Parsloes 1928 nearly

Good! As you say, all cleared up!!!

Good grief!! Mr. Scarff is clearly looking back over the three and a bit years he was in charge and reflecting that he and colleagues put in a rescue package in 1986 when, one assumes if this hadn't happened, closure was a real possibility. I didn't go to Wimbledon at all in this period (I was largely lost to the sport for a decade after Crayford closed three years earlier than the time you are referring to...), so have no idea, frankly, if '86/'87 was the kind of watershed period you say it was... What I do know is that the book in no way states that 1986 was the year when it all started to go bad for Wimbledon Speedway, coz as far as I can detect no-one other than you seem to think it was!!! What puzzles me is how a journalist of your repute can so wilfully fail to understand that the reference to Mr.Scarff's comment is exactly that:: a direct quote from his programme notes!!

Hmm, hardly ranks as a massacre though does it..!! Have you not seen some (indeed many) of the league results back 'home' in the UK..??!!!

This is sheer idiotic even by your standards!!!! Here's what you said: The book is quoting Mr. Scarff's programme notes from 1991...: and relates to the rescue deal put together in 1986. Those are facts..! And by definition (ie he was writing in the programme of a Speedway meeting happening five years later) closure had been averted in '86. It's you who've unilaterally declared that in some way 1986 was the year Wimbledon Speedway in some way died.. Most other informed opinion would go with 1991 when it actually, er, closed; some may say 1985 when the club moved down to the second division; personally I'd say 2005 when it closed for what may be the last time. 1986 as a significant year..?? Well, fair enuff if you think so...: funny that no-one else shares your opinion. And you'd do better to take criticism of your viewpoint on the chin rather than try and make out that Howard's book in any way states this weird view about 1986, coz it doesn't!!!! And BTW, IF every time a new promoter comes in to save or keep going a track is termed a closure then every track in the UK has closed numerous times!!

The book doesn't have that error at all!!! That's because speedyguy had nothing to do with the book!! The significance (sic) of 1986 seems to be something in his mind and his only...!!!

Many thanx, Jayne. Am relieved that it's on the 11th. and that the start time's, as you say, one hour earlier than previously posted.. Also, having also consulted AA Routefinder, I see that really Buxton & Stoke are certainly no more than one hour apart!! Happy days!!

Can Jayne please confirm it is a 4pm start..? I am actually planning to do as WW suggests and get over to Stoke for the Neil Collins Meeting after the U-15s. Have never done that cross-country journey before (indeed will be my, long-delayed, first ever trip to Hi Edge, in truth!! ) but those who have, have expressed concerns that a 4pm start time will leave it tight possibly to get to Stoke for a 7.30pm start there.. Any comments/advice would be appreciated!!!

I guess it might and not being involved in it, I didn't actually see the Cradley book..: but surely 86 pages could NEVER be described as a booklet, could it..??!!

Well I do try. Why, only the other day I set off to the shops to purchase that modern classic,k "The bus shelters of Frinton" only to encounter a red traffic light and so having to turn back..! Do you any advice on how I could resolcve this traffic problem..??!!

I don't thinjk that is correct at all.. Team Riding is a vital part of Speedway! Also historians will tell you that the creation of teams and team riding in 1929 saved the sport from early extinction.. The public simply wouldn't then (and still won't now...) come in sufficient numbers just to see nothing but individual events.. After the initial exciretement of the first flush of Speedway in 1928 the public were indeed weary of seeing the same riders competing for a variety of similarily named individual titles. Team and Leagues saved that from being the case. Your assertion that Speedway is purely an individual sport is really light miles off the mark!!!

I'm wondering if another one could be fitted in at Reading beforev the end of the season.. I say Reading (and I accept it's imperitnent to 'offer up' someone else's track..: so forgive me!! ) as they've finished their PL fixtures, will perhaps have just the one Young Shield match, yet have a couple of dates betwween that YS match and their big Final Meeting. What could be more fitting than having a Select match involving nder 16s in that spare date.? Think about it: 19/10 is their big farewell, all the great names of Smallmead's past. The preceeding Monday 13th (a blank date, I think...): the cream of the FUTURE of GB Speedway..?? Could put together a Reading 'Ravens' team from the "bank" of riders available (ie including those representing KL last night) and juniors who I know are involved with the Reading set-up already and take on that Rye House team who we saw last night..?? H Man and others, any thoughts..???

It's a different format. Ian's book was more like your various tomes in being very factual and based in chronological order. This book is in the style of the 'Defunct ' series (which earlier was more in booklet/magazine form...) being a more varied account including numerous interviews.... Just buy it..: you know it makes sense!!!

I agree. The 1973 International Series held in the UK was surely the BEST tournament in the history of the sport and the only true, proper World Cup tourny there's ever really been: the WTC being on the '4TT, one rider per team in each race and therefore no team riding', format... As the world indiv championship has become, thanks to the hopeless GP format, an almost pointless event, efforts should be made to make the World (Team) Cup the top event and have a repeat (in ONE staging country each, say two years...) of the '73-style tournament.. A World Cup Final at Wembley..?? Now that's a tasty thought!!!

