chunky

I would just like to make a point here... It's easy to sit on the other side of the world and make judgements based on casual observation, and I've become all too familiar with the British stating that we need to get rid of guns here in the US. I don't like guns, and I do not own one - yet. The thing to remember is that, while you may want to take all the guns away from the law-abiding general public, that would only cause more mass shootings. Whatever happens, criminals will ALWAYS have guns, and by taking away the opportunity for the public to defend themselves, the criminals would be free to do what they want. Many of the mass shootings of innocents we have had would have been prevented had individuals in those locations actually been armed at the time. I know it's bad that it has got this far, but disarming the public is NOT even close to being any kind of solution... Steve

You know, it wasn't at the same level as those mentioned, but if I had to plump for an evenly matched father and son pairing, I think that Bob and Michael Coles would be contenders, as would Mike and Leigh Lanham. For evenly matched brothers, I feel Jack and Norman Parker would be right up there, as would David and Kevin Smart. Back to the original question, and I would have to go for John Louis, and although I hate to say it, Jason over Phil... Steve

It happens. Just because it has happened twice already this season doesn't prove anything. I've attended a number of matches over the years where teams have finished two or three riders short. Steve

And would that prove anything? The problem is that as often happens on the BSF, the thread has now devolved into nothing more than a battle of "OPINIONS". Without statistics to substantiate a particular viewpoint, the viewpoint is rendered useless. Even with statistics, it is likely to prove inconclusive. Let's take this specific example (based on a hypothetical statistic) : There have been five more injuries in March 2015 than there were in March 1985. Does that mean that speedway is now more dangerous? Does that mean that track preparation is not what it was? Does that mean that riders today are less skilled? Does that mean that riders today are less fit? Does that mean riders today have just been unlucky? Maybe there are more injuries this year - which would prove nothing. Maybe there are fewer injuries this year - which would prove nothing. Still, it would be nice if somebody could compile a complete list of every injury on British tracks from every March, and taking into account the exact number of riders, exact number of meetings, and exact number of races, and publish the complete statistics - in order to prove NOTHING! Steve

Statistics NEVER lie. Lies are what happen when individuals attempt to find their own reasoning for the said statistics... Steve

You've got a cheek saying that; he was usually at the rear... Steve

You forgot : 6) Wally Green 7) Richard Green 8) Greenford Speedway 9) Centre green Steve

I don't know where the information in that post came from, because white was always the helmet colour for gate 3, and yellow & black for gate 4. Plus, the yellow & black was either striped (in the old days), or quartered. Green has long been considered an unlucky colour in speedway, which is why very few riders would have green leathers. As far as a green helmet colour, it was used in six-rider races, and in recent years, Sky replaced the white helmet colour with a green one. Steve

The Mirror and Sun used to post league results, and the London evening papers published the line-ups for that evening's action at the London tracks. Steve

As a kid, I remember the prefabs in Carshalton, but I am shocked to hear that Tubby Isaac's closed down! Big piece of London history, there... Steve

I came close to including that one! Steve

Those three definitely! That Scarisbrick race was incredible... My others? Penhall and Olsen - Wembley '81. Roger Johns beating Peter Collins from the back on his way to a maximum at Plough Lane in '79 or '80. Johns and Jancarz last heat 5-1 over Olsen and Shirra to a draw (possibly '78). Joe Screen splitting Hamill and Swist in Poland. PC, Olsen, Jessup, and Titman in 1978 IC Final at White City. Like waihekeaces1 said, PC and Lee from the 1977 IC Final. Jan O Pedersen winning the 8-man final at the 1990 Goldbarre in Vojens (if you haven't seen it, you need to!) Steve

Ah, I was at Custom House that night! Christer Lofqvist's first appearance, and Sverre Harrfeldt breaking his arm after Peter Murray took him off... Steve

Well, I am another who actually went to speedway before I was old enough to be aware of anything. I was told that I went the week before I was born, and three weeks after. Seeing that the match on 6th August was rained off, I would guess that my debut at Plough Lane would have been on Monday 13th August, 1962. Again, while I can't remember that evening specifically, I will say that some of my earliest childhood memories are those from speedway. I remember "Olle white-boots", Mike "Zoomer" Coomber, and Leif Soderberg. As a young child, I remember us spending a weekend with Briggo in Southampton. I remember the trips across London to Custom House... Ah, the memories... Steve

I can't recall the exact circumstances of most of those mentioned, but of course, Erik Gundersen's crash had nothing to do with fences or other safety measures; it was just a racing accident, of which I have seen many. It was mentioned earlier in the thread about the tracks "being to blame". What I feel is that, as speedway has drifted away from "dirt-track racing" to slick tracks and "blue grooves", more riders are hitting the fence than ever before. Just my opinion... Steve

It really does seem that there was a particularly bad era for on-track tragedies in the UK from the mid-70's to the mid-80's. I will do a little research and publish the findings. Steve Edit : According to my records, there have been a total of 80 fatal accidents on British tracks, from 1928 to the present. From 1928 to 1931, there were 18 fatalities on British tracks, including 6 in 1929, and 5 in 1931. From 1932 to 1945, there were 7. From 1946 to 1953, there were 22 (with 4 each in 1948 and 1953). From 1954 to 1971, there were 10 (with 1956 having two - the only year with more than 1), In 1972 there were 2. From 1975 to 1984, there were 16 (with 3 in 1977 and 1983, and 2 each in 1975, 1979, 1982 and 1984). Since 1984. there have been just 5 fatalities on British tracks.

This will explain a little more (the Showground was also known as the Royale)... http://www.vintagespeedway.com/Sportsground.html Steve

I do agree that Hackney wasn't the safest of tracks, a fact shown by the number of tragedies there. However (and as a Wimbledon supporter, this is embarrassing for me to say!), it was also a superb racing track. It was a track with multiple racing lines, including out in the dirt. Watching Thommo in action there was brilliant! Steve

Got to agree with you! Love Herb Alpert - and Roger Whittaker and Jim Reeves... Steve

Gil Farmer indeed; don't forget Alan Farmer from Ipswich and Wimbledon either,,, He's in the team with : Howard Kohlrabi Andy Sell-ery Ian Turnip Jason Onion Shane Hearty-choke and a couple of Swedes (including a has-bean who rode for the Doncaster Scallions). Steve PS Almost forgot Veg Luckhurst...

Come on, norbold; surprised you haven't come up with : Pratt's BotTOM FARNorough LangDON! And that was without leaving Kent! Steve

I see, I see... Couldn't find a way to use "Tadeusz", though! Steve

Jeez... I think WANTAGE and KERRY should come into play here! Steve PS Yes, please note that this is intended to be a humorous post... PPS I'll see if I can come up with something for Konstanty Pociejkowicz and Zbigniew Marcinkowski...

Well, I would certainly have included Jimmy Gibb, and also George Pepper... Steve

Dave "Tiger" Beech Mark Cherry "Sprouts" Elder (riding a dirt-track Douglas Fir) Spruce Penhall Howard Coleus Holly Nygren and, of course... Graham Plant... Steve