Parsloes 1928 nearly

That's the one!!!! Bloody Welsh...: nick the White City name (also nicked by the Scots and even Notts!) and then manage to 'con' me years later into buying the badge!!! Cheers cityrebel.. Been meaning to ask, the name..? We know you're a Wimbledon man but obviously you - like me - were partial to the big stadium at Shepherd's Bush too... It still upsets me so much that such an amazing place was flattened just so BBC staff could park their cars...

I don't know... I bought what was said to be a pre-war White City Speedway badge on ebay a couple of years back... As I say not purporting to be original but one hoped it was based on a real design..??

While looking at this particular prog. I note that in the fixtures for that year (1977), Crayford had - as was traditional - a couple of double-headers planned.. but on this occasion styled these meetings as: "Double Feature Progs" (sic). Made me chuckle as I'd forgotten completely this attempt at cinematic styling..! Can anyone else recall any completely non-Speedway type descriptions or hyperbole used to promote meetings..??

Does it..??!! Struggling myself to think of too many..??

Let's hope that soon this great family name will soon be back in the Speedway promoting game... The late John Cearns' son Roger still hoping to get the sport introduced into the stadium he now runs, Central Park in Sittingbourne...

Gosh! It's a hugely impressive endeavour you've launched into here, BOBBATH! I am impressed! I have to profess having once met him and spent a whole meeting with him (at Wimbledon in 2004..), the legend that is Split has become my favourite rider, I was far too young ever to have seen ride(!), so for me I'd have Mr. Waterman as number one. He is one of only two riders to have finished second in a WF twice without ever being champ, so to place him second again in a third is a bit cruel..!

Sorry...: "ill-fated" was just me suffering from another attack of 'programme editor hyperbolism'!! Meant nothing beyond they were ill-fated in this particular truncated three heat match..: in which, as you say, by using the number 8 so early perhaps suggested they felt they were in for a pasting!!

It's okay though, coz I hear that Dr. Brian Belton's next book will be about Solving the Crisis of International Capitalism... It's coming out by the same publishers producing my Guide to The Higway Code...!!

Do you remember the referee at one of the CL Pairs meetings at Plough Lane, Barry, who when we told him that guests of honour Ian and Lionel Hoskins were John Hoskins' sons replied, "who's Johnnie Hoskins"..??!!

Been in the loft..: got the prog. from the Crayford vs. Stoke (NL) match 26/4/77.. Abandoned due to traditional Tuesday rain inn the north-west Kent area!! An unusually eventful three and a bit heats though!! Scorers were: Crayford 12 1) Laurie Etheridge 3 2) Richard Davey 1 3) Colin Goody did not complete race 4) Garry May Exc. 5) Alan Sage 3 6) Mike Bessent 2* 7) John Hooper 3 Stoke 1) Colin Farquarshon R/R 2) Trevor Charley 2 3) Tim Nunan Exc 4) Stuart Mountford F 5) Steve McDermott 2 6) Ian Robertson 1 7) Robert Dole Exc. 8) Gerry Hintz 0 Have to say, looking at that ill-fated Stoke line-up doesn't jog too many memories!!! Strangely the number eight Hintz was pitched into action as R/R replacement in heat one..! Raining heavily by heat three but that ended a 3-2 not because of two fallers but because the third finisher my pal Garry May managed to part company with his silencer just before crossing the line! Heat four saw Nunan fall and get excluded but it was never rerun. So not sure if the records should show him as having a ride or not...

And wasn't Mr. W.J. Cearns in some way involved with the Ilford club which put on High Beech..???

Despite what Bryn says ( ) I was at this abandoned fixture so I'll dig the details out for later today!!!

Hmm, yes but considering that the character is a wildlife fanatic obsessed with endangered species etc. (seems he could be the endangered one ATM!!) his apparent support for the shale sport should be welcomed... One CAN be green and still be a Speedway fan!! He is also obsessed with railways and that's an accurate touch as - as we know - there are plenty (in Kent alone) Speedway fans who love their trains too!!!

I wonder if it's a good time to mention that once again the Stoke Potters sticker on the back window of Roy Cropper's car made an appearance in last night's highly dramatic episode of Corrie...?! Or does such a road only lead us to madness!!?

Westerns clearly SHOULD be moved. What's My Line is a completely different matter as that thread IS about Speedway - pontficating about which Speedway rider was one a guest on there. Just like in the past there's been threads about pop records involving Speedway, Speedway appearing in TV dramas etc.. Joke factory is just someone complaining about posts in the wrong place - so I guess one can't really say THAT'S in the wrong place...

Mary had very good taste...!

Er, I was responding to the comment about those (like me!) who favour a return to the proper World Championship. I wasn't saying that in either format you could ever win the title in one race.. BUT as 21st century heathen says there's no doubt that when it comes to formats the most patently flawed one is the current GP system where as he says,

Er, because you didn't have to win just one race to win it...!!!

Yep - and guess who..? The same folk who did for London's other truly great stadium, the White City... The GRA...

A very good point! It's an extraordinary decision..

He didn't "change"... He has always ridden internationally as a Brit. Coz born in England of two English parents makes one, 100%, British!!!

Er, isn't that mainly because of something called "winter"...!!

I must admit it puzzled me why suddenly people were calling these slots which are for the season-long series, "wildcards" , as I too understood that expression to refer to the one-off, one meeting picks.. Now Neil's helpfully confirmed the correct titles - one does wonder how the BSPA can get this (relatively simple) concept wrong and call the "nominated" riders 'wildcards'?! Of the choices... Delighted of course that Tai's in. Looking forward to hearing how all of those slagging him off will escape having to eat humble pie as the 2010 series progresses!!! I'm confident Tai will finish in the top eight - quite likely in the top half of that top eight... Am gutted that Eddie didn't get the other pick... Harris..? Well, I'm speechless really...

Thanx! Tiger was certainly very well-spoken - especially for a Speedway rider!!!!

As everyone else has said how sad - but a a great bit of footage. It particularly hurts me as I've spent virtually all my adult life living and working in East London and meet on a daily basis many people who went to Custom House but I sadly never did. Back in '72 I was just a 12 year-old living in Kent and went to my first meeting (at Canterbury) that year...: just weeks after West Ham closed for good..! BTW, the only gripe I'd have with the coverage was there was no attempt to say who any of the people interviewed were! Who were the two riders from the '30s? One was Arthur (is that Arthur Atkinson..?). BTW, anyone else spot Snowy Beattie standing behind said two elderly gentlemen..?!!