chunky

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...

Or as the Americans say, EdinBURG! The other ones that get me are Glass-cow and WimbleTon!

I always hated the so-called "speedway" fans who were quite happy to admit that they were only interested in watching the top boys. EVERY rider is important...

Funny, isn't it? Doesn't matter what name they used 'Boro (which is a strangely incorrect abbreviation) or Teesside, people had trouble with the spelling. That's why it's much easier these days with Reddcar...

Well, when a person asks a simple question on here, the only responses required are ones that are attempting to answer the question. Comments debating the value of the question, or worse still, the identity and motives of the questioner, are not actually required. Steve

Oh, you too!!!

Good timing! Great minds think alike!

I'd just like to remind you all that Zagar and Iversen add absolutely nothing to the GP's, and it is a complete travesty that they have qualified for next year...

Certainly should have been...

So? Is that important? Of course not - it is totally irrelevant. It doesn't - or shouldn't - matter why someone is record-keeping. Yes, it is nice when somebody is trying to produce something for public use, but even if it is just for personal use, it shouldn't be deemed useless because it doesn't benefit you. If somebody gets on here and asks a question for whatever reason, I do my best to provide an answer if I can, however trivial the question may seem. I certainly don't fill the thread with dismissive statements and pointless interrogation. My own website has developed into a valuable public resource, but when I first started keeping records, it was only for my own personal use. So, your point is? Steve

But what if you can't hear the bikes? Is that when are blowing it or when you are throwing it?