arnieg

Er ... that seems unlikely as at the Reading v Somerset press conference today Doyle publicly stated that Lemon beat him on Friday in the semi-final race. But despite the misfortune that we suffered it was a great meeting and Somerset have a racing strip to be proud of. Workington deserved to be in the final - who should have won? Well thanks too Mr Flint we'll never know. Like others I was very impressed with Proctor, thought Bunyan provided a lot of entertainment and while Doyle was right in principle to try and get Kramer thru in the final his execution of the manouvre left a lot to be desired. However he was faultless at Smallmead today

Not sure how I lost the 1952 appearances He did ride a few matches for Southampton - in 1956.

Indeed. Ron Sharp – first rode at a Rye House training school where he became a protégé of George Bason. Signed to New Cross but never made a league appearance for them. Continued riding in the SAL and second-halving. Injury and the decline in tracks meant he didn't get a regular team place until the Provincial League era, when he rode for Stoke and Long Eaton. Tears & Glory - The Winged Wheel Story, page 20 Incidentally one of my first customers at Smallmead said his father rode at California. I asked who, and he said Ron Sharp

but I get none out of five at Motala

But I want to see Kevin Wolbert, Ryan Sullivan, Matej Zagar, Emil Saifutdinow and Jurica Pavlic at Motala! Don't think we're both going to be 100% sattisfied

In 1986 he was 5th in the Polish league averages and 6th in the Polish Championship. In 1987 he made a few appearances in the Polish league. Both years he was riding for Gdansk. As he was born in 1953 he would have been 33 or 34 on retiring. In the years prior to the collapse of Berlin Wall and communism we saw very few Polish riders. (There was a gap of something like 7/8 years between Piotr Pyszny and Jacek Remapla riding in the British League)

Go to: http://www.przegladzuzlowy.pl/wersjaangielska.php Look on the right and click on the leagues listed below the heading "wyniki and tabelle" for fixtures Use the drop down menus for the clubs (at the top) in the three leagues and click on "kadra zespolu" - to get the squads

Vladimir Trofimov (b 28.1.62) rode for Rovno in the Russian league last year - that suggests it is the same one as 1987.

Then you'll enjoy the table on page 251

Its that time of the year when speedway authors release their 'labours of love' in advance of Cardiff. I'd never considered writing a book until just over a year ago when I commented to Andy Povey (we were organising the Reading Museum exhibit at the time) that Reading needed a comprehensive club history. He said "well you should write it then.". And now I have! MEDIA RELEASE: "Celebrating Forty Years of Reading Speedway" Next Tuesday (June 17th) sees the 40th anniversary of the opening of Reading speedway. The story of those forty years is chronicled in a new book: “Tears and Glory – The Winged Wheel Story” by Arnie Gibbons. The book tells the story, year by year, of the Reading Racers adventures in the speedway world. Racers fans can relive the heady euphoria of the Tilehurst years, the agony of title near misses in 1977 and 2006, and the joy of five league title winning seasons. On the individual front the highs of World Championship wins for Anders Michanek and Per Jonsson are contrasted by the terrible tragedy of Denny Pyeatt's crash at Hackney. Author Arnie Gibbons, a follower of the Racers since 1970 enthused: “ Although the heart of the book is the chronicle of Reading Racers 40 years on track I have attempted to show how Reading and the wider speedway world have changed over that period, and how those changes have affected the Racers. I have also included the results of my research into speedway in Berkshire before the historic meeting against Nelson on 17 June 1968. As well as wartime speedway at California (near Wokingham) I found evidence of a previously unknown venue east of Bracknell! “I am tremendously grateful to everyone who has helped, particularly the Reading Evening Post for coming up with some excellent photographs to illustrate the book. Above all I would like to thank Malcolm Holloway and Mark Legg because without them the story of Reading speedway would have come to a premature end and we wouldn't be celebrating 40 years of speedway in Reading this week.” The book contains 256 pages, including over 80 photos and 18 pages of statistics. Longtime promoter 'Aunty' Pat Bliss has contributed a foreword to the book. It will be available from Monday - cost £15. It can be purchased from the track shop or online at: http://www.readingspeedway.com/tearsandglory.html

At last. I now know how it feels to be 'pregnant with book'. The gestation period for this one has certainly been a long one. I'm sure the wait will be worthwhile.

