Bavarian

Not so, heat 14 wasn't the fatal race, but only the last race that was completed. That rider Krzeszinski who fell in heat 14 was taken to hospital with lighter injuries (concussion etc). Then came heat 15, the fatal race, which was of course never completed. In that race the Polish pair met Phil Bishop and Josef Seidl (actually a German), who both rode for the Austrian team. Judging from this piece of information it is highly likely that the other rider involved in the accident is indeed Phil Bishop (or possibly Seidl, but I doubt that). I think it is Bishop behind the unfortunate Raniszewski, and himself lucky to slide off and narrowly miss that concrete stairway. From the video it is impossible to say how the accident happened or whose fault it was. Not that it matters anyway now after all those years.

Great to see a response by Bert Harkins. However I am still at a loss if there is a Scottish national speedway team manager or not. Who could do the job to organise such Tests with either the USA, Germany or any other interested nation? Is it entirely up to the Glasgow and Edinburgh promoters? That's not ideal, since they would always have their clubs interests as a priority. There should be someone (Harkins, or Dick Barrie or Kenny McKinna or who knows who) appointed Scotland manager and deal with the organisation. This would be the first and most important step towards international recognition of Scotland as a speedway nation of its own. I don't think that the reason Scotland can not take part in FIM team events as a nation on their own has anything to do with not having an FIM approved speedway track in their country. Canada doesn't have one either for example. The real reason is that the Scottish ACU isn't directly affiliated to teh FIM. The British ACU for the whole of Great Britain is, and since each federation are only allowed to enter just one team in the world cup, it is either England or Scotland, or as it now is Team GB. The British ACU decided that for the inaugural year of the new look Speedway World Cup (SWC) to send a Great Britain team as their representative side rather than an England team. In earlier years the FIM allowed the British ACU to hold their own (UK) world team cup qualifying round involving the then still ACU affiliated Australia, NZ, England and Scotland. In the World Pairs, on occasions the FIM even allowed the national federations to enter more than just one pairing. This happened with Sweden in 1972, when there were two Sweden pairs riding in a world Pairs Final. Sweden A and Sweden B even had a run-off against each other for the bronze medals. In those early years of the world pairs, when there were initially not a lot of nations interested to participate in thsi competition, the FIM allowed the ACU to enter up to four pairings representing the respective nations of England, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand (Wales was not considdereed to up to the neccessary international class). This FIM policy changed in the mid-1970, when more of the continental nations joined in. And when in the mid 70'S Australia, and a few years later New Zealand too, broke away from the ACU in London and established themselves as independent FIM members, Scotland fell by the wayside. Scotland never did what Australia and New Zealand did and remainded under the roof of the British ACU - and eventually got frozen out of international competition when the British ACU was restricted to just one entry in the world pairs and team events. England it was to represent the British ACU in the world team cup rounds against the now independent Aussies adn Kiwis, with the emerging USA taking the fourth spot that used to be given to Scotland in earlier years. In theory, Scotland, England and Wales could still have held their own preliminary meetings to decide which of the home nations goes forward to the FIM rounds, but with England's domination this would have been no contest. So Scotland (and Wales were frozen out completely) until in 2001, the ACU changed their policy and decided to sent a Great Britain team instead of England to represent them in the future SWC. That was the end of the road for the England team, and that is the current status quo. Let me tell You that in football there are several unrecognized "nations" (by the FIFA), who nevertheless organise their own international matches. For example Catalonia (A part of Spain, captial Barcelona) have their own national team and played against top teams such as Brasil to a sell out crowd of 100,000 at the Estadio Camp Nou in Barcelona last year. Scottish speedway should follow this way, no harm done in trying to set up a national team. It worked well in years past (teh 60'S adn 70's), and it would give the riders and fans up north of the border something special. I am certain that Scotland's official test matches would be a tremendous success. Scotland would also be welcome to visit Germany again. Get in touch with the German team manager Mr Schaefer, I sure something can be arranged. I'd love to see You come over here, though I'm not sure if Scotland away from home would be strong enough to challenge Germany? Maybe You should rather visit Norway or Holland instead?

That's correct, except that the Oberhausen track was not a long track (L-T), but a proper 400m speedway oval. The meeting at Oberhausen was in fact the Continental Final of the 1956 FIM World Individual Speedway Championship. Let me add a little more about the stadium / speedway track seen in the video of that bizzare fatal crash of the Polish rider Raniszewski. This was the Praterstadion in Vienna (also known as the 'Wiener Stadion'), which was and still is Austria' biggest sports stadium. It was the Austrian equivalent of what Wembley was in England. It hosted the International football matches and major speedway events in the 1950's and 1960's. Severall FIM world championship speedway event were held at this track, beginning with an individual Contionental semi-final in 1952 until the 1963 world team cup final. The stadium today, in a modernized shape, is no longer use for speedway, but football and athletics, and bears a new name (Ernst-Happel-Stadion). It hosted the (soccer) Euro 2008 final between Spain and Germany.

Great! It seems everyone wants this, so where are the people to make it happen????? Hello out there ....

You mean there's some Bandits out there????

Wonderful idea - Scotland vs the USA. The Americans (minus Hancock) would be the ideal strength for a test series with the Scots, and a great attraction for the Glasgow, Edinburgh and Berwick supporters, too. I am sure the fans would love to see, much more so than any other club challenge matches. It just has to be arranged between the two nations. So, come on Scotland, go for it! The Yankees are waiting to come!

