fubar

Yes, Sidney and moxey are so right. Speedway riders used to be like sticks of Blackpool rock - the name of their team ran through them from head to toe and the team's name became synonymous with the name of their top guy - Ole Olsen's Coventry, Doug Wyer's Sheffield, John Louis' Ipswich, Kenny Carter's Halifax, Bruce Penhall's Cradley and so on. When you pitched up to support your team, you were 99% sure who would be riding for you and pretty nearly as sure who the opposition riders would be - they would be the same crew who rode last time. Now you turn up for even an NL meeting and you are greeted by the mind-numbing experience of guests and rider bloody replacement.

I remember when one of the F1 teams, perhaps it was Renault, sold off some unwanted kit and donated the proceeds (a few thousand pounds) to Wilkie, he said, "I can't believe that anyone would still remember me and Jean". I'll always remember you Alan because you were the genuine article and in today's world full of lightweights you were a superstar before they even invented the word.

So, is there anybody left?

I was sitting in my seat at the front of C block as Alan Wilkinson went careering into the boards between bends 1 and 2. Behind the solid white boards were the steel lamp posts, the steel girders and the steel hawsers that were tensioned up when the stock cars were in action. Clearly, these materials wouldn't offer much impact absorption for an incoming rider but to be honest, nobody gave too much thought to rider safety in those days. Lots of people clattered into the boards during a meeting and most got away pretty unscathed and the gathered masses fully expected Wilkie to get up a after a few moments, dust himself off, kick his bike wheels straight and get ready for his next ride. Riders were hellish tough in those days and there weren't many tougher than Alan. In the good old days, the medical back up seemed to consist possibly of an invisible doctor and some well-meaning first aid volunteers who stood about in the middle in white boiler suits. The primary aim of these good people appeared to be to get any crumpled and battered rider loaded onto the stretcher with it's large wheels and trundled off with the minimum of delay so that the action could be resumed before the punters became impatient. Looking back now, it seems amazing that we seemed to know so little about how to deal with riders who might have suffered serious head and neck injuries and without doubt, if medical facilities and procedures had been better then many riders, including Wilkie might be in a rather better position today. There are plenty of things wrong with modern day speedway but at least more importance is given to looking after riders' safety and it is a shame that many have been let down in years gone by. I spoke to Wilkie a couple of times at the Dog Bowl and whilst his body was a little worse for wear, his views were as forthright as ever. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to thank him for entertaining us humble speedway supporters over the years. I shouldn't think that too many medical wallahs read the old guff that's written on here but thanks for doing what you do and hoping that rider injuries are few and far between in 2018.

Hey Hodgy, thanks for the heads-up on the Alan Carter book. I sent for it a couple of days ago and have not been able to put it down! The Haslams and the Carters were knocking about in my younger day and I always remember getting lapped by young Ron on his TZ Yam after 7 laps of Mallory Park. Mal Carter always came across as something of a bully and Alan's book confirms this suspicion. With regard to Kenny he was a hell of a rider and his visits to Hyde Road were always hugely anticipated, Soldier Boy used to give him stick though and I'm not sure he had much of a sense of humour because he always looked pretty po faced about it. Clearly, his demons were never far away. Ta muchly, Hodgy.

Well I hope that Lee Payne wasn't going to be giving Paul Bowen a lift down from Wigan. If Paul Bowen can't get there, who will bring the pies?

Friend Adonis, thank you for your interest in my well-being. I am a Buddhist. We Buddhists go through many cycles of death and re-birth which we call samsara. Obviously, we are seeking release from this constant cycle (nirvana) but this is not easy to attain. It is quite possible that you knew me as somebody you refer to as "Bundy" before my latest re-incarnation and I am sure that you will see that my behaviour and actions (karma) have enabled me to come back rather higher up the pecking order and I may soon be a deva or assura. If my karma had been bad then I would surely have returned to this place as a tortured soul such as an earthworm, an earwig or most desperate of all, a Loomer Road season ticket holder. Since I only appear to be granted about three postings a week, I hope that you will be suitably grateful that I have used up my valuable allowance to deal with your enquiry. Namaste _/\_

Hey J, nobody getting back to you? Perhaps they have mislaid your number. Probably worth getting back on the jelly-bone and chivvy these malingerers up a bit.

Hooray for the Colts.

I hope you don't have a painful let down here, Ouchy. I'm not sure that I've ever seen Kean Dicken manage 4 laps at proper racing speed. I'm sure his dad loves him but I'm not totally convinced that he is quite up to the required standard to ride for the country's best NL side. But hey I could be wrong and perhaps he'll be racking up shed loads of points in no time flat. Keep the faith.

Testing 1,2,3.

with 6.09 left to play with, any idea who might fill the last sheepskin race suit?

I see that the Pride of the Potteries is scheduled for 7 April. Do you think it will be an illuminating experience or should I give it a miss?

You have to feel for these speedway boys. They have a bit of a prang and it bins a whole season. If you are Rossi or some other Moto GP wallah, you get operated on and you are racing again within days. But as Friend Fozzie says, the Colts are probably a tad stronger now. Get well soon, Lee.