AndyM

Just over 70 miles from Peterborough to Broxbourne - A1, A414 through Hertford, A10, off at Hoddesdon, through the centre of Broxbourne, turn right at the roundabout near Broxbourne school and follow the signs out into the countryside. http://www.pwpark.com/pages/general/directions.asp

With pleasure! Do you have George's contact details?

It would be good value - I'd turn it into an international hot spot. People would be burning tarmac to get to Broxbourne to see the Speedway Museum.

Since that's very local to me I'd be delighted to help them out, but they'd have to pay me a darn sight more than £30k pa to do it!!

Yes, as you will have noted from my comments about the GP circus. Fact remains that speedway is in a pretty parlous state when we can't fill the stadium for the biggest occasion in the UK calendar, particularly allowing for all the foreign fans that come flooding into Cardiff. If I were running the event, I would be looking for ways to fill the seats even if that did reduce the number of couch potatoes in the process. Even so, Sky will want to sell all the seats to milk the atmosphere for their audience.

Considering the World Final in the old days used to fill the old Wembley, I find it sad that we have gaps in the Millennium Stadium for what should be the biggest occasion in our domestic calendar. We should be filling it to the rafters! Maybe that's a combination of TV, the logistics of getting to Cardiff and the fact that with the GP circus it's not quite as special any more.

Don't forget that Sub is operating under the delusion that he's right all the time, even when he's demonstrably wrong. Still no sign of his Welsh gulags, let alone the arrival of the New Jerusalem!

Why, were you there Schumi?

Pretty sure it was a NRC qualified rather than Grand Prix, Moxey. Must try to look out the programme from my collection in the garage. Anyway, Wilkie won the meeting - my memories of 1976 are darn good!!

Indeed he did. Funnily enough, PC's legendary track record of 67.0, knocking 2.4 seconds off his own previous record, was also in a Northern Riders Qualifier (we had enough northern riders for them to have to qualify in those days!), on 2 July 1976. That day is etched on my memory - one of the greatest days of speedway in a great era.

How come Bjarne dropped so dramatically from 4 to 13?

"New" Nicki? Why - is he born again?

Crump notwithstanding, Mr Andersen has got the future world champ written all over him. Quite sure he'll get there one year, even if it's not 07. But I'm convinced Nicki Pedersen's suspect temperament will get the better of him and prevent him winning further titles.

What became of Alan Sage and Laurie Etheridge? Entertaining riders in their day - remember both putting up a good fight at Ellesmere Port (or was it Stoke?) one year in the early 70s.

Totally agree. No reason at all to apply strict and arbitrary legislation. Why not let riders appear in any order the team manager chooses to try and maximise any perceived tactical benefit? god knows, there's little enough scope for skilful use of fair and ethical tactics within the current rulebook...

A thread in couplets, to be sure Original and worthy more Hope you hear from good old Gooders But poetry? My heart it shudders!

We already have a much-reduced rider pool as it is, quite a number of whom ride for more than one club across the three leagues. How long is it going to be before the costs exceed revenues and all but the top riders have no choice but to go semi-pro and combine their racing with day jobs?

Actually, I've thought less might be more for some time. Increase the anticipation and promote the fixtures better - and have more dates in the event of rain-offs. Trouble is that stadium owners would then charge higher rents (hence your block bookings argument), so there is a possibility that you could have stadium sharing in some cases to keep costs down.

Sensible post, Superguest. Sad fact is that we're struggling to find any British riders who are consistently GP standard. We should be well up there in the top half dozen every year.

Form is temporary and class is permanent. In the greater scheme of things, Stead is at least as good a prospect as Harris, possibly better. Harris is currently riding better, but it won't necessarily stay that way.

That's not Belle Vue bias but stating a fact that Stead is improving and may yet prove you wrong. He's adapted to riding at no 1 for the Aces and may continue to grow at the same pace.

Tosh! He has the capability, being already better than many who have qualified in previous years. Whether or not he has the determination and single-mindedness to see it through remains to be seen, but write him off at your peril.

So for that matter, would you say there no London football clubs, since Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, West Ham, QPR, Crystal Palace, Leyton Orient, Brentford, Milwall etc. obviously don't count!

...though in the longer term hopefully both will be in. Remind me though - how was he selected?

Though you always seem to marshall them pretty well against some of us, Schumi. Perhaps you save yourself for the best debates with Kev, Subedei and co?