SPEEDY69

Why were they at odds?

At Rye House last Saturday there were long queues and some of this was caused by each entrance accepting card payments, which took forever to process. As others have suggested - get this fixed of have separate lanes. Also, a separate place to get programmes works better if they are extra payment - or even selling them to people whilst they queue. We're not talking 100,000 people here.

Should be a comfy home win.

Trouble is, the rules are different to those in other events/countries so i can see how he didn't know. Perhaps no-one pointed it out to him before, a good manager at either of his tracks would have. Other ones i see quite often are people riding out of the pits when you are not allowed to ride in (makes no sense) and riders itching to take off the cut out lanyard at the end of a race despite its use being mandatory when the engine is running.

It's not a GTR but the German one which Skornicki is using and Kroner has used in previous years

Was good night and got back to Ipswich by 10.30pm. Their facilities need improving for that size of crowd i.e. parking, catering, viewing from the pits. A good start though.

Have watched a few heats but have to say it doesn't catch my attention as the competition is meaningless to me. All rather dull.

It was interesting listening to Ole Olsen during his evening at Wolves with Nigel Pearson the other evening (on DVD) as he said one of the biggest changes in speedway is that nowadays the riders think it's all about them when actually it's about the spectators - treat them right, more will come and then the riders will benefit. There's a lot of truth in that. Many of these so called unfit tracks can be ridden, people just need to be sensible - they used to ride on some real awful ones years ago and as we know, the speeds haven't changed a great deal. Speedway should think more about this because cancelled meetings are killing the sport.

Thanks Phil.

So, what are the 'circumstances beyond our control', the reason for not staging on 31st March? I wish people would be more honest.

There will always be a limit on speed due to the size/shape of the track. Higher speed on the straights, which the modern bikes generate, still needs to be scrubbed off around the bend to actually get around it! This also doesn't really add to the spectacle and in my view makes racing/passing a little harder.

The changes you're referring to are for a mix of reasons. There is no ban or restriction on the use of total loss engines and plenty still exist. The oil is caught in proper catcher and disposed of after a few races - just as with re-circulating engines. Handlebars and forks have changed due to riders preference, again the old ones can still be used. Silencer changes were imposed to comply with noise levels. Offset cranks are simply engine developments made by manufacturers and tuners in the business of selling and notionally increasing performance/presenting an advantage. Other changes which result from fashion/performance 'enhancements' are too numerous to mention but include 6 spring clutches and newer style plates, engine internals incl. flywheels, ignition development, laydown engines, iridium spark plugs, fancy and expensive vans, multiple bikes for even the most novice of riders, full time mechanics. You don't mention chain guards, primary chain stop bar, silencer retainer, exhaust clips, ignition cut out or the reduced height rear guards plus pivoting footrests. All of these are safety ones which are all positive in my view. Apart from providing income for tuners, manufacturers and accessory sellers, I don't think any of the cosmetic/performance changes have made the spectacle any better but are costing more for riders/sponsors. Oh, and the crowds are down every year. That's progress for you

I don't think the compound will make a jot of difference. More important is the track surface and the wheel spin, together with the low pressure. I think it's the low pressures some riders are using to gain more grip which is causing excessive tyre wear. I am also not convinced that these Mitas tyres are actually that well made or of quality materials - certainly I used to notice that the blocks would shear off much quicker than on a Dunlop tyre.

I remember he did a test at a road racing track and as his speed increased he lost control of direction and went onto the grass and had a tank slapper. That was on TV. More here about speed records: http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=49929&page=2

I thought his business partner was on the receiving end of some law enforcement activity and that the joint assets had to be sold to pay the fine/back dues. This may be wrong though.

I agree. I remember John Louis breaking the Foxhall track record in about 1980 at 60.8. Then, the track was a bit longer around the kerb but he averaged 44.4mph. Danny King's current record, nearly 40 years later is 45.97mph. Does it really make the racing any better? This thread was in use some time ago: http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=62922 I do think though that if they could have a speed gun at one point of the track it could add to the evening to see who had the top speed. Can't be that difficult.

The first lap is nearly always about 3 seconds slower than the other three so the actual maximum speed will be higher. They will also be hitting maximum speed at the end of the straight, which will also be higher than the average speed, obviously. To be pedantic even further, unless they ride around the kerb, the average speed will be higher still as they cover more distance Easy enough to work out the average speed as you suggest. Only need the track record and the length, then: distance (m) /time x 2.25 = miles per hour. So for Redcar, the average speed is 20.76 x 2.25= 46.71mph Belle Vue: average speed for NKI in July 2016 was 53.66 mph

I really enjoyed the latest edition of the Star, plenty of interest to read, well done.

They have 2 days there, was either in the Star or on the website, or both Rosco said 16 riders, fitness and diet stuff included - bit cheaper than Croatia ro wherever it was they went last year.

I always cancelled sky sports in September (effective from end October) and then restart when the coverage starts - saves more than £50!

Does anyone know the stats on rain-offs? Many people seem to think they happen at the start and end of the season but I'm not sure that's always true.

I agree about characters and the interest provided other than the actual racing - however I do not like dangerous riding, the like which Lindgren dished out last season in the GPs and Pedersen has done in the past. Although I have to say I have not seen anything particularly harsh from Nicki for a few years now.

I do find this odd, considering he was quite specific saying he informed the riders at 11:16 - suggests an electronic record. I know they all moaned about not hearing before the BSPA announcement but he apologised for that. And in any case, for me the club's survival is more important than when he told the riders - the BSPA could have also told them, considering they presumably became BSPA assets on the Friday? Wasn't it about the MDL/SDL withdrawal from league speedway and the mess that level is in? If not, what was it about? maybe Neil W can answer? I think the BSPA, once they knew Belle Vue and Leicester were ok, looked at the SKY money and thought well, we each get more if there's only 8 of us rather than 9 Seems cheap to me, given the assets that come with that.

Absolutely - a lot of people blaming Mick but I don't see him as the guilty party here. He would have signed the revised lease by the end of December had the stadium been put right first. Why sign the lease and then have to fork out to repair/replace? I ma more inclined to believe the councillor on this than people who think it's still Peterborough or confuse Mick with Colin. Most of us fans are simply in the dark and speculating, what I do know is that Brandon Estates clearly want houses on the site.

I agree with most of this except for the bit I've put in bold - having watched Fricke a few times last year away from home, he was dreadful and it didn't indicate to me he is a better rider. Both would be good - maybe other teams will revise their teams to make use of some of the Coventry riders?