hope Swindon might get to ride Eastbourne or /Mildenhall ie) could get to see Brennan,Jenkins,Wood,(ect).

Woodhull was very impressive Wilson getting injured spoiled the match a little but there was some decent racing.Zach was very quick Wallinger Wooley chipped in well and for the IOW Cockle was great value. Greaves well he has improved one hell of alot, Cockle and Greaves gated Zach in heat 15 and by then Greaves had long gone.I really hope these matches are here to stay i recon maybe?4/ 500 was there hard to judge though.

Swindon having a cheap/more expensive side, - Halifax having a nice clubhouse and a lovely pint of Tetley - and Eastbourne - with Tony Millard and that terrible klaxon happy days.

That's why it was a treat to see the Northern riders at the Abbey.Because unless they were in individual meeting's or a guest somewhere you might only see some riders once a year.

When Petersen came to Swindon Crump senior was on the way down ( wrist injury? ) so to see him take that no 1 mantle was hard.He was was a class act though and at Hackney was very hard to beat Barry Thomas still my favourite ever Hawk.

All in all Poole's record with young English riders is not great, if Shanes goes for me that would be a travesty.He has more than done his job and he will improve longterm and other riders there at the moment who have been underperforming have not been given the boot.Newman it is great as a Brit that Poole support him but surely Zengi for KK ( one change) is anough for a month then reavuluate after.

Nilsen was world class and i see him everyweek but like Bo Petersen i was never a big fan preferrred Jonsson/Henka over him.

None in particurlar not convinced by the balance of the team mainly that i could not totally trust KK and H.A to be big hitters when most needed.

Fair comment "lisa i think Kurtz/Holder are the future of Poole and both have bright futures along with Shanes given time.My feeling is this team without any changes will fall short this year we shall see.😀

A pretty easy home win for me, this Poole side is one of the weakest sides they have had in the Ford regime.Also now riders are not freely available for Ford to pluck out of a hat ie) both Pawlicki bros, Drabik,Lindback, Dudek, etc).Wolves look very strong and with there home advantage they always can at the minimum build strong home teams they are the team to beat this year.

Good point and JD was great value to speedway the modern day rider his aquipment immaculate later on as we all know he did a great job with the late Lee Richardsson (never forgotten).

This is why i could not care less who wins or loses now teams now just looking to make changes from the off.Even my team Swindon have done it is there more skill in picking a 1/7 beforehand and sticking to it ? unless injuries occur.I go now to hopefully just see a few decent races the result is irrelevent to me now.

John Davis over the years always had fast aquipment but he was never a team man though..But i do remember him being on fire when he won the Manpower against a class field credit where its due he did have a very good career he overachieved if anything.

You enjoyed that Sam didnt you 😀 i didn't 😢

Clive Hitch and Norman Storer were two of the unsung heroes who i liked.

Thanks Norbold" Chitty and Cordy Milne are so odvious 1948/70 is my favourite period but thats for another day.

Wilson to was a really gritty and tough rider not the greatest of riding styles but he was a proper racer.He was one of only a few who could put it up to Briggo at the Abbey Simmo well what a stylist he was.Simmo for me was like Leigh Adams he made riding a speedway bike look so easy class.

Very surprised you said Simmo and Ray Wilson Iris for me they were in my alltime favourites.

In the last year or so i have been getting my memorabilia collection up together of the great riders about from the start of speedway until the year of 1948. These are the riders i have picked no real order i wondered who i have MISSED out,there must be loads could some of the other great riders be named it would be appreciated. My riders listed no order( Sprouts Elder - Vic Huxley- Bluey Wilkinson - Frank Arthur- Roger Frogley- Jack Parker - Norman Parker - Vic Duggan - George Newton - Ray Tauser - Tommy Croombs- Eric Langton- Frank Varey- Tom Farndon - Ron Johnson - Dicky Case - Frank Charles - Ginger Lees - Max Grosskreutz - Jack Ormston- .Lionel Van Pragg- Jack Milne - Wilbur Lamereaux .

Has Ellis really only been a reserve at best and we have just expected to much or is it just a lack of form and confidence.?Last year at Poole he was excellent really got to grips with his home track and the confidence was there now i just dont know how he can go forward.