21st century heathen

Should've checked the Brummies website.

It's been well documented. Where have you been?! It gives them an extra 15 mins before the curfew. Smart move. I always thought 19:45 was a bit odd to be honest.

For the most part that was boooooooooring. There seemed to be something not quite right with the track. It looked fine so I certainly wouldn't point the finger and say there was a big cock-up by the track staff. But in many heats the riders were well spaced out with no line working when they were chasing. Even Lyons was tailed off in heat 15 and was just losing ground rather than coming through from the back as usual. The race times were way off the track record too. The track record is 56.60 but the fastest time of the night was 58.70, but 10 heats were 61 seconds and over. Not every meeting will see very fast times but something isn't quite right when the times are consistantly 3-5 seconds off and the heat winner is generally well clear. There was some action though. Compton put a good move on Ksiezak, Howe (as mentioned) rode the race of the night to come from nowhere to pass Taylor and Ksiezak before closing in on Lindgren to miss out by about half a bike length, Wright passed somebody but can't remember who and Barker swept around Morris (if memory serves). It was a wierd night for Barker. Rather eratic. Started off slow and fell in his first, quicker by his thrid ride and grabbed a good second, then fell while leading and looking much faster (picked up too much drive and did well to achieve a controlled and harmless fall) and finally finished off with a win (had to get around Vissing on the first lap to truly taste fresh air). The night was rounded off with a superb opening lap by Parker in the run-off. He went very wide on turn one after making a clean start. That allowed Lyons to creep around the curb and pass him on the back straight. Into the third turn and Lyons had it by a wheel, but Parker headed for the fence again and held a superb line around the outside to pass and pull well clear of Lyons. He stayed out wide on the fast line and after a lap it looked as though Lyons realised there was no point and just finished the race. Oh, and an interval after heat 16. Who's bright idea was that?

Yeah, but as said the chances are these four could face each other in the last heat. Any which way I think Seb will fluff his last ride, whenever it happens to be.

Deja Vu indeed. It's a ridiculous idea, and I genuinely fear speedway will follow suit. Pointless tinkering is just p!$$ing me off in speedway, and now F1 has done it too. Honestly, why don't Ferrari just have their own series and let everyone else race on an even footing?!

My prediction... Howe Piszcz Lyons Ulamek Seb to blow the start when it matters most having gone through the card until then.

Question is - Will CVS let the Cradley boys have a spin too?

Good man. That's earned you a few forum brownie points.

Yeah, now we just need Dryml, Shields and Watt to be named and all of your faves will be there.

I'm guessing, and it really is a guess, that this is the area that has been reserved for those trading their tickets from Germany last year.

If I can fit you in to my hectic schedule. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complin and McGowan added. http://www.wolverhampton-speedway.com/news.php?extend.672 If anyone here knows whoever runs the Wolves website please tell him/her that the date is wrong in the article linked above.

Yes, that slipped my mind at the time of posting. I was just using these particular riders to make a point to be honest. Giving riders such as these a chance to pass on their knowledge by actually getting out on track would be a good move all-round I'd have thought. Surely they still have a passion for the sport and would enjoy the chance to do some laps on a semi-regular basis, and what better way for the youngsters to learn than to actually be out on track with riders that have been there and done it? Anyway, I'm driftting off topic as usual so should probably stop.

Nice post, cheers. You certainly missed out on something a bit special. It was always a case of beat Wolves first and foremost and then see how we get on against the rest. Colin Pratt has never forgotten the rivalry either. A few years ago in a Sky interview he said words to the effect that as long as they (Coventry) beat Wolves he was happy. I think it's great that we will see riders that lived and breathed the rivalry. I saw Alan take on Andy in match races at B'ham a couple of years ago, and I have to say that Alan in particular still looked good on the bike. I often wonder where people like Alan, Andy, Graham and Wayne could be tempted into riding with the youngsters in the CL/NL. They would have soooooo much to offer the British kids, and could teach them a thing or two about team riding (Big Al was a master). That's something which is largely missing these days.

