Parsloes 1928 nearly

This is the great myth though isn't it. Check out the quality of the field young Robert rode in (and unsurprisingly.., won) in the Netherlands (Golden Helmet at Veenoor) at the weekend and you'll see that no way was it such a high class/experienced field... I believe for the longer term (when league racing is so important to a young rider's career and development) he'd have gained a lot more from riding in an important meeting like the away leg of a Play Off semi.

Debatable that Lambert was riding at a higher level... I assume he was in Germany where he's been most weekends..

Problem at Crayford though is that the floodlights for the track are located on the centre green. So couldn't simply dig out a track inside the greyhound circuit would involve considerable reordering of stadium lighting with very little scope for an alternative location..

This is a very ignorant article - the loss of the Dog Track is dismissed in a line yet, this is a community facility that's been in this location for 85 years... The football club at their adjacent ground never got within even close of the crowds who've attended Dog Racing, Speedway & Stock Car Racing at the Stadium. Even when Wimbledon FC were one of the best clubs in the country (because forget the mythology of them being the biggest underdogs ever to win the FA Cup; that's errant nonsense, they finished 7th. in the top division that year; 6th. the season before) they still attacted woeful crowds. Within south London they are a tiny footnote unable to compete with the likes of Crystal Palace, Millwall & Charlton and a move to a bigger ground is smoke & mirrors for them. To call the Stadium a "hodgepodge of tumbledown stands" is a very inaccurate description: though run down the stadium retains the co-ordinated and complete look it's always had... Disappointing that such poor journalism finds its way into the best paper in the country for sports coverage..

And tragically of course Bishop lost his life in a different sort of crash - not on the track but on the road in the Lockern minibus disaster

Connor Coles needs to be added to the list of Rye House Raiders of 2012.

Luke Bowen has had some massive crashes too...

Money for one on its way though highly unlikely I'll be able to make it as it's clashing with a friend's 50th. birthday party (yep, I know so did last night at the NLRC but THIS one I really can't get out of!). But the event needs financial support so happy to hand over £30 in the cause!!

Any word on the DVD, Tony?

Remember the Croppers have a Stoke Speedway sticker on their car!!

Has the promise of a good meeting. Pretty big lead for Dudley but KL can on their day be vey strong at home. Hoping to get up for this one!

Hmm, not on the BSPA site, not listed in the Star and not even on KL's own web-site!! If it's next Wednesday it's certainly a fixture being kept very quiet!!!

Right, thanks. Only it's yet to appear in the fixtures on the BSPA site...

Good crowd (actually sold out of progs which I don't think has happened before...) and a good number in Dons' colours. Race jackets NOT auctioned as the plan (as I understand it) will be to repeat the fixture for the John Cerans Cup next year and onwards as an annual feature.

I thought the second leg of this KOC semi (rained off last Weds) was meant to be tonight.. Now I see it's EL action at the NA so when will the second leg at KL be now?

Well he SHOULD have been pissed..! Then he wouldn't have hurt himself at all! All the best for a speedy recovery mate. Crayford Dinner & Dance in just over a month's time..!

Yes Stoke can stage meetings on Sundays - they did so with the NL4s just a few weeks ago in fact. Is it viable though, to follow a Stock Car meeting which can be, er, challenging to track conditions (especially, as you say, in these autumnal conditions) with a Speedway meeting less than 24 hours later..?

Well Sept 21st out of the frame as that's the NLRC at Rye House.

Anyone know if there's a rearranged date for this match yet? Stoke website can't help as it's apparently been 'suspended'...

Surprised no-one's mentioned Simmo. Took him 12 years from first riding BL to reach his first World Final and was 30 when he finished runner up (in his second WF).

That's not correct actually. Though the London Council elections are indeed next year (May 2014), the election for the London Mayor is NOT in the same year. The London Mayoral election is not until 2016. So Boris is NOT up for re-election next year; though all of LB Merton's Cllrs are of course.

Not sure I get that logic! It wasn't Stevie's fault that he was given that crazily high (and God only knows how calculated - nowt in the Rule Book to justify it!) starting average..! The 11.38 scuppering our team building plans and meaning we couldn't have Mason & Compton together until after the averages were reassessed denied Kent a place in the play-offs.

Hmm, interesting.... Seems like this is probably good-ish news - will certainly be if the Sec of State approves.. Mind you, been a sporting site since the 1920s so in a way seems odd one has to apply to KEEP such a status..

I'll talk to Ian after the meeting - am sure he'll be able to feedback.

Ah right - only the BSPA website doesn't show that change. Was planning to go up next Weds (ie the 18th.) for the KOC second leg... A 'dead rubber' NL fixture ain't nearly such an attractive proposition...