keepturningleft

Years ago I remember when someone like Barry Briggs came to Halifax for a league meeting, there was a special buzz and an obvious spike in attendance because this, apart from a possible international, was likely to be his one and only appearance at the track for the year. Those special times are gone. As world champion, I doubt if the presence of Jason Doyle attracted a single extra person through the turnstile, with all due respect to Jason. When the same teams and faces are appearing week in and week out, meetings become less meaningful and the sense of anticipation is diluted. The formation of one big league was the salvation of speedway in the 60's, maybe it could be again.

Doubt Ivan Mauger would have ever have attempted a manoeuvre as risky as that...

Apart from those clubs which have always raced on midweek nights and where that situation is entrenched, Monday evenings do not produce any kind of sense of occasion. In the old days, Saturday night was speedway night for me at Halifax and occasionally Belle Vue. Saturday afternoon out with the lads downtown. Teatime, the excitement builds. Dr Who on TV and then off to the Shay. Heady days. Monday night is a complete dud.

Unbelievable!

That's a contender for the greatest race ever!

Does anyone know what the brilliant music was over the end credits?

That was like watching a plank, warp.

There was a lot of close racing without overtakes - just as thrilling in it's own way. Enjoyable meeting - well done to Poole.

Belle Vue would get my entrance money for nearly every match if it was Friday or Saturday, but sadly Monday nights are hopeless for me...

Is it it a cinema film? Looks interesting anyway.

Every so often someone brings this idea up and every time the response is broadly the same. A completely silly idea - please, no-one ever bring this idea up again.

The bottom line is that any newbies in the crowd almost certainly wouldn't have a clue, or care less about officials squabbling over some rules and regulations. All they would know is that for 20 minutes they are staring at an empty track with nothing happening. Imagine a football match having a 20 minute break in the middle of it while some clash over the rules is going on.

There really is no justification for delays due to some technical point. The fans should always come first.

Us old timers may just about tolerate a 20 minute delay for no apparent reason whatsoever - but sadly, 'the young' probably won't and speedway will continue on it's suicidal path. I enjoyed the meeting up until then, the watering breaks were clearly essential, but long breaks such as the one after heat 14 are becoming toxic. Continuity is lost and everything falls flat. Like the very long advert breaks on tv, you can forget what your'e watching.

The size of the crowd - a world away from speedway UK.

I wish to god both Mort and PC were back and involved at BV.

. I have a few of his books, very sad that there won't be any more. So important that speedway history has been logged and preserved by Mr Chaplin and others.

Pop star and speedway fan.

Mike Bushell does seem to have an interest and a positive positive attitude towards our sport.

No problem for Jason Crump...

Amazing to think he would go on to be a world finalist.

Is this Howard Cole alias Kid Bodie??

Speedway on the front cover of this magazine this month in the form of a splendid picture of a vintage JAP bike with accompanying article inside. Good Stuff.

There is a truly wonderful story on the Belle Vue Facebook site about Ivan Mauger and a superfan featured on the BBC North West Tonight programme. Scroll down to check it out. https://www.facebook.com/bellevuespeedway/

Did anyone catch this film on Talking Pictures today? Some brief speedway action near the end of this 1948 film including some very unconvincing back projection!