chunky

But what size was the track?

And it's the GP rider who scores most points at the end of the year who is crowned World Champ. Pretty simple, eh? I am not 100% convinced about the way an individual GP winner is chosen, but the fact that it doesn't actually affect the overall standings is fine with me. It is not just BSI who are questioning it though. You yourself stated that it's "more getting them to buy into the credibility of seeing a rider crowned GP winner but only being 3rd or 4th in the scorechart". That was one of the reasons I said what I did, as you used the "c" word! Thing is, it's amazing how many organizing bodies and companies mess with stuff that seems to work. It just seems like they want to be "doing something" rather than sitting back and letting things work. I did voice my opinion a while back (somewhat in line with your "neither one thing or the other comment"), but it certainly wasn't a major issue for me. I don't really see the point of semis and a final which can lead to lopsided scoring, but most seem to prefer it it for excitement. However, I do feel that overall, it is the best system we have ever had when it comes to deciding a speedway world champion.

What I really don't get is that so many speedway are interested in just one thing - credibility. More than that, they try to use every possible situation and anomaly - however meaningless and insignificant - to shout to the just how flawed it is. When it isn't... Every sport and/or sporting event will throw up sone sort of anomaly. Nothing is perfect, but the thing these armchair critics forget (or more likely refuse to believe) is that the old world final system was far more flawed and less credible than the GP system we currently have. Guess what? Speedway is unique. Accept it and move on. Uniqueness and peculiarities litter every other sport too. How many football fans were complaining about Liverpool being the best in Europe last year - when they weren't even the best in England? Probably only those on the BSF... In a tennis match recently, one player lost despite having won several more games than his opponent. How appalling... In darts, a player can be crushed by an opponent without winning a leg, yet finish with a much higher average. Talk about a flawed system... In cricket, how disgusting that a team could be losing by a mountain of runs, yet they can still just play out for a draw. Talk about a lack of credibility...

Do you remember how big the track was???

Pish... That's bugger all compared to dealing with some of the rabid creatures here on the BSF...

Oh, we all stopped going to Plough Lane because Colin Richardson was riding for both Wimbledon and Eastbourne... The writing was clearly on the wall for Birmingham and Milton Keynes when Andy Grahame had the audacity to qualify for both the BLRC and NLRC in the same season. Moxey must have been disgusted to see PC appearing regularly for both Belle Vue AND Rochdale. How terrible...

The dates are irrelevant, as is the "full-time" comment. The thing is, you admit that you probably were judgemental at times. That is not a criticism, as it is almost impossible for a sports journalist to write without being judgemental. However, you appear to be confusing journalism and private comment here. I am quite sure that "Bruce Semmens was the dirtiest rider I ever saw" never ever appeared in any journalistic submission from Maurice Jones; that was just a private comment he made. Dave Lanning was always known to skirt controversy, but trust me, some of the things he told me privately would NEVER have made it on air or into the papers!

Do you ever feel that YOUR writings (as a speedway journalist) are judgemental?

Did they ride on stir-Friday???

If you read the article posted by Midland Red (the very first reply on this thread), it does state that Sandy was National Champion in 1958. Steve

I think you are missing the point, John. I dont think JOS50 is referring to Split's speedway career (although I could be wrong), but the fact that he is commonly regarded as a "wonderful character" and it is often said that we "need people like him" in the sport today. Split Waterman is rightly regarded as one of England's greatest ever speedway riders, and we can't - and shouldn't - take that away from him. However, stating that he was a "luvverly fella" and "we need more like him" is stretching it. Same with Kenny Carter. I never liked Kenny, and in fact I thought he was a psycho tw*t. However, he too was one of England's finest. We know that there are people - even forum members - who think his name should be expunged from the record books, and nobody should ever mention his name again - because of his final acts. To me, that is ridiculous. His career and his final acts are totally separate, and in any case, we can't - and shouldn't try to - change or erase history. My own personal opinion of Kenny Carter is that he was not "evil"; he had true mental issues, and it was these that caused the problems. After all, who, in a normal frame of mind, would take their own life? Certainly when children are involved? Individuals who commit other types of criminal offence, though not as severe, but usually for personal gain, are not suffering from mental health issues, and just commit them because they want to. If they make those decisions, then they should not be looked up to or revered, or simply considered a "cheeky chappie". Again, that does not and should not be used to destroy their achievements.

I wondered about that first point too... As far as your second paragraph, I agree 100%. Similar to my statement earlier about the East End; it's not like things have changed or deteriorated drastically in recent years!

Crime has gone up everywhere - and it's all because of a basic lack of respect. People, whatever their race, creed, colour, or nationality, think it's "all about me", and nobody respects law enforcement or authority. You can't discipline kids. Criminals don't get punished, just get a slap on the wrist, because "everybody makes mistakes", and they can be "rehabilitated". There are two kinds of people - good people and bad people.

Immigration has happened for years. Britain - and the US - have been built by immigrants. The East End hasn't been "British" for over a century. It seems that white immigrants are accepted, but not others. I am not in a position to complain about immigrants, knowing that I am one myself. Things change. Places change. People change. That's life...

Hit the nail on the head, there...

I'm glad you said something...

You mean it's an ailment confined to Poland???

Exactly the way I feel. You don't go from that good to that bad that quickly - and that consistently.

Yeah, there were many more tracks with a home advantage then because there was a much bigger variety of shapes, sizes, and surfaces. Look at how we have lost all the big tracks - Hyde Rd, the Shay, Earle St, Custom House, Hampden Park etc... We have also lost a number of smaller tighter ones like Wimbledon and Crayford. The surfaces aren't so varied either now because the machinery basically dictates what we can and can't use. We used to have fine sand-like tracks and heavy cinder tracks, and the bikes - and riders - could handle everything.

I think the real wild card here is Dudek - depending on which one shows up. He could be pushing for a medal or propping up the rest of the field...

Hmmmm... I can tell you that in the US there are MANY foreign town names there are here, particularly German ones. There were so many German settlers here that whole areas were taken over. Just west of St. Louis, there is a sizeable area along the Missouri river with a number of German-named towns and villages. Looks like I'll have to look into the California debate a little more.

But ALL speedway back then was far better than the modern crap. Even gustix said that four men going around in circles was boring - although I don't know if that applies to the old days?

Or it could be that your dad was trying to protect others from you!!!

That happens - it always has - but this seems a little over the top! I can see it with a real household name, but not with a speedway rider...

So sorry... Must have missed that!