TonyMac

Thank you, we have looked into... we passed on your comment to Seymour, Speedway Star's distributors, and they’ve investigated it today and came back with this... "We have checked all the details and barcode and it's all ok and scans fine, so not sure what the issue is as we have had no negative reports from any retailer."

Hopefully most people (who experience similar delivery problems and frustration with other mail) understand that the people at Speedway Star are not to blame and have no control over the delivery process.

No, we've not covered Newport yet and hopefully will do so in the future. Next up after Reading is Wimbledon. Thanks for your interest.

Yes, totally agree. 4TTs also NEGATE the need for guests (or they should do)

YOUR RYE HOUSE For my regular Backtracking column in Speedway Star I'm asking fans of different clubs – past and present – for their personal thoughts on what immediately springs to mind whenever your team is mentioned. This time we're talking...RYE HOUSE - Roosters, Red Devils or Rockets! Over the years which riders, meetings, incidents and people associated with this famous old club stand out in your mind – and why? It’s not only open to home fans – visitors’ recollections of visits to the Hoddesdon raceway are also welcome. Cover as many different aspects as you like but please don’t simply type names – add some supporting comment explaining exactly what they mean to you. Home meetings only. Best contributions will appear in print. Thank you for taking part. To help prompt you, here are several names and poignant reminders plus a bunch of photos to whet your appetite and get those memory juices pumping… * Mike Broadbank and all the many training school attendees, Brian Foote, Kelvin Mullarkey, Hugh Saunders, Ted Hubbard, Karl Fiala, Bobby Garrad, Ashley Pullen, Kevin Smith, Peter Tarrant, Marvyn Cox, Steve Naylor, Andrew Silver, Jens Rasmussen, Mel Taylor, Paul Woods, Ali Stevens, Martin Goodwin, etc. * Promoters and managers Dicky Case, Len Silver, Colin Pratt, Hugh Saunders, John Sampford, etc. * Those 70s and 80s derbies v Mildenhall, Peterborough and Hackney. * Herts Gold Cup, Lea Valley Trophy, Ben Fund Bonanza. * Big Arthur flogging Speedway Mail, the lovely 70s cheerleaders, Norman Kingsbury, Bill Mathieson, the little mascots (Troy Pratt, Andrew Silver and John Wainwright), the Trackstar Junior Leaguers, announcers Ted Sear and Rob McCaffery, the River Lea bursting its banks, the "best fish and chips" in speedway... the Rye House pub and so much more. * The 2002 revival and beyond... Tommy Allen, Luke Bowen, Steve Boxall, Tai Woffinden, Edward Kennett, Chris Neath, Linus Sundstrom, Stuart Robson, Chris Harris, Scott Nicholls, etc. Thanks - now over to you..... please get involved and spread the word to your friends... I want this to fill four pages in Speedway Star, to keep the name Rye House at the forefront of readers' thoughts. COPY DEADLINE: NEXT WEDNESDAY PM (Oct 30)., please... * If you would prefer to respond by email, send it to me at retroeditorial@gmail.com

Thanks to our stats man Doug Nicolson, NICOLSON'S NUMBERS does occasionally compile and print Guest Tables - one showing teams and how their respective guests have performed; the other an individual chart showing the best guests in terms of points and averages.

YOUR HALIFAX For my regular Backtracking column in Speedway Star I'm asking fans of different clubs – past and present – for their personal thoughts on what immediately springs to mind whenever your team is mentioned. This time we're talking...HALIFAX. Over the years which riders, meetings, incidents and people associated with this track stand out in your mind – and why? Which pubs did you drink in before and after meetings? It’s not only open to home fans – visitors’ recollections of The Shay are also welcome. You can mention as many different aspects as you like but please don’t simply type names – add some supporting comment explaining exactly what they mean to you. Best contributions will appear in print. Thank you for taking part. To help prompt you, here are several suggestions… Dukes reborn in 1965 - Long Eaton first visitors. The 1966 double-winners. The Aussies: Kentwell, Kingston, Gavros, Jameson, Sharpe, etc. Eric Boocock and his 1974 Testimonial - the first Sunday meeting ever held at The Shay. Eric and Bonnie Boothroyd. Dave Younghusband, Chris Pusey, Charlie Monk, Henny Kroeze, Mike Lohmann, Ian Cartwright, Kenny Carter, Merv Janke, Mick McKeon, John Louis, Neil Evitts, Steve Baker, Larry Ross, etc. Dews Trophy, Shaytona, Autumn Classic. Over to you.....

