Trees

Does Ice Hockey have a bigger fan following than speedway? One thing though, we are talking pay rate of the GP's not domestic league pay rates and of course they are TOP SECRET

Could it be something to do with Jawa's european market being pretty lucrative for them even though they don't sell "that" many. I wonder what the difference is between the price of a jawa speedway engine over in Czecho and a jawa engine over here? Someone pointed out to me the other day that what the aussies earn over here is worth around about twice as much over in aus because of the exchange rate, that's handy! Is it because there aren't many of these canadian/european/scandanavian players in the league and perhaps they are intregal to the team's success and so are able to ask for nice big pay cheques? Bear in mind I know nowt about ice hockey .... lol ....... just wondering? BSI are aren't they?? As far as Paula goes, is it the sponsrship she can get from companies like Nike or Adidas that ups her money? I spose unless the speedway riders can throw themselves into the public's eye somehow I don't know how they can get a slice of this sponsorship money out there. Trouble is they are so busy riding all through the season, earning their wages, that they don't have time for tv appearances or suchlike even IF they were asked!! Even the charismatic Tony Rickardsson has done nothing much for the sport in this way during his years as world champion!!!!

Michael Lee

What!!!!!!! Almost three times more in 2002 than the World Champion of this season, talk about taking the p*ss!!!

Will all the questions be about the past? If not it would be great to hear Phil's opinion of the GP's, are they good for the sport, do they put too much pressure on the riders, would he have liked to have competed in them and what does he think of the one-off tracks and the guy who who is in charge of them ..... hehehe

Asked my husband who can remember Phil racing for King's Lynn. His reply was can you ask Phil about his relationship with Howard Cole. He also remembers after he left Lynn and went to Newport, the match races (Golden Helmet?) against the Lynn number 1's (Terry Betts and Michael Lee) when he just blew them away using the "Neil Street Conversion".

Looks great Jim, another masterpiece

I wonder why not Shawn??

I heard this advertised by Roy Waller the other day on Radio Norfolk, is the social evening on the Saturday and the dinner on the Sunday?

It would be if the track is prepared how it should be, Gollob style

That damned lot of toffs "motorsport is too dirty for our showground" ....... tch! Everyone you meet says it should have been on the showground but like you say even if it had been there it may well now be doomed because of the housing closing in. At least the people of Norwich would have had speedway for a number of years now and the sport would be in a very strong position in the city. Never mind, as long as there are still people out there with the will and the way, you can never say never. If the supporter's club was renewed again it would be great to get to know all the peeps out there who are on the case, it would also be great to have some nostalgic nights, GP nights perhaps and get a few riders here to give talks etc Now that the Firs has had a revamp I wonder if it would be the place to hold the meetings too!! Perhaps Norwich Speedway should rear it's ugly head again (in the eyes of the planners ) by way of the fans. At least any potential land owner/promotor/developer would have proven evidence of the interest out there!!

Ah weren't they great times, how things have changed! Those memories of the speedway at Norwich remain still with so many folk it's a crying shame that someone out there cannot bring the sport back to the city Was only talking to a lady of 80 yesterday who told me her husband used to, out of the blue, tell her to pack some food up cos they were off to speedway, Manchester and Bristol she remembered as tracks they went to. He would then proceed to ring all and sundry up telling them to chuck their things into a sack if they wanted to come, they'd be off in 10 mins lol

The track that stands out for me above any others is Bydgoszcz. For the past 2 GP's the track has been dry and slick and a huge disappointment. 3 years ago we witnessed a wonderful GP from there. So what's changed??

Drove out on the Aylsham-Norwich road today and there's a perfect site for the new track inbetween the two turn offs to St-Faiths, an undulating piece of ground, not a house in sight, wonder what the planning dept would say to that If only hey!!

He does make one frustrated at times, whatabout his sponsors and pit crew though!!

