Sidney the robin

Got mine at 9am yesterday Philip it is always on time apart from Bank holidays ( day later) another great read enjoyed the Denzil Kent piece.

Very cant see where the other 18,000 is coming from on a regular basis.Even in the Prem season i had to pick and choose matches could not afford both Football and speedway.I think people do that alot today pick and choose matches .For me if you are getting between 11/14 000 EVERY week at the Town you will be doing well is it all about winning ??? promoted this year yet the average gate is not great.

That says it all if we can only average 15, 274 in the Fergie era with the romance of being in the Premiership can't see us getting that even in the top 6 in the Champs.Times have changed maybe if you can get the Indian population in Manchester Rd to convert to being Town fans that might bridge the gap. !!!!!

I think you are dreaming 8/11 000 for Champs, capacity sometimes for Prem.The thing is DC to go and watch Division 2 now is not cheap both my boys went to see Spurs v Arsenal two seasons ago for 43 pound what is Swindon charging for a category A game 25 quid.??

Swindon Town now only averages 6/7000 i have been when there were 32,000 fans there.It just shows you how society has changed more things to do and it puts into perspective what a hard job Speedway has to keep going.A much closer relationship with the Promoters / Customer would help but no real signs of that happening anytime soon.

For a last resort Shocker Grange Drive shops always stock it if you are stuck.Got mine a day late last week because of the Bank Holiday.otherwise it is always there on a Thursday.Three people including me order the Star from that shop never realised we had three speedway supporters in Stratton.!!!!!

I am with you City i would be happy anough, but i am not so sure about the majority.Also there could be a percentage of the supporters who have got used to not going now because of the shutdown.And it might take alot more than this on offer to entice them back, it could of course have the opposite effect where people have really missed the sport and will put up with anything.

I totally agree 100 per cent but lots of supporters would not,even some of the diehards.Would you pay 18.00 for the line up you suggested ? when they have tried the 10 pound offer before it never really worked.This is why Speedway in this Country let's itself down no forward thinking nobody in power asking the sort of Questions you asked why not? they have plenty of time on there hands.I always feel that in SOME cases ( not the Swindon the promotion ( i.e.) Kilby / Rossiter) that some promoters make it a promoter v supporter battle.The supporter not being valued and listened to where would you get this attitude in any other business.As you say there is a chance now to change the model but to do that you need to interact with the supporter/ customer is that that to difficult.?

If this did happen it could be the final nail in the coffin surely to run at this level it would have to be a 10/12 pound sport.Would some clubs not run ? for me personally i could except the level but i would imagine plenty of others could not ( even some diehard fans).I can't see Speedway happening in the UK until 2021 at the earliest and with this stubborn Government stance on not being flexible and admitting SOME of there mistakes speedway has a long wait.The biggest problem could be getting all the medical cover for meeting's even by April / May 2021.

Ernie Roccio a superb American rider who only had two and a bit seasons for the Dons 1950 /52 until his untimely death.

Yes Lee beat him from the back in his last race to win the title in 1980.

Your last point is totally spot on if those five named were still around that could of changed some part of history but that is how it goes.Going back to Erik one of the things that i admired about him was that he adjusted to the new tapes ruling ( something Lee never did).Erik had a nightmare with that new rule at first but conquered it which took a lot, great rider Erik great temperment and had a great personality to.

I never really used that shop Steve don't know why, usually headed straight over the other side.I remember watching the Carter semi final meeting in 84 coming out of bend two for the only time.

Blackbird, Mark Courtney, Mel Taylor were all three riders who should of achieved more.

I can remember those shed huts over the far side that sold memorabilia i was always spending shedloads there.

Remember Blackbird beating him in the helmet he did beat him three times ??. I have a picture of Hans/Carl talking afterwards laughing and joking no bitterness from Hans he took defeat on the chin.

Good point Lion, Steve Roberts could probably tell us the track certainly got better in my view.My first visit there was in the 1973 Supporters club trophy and then it looked a little run down but in the Nielsen era when the track was good with the new restaurant open it was a terrific night out.Then apart from Wimbledon which had an aura about it Oxford with that new restaurant was probably one of the most comfortable nights out at a league meeting.

From my memory Gundersen, Knudsen, Thorp, Blackbird,Shirra/Holloway, Ermolenko,were amongst only a few who beat him on merit at Cowley.His battles with Erik and Tommy were pretty special when prepared right Cowley was a half decent racetrack was never really a fan of it up until about 1984.

Salomonson, Hines, Johns, Muts, were all half decent but could not Quite push on in there careers.Johns to be fair had a couple of good seasons figures wise but two riders who i felt given time could of been pretty decent were Brad Oxley and Anders Erickson.

Tatum, Doncaster, Screen, ,Loram , Graves changed the way a little by going full time into a very tough BL. Graves is one that puzzles me he was pretty talented never really stepped up Eccles at Belle Vue was another without sustaining injury he would of been a regular at BL level.

He was decent Chunky really gutsy, great value, so sorry about our latest spat my full opologies Ok.!!!!!

oops sorry Steve he was as English as they come see him ride in a Conference final once at Rye House (. Holloway rode) Richie Hawkins won the final.

Brendan Stilleto, Brewer, Pawson, Knowler, P.Johns, were riders who come to mind who never really made the breakthrough.Moggo ( Mogridge) did really well went on and had a decent career he was great value gave everything..

What about the Aussie Hedley Pinny, i really liked him thought he could go farther in the sport.Young Schramm was also great value always give everything.

Pinny how was Craig Watson as a Newport rider? i loved watching him ride along with Smart, Puk, Atkin they were all great value.