Woah, woah, Mike. I thought it was only MY posts which got read a re-quoted out of context! Phil is massively in support of these U-16 meetings and waxed lyrical about last night's one before anyone else on here (mind you he can get home quicker than me!! ). All Phil said, in an innocent aside, was that perhaps THREE of these meetings a year at every track might be a tad ambitious at the mo..: a bit like trying to run before we can walk, as the huge majority haven't (as you imply in your posting..) even organised ONE!! After seeing last night, I would defy anyone promoting NOT to want to stage such a meeting as, as all who've posted have said, this was superb fare.. In fact, surely THIS is the future for Speedway's "third" (or perhaps it'll come "4th.") division.. I guess the only thing to think on is the team names. Last night the KL & RH tags were kind of generic really (some actual club connections; some not...). IF (as I strongly believe should happen...) these matches go on a "road tour" visiting all tracks, then would similar local names be used OR would it be best to return to the Academy League idea of a couple of years back with names like Rhinos, Cobras etc.??? Good luck to your two lads.. D.

Hmm, who would this be,..?? And BTW, whoever it was..: their 'record' is about to be blown out of the water!!!

Come on Mods..: explain to us why this 4TT is in the section entitled "Testimonials & Individual and Shared Events". Which of these three (entirely disparate..) things is this meeting deemed to be then..??!! :unsure:

With all due respect you're way out here. This IS a proper book and in no way could be described as "little more than a booklet"..!!

As others have said, this wasn't just a bit good - this was a SUPERB meeting!! Well done for KL for arranging this; and as Phil says. all 13 riders were a credit to themselves and to the sport. Marc Owen put in an awesome display...: his "hunting down" and passing of riders showed a dimension to his riding I'd not really seen before, being used to our Sittingbourne mascot (yes, just 'on loan' to the Pocket Rockets tonight!! ) blowing the opposition away from the tapes!! Richard Franklin was excellent too though yes, the supremely talented Oli Rayson was, of course, very unlucky in heat 15 not to get the win.. James Sarjeant executed a rare win from 15 metres as a TS and would've scored more but for a fall in his third ride. The maturity and assurance of Jake Knight to lead and then let James pass him for the Junior Stars second 8-1 of the night was heartening to see...: these lads are riding very maturely and demonstrating amazing team riding ability for youngsters who really should be inexperienced at that type of racing. Ashley Morris also rode very well (first time I'd seen Ashley). Another Sittingbourne regular Rhys Naylor did an 'Owen' and twice passed opponents on his way to four points. The Pocket Rockets, though, were worthy winners with Richard & Marc the stars but the four 'Jays' all pitching in: especially John Reisch who on this showing - and with a good position from the earlier rounds in his locker, could well be GB Under 15 champion by this time next month. If it can't be Marc I hope John can do it. All round a superb night's Entertainment (with a capital 'E'!!). I actually live ten minutes from Arena Essex and could easily have gone to the Lakeside match tonite. But I'm delighted instead I took the 4 1/2 hour round trip to the Norfolk Arena coz this was a far better meeting than, frankly, I've EVER seen at the 'other' Arena..!!!

How goes the weather..?? Bloody Met Office site says a heavy rain shower just about NOW (1pm) - surely bloody not..??!! Will be setting off at 4pm-ish and won't have access to a PC from about 2pm, so if calamity strikes can anyone who has my mob. no. please call or text me!! See you all later, hopefully!! D.

Certainly adds excitement to the line-up!! And if Richard was to win it must surely be the quickest ever rise from nowhere to a major title in Speedway history.....

Always amuses me that they call it very grandly the "Olympic Stadium"..!! People MUST be perplexed about this too...: an Olympics in Poland..?? When was that then..??!! It was, in fact, where the Equestrian events were staged when Berlin staged the (infamous) 1936 Olympics: this part of modern Poland then being within German borders (as indeed Hitler was soon then to do to the rest of that country!!). But all these years on, still calling it the Olympic Stadium..?? Well, that's like calling good old Herne Hill Cycle Track in south London the "Olympic Stadium" coz in 1948 that's where the Track Cycling events were held!!!!

Have I woken up in a parallel universe... Never in the history of sport has a competition calling itself a World Championship offered so FEW chances of "qualification"...!!!

Well, I guess it would logically follow that one is allowed to move up at 14 but - in terms of the championships - have to at 15... Though I'd temper that by saying (as would be a 'normal' circumstance in such rulings..) that one can stay with the class, one starts out in for that particular season...

Well done Rod..: at last someone brave enuff to say it as it is!! What happened in Cardiff 2007 was, as you say, a disgrace. All non-Speedway fans I've ever shown that Final heat of Cardiff 2007 to have said the same thing..: "why did he let him past to win"? Only those who want to defend the indefensible or too taken up with the moment or perhaps embarrassed by the sheer clumsy obviousness of what Hancock did can say anything contrary. Well over a year later and with the truly awful GPs losing credibility by each succeeding mind-numbingly boring round, it's time to stop the facade and face the facts..!! And this is the daftest argument of all..!! As things stand we will never, that's N-E-V-E-R see a world Champion crowned in GB. That's coz our so-called GP Round is staged very early in the series...

PC was most certainly there in 1977!!!! And contrary to what you imply, the World Final proved time and time again a consistent indicator of the best in the world; and did so for decades Check out how many rostrum positions went to riders who won the title on other occasions and you'll see in fact very little randomness in how the WFs panned out...