rusky

Remember being at Newcastle in the very early eighties with Getingarna, in an early season challenge match (Getingarna being Anders Michanek, Tommy Nilsson, Rickard Hellsen, P.O. Gudmundsson, a very Young Jimmy Nilsen, a very young Per Jonsson amongst others, at that time). The match was going quite well, but it was a little cold, and then it started to snow. Needless to they stopped the racing whilst it was snowing. After a while it stopped, but there was now a fair covering of snow. There was a bit of a discussion, and Mich decided that the answer was to get a track rake (remember them anybody ? ) and scrape a line the width of the rake, around the white line, and at the bottom of the boards. This left a strip of snow in the middle of 2, 1M wide brown strips. Racing started again and the remaining heats were completed. The snow started coming down again shortly after the end, and the visitors had a real interesting drive back to their UK base in King's Lynn, and from what I remember the rest of their meetings went OK, as did all of their pre-(Swedish) season training at King's Lynn

Dekker...it wasn't just Swindon !! TR did second halves at every BL (don't think it was called elite then) track of the time, over a 2-3 week period. The only ones who spotted his potential, were Ipswich !! He was told in no uncertain terms by many promoters of the time that he would never make it !! Congratulations go to Tony on his achivements since then, not least, his achievement of getting his 6th title tonight. I for one, wouldn't be surprised if he got a 7th

I for one think that if BSI can give ice racing, the shot in the arm that they have given conventional speedway, it will be very good news ideed. Can you imagine what the crowd would be like at Assen, if they get the attendance boosts that conventional speedway seem to have done at the very highest level. You would like to think that BSI could get a TV deal, similar to the conventional GP's......How good would that be.

Not sure that the outside temperature needs to be too low, as those people who go to Assen on a regular basis can testify.

Surely, all Ice tracks are temporary ?

Hope you didn't let him see the Daily Express on Saturday then. See this thread: Previous thread

I'm sure John was the first. I seem to remember there being an article in the speedway mail with a picture of JL on his Weslake at Hackney. I think it had a bicycle speedo mounted on the handlebars, which looked a little bizzare if I remember.

Fairly sure that the JAP 4V was a reality, and that Bob Humpheries used them with varying degrees of success when with Reading.

Are you impressed with that reply, MR TREES

My sources in Sweden suggest that there are 3 tracks in the running, those mentioned above, plus Mallila. The reason for the changes are that the Stockholm stadium will be unavailable to speedway in the future due to the soon to be installed running track (as mentioned by Rob). The Gothenburg situation is that the only suitable free dates are in late August early Seoptember, when Sweden is susceptible to rain. Given there experience of last year, and this, it was decided that this was a no go situation, and that the meeting must be held on a permanent track, with proven drainage capabilities.

Don't remember him riding at Lynn, although I didd see him around Saddlebow in a Toyota Celica rally cross car in the late 70's, with Bent Rasmussen as his passenger.....

Reading the recent article in the Speedway Star regarding the death of Dave Wills, and seeing mention of Barry Lee, made me wonder if there had been anybody else who had started off as a speedway rider, and subsequently became champion of the world in their chosen field. I have spoken top Barry about his speedway career whilst he and Rickard Hellsen were part of the same truck racing team in the early nineties. He was quite adamant that he would of made a career of speedway, but this accident destroyed all of his confidence in 2 wheeled motor sport, and he decided to concentrate on the 4 wheeled variety - rather successfully it has to be said. I have no doubt taht had he stuck at speedway, he would have become a legendary figure, as he has done at motor racing venues in many countries. I remember him doing a "hand brake turn" in a truck at Brand's Hatch, being fined by the stewards (£250 from memory) and all of the volunteer marshall's clubbing together to pay the fine, based purely on his entertainment value......Suspect some of the Long Eaton supporters will remember his antics in his racing truck around Station Rd. when he was an interval attraction.

A while ago he was certainly living in or around Long eaton, with his good lady. Not absolutely sure that he is still there, but i am sure thatsome body will know.....

Jan Andersson (Swede not a Dane ) is wearing those Halvarsson leathers a few of them used to have Don't think they were Halvarsson leathers (made of Goatskin) but were Sinisalo. Jan was sponsored by them for a good many years

I am fairly sure that you will find that all of the sitting tickets are sold, certainly along the home straight. As previously mentioned you can get standing tickets on the day, and there is usually a ticket office open in the main complex (Near the swimming pool ticket office) all day.

Yes, I can help you there. Derek Hobson lived in the small village of pennistone, just outside of Sheffield. He was a good engine tuner, in the days when engine tuners were very much in the background. His specialist field was Magneto repairs (Which would be why you found his name in the timing cover). He really was quite an ingenious sort of guy, who essentially worked out of his garden shed, and it was quite an experience to go and visit him, as I did in the late 70's early 80's with Reg Wilson & Pete Smith. Derek was also responsible for the magneto conversions on the Weslakes in the days of battery and coil, and I'm fairly sure introduced the first "magic" boxes under the name penistone ignitions.

There is only one real problem with the ice racing at assen, and thats that you will find the convential speedway pretty boring for a while. As already mentioned, the speed difference is quite pronounced, and when they come out for the first race, your initial thought will be that there is no way on earth, that all 4 will emerge from the second turn. I would suggest trying to get a spot on the first corner to watch, as the first turns really are impressive. It has to be said that the crashes really are spectacular when they occur, with straw bales going in all directions, but never fear, these guys are really tough, and will shake themselves down, and be going again in a very short period of time. The meetings themselves are very efficiently run, and will be run at an extremely frantic pace, and the meetings, well the actual racing will start at exactly the time advertised. You do not need to worry about the announcers as all of the announcements will be made in English, including the race times - they are given after every 4 races whilst the track grading is taking place. The only thing taht we finf frustrating is that there is never a victors parade after the racing has finished. On the Saturday night racing, Groningen really is the place to be (in my humble opinion). It really is a city that never sleeps, and at 3 or 4 in the morning, the streets seem to have more people on them than your average UK high street on the Saturday before Christmas. Finding a drink is no problem at all, as there is a saying that the resisents of Groningen each have a bar to go to.....There really is no shortage. Have loads of fun there, and I'm already looking forward to seeing your meeting report.

KIWIPIRATE, suspect that all of those that you list as using Godden Motors, may well have been using GM motors, The godden motor being very much a thing of the past at the highest level.

Tom was called at 4 O'clock this afternoon, and is a BSI (as oposed to Czech federation) wildcard, but we do not know who instead of at this time... sorry

Late breaking news suggests that Tomas Topinka will be riding on Saturday night. on't know who instead of, but as soon as i do, you will to.

To right I don't care. I shall care when British Speedway gets its act together. Just face it that Britain is no longer the no1 place to be for speedway. No i'm not sad I can see reality and I'm very happy thank you very much I have to agree with Jive on this one. i find it quite laughable that the BSPA are up in arms, because the FIM (BSI) have dared to re-arrange the Scandinavian GP, causing mayhem to the BSPA's schedule. This would be the same BSPA who quite regularily re-arrange fixtures, with no consideration for the (travelling) supporters who have already arranged, holidays, accomodation etc. to put money the way of the promoters. I seem to remember a saying about those in glass houses, throwing stones?

I find this one a little strange Gredon. I think that the people from Kaparna were the people doing the track at Ullevi. Lets asume that they did decide to move the meeting to Kaparna, just how were they going to decide which 15000+ people would not get admission (based on the pre-meeting ticket sales, rumoured to be about 25000)?