The H Man

Not sure if this has been mentioned elsewhere but a man who put a lot of effort into Cornish speedway Godfrey Spargo has passed away. A very gentle and kind hearted man. Always had a smile on his face and sandals on his feet whenever I saw him.

Sorry to hijack thread a bit, but this made me chuckle and reminded me of when Reading Promoter Chris Shears announced over the PA on the Monday Peter Ljung will never ride for this club again and 72 hours later he was riding for us at Swindon. Barker goes well at Ippo but big risk as he cant be 100% fit.

Total farce all round and all of British Speedway's own doing! Doubling up a good idea in principal but proper fixture planning required, teams don't ride for weeks on end then we get a fixture clash to deprive fans seeing a rider! Ref: Holder, if Ged Rathbone was one of the BSPA's favourites - something completely different would have been conjured up, but he isn't! For him, makes business sense - Holder not riding in Away fixtures replaced by a 3pt junior - means a lot less expense for Peterborough! When I was involved with Reading, this happened several times, especially in 2003 with Janusz Kolodziej, the fine for showing up with a weakened team and paying a local 3 pointer a lot cheaper than sending JK to Sheffield for example. Not fair on the fans I agree - but when has British Speedway ever had any regard for it's fans? Final point - lots of people transfixed with overseas riders and their commitment to British Speedway, start by concentrating on British riders, those who are committed to earning a fair living by riding in their home country as their priority! How many half decent British riders have quit or are on sidelines because of averages etc? Concentrate on them not someone who uses British Speedway as a stepping stone along with his fellow countrymen who then moan, whinge and bicker constantly about British speedway when in fact it was the British leagues that created their development opportunity in the first place!

Thanks Flagrag for this and the many other informative posts ref: TV coverage I just feel if the BSPA would get their heads out of the sand and allow an independent body to control speedway in the UK, then things like TV exposure, media coverage etc would improve and more importantly the sport could get an ounce or two of credibility back, because at the moment is really doesn't have any!

I got to know Bob around 15 years ago when I first got involved at Reading, the guidance he gave me about presenting and announcing were very helpful. He Nicknamed me The Minder, and always called me that whenever I saw him. He returned to Reading as announcer during the Legg/Holloway era and we enjoyed some great banter over the tannoy, I had the pleasure of doing a final interview with Bob during Reading last team fixture, sadly he couldn't make the end of era meeting. Which was sad as he did so much for Reading Speedway. Although I knew Bob was very ill. It's always a shock when someone you know and respect passes on. RIP Big Bob! The Minder

Agree totally - who gives a flying fig who are the biggest or best, it's great news that Belle Vue are running, I just hope Coventry can be sorted! As I learnt with my own club Reading, once sport lost to a town/city virtually impossible to get it back.

Who actually appoints the SCB supremo?

From my understanding Belle Vue blew any chance of further "BSI related" events due to a number of behind the scenes failures at the 2016 SWC!

I still find it amazing that the sport hasn't managed to attract a title sponsor for the Elite League or whatever it's going to be called moving forward. The amount of coverage on Sky Sports makes it an attractive proposition to any sponsor, with the viewing figures continuing to hold up however poor the product on show may be! If Netball could attract Soft-drinks company ZEO to pay more than £100,000 in 2015 and then get a damn site more from Vitality in 2016, you have wonder who on earth the BSPA are engaging (if anyone) to bring a title sponsor to Speedway.

I'm not particularly defending Tai here Tim, I don't think he's covered himself in glory by putting out cryptic messages. All I am saying is that he is the "prize asset" that Britain has in terms of quality and therefore maximise that, as I said in early post you don't have to like someone to do business with them!

I wouldn't put Lynchy in the same sentence in the likes of Woffy, Nicholls, the late great Rico or even Lyon! People like him are the reason that British Speedway is in such a mess!

Like or loathe the guy, let's face it, he is the only truly world class rider that this country has! Whether you think he is a plastic Brit or not, he rides under the Team GB banner and for a sport that is dying on it's feet in this country then alienating your best asset isn't the cleverest idea! There is an old saying, you don't have to like somebody to do business with them, in this instance British Speedway needs as much positive publicity as possible and Woffinden is the one guy who can generate some proper press outside of our trade mag. But like I've said many times, whilst the sport in this country is self-governed you will continue to see decisions made that are only in individuals best interests and to have your best asset bad mouthing Team GB isn't in anyone's best interest! Spot on!

the more this saga rolls on the more I genuinely fear for Swindon Speedway. Gaming International made endless promises around the Reading "Racino" all of which of course were false, excuse after excuse, followed by more false hopes for the fans, then another let down before eventually losing the piece of land that Reading Council had given them and granted FULL Planning permission for them to develop on! They never fought to extend the lease on Smallmead and I don't think they ever seriously had an intention of building the "Racino" It sounds a very similar pattern of events 40 miles further West!

