chunky

I think you can look at similar cases at most tracks. At Plough Lane, Steve Bastable was the evil one after Rudy Muts suffered serious injury. Rudy was never the same after that. Steve

One would think... I can tell you that one legendary darts commentator and journalist had no comprehension of what goes on when competing (and I'm not talking about Dave Lanning or John Gwynne). It is "nice" to be popular, but any sportsperson at a genuinely competitive level will tell you that as long as there is SOME kind of atmosphere (as long as it's not truly combative and violent) that's all you need. Probably the best atmosphere I experienced was pretty hostile towards me when I beat Eric Bristow in his last-ever World Championship appearance. The crowd was totally baying for my blood, and it was fantastic! Playing - and beating - Raymond van Barneveld in front of a couple of thousand partisan Dutch fans was a similar experience! As I said, we love that. We certainly don't go running to mummy, or wondering why we bother...

How's that sore little botty of yours? I have been playing darts competitively for over 40 years - much of it at the very highest level. You think I haven't gone through the same thing? There are many reasons why you can be looked upon as unpopular, some are genuine, and some are just ridiculous opinions based on ignorance and prejudice. Whatever, I have had fingers pointed at me on many occasions (at darts, I mean, not just by the idiots on the BSF!!! ), yet NOT ONCE have I thought, "why did I ever bother to be a dart player?" If someone really is that sensitive and thin-skinned, then NO, they shouldn't have become a rider. Then NO, they shouldn't be around be around nasty pointy dangerous darts. Then NO, they shouldn't be out in that horrible world with all those horrible people. They should stay at home with their comfy-wumfy feather pillows and their warm cocoa, watching re-runs of Bagpuss... Steve

Revy chum so...

It is not a bias against stock cars at all. It is more that we are tired of the way that you turn 99% of speedway-related threads into a stock car thread. And no, I am not saying that you shouldn't ever mention short-circuit car racing (people often compare speedway to football, cricket, F1, and even darts) but in most cases, your comments seem irrelevant to the thread. Steve

At least he hasn't mentioned stock cars! Yet... We all know the sport is in dire straits right now, but I will agree that all the ultra-negative posts from the same handful of posters does get tiresome...

it said in the article that he passed away in 1977 from MS. I don't have the exact date, but I am sure he was just 47. Steve

A lot of speedway fans don't think about things like that, but I have said repeatedly that a lot of speedway's major issues aren't actually speedway related. It's been 27 years since I moved across the Atlantic. In the overall scheme of things, it doesn't seem like that long a period, but looking back, it isn't the Britain I left. People have changed, and the culture has changed. Yes, a lot of speedway tracks have disappeared in that time, but is it just because of speedway? Sadly, there are other factors; things like health and safety, the "need" for more housing, the desire for industrial and other business parks, and of course, the great British NIMBY... Look at the great football stadia that have gone, impressive and atmospheric places that have been destroyed, simply because they were outdated and "uncool". Of course, most have been been replaced, because of the greater finances in footy. Even the great old pubs I frequented have fallen at an alarming rate. Why? Because they are "uncool", and modern society wants something newer and more fashionable. Trouble is, it is not just the venues that have become "uncool", but speedway itself, and the developers are the ones with the pull and the money - and these days, money doesn't just talk, it provides the entire script... Steve

To the shouters, facts aren't as important as opinions... Steve

Funny you should say that; I have been to Arlington when it was pouring down nearby, yet the track was bone dry... Steve

The main differences are that: 1) F1 and road racing tracks (not street circuits, I mean) require much more land than a 400m oval, and cannot be situated in a city centre. 2)Silverstone - as a venue/facility - is an attractive and presentable location. 3) Spectators flock to these venues for a whole weekend of action, not just three hours. It is different when you stay onsite for several days. Steve

To be fair, Phil, that was a problem that arose back in the 80's, when we had Norden, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Munich, and even Bradford. Of course, the main objective SHOULD be to find a track that provides good racing, but there are other factors involved, and as we have seen, speedway fans are quick to voice their displeasure about everything. I was at the L.A. Coliseum, and while the racing wasn't great, the stadium was very presentable, and I had a great holiday. Norden was very accessible for most Europeans, and it wasn't a poor track, but how does it look for the sport when we have the premier event in a field? Amsterdam was a great place to visit, but a poor atmosphere in an aging and run-down arena didn't do us any favours. Munich, on the other hand, was a great stadium, and a great location (I wasn't there), but what of the meeting itself? I liked Odsal as a racing track, but does Bradford really appeal to the rest of the world as a tourist destination? See, we were spoiled by Wembley, and even though the racing wasn't great most of the time, we could accept it because of the location, the atmosphere, and the simple magic of the stadium. Trying to find a nice presentable stadium with a good racing track, in a city that people want to visit, and is easily accessible, is not easy. Certainly not outside of Poland, anyway... Steve

And before then, last month. Lindback in Wroclaw. Before that, the Slovenian GP in June (Lambert). Steve

I will admit, I've never been a huge fan of Vojens, but the fact that it is a truly purpose-built track doesn't make sense.

I thought I heard of one a couple of months ago? He went by mistake thinking that it was cars, but he ending up staying because he liked the pie and chips?

Be interesting to see how Madsen does in Cardiff now. You think he could miss out on a medal?

If any people who had never seen speedway before got on to the BSF and read some of the stuff from so-called speedway fans, we would NEVER get any new fans!

But you can turn it off at any time should you so wish. You don't have to sit there and wish that you didn't receive the channel...

Nah, Zagar doesn't add anything to the GP's...

I am watching the meeting, and I am reading the comments on here. There are a lot of things I can get on my TV, but I can - and do - choose to not watch them. If I am watching something, and don't find it entertaining, I have the ability to turn it off.

What a bizarre statement! Even if you were able to receive it, it's not like anybody was forcing you to watch it...

Well, none of those were English! Or Australian, for that matter... Yes, I'm prodding!

It's funny, but so many people don't take pride into it. I know professional sport is very different to what it was - money is far more important now than it used to be - but for the VERY top figures in sport (particularly individual sport), pride is - and always will be - one of the keys to success. Steve

You know, that would probably be the most named four... Funny how the most unpopular riders are all multi-world champs; says it all, really!

... And Lye-cester, Nor-witch, Birming-HAM...