21st century heathen

I'm glad he's got something sorted. He's always seemed like a good bloke, despite his Wolves connection *spits* .

Did anyone see the England match? What a load of crap!! Oh, sorry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copied below is the interview with Bruce Penhall that was in our local paper, Express & Star yesterday. I can't wait to go back Penhall Exclusive by Tim Hamblin Double world champion Bruce Penhall can't wait to strut his stuff at Wolverhampton. Speedway's golden boy of the early 80s is making a special appearance at Wolves legend Sam Ermolenko's farewell meeting on Sunday, March 18. And the Cradley Heath superstar, now 49, confirmed that he will be riding in the event – Sudden Sam's Flaming Farewell. Penhall had a slide in Britain at the Telford ice meeting three years ago, but is far happier at the prospect returning to the shale. "Telford - scared myself to death!" he said from the States. "But I had a great time. It was close to Cradley and I saw a lot of friends I hadn't seen in a long time. Half the people there were Cradley supporters judging by the number of fans who came up to say hello. The riding wasn't such fun because it was very, very difficult. The fence was very close and there wasn't room to make a mistake," he added. Cold turkey "I was just a little bit old to they be comfortable on the ice! I had some great, great days at Monmore Green. We're close to Cradley Heath and I'm back on the shale, which I'm a lot more comfortable with. "I had a conversation with Greg Hancock - I'm going to start riding with him a little bit. It's not fair to anyone to go out cold turkey and do laps - plus it's dangerous. You never forget how to do it, but certainly you lose a little of the edge. I just want to shake out the bugs a little bit. I don't want to go over there and look silly." Penhall looked anything but silly during five golden years with Cradley Heath - and was delighted when I broke the news to him that a proposed stadium site had been identified with a view the Heathens returning in 2008. "That's great!" he exclaimed "Perhaps I will come out of retirement! Maybe not – I’m going to be 50 in May. Through my career I visited a lot of race tracks. But I never, ever came across supporters who were as enthusiastic as they were at Cradley Heath. That sport meant so much to them there. It was a way of life - they lived, they breathed and they ate speedway. People like (former, riders) Peter Collins and Doug Wyer told me: ‘You were right to sign for Cradley Heath. You will, never realise how great the support is until you race at Cradley Heath.' They took it so seriously. If anyone would ever bang on a Cradley rider they would have to be escorted from the track because would have been lynched! I'm not exaggerating! Man, I miss those days. They took me under their wing from day one. I struggled a little bit, but they never gave up hope of me winning races. They lifted me to another level. They got underneath you and lifted you on their shoulders. They wanted you to win possibly more than you wanted to win yourself. You did it, not only for yourself, but also for them. It's the truth." Penhall turned his back on the sport in 1982 when aged just 25, having won the world title the previous year Wembley and retained the crown at Los Angeles. He enjoyed a successful acting career in the NBC motorcycle cop drama to CHiPs, appeared in a number of films and now concentrates on the family demolition business.

Really? *edit* - Just read about it in tonights paper.

The roads are, and will be, fine. The temperature is going to stay above freezing so a constant thaw of the remaining snow will continue through today, and tonight.

But with the best will in the world some people simply won't be able to make the necessary arrangments on a weeknight. What about people with young children that will have to get home to bed? A weekend would be better for the fans. That should get a reaction some time soon. Don't see how. Apart from P'brgh and Ippo fans who would that suit better than Sheffield? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Having it on the south coast suits half the EL fans, and having it somewhere between W'ton/B'ham/Cov and north to around BV/Sheff suits half the EL fans. With all due resect to those further north or east, that suits only a small number of EL fans. I agree that with it having been in the south, it's time for it to be held somewhere up here.

Not even as reserves. You know what Steve, I used to think the same. By pandering to every whim of the riders it's the fan that is missing out. There will be a lot of people that would like to go, but can't get there on a week night. And apparently we can't move it to the fans preferred weekend because some of the riders can't be bothered to represent the clubs over here. If they can't be bothered to show I'd rather see the EL middle order riders that want to ride for their club, and might show the fans enough respect to actually turn up. As for not having an excuse for a Thursday, well I'm not so sure. It would be easy to claim an injury from Sweden on the Tue, can't get a flight back, or a mystery illness. The fact is that if a rider doesn't want to ride in the ELRC he won't, and it doesn't matter when you schedule it. That was a long time ago now, and I'm sure most fans recognise that it could have hapened anywhere. Every track in the country has made a complete balls up at one time or another. It was just unfortunate for Sheffield that it was so high profile.

That would just be more padding in the specially prepared cell (not for you) if you ask me. It's the ELRC, and should not include lower league riders.

The more I think about it, the more I look forward to it. So many of the Brits ride it well that it should be a great meeting.

Rob - Are you seriously suggesting that Reading won't have a chance with Greg and Matej, Swindon with Leigh and Seb, or Wolves with PK and Billy? Add to that the fact that riders like Nicki, Hans, Joonas, KK, Scott, Rory, Mark, and Jesper can be very quick and it's clear to see that the Poole pair have got to be at their best to see off everyone. Of course they are the favourites, but to suggest it's a foregone conclusion is foolish. There are a lot of very good riders in the EL and your comment was rather disrespectful to them.

And being such a bunch of drunkards, they'll be in there 'til about 2 minutes before tapes up.

Good on ya, and here's to the shock of the season when you visit Monmore.

My initial comment was to Rob, who's disinterest seems interesting. His comments, regarding the worth of the meeting, were quite dismissive. Anything to do with the fact that Crump has moved on, and BV will be weak in this match 2007?

They wouldn't have you back. Only joking.

I've heard of a few over the years, but I wasan't aware it was a particular problem. No parking restrictions on the Bilston Road, are there?

And Hans please. That'll spice things up a bit. edit spelling

Have a scan around the web. I found this in about 15 seconds. I used to enjoy watch Leigh at Monmore. He used to ride right round the curb and always chased people down well. He always seemed to find good traction, and I found it interesting to watch an Aussie do that. Over the last few years he seems to have moved out, and is just fast and smooth. Nothing wrong with that, but it's just not interesting.

You didn't. I did. I've got nothing against them, but BV aint gonna win the pairs this season.

Depends on the odds. I'd go if it were local, but too far for me.

Like I said, I'll be there and £20 is a bargain.

I'm guessing that Brandon wouldn't be considered because they've got the WC. Plenty of room for parking around the park. I've not seen as many cars there as there were for an average match v Cradley, so I can't see there being a problem. Getting people in may be a squeeze, but as you say it shouldn't be a problem.

Looks like nobody cares about this one. Looks like good value given that EL crowds are used to paying £15 anyway.

I won't be going, but as I said on the pairs thread it's a good shout to have a neutral venue. It should be shifted to a weekend or Bank Holiday.

Good shout to have a neutral venue. It's likely to be between Poole and Swindon, but are you really so self-centred as to think it's not worthwhile because 'your' riders have no chance?

The racing will be excellent if it's prepared as normal. It should be fairly open as well. Quite a few Brits ride Monmore well. You stand in the wrong place. You could get there early and sit in the bar??

Well at least there's one good rider worth turning up to see. edit typo