RobMcCaffery

I really would suggest that you don't compare these Polish promotions with anything you would see outside that country.

The whole point of the merger, as far as I can see, is that former EL teams' strengths would be greatly reduced to bring them in line with the existing PL clubs. I can't see the PL standing for the con trick of a merger that was staged in the 90s.

More teams so greater variety. Far more fixtures and no month-long gaps in the season. Until recently far fewer rider absences. Lack of a contrived racing formula and the illogical movement of riders within a team based on false averages. No fear that the league's membership is about to collapse. The lack of feeling that the league is run for the benefit of one club. The gap in standard from 1-7 far more even than in the EL, thus more even racing without the majority of races being split in half. No EL snob supporters. A more relaxed and friendly environment. Greater co-operation between promotions. Sadly it has caught the EL's disease of frequent absences. Of course the EL has names. Woryna is certainly not regarded as one of the best in Poland. He is one of the compulsory u-21 reserves that include youngsters such as Pieszczek who won the World u-21 at King's Lynn, Przedpelski, Cyfer and Nowak, not to mention Zmarzlik who's in the GP series. Add in all of the many Poles in the main teams over there such as Janowski, Dudek, Protasiewicz, the Pawlicki brothers, Zengota, Miedzinski, Jedrzejak, Kasprzak and Hampel he's a long way down the ratings, riding for a minor club, Rybnik.

Wally Loak in the Midlands, as Gemini confirms while down south it was Track Tapes, usually with Steve Brown commentating. Apart from being a fellow commentator with K.M, Video Steve was later Essex Radio's first speedway correspondent at Arena Essex.

You don't like the truth then? How moronic.

You do realise he'll be walking because the track is closing forever. No more Coventry Bees. You don't get a a second 'life' and restart the game. Your team is almost certainly about to die unless someone comes up with a miracle (and I pray they do). . I get the impression you'll be glad to see it happen.

Was that before or after he won the World Championship? Don't worry, you'll soon have no team to support and have nothing left to whinge about.

Oh things have moved on. You will now find border posts on the A47 and A11 handing out ferrets and wheels. Don't let the blighter escape or you'll lose your deposit. I hope you don't get a lazy one....

Shawn, you've told us elsewhere that you are 31. Now, even by the mid-80s the war cries had served their time but their best days were over. They were a hang-over from days with larger crowds, more prepared to join in the fun. Plenty of people joined in and it was always part of the fun. It was a more innocent, tolerant and less cynical and self-centred time. We did have more fun though. What you saw was the tail end when the crowds had shrunk desperately and naturally there weren't so many people to join in and the war cries obviously were dying-out. When I was announcing I tried to modify them by dropping the '2-4-6-8 who do we appreciate" hang-over from 50s America and just go for the 'Give us a...... etc.' Eventually it was clear that another tactic was needed. It was trying to build up the atmosphere. What an awful thing to try, eh? So, what you saw was the end of an era. I think you'll find many people here were watching speedway well before you were born and witnessed another era that you quite frankly haven't the remotest qualification on which to judge. Which reminds me about one thing I miss from speedway.....tolerance.

It cannot be watched legally in the UK without BT. There are always plenty of illicit streams for GPs.

Financial irregularities in Poland? Whatever next! </irony>

Spain doesn't have a TV deal for speedway so you should be able to watch the official SGP You Tube channel. The link will be on the SGP website on Saturday. For the benefit of others this feed isn't available legally in the UK, Poland or Sweden but most others will be fine unless a local channel has the rights - there won't be that many. http://www.speedwaygp.com/live_stream

As if the Gulls haven't gone through enough..... Thanks for those additional case studies.

Anyone got a friend with a few spare buses and an operator's licence?

I also spent 2000 announcing for Boston at King's Lynn. You may recall that they were at that time called the Barracuda Braves. Yes I did do war-cries. Yes they did go C-U-D-A-S - CUDAS! Well if it was good enough for Gordon Parkins.....

Who is saying they're that close? I don't remember seeing any. Of course they're not and any fool can see that. PL sides are assembled on a sensible budget to compete with each other, not with EL sides. I think most PL fans don't give a damn whether their sides would be beaten by EL teams. They're just happy enough having regular speedway with a reasonably sensible set-up. It's not just about how strong your side is but how strong your league is. The opening of the NSS should not mask the serious problems that afflict the rest of the EL. Taking consolation that your team's bigger than the PL team might make a few happy, but not those with common sense.

I'd suggest that the good councillor gets the council planning department to update its website if everything is ready to go.

Like I said, reputation. It's all part of the mystique.

Guess who managed to foul up a war cry at Eastbourne I managed to lose count of the Es. It wouldn't have been so bad if I wasn't the announcer.

Probably. It's called marketing. At the very least it protects their reputation as high-end manufacturers. I doubt very much that they invest out of the kindness of their hearts.

Some things are worth fighting for, surely? This is the second time you've made a stupid contribution to this conversation. The last time you accused me of wanting the new track to fail. I won't bother asking what 'idiotin' means but I suggest you hear the word idiot frequently. Straight to ignore list. Bye. Now, back to the grown-ups.

Polish speedway is impressive but let down appallingly by some of its 'supporters'. But what would I know after 45 years as a supporter, commentator, announcer, presenter, writer...? Obviously a childish nutter knows more. Here we can watch speedway almost every night of the week from March to October and many supporters watch up to 100 meetings a season. How much better to watch 14-20 meetings a year in Poland eh?

Glad to hear about the centre green. I have seen back up documents to the application laying down quite stringent requirements for substantial increases in the percentage of fans travelling by car share. You do wonder how they would propose to police it.

Right off to rebuild my video collection. Close match but never seemed to quite catch fire.

While he's scoring I don't think we're seeing the real Emil yet. More like it in heat 15.