Parsloes 1928 nearly

And best known as the brother of Crayford's beared wonder (no, NOT Bryn!!): Alan Johns!! You KNEW I was going to post this...!!!

Come on PhilK, pay more attention!!!!!

It's NEVER too early for that!!!

Hmm, I am deeply concerned - as would anyone... - to see the words "Bryn" and "Full Monty" mentioned in the same sentence..!!! I do hope people are not getting the wrong impression about exactly what and how much the Williams fella is threatening to take off in this good cause..!! Mind you, even though we're talking of his facial growth, when I last saw this spectacle (nearly a fortnight ago..) it was already of frightening proportions, so I do trust that the drainage system at Brandon will be able to cope with the potential build-up of har when it's consigned to history next month..!!

It's funny but last night was talking on the 'phone to Ian Perkin and we touched on how there used to be proper competitions in second halves. The best ever race I saw in a second half was Tommy vs. Gordon Kennett in the Second Half Final at White City's opening meeting on 24th. March 1976... Tommy won that race and it was the last time I saw him ride - as within less than two months he was dead.. Gone but NEVER forgotten...

3. Filip Sitera, Plzeň 2 3 1 3 2 11+3 Chris: Wot does the '+ 3' mean in this context..??

Er..: yes I'd better make that the proviso!! Thanx for getting with out of jail.. Next, someone will be telling me that there's been a top division footballer with a higher ratio of vowels to consonants than Ian Ure..!!!

Great name..: and a headline-writer's dream!! Has there ever been another GB Speedway rider with just one vowel yet three consonants in his surname..??!!

Someone jumped the gun eight months early!!!

Surely there was never actually a meeting at Rochester was there..?? So though this may have been the proposed name for the club (a nickname transported over to Romford where the new promotion did open up...), I don't see how this can really be listed as a club coz it didn't actually see the light of day..!!!

And Buxton have been Hitmen before 2000 have they not..??!!

That's alright John..: and I haven't forgotten about the Crayford pix.. Will endeavour to get some over to you this week..!! D.

Sorry dantodan but completely inappropriate (ie wrong!!! ) to regard Iwade as a defunct track..!! It ain't..! The original track is that now known as Sittingbourne...: perhaps you were unaware of this..??!!

Right, so what have been the ‘maximum’ wins over the years in the various formats?? Seems we’ve identified the following: 14 heats format: Bristol 70 - Glasgow White City 14 (NL) (1949) 13 heats format Crayford 65 Workington 12 (NL) (15/7/80) 15 heats format Exeter 75 Arena Essex 15 (PL) (2000) Exeter 75 Rye House 18* (PL) (2004) Scunthorpe 75 Newport 15 (CL) (2006) King’s Lynn 75 Sheffield 15 (was it PT?) (2007) * 18 points coz then the double points rule could apply to a third place in a 5-1.. No maxs in the 18 heat or 16 heat format. Best scores: 18 heats format: Wimbledon 89 Stoke 19 (NT) (1953) 16 heat format: Crayford 76 Milton Keynes 20 (NL) (26/10/82) Exeter 76 Arena Essex 20 (1989) Any more for any more..??

And on the subject of maximum scores almost being repeated (and on the sub-plot of 'bigging-up' Crayford..!! ), it should be noted that a year after the 65-12 whitewash of Workington, the Comets narrowly averted an identical humiliation at London Rd.. The result on 4/8/81 in the NL was, this time: Crayford 63 Workington 15!!!

Exeter had one against Arena Essex too..: a couple of years before the Rye House one you mention... These were in the 15 heat format - so don't affect Crayford's double record of having the top scores in the 13 & 16 heat format..

Though I like to think of him as the Widnesian Whirlwind!!!

Sorry, I give all my money to Jeff Scott!!! I can offer you a lift, though..!!!

Excellent!! So, Crayford then had the distinction of the biggest ever wins in the both the 13 heats and 16 heats format!! Happy Days!!!

Still looking back at appearances of Chris Hunt at God's own Speedway track, tucked away in the railway lands of the London Borough of Bexley (you know, that lot you pay your Council Tax to, Mr.Williams!! ) - my attention came to rest on the match Crayford vs. Milton Keynes on 26/10/1982. The mighty Kestrels produced 13 heat maximums (like they'd done in record-breaking style a couple of years earlier against Workington!! ) but this time it was in the 16 heat format. The score was 76-20 (Chris scoring two for the hapless Knights..) Now, I annotated my prog. at the time to call this as the record score under the 16 heat format.. But was it..:at that time or subsequently..?? TBH, I can't recall how long this 16 heat format lasted - 1982 was its first year in the NL, that I do know. So WAS this match another record for the Kestrels at the time; and was it later surpassed..??

Go on - pray tell..??!!

Bad luck to Mark; and especially to Barry, who it seems was denied a place in the Final only by a problem in his third ride (after winning both his opening two and then recording a third heat win of the night in his fifth..).. Barry recorded heat wins over the second placed, Dan Halsey and fourth-placed Gareth Isherwood - so he must certainly be regarded as very unlucky not to be going to Lakeside...!! Anyone know what occurred in heat nine..?? Also, a big well done to Gareth on that fourth place.. Strange that he'll be at Lakeside in the GB U-21 Championship Final but appears still to be without a club..??

Chatting the other day to Chris Hunt and his parents about Chris' early Milton Keynes appearances; and I found to my surprise, that I had seen him ride for the Knights not just at Crayford but once at Rye House in the NL match there in 1983! I notice from the prog. for that match (17/7/83) that the number seven for the Rockets was one Kerry Gray who scored eight, paid nine. Can't say I remember this rider's name at all: though a good score in this match clearly. Anyone have any more details..??

Makes about as much sense or Национальная лига спидвея представляет рейтинг гонщиков открытого командного чемпионата России по спидвею as we say 'round these parts..!!

Well some did..: but some didn't. And regarding the latter, as in the case of Wisbech, clearly have a much 'right' to be regarded as (non-league) Speedway circuits as others listed this way in 'Homes'. The question is, which category did Abridge fit into..??