chunky

You're obviously special, then!

I agree. That's why I wanted to see some different angles. It happens...

Thing to remember is that under the old World Final system, it was possible for a rider to become World Champion without winning a race also! Okay, it never happened, but it was possible...

Great point! I remember all the "Open" fixtures on the calendar, which often used to end up as challenges. One of my main memories from 1969 was an end-of-season challenge at Plough Lane when the Dons took on a "London" team. I was there. I had no intention of missing it. It was speedway, so I went. And I enjoyed it You say about the individual trophy meetings. It was that variety that maintained our interest. A couple of league matches, then an individual meeting. Couple more league matches, then a KOC clash. Another league match, followed by a 4-Team Tournament. Great stuff!

You know, I love seeing the comments about James' name "fascinating" people. Oh, I get it, but what very few people realize is that speedway's James Bond came first! Not as a rider, obviously, but he was born in 1938, whereas Ian Fleming didn't create the literary character until 1953...

I know, but still... 1975 still seems so bloody recent to me. It's 48 years, I know, but go back 48 years the other way, and speedway didn't even exist in Britain! EDIT: You want to know what REALLY scared me? The next most recent after 1975 with all three medallists surviving is 1981...

Why do you think they have introduced playoffs into most sports? It's to "keep the interest", and to give "everybody a chance". It never used to be that way, and I was perfectly okay with that. As a professional sportsman myself, I was quite happy to see the best player/team win, even if it did mean the title was actually wrapped up before the end. You can see by the comments on here, how people dreaded the thought of Zmarzlik winning the title before the last GP. Why? He's the best, and he deserves it. What is so wrong with that? Can't people just enjoy the racing?

That's what I keep saying on here. Nobody watches sport for the "sporting aspect"; ie entertainment. The only thing they're interested in is sudden-death finals and results. Is there really something wrong with me watching speedway because I enjoy the racing?

Did he get the boot?

I get what you're saying, but the problem is the fact that sport is "ruled" by money these days. It's easy to say that it was a minor offence, or a technicality, but that is not the way that governing bodies look at things now; it's all financial, and about control. Teams and organisations are now producing contracts that are affecting their lives away from the sport (including social media), where they can go and what they can do/say, and rights to images and names. Competitors are getting much harder punishments for breaking these rules.

Absolutely.

Me too...

I took it with an old manual Olympus OM-10. God, I loved that camera...

I see what you did there! Bloody cheat...

You got it! I took at at the 1990 Press and Practice Day.

You mean the one that's about a foot away from me? British Speedway Leagues 1946-1964.

A bonus point if you know who took that photo?

As I said, it's the same in most sports today. In darts, for example, the players must agree to ALL the terms of the contracts, INCLUDING DISPLAYING THE MAIN SPONSOR(S) LOGOS. If not, they don't play. Like it or not, that's the way sports and sports contracts are these days. It was mentioned earlier how Zmarzlik was recently threatened with a fine for not standing in the correct position. It's the same with darts, and players can be fined for walking back from the board on the wrong side. Yes, ALL players are made aware of this stuff, so you can be sure that ALL GP riders know what they need to do.

His name's not Doyle!

Dammit... Good thing I don't ride then, as I'd probably be banned...

Oh, it doesn't go by age? That'll be the NEXT factor...

Didn't mess around with the watering either!

What does r/r count as?

When people whine about Cardiff, if ANY track needs a roof, it's bloody Vojens...

Yeah, I couldn't believe when I heard Phil say that!