arnieg

I've found a photo in S Star (5.5.90), and the line-up is; Gregori Characheko (who I think is still riding), Nikolai Kornev, grigori Chlynovky (former world finalist and TM on this tour), Vladimir Trofimov (on bike), Igor Marko, sergei Tershak, Igor Zverev; and front: Viktor Gadiym and Mikhail Starostin

Browsing through some old results I noticed that in the first European (now World) under 21 final a Soviet rider by the name of Zajtun Gafurov appeared. Would he be the father of Renat? (the age is about right and both are/were connected with Oktobriasky.) Kasprzak and Gustafsson seem to be the only father/son pairs to make the World (euro) under 21 final as Renat never qualified. Are there any others?

Too many to list in full, but how about: the night Scunny were beaten and Invaders won the league Gerald Short, Martin Dixon and Paul Fry's many passes. The Armstrong v Eldridge CLRC run-off Thierry Hillaire - what a lunatic Ronnie Correy's return from injury in 1995 Watching speedway from the centre green (I sponsored a heat in some meeting - possibly the CLRC) Standing on the terraces every week just behind a Division One rider and being amazed that he always had a pint in his hand (maybe it was the same pint all the time!) Standing in the car park after the Oxford Suite meeting at which Tony Mole announced it was all over, touching the stadium gates and realising 'never again will I pass this way'

And for an indication of their relative strengths go to: http://speedwayranking.125mb.com/home.htm and click on Euro League

I suspect that Ukranians and Russians would not be regarded as foreigners irrespective of who they rode for. Other relevant bit of info on Russian League is that their matches are on Thursdays.

'Command' is actually the Russian word for team

And at California

Or: http://irgiz.narod.ru/2007okt36.html the two do differ slightly though For the DSL try: http://www.speedway-league.com/snitliste.htm and for other Danish Leagues: http://www.dmusport.dk/index.php?option=co...tpage&Itemid=79 go to stillinger on the left and then rangeliste on the drop down menus

Maddest year had to be 1959 when the race format changed mid-way thru the season fronm 18 heats to 15!

Last winter there was much debate about the impact of the Russian League's increased use of (and payments to) foreign riders. So what actually happened? Well in 42 league matches 23 foreigners appeared. But 16 of these were Poles and only six rode more than three times. Only Darius Sledz (8 - Vostock) and Pawel Miesac (7 - Rovno) rode in more than half of their team's 12 fixtures. Next came: Peter Karlsson 5 (SK Turbina) Greg Walasek 5 (SK Turbina) Kjaustas Puodzjoks 4 (Rov) Piotr Protasiewicz 4 (SK Turbina) The other non-Poles to ride were: Sullivan (3 for SK), Hancock (Mega-Lada), Richardson (SK), Ferjan (Rov) all 2 and Nikki Pedersen 1 for Mega-Lada Rovno - 5 riders making 18 appearances, and SK Turbina - 5 riders making 17 appearances used most foreigners Salavat used none at all (and came bottom) while Luk-Oil and Mega-Lada used three riders who made just six appearances between them. Mega-Lada won the league on the basis of their indigenous riders (they regularly tracked six Russian born riders who averaged over 8), they only bought in big name foreigners for crunch matches. SK Turbina came second, and clearly they did buy in foreign strength In recent years the Russian League has been a two horse race between Mega Lada Togliatti and Luk-oil Oktobriasky, but it looks as if Luk oil couldn't (or wouldn't?) compete when it came to attracting foreigners - presumably a money issue. So what happens next?

Was a brilliant day, thoroughly enjoyed it, amazed at how many people brought old photos. BTW Malcom Holloway came to ( I believe he is an ex-rider )

Thank you for the comprehensive coverage of speedway in Finland, and hope Edinburgh goes well. But I have one question: What happened to LahtiForssa'a last two meetings in the Kapunki Cup. The league table at the end of July shows three matches outstanding, but details of only one more fixture.

I'm at Prague airport on my way back from the meeting Vaculik (a Slovakian, not a Czech!) won. He was last in the final (a four rider sudden death job) when Lukas mis-timed his dive under race leader Franc, having already passed Rymel. In the rerun the ref held tapes for a long time and Vaculik got a flyer. The four finalists were clear from early on. Simota missed out because of a 2 minute exclusion and Ales Dryml suffered an engine failure (one of many in the meeting). Sitera looked worth keeping an eye on, Tomicek had a miserable day including two EFs and the one time he was leading the race was stopped. Excellent racing, but the stadium makes Stoke and Smallmead look smart! Yet it had the best toilets I've seen at a speedway track!