A couple of posters asked - why have heats 21 & 22? So we can wait around for 20 minutes while riders fart about chosing gate positions. (Although the Under 21 @ Arena was worse than last night) Now the odd feature: Points scored off each gate before the final race: Gate 2 29 points Gate 4 30 points Gate 1 32 points Gate 3 34 points First choice went to Harris - who chose gate 2 then Nicholls chose gate 4 and next Kennett chose gate 1 leaving Woffinden in (the top scoring) gate 3 Conclusion - credit to Swindon for producing a track with so little gate bias

But Norbs, he rode for the Tories!! !! A rare opportunity for Reading citizens to see a top speedway star came at the Reading Conservative Fete at Denton's Field, Bath Road in 1949. As well as a demonstration of skills by Bill Kitchen (winner of 11 National League championships with Belle Vue and Wembley) and George Wilks, a grasstrack event entertained the crowds. Participants included California regulars Bill Newell and Maurice Leonard. Tears and Glory - The Winged Wheel Story, page 10

Good, but when are we likely to know dates? (My flight to Aussie at the start of Jan is already booked )

Ian was the very first ever Racer, by dint of his appearance in heat 1 (along with Dene Davies) of Reading's first ever match (7.6.68 @ Plymouth). Champion started the season in top form but after injury his returns were a tad disappointing. Lost his team place to Bernie Leigh midway thru 1969 (moving on to Rayleigh)

Aldershot Poppies 1957 California Poppies 1954-56 Reading Ravens 1996 Reading Racers 2007

Rode in second halves at Long Eaton 1991-93. Appeared in one league match (1991 @Milton Keynes when Kai Niemi was injured). Regular in 1992 junior league team. I think he was English but can't find any confirmation.

Can't let that pass. The team was known as the "M4 Raven Sprockets", they ran in 1997

'Command' is more accurately translated as 'team' but, otherwise it's got the basic sense

Try: http://irgiz.narod.ru/2007okt36.html

Long time since I've seen anything on this, looks like it is moving closer though: Interesting report of FIM conference at http://irgiz.narod.ru/2008/03/2008mar05.html On February, 21-24st in Geneva there passed(there took place) conference of the International motorcycle federation (ФИМ). One of the main questions who on it(her) have been considered(examined), steel development and the statement of preliminary calendars of the championships and Cups of the world for 2009-2010. As to speedway disciplines and motorcycle races on an ice here for Russia there are pleasant news. In a preliminary calendar for 2009 the first and second endings of the personal world championship on motorcycle races on an ice is planned to lead accordingly in a Krasnogorsk (on February, 7-8th) and Ufa (on February, 14-15th). The third and fourth endings will pass(take place) as usually on artificial to an ice - in Germany and Holland. The commission of speedway ФИМ has taken into account, that the sports club MEGA-Lada (Togliatti) has begun negotiations with the organizer of a series of GRAND PRIX of the personal world championship company BSI (Great Britain). From Russia the forward ordering on carrying out in 2010 of one of stages of GRAND PRIX in city Tolyatti is submitted. Owing to remoteness of city from the central Europe, and also because of absence of experience of carrying out in city of competitions of a similar level, the commission of speedway ФИМ had been rejected the application of city Balakovo for carrying out of a stage of team championship of the world among juniors.

Programme for 14th (not filled in I'm afraid) shows three match races with Phil Bishop (who would have been 50-something?). Two pieces in the programme seem to imply that Johnno wanted a team place but wasn't expected to claim one - hence the nature of his appearance.

Just the one season - 1962 - and that was not a sucess, they staged less than 20 meetings and ended up riding a couple of home matches at St Austell. Charlie Monk was their most noteable rider

just a few!!!!!!!!!!!! And I have come up with: Final record: 61.7 Stekkers 7.4.93, and equalled by Chris Manchester 12.6.96 Previous TR: 61.8 also Stekkers 61.8 14.8.91 and before that: 61.9 by... Stekkers (8.5.91) Kevin Smart was the last TR holder before Stekkers (62.3 on 27.6.90)

Happy New Year Thanks for the quick response