YOUR GLASGOW For my regular Backtracking column in Speedway Star I'm asking fans of different clubs – past and present – for their personal thoughts on what immediately springs to mind whenever your team is mentioned. This time we're talking...GLASGOW. Over the years which riders, meetings, incidents and people associated with this famous old club stand out in your mind – and why? It’s not only open to home fans – visitors’ recollections of various Tigers' home venues are also welcome. You can mention as many different aspects as you like but please don’t simply type names – add some supporting comment explaining exactly what they mean to you. Best contributions will appear in print. Thank you for taking part. To help prompt you, here are several suggestions and reminders… The White City, Hampden Park, Coatbridge (1973-77 - it still counts!), Blantyre 1 & 2, Shawfield, Ashfield. Ian Hoskins, Trevor Redmond, James Beaton, Danny Taylor, Les Whaley, Neil Macfarlane and other promoters and management. Tommy Miller, Junior Bainbridge, Ken McKinlay, Charlie Monk, Jimmy Mac, Oyvind S. Berg, Doug and Willie Templeton, George Hunter, Bobby Beaton, Brian Collins, Merv Janke, Steve Lawson, Andy Reid, the McKinna bros Charlie, Kenny and Martin, Jason Lyons, Shane Bowes, Robert Nagy, Chris Harris, etc. Tragic Svein Kaasa. Local derbies against Edinburgh. Thanks - now over to you...

Wasn't John Earrey the first announcer/presenter to use a roving mic at a British track? He was a master at it. Loved his signature 'sign-off line just before he stopped speaking': "So long as we know..." JB's acerbic programme notes (inc 'Slightly Sideways') were always well worth a read.

YOUR IPSWICH For my regular retro column in Speedway Star I'm asking fans of different clubs – past and present – for their personal thoughts on what immediately springs to mind whenever your team is mentioned. This time we're talking...IPSWICH. Over the years which riders, meetings, incidents and people associated with this track stand out – and why? It’s not only open to home fans – visitors’ recollections of Foxhall Heath are also welcome. You can mention as many different aspects as you like but please don’t simply type names – add some supporting comment explaining exactly what they mean to you. Best contributions will appear in print. Thank you for taking part. To help prompt you, here are several suggestions… * The 1975-76 and 1998 double-winning teams * Berry, Thurley, Bagley, * Harrhy, J Louis, Davey, Sanders, Nygren, Sigalos, Cook, Doncaster, Loram, Gollob, Rickardsson, C Louis, Nicholls, etc. * A Walk in the Black Forest * John Earrey: ‘So long as we know’ * The back straight bugler * Star of Anglia * The KO Cup finals

Thanks to all for taking the time and trouble to respond. Cheers, TMc

You are probably thinking of red-haired Terry Heath.

YOUR HACKNEY For my regular Backtracking column in Speedway Star I’m asking fans of different clubs – past and present – for their personal thoughts on what immediately springs to mind whenever their team or track is mentioned. Over the years which riders, meetings, incidents and people associated with this track stand out – and why? It’s not only open to home fans – visitors’ recollections are also welcome. You can mention as many different aspects as you like but please don’t simply type names – add some supporting comment explaining what they mean to you. Best contributions will appear in print. Thank you for taking part. To help prompt you, here are several suggestions… * ‘Make it a Date, Friday at Eight’ * Leaping Len, Pratty, Benga, Cass the Gas, Thommo, Mort, Plechy, Bo Pete, Pavitt, Russell, Loramski, Louis, Galvin, Moggo, etc * Hawks and Kestrels * The ‘lucky’ 50 pence piece * Snowie Beattie’s weekly fiddle * Hawkeye and Birdbrain, Bert Busch, Ken Archer, Alf and Keith Weedon, Big Arthur, Bryn Williams * Superama, Champions Chase KO, NL Best Pairs * Terry Ripo, Ted Sear * Sampson’s Coaches

Many thanks to all for your responses - some real crackers here.

ZERO TO HERO is the subject of our next SOCIAL DEBATE feature in Speedway Star. Question is: Which rider at your club (past or present) didn't you rate, had little hope for when he first arrived . . . BUT he turned out to be, if not world class, then a much better rider than you could ever have expected? Please name the team, rider and your reasons. Best responses will appear in Speedway Star... Thank you. Ivan Mauger is probably the ultimate example but very few among us now would have seen him struggling as a novice at Wimbledon in 1957.