I thought the senior meeting was better than the under 21 last year. Apart from Jonasson (who I'd not heard of, but was very impressed by) it seemed fairly predictable. Hope Jonasson does well again this year. If Forsberg rides even half as well as he did at Belle Vue on Wednesday then he will be hard to beat.

Give that man a biscuit MZ announced tonight that he wouldn't be there at the press conference. Interviewer Paul Hunsdon looked like he was taken by surprise by Matej's response. Incidentally at the same press conference Matej said of tonight's win against Belle Vue: "you needed a win". Not "we", not "Reading" but "you"

I've heard about it; I think that it is going to be in November. I'll post more details when I have them

He's still riding in the Czech Extra League for Plzen. Scored 10 points earlier this month. see http://www.przegladzuzlowy.pl/news_lc.php?id=1089892428

Age 20, made his debut for Gorzow in 2003 Finished 9th in World Junior Champs Polish National Qualifyer Averaged 5.33 in Polish League One (for comparison Rajkowski averaged 5.12 and Swist 5.60

At the Eastbourne staging of the British under 21 Championship it was stated that the top three scoring eligible riders would get places in the Euro under 19 championship. Glanz participated in that meeting. Perhaps the riders under 19 who finished above him did not wish to accept the nomination. If so he is there on merit as the British nomination. And good luck to him.

(from http://www.speedwaybikes.co.nz/forum/) 1st Andrew Bargh 2nd Jason Bunyan 3rd Jade Mudgeway 4th Karl Bagshaw 5th Mitchell McHardy 6th Ben Antunovich 7th= David Bargh, Dylan Moohan 9th Darrin Wilson 10th Jason Mckay 11th Kim Stevens (Res) 12th Daniel Hanley Jamie Moohan retired hurt after fall in first race.

Reading Speedway Memorabilia Wanted 20-02-2007 READING Speedway historians are urging supporters to search through their attics for any old Reading Speedway memorabilia they may have. In celebration of the Club’s proud history we have teamed up with the Museum of Reading, who have given us the opportunity to have a display there from 30th July – 5th November. The planned exhibition of Reading Speedway memorabilia will take the form of: Speedway Past, Speedway Present and Speedway Future. Also part of the celebration of the Club’s history will see the staging of a Speedway Fun Day at the Museum on a Saturday in September. We will issue more details about this in due course. So we are now on the lookout for Reading Speedway memorabilia to fill the display. If you have, or know of anyone who may have items that you think would be suitable and of interest, you are urged to contact the Bulldogs Press Officer Andy Povey personally, or by email on andyp@readingbulldogs.com Any persons lending items to the museum for the purpose of this exhibition will be given a receipt and your items will then be returned to you in the condition they were received after the exhibition’s finish on 5th November 2007. The type of things we are looking for are: newspaper cuttings, old race jackets, race suits, programmes, racing equipment (goggles, boots, parts of a bike etc), metal badges, pennants, photographs, or just about any Reading Speedway related memorabilia you think would be suitable. We would be particularly interested in anything from the old Tilehurst Stadium era (1968-1973) – Maybe someone has the old Tilehurst Stadium starting tapes or a copy of the first-ever meeting programme tucked away in their attic!! Sounds interesting - just hope they get a photo of Dickie May winning the Golden Helmet

He wa sone of those riders who looks very promising, but decided to give up. I think he was only 16/17 too. He made his debut for Stoke in 1987 riding all season for a 4 point average. Second season he failed to build on the promise of the first and retired mid-season, still with an average of around 4. Don't know why, but Peter Oakes History of Speedway does list one appearance for Newcastle.

Born 4 Feb 1985 - so clearly not eligible As I understand it the AMA have not yet announced their seeds. As the QR takes place during the Dream Team tour I assume that the two riders will be from the Dream Team Tourists. As this includes runner-up Dale Facchini he must be a near cert. As for the other place I guess others are better qualified to speculate on who gets it.

When the British final was at its peak it was staged at Coventry ...on a Wednesday

What no startline boys