Spiegal ............ it's a bit mean to call those who had good intentions to find a site for a new speedway ...... idiots. Who knows what might become of it if a site had of been found! I guess you're right about the site at Hevingham although I wouldn't have thought the entrance would have been too bad beside the Marsham Arms. I thought the reason they turned the site down was the grief from the owner of the pub, I bet the present owner wouldn't turn the potential business down these days In fact I know that the owner is half keen on the sport having a mad mate of mine working there, he cannot fail to get embroiled in the goings on of the GP's at least! lol I'm chuffed that people are still looking for a site, shame it couldn't be found sooner rather than later tho

I bow to your superior knowledge re Billy Hamill, I searched for his FIM medal wins and only came up with the ones I quoted .......... lol As you can tell I'm no Hamill historian Bottom line for me is that I do not and never will rate Billy as high in speedway stakes as Leigh ........ full stop. And anyway that makes it 5 - 4 and Leigh is still racing at an international level so could easily pass Billy ......... nurrrrrrrrr

Yes Norbold, I think you are right about their pessimism and it's totally justified. I didn't realise there had been 28 applications, can you believe that, who are these planning people anyhow who have that right, I know what they need I have this theory that Norwich City Football club pay them off to turn down the applications because they think speedway would affect their business, which it might do a little, sponsorship wise I guess ..................... two sports should be able to exist side by side in Norwich mind you!!

Humph!!! Born lucky Hamill is the only rider I have seen deliberately knock Leigh off, what a horrible little man!! As for their FIM medals Billy - 1996 World Champion, 1998 World Team Champion, 2nd - World Championship (1997,2000) If that is correct that means he has 4 FIM medals Leigh - 1999, 2001, 2002 World Cup Champion, Under 21 World Champion 1992 So that's four each unless anyone knows different? Perhaps Billy's 2nd places shouldn't count, that means 4 to Leigh and only 2 to Billy and therefore Billy must be only half as good as Leigh ............. great reasoning eh

Who owns that piece of land now then, Crane? I know where it is and I think my husband attended the meeting that was held there. You know it was only a few years ago that the Norwich Speedway Supporters Club folded having kept the fire burning for all that time but to no avail. I think everyone knows what piece of land is required, a piece in the ar** end of nowhere with no houses in sight who could possibly make a complaint. Once that has been found no bl**dy councillor would have reason to turn down planning permission surely. You're right about forming the supporters group again, I guess the more noise that is made about the people of Norwich wanting a speedway back the better it would be and perhaps the landowners might listen?? It's a huge ask, even if a site is found the money for the building of the track and stadium has to come from somewhere. But there are businessmen out there who would invest especially if they knew that tv revenue/advertising possibilities would come their way and with the building of a multi purpose stadium. I've convinced myself already, shame I only have pence in me purse and no rich aunts I wonder if I know you already 25yearfan?? Email me on tjcarman@ntlworld.com then we can discuss this further perhaps??

IF Norwich do ever get their speedway back I'm 100% sure it will be a huge success! I cannot believe that there isn't a site near to the airport that would be suitable. I can't believe that there isn't a land owner anywhere near Norwich who has a suitable site. Is there nothing the fans can do???

Jeez that'll wind him up for sure. I 100% would NEVER EVER EVER put Hamill in the same category as Leigh. Yes, Hamill HAS got that ruthless streak that Leigh hasn't but apart from that NO competition!! Oh gord the embarrasment, if that don't wind him up nothing will

Now that Crumpy has "got the monkey off his back" as Kelv put it, how can Leigh emulate his achievement? If Leigh doesn't win the World Championship before the end of his career it will be a sacrilege. I think he needs someone to rile him up before every race, perhaps his sponsors should pay for someone to go to every GP, stand by the pits and give him major grief He's got everything else in place but that damned bit of ruthlessness. Rickardsson showed in the final at Hamar how ruthless you need to be sometimes to achieve what you want, cutting Leigh up in the process of course!!

There's plenty of passing in the superbike series .............. what do they do different to F1 and SGP? I was sooooooo damned annoyed at how Bydgoszcz was prepared this year. Two years ago we saw an absolutely terrific meeting from there but the last two years the quality of racing has gone down and down, why, a slick track grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. You look forward to Bydgoszcz being the best meeting of the GP season racing/passing wise and when it ends up processional there's something wrong!!

IF you say so He hasn't been here to see for the majority of the season Yes he's a great rider but just because he's fab at winning gps there are certainly many more top riders out there that are as appealling to the public purse as Tony! He's dominated over the last 10 years and has been the rider to beat and emulate but he's certainly not everything to every fan!!!!!