Really looking forward to this now it's just a couple of weeks away. The line-up for the individual is very good, and with a handful coming over that aren't going to be racing here this season I think it shows the high regard the riders have for Billy. If you look at the big names, and know you're speedway at Monmore, you'll realise there are several genuine challengers and a few that will get in the way and could take vital points off the top few. It should be a cracking meeting, as long as the famous British weather plays ball. The main event looks to have been set-up to favour the home side but my best Cradley/Wolves memory is from when we were very much the underdog. August 1993 - Dudley/Wolves Trophy. Wolves are running away with the league while Cradley are bottom, and have been unable to track a first choice team all season. For the first time, and for what was to prove the only day in '93, we tracked our first choice team. We won the home leg by just 6 points and fully expected to be dispatched with ease, as Wolves had done to all-comers, at Monmore so were happy just to win at home. Defending our precious lead we took to the track, and with no fear tore into the opposition. Long story short - We won the away leg by 17 points and had the trophy tied up with 3 heats to spare!! The following morning was spent sipping drinks and trying to get my voice back. As the commentator on the video said, it just shows what might have been for the Heathens in '93.

Good job I'm not the sort of person to comment on sleeping in the damp patch.

Ex-Heathens Anthony Boyd and Mark Robinson run a limo service, does that count?! http://www.ladypenelopelimoservices.co.uk

You'd need to get into B'ham City first anyway, so might as well just get the train straight to W'ton. It would be quicker than the Metro.

Great to have those two on board. I'd have been very surprised if Greg hadn't come over. Obviously riding with each other as kids back in America, riding together at Cradley, Coventry and Oxford and having Team Exide in the GPs means these two have had a close relationship throughout their career. An on-form Scott Nicholls is great to watch around Monmore, so he's a great addition whatever format the meeting takes. You could fly to B'ham and get the train to W'ton. Virgin Trains run direct (with just a couple of stops) and only takes a bout 35 minutes. Local trains stop quite a number of times and you may need to change at B'ham New Street. There's a Travelodge (new so may not appear on websites yet), Travel Inn and Novotel all within quick and easy walking distance of the train station to offer cheap accommodation. The train station is right in the heart of the City and Monmore is just a couple of miles away. Whilst taxis are expensive these days it wouldn't really matter when you've already spent a significant ammount on a trip. If you want any info just let me know. A lot of American lads seem to be leaning towards Supermoto or MotoX. It's a shame that more can't be tempted into speedway.

Search the forum for previous Prague topics. LOADS of info has been put on here over the last few years. Prague is a fantastic city and a must for anyone that enjoys travel. The speedway is a bonus, or it should be. The last two GPs there have been crap and served only to waste drinking time.

It certainly was mate. I'd be concerned that the old boy might not be able to get back up again now though. Must be due a hip replacement soon.

Hey, as long as Billy gets his butt back on a bike and Greg gets his butt over here for the day I'll be one very happy speedway fan. Butt = The extent of translation into American for that sentence.

Depends what format you wanted. Billy, Greg, Pete Nahlin, Phil Collins, Bobby all still riding. Tempt Simon Cross and Big Al back into a pair of leathers for a spin and you've got seven. And for Wolves - Freddie, Sam, Ronnie, Wayne Carter, Graham Jones, Charles Ermolenko, Tony Atkin. There you go. Okay, maybe not.

Ahhhhh those were the days. I hope you mentioned that a Cradley vs Wolves meeting seems a favourite option amongst the British fans?!

That's the one. The Wolves duo collided on the first turn resulting in Ermolenko (I believe) being excluded (as both riders hit the deck causing the race to be stopped). This was followed by Correy falling on the first turn of the re-run without any help from the Cradley lads. Hamill completed his maximum.

If I just post :lol: does that tell you whether I remember it or not? Smith and Morris hated each other. Next time I see you remind me to tell you what was said to me after their 'incident' in the same fixture the following(?) season.