Bavarian

Right, that was the lovely Nanae Okamoto back in 1964 - and here are some motion pictures of her riding on an Australian speedway track ! https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVACC3RI6JBIDVE9J2LVYSV237CM-JAPANS-SPEEDWAY-GIRL-IN-AUSTRALIA/query/PRETTY

Örnskoldvik look the tougher of the two qualifiers.

Does anybody know if there will be any ice speedway in Switzerland this winter ?

This week's Speedway Star has an interesting 4-page feature story about the future of sports & speedway on television.

Castagna says he will soon go to Argentina to take a look at a potential new track for SGP there, in the remotest of provinces - Patagonia ! Local speedway enthusiasts, including the former rider Claudio Schmit and current rider Mariano Diaz, had built their own track down there about ten years ago. It is located near a small village called Cervantes, several miles east of the town of General Roca, and about 100km east of the region's major city called Neuquén, which has an urban population of 225,000. The city and surrounding area have a population of more than 340,000 making it the largest in Patagonia. See Wikipedia for more information about the City of Neuquén https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuqu%C3%A9n See Google maps for the exact location of the speedway at Cervantes https://www.google.de/maps/@-38.9760665,-67.7428178,34373m/data=!3m1!1e3 The speedway track at Cervantes (Rio Negro Province) is not much more than a dirt oval track with hardly any facilities, and they have not even held any Argentinean national champioship meetings so far. But since Neuquén has hosted a few FIM Motocross World Championship meetings in recent years, Castagna thinks they might want to host a Speedway Grand Prix there, too. That's why he is travelling there to have talks with local polititians. Another nice trip for Castagna, shortly after he and SGP race director Phil Morris had been in Australia. I quote a short passage of what Castagna said in the Speedway Star interview: " [...] In Australia I have been based in Adelaide for three days. We had meetings there and ran an FIM Oceania training school. Phil Morrris and Leigh Adams ran it. I was just there supervising and having meetings. Soon I am going to Argentina and I will visit a completely new Stadium. I am also visiting Bahia Blanca, but I am going to visit a new track very far from Buenos Aires, which is in a state called Neuquén. They are already staging other FIM World Championships there. I am going to have a meeting with the polititians there looking toward the future. My dream is to have a GP there in 2023 or 2024 [...]" The complete interview with Castagna in this week's SS makes interesting reading. Here is a link to the Rio Negro Speedway facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FOXMOTOSCIPOLLETTI/ And this is a YouTube Video of the speedway track at Cervantes how it was five years ago in 2014. They are currently completely re-building their speedway track, so we will have to wait and see what they come up with. But will we ever see a SGP in Patagonia? With the F.I.M. and Castagna You never know!

German rider Gerhard Kamm, who was killed in a long-track race at Pfarrkirchen on Sept. 29, 1974, is listed TWICE on this website. Firstly under his correct name of "Kamm", but also under the name of "Comb" which in fact is simply the English translation of his name ("Kamm" in German means "comb" in English)!

Yes, and at the age of 39 he was still one of the best riders in South Africa when he lost his life in that fateful car crash. In fact he was due to ride in a speedway meeting at Walkerville on that day, Saturday, February 26, 2011. Deon was on his way to the speedway meeting (Rd.1 of the Northern Regional Championships, won by Byron Bekker) when the accident happened.

One name I can't find on the list is that of Deon Prinsloo, who was killed in a road accident driving in his transporter car on the way to compete in a speedway meeting at the Walkerville track near Joahnnesburg on Saturday, Febnruary 26, 2011.

This website deserves its own thread here on the BSF http://speedwayinmemoriam.yolasite.com/

There is an interview with Castagna in this week's Speedway Star, and he promises us "big changes" from 2022 on, when Discovery/Eurosport/OneSport take over the sport at world level. It is anyone's guess as to what they are up to!

By the way, Frank Arthur is in the Australian Speedway Hall of Fame http://www.speedway.org.au/a-c/frank-arthur

here is some more info about Eric Langton http://www.motorsport-fanatic.co.uk/speedway-langton.htm

It's a shame that back in 2007 the F.I.M. did absolutely nothing to help the Malaysians to establish the sport in Southeast Asia. They did make a genuine effort to get speedway started in Malaysia, but struggled badly without much outside help and expertise. Ivan Mauger was the one instructor and coach for the Malaysian speedway riders, but Mauger was already struggling with his heath back then.

The F.I.M. North America Final at Perris, California, on December 7 was rained-off ! The re-staging date is January 11, 2020

Totally irrelevant, these SGP qualifying practise sessions are worthless.