Star struck indeed, couldn't sleep that night after mingling with my celebrity mates............so excited I forgot to buy some some sew on badges for my anorak! Sorry for praising your hospitality team, promotion and riders!

Todd's was fantastic at Reading and when he came back for Oxford after a lengthy break from these shores, I think like others have said we saw a more conservative but still very talented. Whatever the competition was called where watered down Elite sides and premier clubs met in 2003. Oxford came to Reading there was some doubt whether he would ride as Wagstaff wanted an appearance fee for him, soon became apparent Todd wasn't behind that and he showed what a professional guy he was off track as well as on.

first visit to the Showground since the Panthers broke the Bulldogs hearts a decade ago! Really enjoyable evening, well looked after in hospitality by Mr Lambert snr and his team, caught up with a couple of old pals in Ulrich Ostergaard and Sam Simota and I thought the racing was good on a well prepared track. Nasty crash between Holub and Kyle Newman, thought that Holub's move was a bit rash, he hung Newman out on the first bend and after Newman passed him fair and square, the Czech lad's move into the last bend was always likely to end in disaster! Having said I liked racing style in his other heats. Boro have a very strong side, very impressed with Simon Lambert and after poor first ride Cook wasn't really trouble. Caught up with Ulrich pre-meeting for bit to eat, he bought along Emil Grondal with him, what a nice lad. Very level headed with a good attitude. For Plymouth impressed with Todd Kurtz, Shame that Newman was hurt and that Holder and Brady Kurtz both had bike problems as did Simota! Overall a really good night - liked the way Boro bring riders through crowd for intros and mingle with fans after racing. They are working hard on the promotion side, hope the crowds continue to grow for them. Also had a chat with Plymouth promotion, best of luck to them, nice guys.

from latest statement Bill Glass, Operations Director at Stadia UK added: “We are employing the latest building techniques which dramatically reduce the construction time and have ensured that our greyhound and speedway racetracks are built to the highest standards of design, drainage and surfacing. “Uniquely, the new stadium racecourse has been designed for ease and quality of media coverage, from the specification of lighting to multi camera facilities.” When open, the new Swindon track will be the latest Stadia UK Greyhound and Speedway racing facility to be built in the country, following their last new facility which opened in Poole in 1997. When have these tossers ever built anything? - Poole 1997. Where has that come from? The bull that Glass and his boss Osborn came up with at Reading was embarrassing - they promised in December 2007 that a new Stadium would be ready for the Racers by June 2008, still waiting 7 years later! Did the exact same thing to Milton Keynes as well remember.

I fear that Shawn is spot on! We had 6 years of GI / Stadia UK bull after they bought Reading Stadium from Allied. The council even provided them with a piece of land for a new build after Smallmead land was sold to developers (don't start me on that one) The fact they told a pack of lies to Reading and before that Milton Keynes fans, I have absolutely zero faith in them to do what they are saying at Blunsdon. I hope I am wrong I really do!

Delighted for my old mate Big O. Lovely guy, always gives 100% and just gets on with it, doesn't whinge about track conditions.

The land close to the old Smallmead site which was earmarked for the new speedway stadium in 2008, was approved for the development of Warehouse & Industrial units last night by Reading Council. Which ends the tiny glimmer of hope for the sport being bought back to the town anytime soon. Even more frustrating is that the old Smallmead site remains barren land 7 years after Smallmead was closed!

Best wishes to Bob in his battle ahead, he seems very positive which is a good sign. I thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Bob at Smallmead and he was a great source for advice & guidance in my early times on the mic.

Well you can't be in the know when it comes to dancing ability! The expert judges at Pontins were obviously impressed when Morris won their prestigious competition which lead to him appearing in all sorts of music n dance shows. #boyozone

Covatti is a superb signing, an absolute steal on that average. Birmingham messing him about last year, left him frustrated and well out of pocket, I think that affected his performances for Sheffield without doubt. Now he is fully prepared for a whole campaign, he will be a real asset. I know Armando Castagna really rates him and he showed in the SWC what he is capable of.

Absolutely delighted for Phil. Many congratulations to him on securing such a prestigious role in the sport.

They can revoke a promoters licence!