If there is anybody interested and responsible for the Scottisch National Team, he may simply get in touch with the German team manager Rene Schafer via the German Speedway Team website, link here: http://www.speedway-germany.com/_kontakt.htm I know that Schafer is trying to find international Test match opposition for the German team, so why not grab this opportunity with both hands and use it revive the Scotland team. As I already said, with two Germans riding for the Monarchs this year, it's the perfect situation and makes it all so much easier. And believe me, there are some talented German youngsters waiting for the chance to ride in Britian. Potential new assets for the Scottish clubs, maybe?

Rivett was a class act, but he was a KIWI, only living up in Queensland. Didn't he represent both Australia and (later on) New Zealand in Internationals?

Is Scottish Speedway represented by the Scottish ACU? Does Scotland have a national team manager? Would Scotland be interested to engage in international test matches? If so, can someone please put me into contact with their manager, because Team Germany are seeking international opposition for some test matches this year. They will probably meet Italy early in the season, but with Edinburgh having a couple of German riders (Wolbert and Dilger) it'd be a great opportunity to bring the rest of the German team over for a couple of internationals at Armadale and Glasgow over one weekend (perhaps even at Berwick, too).

The old ones need a rest after the European season. It would be interesting to compile a list of established Australian British League riders who do not participate in this year's Aussie titles. There's no 1 Lason Crump 2 Leigh Adams 3 Ryan Sullivan 4 Jason Lyons 5 Davey Watt 6 Craig Watson 7 Travis McGowan 8 Shane Parker 9 Steve Johnston who else?

My favorite female rider is Micaela Bazan from Argentina. Have You guys heard that in the Danish Second Division there is one club that wants to track an all female team this coming season, captained by Nana Jorgensen. Apparently they have four girls together to form the team. I wonder if they will be nicknamed the "Amazons"? Interesting! Wouldn't it be nice if once a year an international women's speedway trophy could be raced? The FIM organises such events in other forms of motorcycle racing (Moto Cross), so why not speedway?

And Switzerland,who are said to have 11 active ice racers, were again denied a place in the world team championship. What a joke!

No, Dale Finch is a New Zealander. But there is an American rider by the name of Jesse Finch.

If the GP series goes to Australia, it should be held at the best available stadia, which Gillman or Mildura certainly are not ! Most importantly they should not just hold one GP, maybe two in Aussie and one in NZ. That makes sense, when tehy get all teh GP riders and stuff over there. If Poland can have three GPs, and two each in Sweden and Denmark, there is every justification to stage a couple (or even more) in Australia as well. How about the Ekka in Brisbane, the new Sydney Showground, Melbourne Showground or Kwinana Beach in Perth? That woud be great tourist destinations.

Didn't he lose his life in a racing accident in America in the 1980's? I am not quite sure but seem to remember something like that. Perhaps anyone on here knows for sure?

Didn't he ride for Halifax?

This stadium You refer to is not in Cape Town, but in Durban. And You may be surprised to know that the old stadium which had to make way for the brand new one, has staged speedway in the past, in fact as recently as the 1980's and early 1990's! That stadium was the old King's Park aka Kingsmead Raceway, where Buddy Fuller & Co ran sprintcars stock cars and solo speedway! Durban has some tradtion with Speedway. It is a great holiday resort. If SA does get a SGP, it should go there! But I agree, it is not likely to happen in the next five years! And it would be quite a risk for the promoter!

He enjoyed it! No doubt about it!

Yes it was great entertainment. Let me tell You it wasn't their team manager whom the riders threw into the mud. This was even better, because it was the multi-millionaire president of the club, Mr. Dowhan! I am pretty sure he hasn't had such treatment since his kindergarden days! Great celebrations in the mud and the rain! What a finale!

I guess Holder isn't like that, because I never saw him throw a Zielona Gora scarf into the mud of the track, but that's exactly what that brat Darcy Ward did, and in front of the fans and the tv cameras. Some say he is just a kid, but I say that's bad behaviour, and if he doesn't change and fast he will make himself very unpopular with many people.

Good decision by the Polish authorizies. Fair play should alsways win against the rule benders. Ostrow lost fair and square on the track. Tha result shoud always stand. Schlein's early removal of the bike should be fined but to change the outcome of this crucial meeting result would have been a shame.

Disappointing meeting in my oppinion. Varagana lacked any fighting spirit, except Miedznski and Woffie. Man, this was a final for the Championship, You got to give it Your all, especially when You hold a 12 point lead after the first day. This was a poor show by Vargarna, but of course I know it is a big achievment by them to get into the final at all. Nobody would have expeceted this from them at the start of the season. Congrats to Lejonen, they deserved the win. But the meeting, which dragged on with very long and boring gaps between the heat, was not exciting to watch. Racing wasn't really exciting, mostly decided after the first bend.

then the brand new FIM Under 21 Grand Prix series is the right thing for You guys. Starting next year with plenty of new blood in it!

Pepe will most likely not be back on a bike again this season. Nothing too serious with his injury, but it takes time to heal, and there is not much left of this season.

This is correct. The 1968 event was always intended as a trial run for this newly invented competition to see how it goes. It was followed by an "official" championship in the following year of 1969. It is a mystery as to why and when the FIM decided this 1969 event not to be regarded as official any more. The riders still have their gold, silver and bronze medals from this event to show. There was a similar FIM test meeting the year before the first official world team cup, which was inaugurated in 1960. The 1959 "European" Team Cup Final, intended as a trial before the world team cup was given official blessing, was run in West Germany at Oberhausen, and if memory serves me correct, the four teams competing in this final were Germany, Great Britain, Poland and Norway (not sure)!