This appeared in the Auckland Star on Wednesday, March 31, 1920 : DEATHS FINN - on March 30, 1920, at Takapuna, as the result of a motor cycle accident, Hans Peter Finn, aged 37 years. The funeral will leave the mortuary of Messrs. C.Little and Sons, Hobson Street, to-morrow (Thursday), at 2 p.m., for Waikumete Cemetary. It appeared along with the report of the inquest: MOTOR CYCLE RACING. FATALITY AT TAKAPUNA. The death of Hans Peter Finn, as the result of an accident at the motor cycle races at Takapuna on Monday last, formed the subject of an inquest at the morgue this morning, before Mr. J. E. Wilson, S. M.. Evidence of identification was given by Julius Gotfred Jensen, who said that deceased was a native of Denmark, and was a stonemason in the employ of Messrs. Parkinson and Co. Dr. Maxwell Ramsay, medical officer in charge of the Narrow Neck Camp, gave evidence of the admission of the deceased to the hospital, where it was found that, in addition to his other injuries, he had sustained a fracture of the base of the skull. He gradually became worse and died yesterday morning. Percy R. Coleman, professional motor-cycle rider in the employ of Mr. E. S. Pees, Palmerston North, said he was one of the competitors at the motor-cycle sports held on the Takapuna racecourse. In reply to a question from the Coroner, as to what was the condition of the track, and whether any special preparations had been made for the races, witness said that there had been no special preparation. They rode on the ordinary track, which was in good order. The Coroner: Had the track not been prepared at all? - No, but it was in pretty good order. The Coroner: This is the second inquest at which I have had to move in connection with motor-cycle racing. This is the second man who has been killed. In reply to a further question, witness said they had been riding on the grass track for about eight years. This track was as good as any in New Zealand. The Coroner: If that is the case, it seems to me that this kind of sport will have to be barred so as to prevent these accidents. There are different tracks, are there not - tracks specially constructed for motor-cycling? Witness replied that there were none in New Zealand. He had ridden on motor-cycle tracks in America, and was of the opinion that the track at Takapuna compared very favourably with tracks of the same kind in that country. Continuing, witness said that he and deceased both rode in the President's Handicap. WItness was on the scratch mark, and gradually overhauled deceased. As witness was passing him, he suddenly swerved out, and witness brushed the latter's arm with his left. This caused witness' bicycle to skid about, but he did not know deceased had fallen until he had gone another lap, as it was against the rules of racing to look behind. As soon as he noticed the accident he pulled up and informed the stewards. At the time of the accident witness was travelling at about 80 miles an hour, and deceased at about 65 miles. Witness was on the right side of the track. Henry N. Anderson, member of the motor ambulance corps, said he drove the deceased to the Hospital at Narrow Neck. The latter was then quite conscious, and in reply to a query as to how the accident happened, said: "When I was going round the back of the course, the front wheel of my bike seemed to strike a rut. This caused me to swerve, and while recovering I seemed to get a tap on the arm. The next thing I knew, I was lying on the ground." The Coroner returned a verdict to the effect that deceased died as a result of a fracture of the skull and other injuries received from a fall from a motor-cycle while riding in a race on the Takapuna racecourse on March 29. He added: "If You gentlemen will engage in this kind of sport You will have to recognise what an extremly dangerous sport it is. This is the second inquest I have had in connection with motor-cycling during the past few months. I cannot stop You yet. I have no power to do it, but someone will have to stop You if this kind of thing continues. I can only find the cause of death, and say what I think of sport where men are liable to be killed in this manner." Subsequently Mr. R. E. Champtaloup, captain of the Auckland Provincial Motor-Cycle Racing Club, made a statement to the press. He pointed out that the previous accident, which occured at Alexandra Park, had nothing at all to do with the club. The track had been closed for the day, and the men were really on the ground without authority from the club. The track at Takapuna was considered one of the best of its kind, and was similar to the tracks used in America. He held that the proportion of deaths from motor-cycle racing was relatively small when compared with the deaths resulting from horse-racing.

The following report was published in the Auckland Star on Tuesday, March 30, 1920 : MOTOR SPORTS FATALITY. INJURED CYCLIST DIES. AFTERMATH OF COLLISION. An untoward incident, resulting in the death of one of the competitors, Mr. Hans Finn, marred the motor cycle sports held at the Takapuna Racecourse yesterday afternoon. The unfortunate man was contesting the President's Handicap, and when a few laps had been covered was observed to come to grief. An ambulance was soon in attendance, and conveyed Finn, who had obviously suffered severe injuries, to the Narrow Neck Military Hospital. Here examination revealed that he had sustained injuries to the head in addition to a fracture of each thigh. An anaesthetic was administered and the limbs set, but the injured man fell into a comatose state, from which he failed to rally, and he died soon after nine o'clock this morning. Deceased lived at Brixton Road, and it is understood had no relatives in New Zealand. The origin of the mishap was a slight collision. One of the competitors in passing Finn touched him with his arm, and the Impact was sufficient to upset the machine. It dashed through the outer rails, and over a ditch, where it lay for some minutes, issuing a volume of smoke. The machine, which was considerably damaged, had been ridden in two previous races by H Blyth. An inquest will be conducted at the morgue at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

NO, not at all. I see he was killed in a grass track accident in New Zealand. His name certainly sounds very German, but I have never come across this name before. 1920 was very early for motorcycle track racing though.

This website may be of interest IN MEMORIAM it does not only list the fatal accidents in speedway, but in any form of motorcycle oval track racing since the beginning of the sport.

The meeting in Perth featuring Tai Woffinden and the Team GB riders against the Westaustralians was an INDIVIDUAL event. Here is the result of the six riders main final: Final A 1 GB108 Tai Woffinden 01:15.229 2 GB118 Drew Kemp 01:16.086 3 WA6 Daniel Winchester 01:18.433 4 WA7 Matt Marson 01:21.542 5 GB24 Jack Smith 01:24.482 6 WA199 Bryan Miller 01:28.786

Sure enough. Instead of takign the SGP to a junior speedway venue in the outback of Queensland (Ipswich), this one in Perth would so much better. I seem to remeber that Ole Olsen already had taken a look at this venue for the SGP several years ago? I would be all for it, even though the spectators are quite far away from the Action, but Motorplex is a splendid sports venue, and Perth is a great town to visit. It would make sense for the SGP to run not just one, but two, or even three rounds in Australasia. One on the West Coast and one on the East Coast of Australia and another one in New Zealand.

Now live The F.I.M. Awards in Monte Carlo

What a great venue for speedway, the Perth Motorplex at Kwinana Beach http://www.motorplex.com.au/the-venu/

Seems that some sort of Test Match (Western Australia v Great Britain) does go ahead next Saturday ! TAI WOFFINDEN TO RACE AT PERTH MOTORPLEX. Two times British Champion, three times World Champion, twice winner of The Rob Woffinden Classic and current Western ...Australian Speedway Solo Champion Tai Woffinden is in town and booked to race at the fabulous Perth Motorplex on Saturday 7th December. Marshall McDiarmid, President of the Speedway Motorcycle Club of WA and Perth Motorplex Manager Gavin Migro teamed together to ensure they secured this huge event for WA speedway fans. Tai Woffinden will also race the following week at the Pinjar Park Motorcycle Speedway in Neerubup in Perths northern suburbs the following Saturday night for the running of the Rob Woffinden Classic. He has previously won the title twice and is the defending RWC Champion. Joining Tai Woffinden at Perth Motorplex will be three other British riders who together form a British Team who will contest a series of events against a strong West Australian side. Team GB include, Jack Smith, son of former British Champ, Andy Smith. Leon Flint, the 16 year old Berwick Bandits flyer Drew Kemp 2019 British under 19 CHAMPION. Headlining the Team WA will be former International rider, Frank Smart, the in form Dan Winchester and Matt Marson. Tai is down under in the Southern hemisphere for some R & R to recover from a bruising European season and his World Grand Prix commitments. He will head back to the UK in the new year, however while in Perth he gives of his time to perform in a couple of shows for his WA fans, much to our delight. Tai set the Pinjar Park track on fire last January winning the RWC and the WA State Championship and was responsible for some of the largest crowds the new track has seen in its relatively short existence. This is a great opportunity to see Tai Woffinden and his fellow British team mates perform, an opportunity we don't get to see often in Perth, and I urge you not to miss either of these two huge speedway Meetings. Graeme Sinden

TAI WOFFINDEN TO RACE AT PERTH MOTORPLEX. Two times British Champion, three times World Champion, twice winner of The Rob Woffinden Classic and current Western Australian Solo Speedway Champion Tai Woffinden is in town and booked to race at the fabulous Perth Motorplex on Saturday 7th December (2019). Marshall McDiarmid, President of the Speedway Motorcycle Club of WA and Perth Motorplex Manager Gavin Migro teamed together to ensure they secured this huge event for WA speedway fans. Tai Woffinden will also race the following week at the Pinjar Park Motorcycle Speedway in Neerabup in Perths northern suburbs the following Saturday night for the running of the Rob Woffinden Classic. He has previously won the title twice and is the defending RWC Champion. Joining Tai Woffinden at Perth Motorplex will be three other British riders who together form a British Team who will contest a series of events against a strong West Australian side. Team GB include, Jack Smith, son of former British Champ, Andy Smith. Leon Flint, the 16 year old Berwick Bandits flyer. Drew Kemp 2019 British under 19 Champion. Headlining the Team WA will be former International rider, Frank Smart, the in-form Dan Winchester and Matt Marson. Tai is down under in the Southern hemisphere for some R & R to recover from a bruising European season and his World Grand Prix commitments. He will head back to the UK in the new year, however while in Perth he gives of his time to perform in a couple of shows for his WA fans, much to our delight. Tai set the Pinjar Park track on fire last January winning the RWC and the WA State Championship and was responsible for some of the largest crowds the new track has seen in its relatively short existence. This is a great opportunity to see Tai Woffinden and his fellow British team mates perform, an opportunity we don't get to see often in Perth, and I urge you not to miss either of these two huge speedway meetings. Graeme Sinden http://www.motorplex.com.au/team-great-britain-set-for-john-day-classic/