TonyMac

Bruce Penhall is, of course, entitled to his opinion - just like you and the rest of us. Bruce was specifically asked to write about his rivalry with Kenny (not, as you suggest, to sell copies of our KC book - it's been advertised for the past two years and the book is about to sell out of its second print run), because to have avoided the issue would have been a total nonsense. Cowardice? Whether or not you happen to agree with his views about Kenny or Ivan Mauger, many would appreciate Bruce's honesty. However, what concerns me more is your totally inacurrate and potentially misleading observation about the content of our magazines? Whilst we, quite naturally, cross-promote the availability of Backtrack and Classic in each magazine, in the form of a subscriptions advert, we do not duplicate editorial content and have a very clearly defined policy. Backtrack focuses specifically on the period 1970-90. Classic covers pre-70s, but with emphasis on the 60s and post-war era. But then 99.9% of our readers already know this. Give me strength...

AS one who was involved in the 1982 World Final at the LA Coliseum ... no, it was not a financial disaster. The crowd of around 37,000 was the biggest at a speedway event for around 20 years... until exceeded by a GP at Cardiff. What made the staging particularly expensive was the fact that the promoters (Jack Milne, Harry Oxley, Barry Briggs and Ivan Mauger) had to stage a meeting at the Coliseum prior to the final to prove to the FIM that a World Final there was feasible. That cost an arm and a leg. But, don't forget, American speedway was very strong at that time, led by Bruce Penhall but with a huge supporting cast. America (Oxley and co) was awarded the 1982 Final under exceptional circumstances, which you can read more about in the up-coming Barry Briggs book Wembley and Beyond. In response to an earlier comment ... the crowd for the Latvian GP this year was their best to date but the city of Daugavpils was unable to continue with its financial support given the chronic economic situation in the country. The former lady mayor of Daugavpils, who had provided strong backing, moved to Riga and hopes that the former Soviet air base nearby would be converted into an airport attracting the likes of Ryanair and Easyjet proved fruitless. And Ole Olsen had no intention of relinquishing the post of GP Race Director until the FIM confirmed details of a new role for him. PHILIP RISING

For anyone considering buying our Kenny Carter book, Tragedy, as a Xmas gift....best to get in quick now because we have only 20 left and once they've all gone, there will be no further re-print. http://www.retro-speedway.com/ Or, if you don't have a PayPal account, phone us on 01708 734 502 and use your debit/credit card for payment. £15.99 - P&P is free in the UK.

Issue 34 of speedway’s favourite retro magazine is out now! Here’s what we have for you in another nostalgia-packed edition: WORLD FINAL versus GRAND PRIX As the 2009 season comes to a close and Jason Crump celebrates his third well-earned Grand Prix world title, we re-visit the ongoing debate about the respective merits or otherwise of the traditional World Final and the modern GP, and its damaging effect on the domestic scene in Britain. Our resident ‘experts’ John Berry and Tony Mac also examine how history could have been re-written. They look back on the 10 World Finals of the 70s and assess who would probably have won the title each year had the current GP series applied then. How many titles would Barry Briggs, Ivan Mauger, Ole Olsen, Peter Collins, Anders Michanek and Malcolm Simmons, etc, really have won under this formula compared to the knockout-style format that was abandoned by the FIM after 1994? It’s controversial, thought-provoking . . . so check it out and see if you agree with their conclusions. BRUCE PENHALL ‘Juicy Brucie’ is back with his second column all the way from sunny California. But what the double World Champion has to say about former England No.1 and his biggest rival Kenny Carter in this issue will no doubt cause a storm around Halifax and throughout West Yorkshire. The American is scathing in his highly personal condemnation of Carter for murdering his wife Pam in 1986. He also has the final world on their explosive Heat 14 World Final clash at the LA Coliseum in 1982 that still provokes strong argument among fans all over the world today. And Penhall also questions Ivan Mauger’s motives in agreeing to become Carter’s business manager and mentor for the 1981 and ’82 finals. MALCOLM SIMMONS Our other big-name columnist is, as usual, no less hard-hitting. Dismayed by the poor standard of racing at many GPs this season, Simmo asks why the elite riders have not got together and threatened strike action over slick track conditions. In a critical analysis of Tai Woffinden, he also doubts whether England’s great new hope for future glory is ready to have a crack at the GP series as early as 2010. And with typical controversy, the former England and Poole skipper is calling for regular testing of the GP stars’ engines to dispel growing rumours that there are some ‘big’ engines out there. WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Much travelled journalist Richard Bott, who covered speedway for the national press, reflects on his eventful trips to Poland and Sweden to cover World Finals in the 70s and how conditions then were so much harder than they are in the modern world of laptops, the internet and mobile phones. ROGER JOHNS Moore, Briggs, How and Hedge are all Wimbledon living legends . . . and so too is Roger Johns. Martin Neal catches up with the former Dons skipper to find out what he made of his time at Plough Lane, as well as his spells in the second tier with Eastbourne and Rye House. LEN SILVER To coincide with the launch of his new book, As Luck Would Have It (Retro Speedway £15.00), we present en edited extract covering Len’s two spells as England team manager. He explains the problems that led up to his sacking in 1976 and his resignation in disgust in 1981. JOHN LOUIS To mark ‘Tiger’ John’s 40 years in speedway, his former Ipswich promoter John Berry pays tribute to the rock on which the Witches were built and says why it’s time the town’s most famous shale star was honoured for his loyal services. Plus...Laurie Etheridge recalls his biggest night in speedway, when his NNLRC victory at Wimbledon put Crayford Kestrels on the map in 1975 . . . Phil Collins reveals his new hobby in the USA . . . Bob Radford continues on his global travels . . . and we’ve a Q&A with ex-Peterborough and Coventry star Kevin Hawkins, as well as your letters and more. http://www.retro-speedway.com/

Sounds like a good idea for a feature in the next issue of Backtrack...

I WAS curious to see a consensus of opinion on who the world's top 15 riders are and how that would marry up to the 2010 Grand Prix line-up. Magnus Zetterstrom hasn't appeared on anyone's list and that is hardly surprising so does that add weight to the argument that riders should have to qualify or does it reinforce the seeding scheme? PHILIP RISING

IT won't be long before we will know the names of the 15 permanent Grand Prix riders for the 2010 campaign. But, if you had to CHOOSE the 15 best riders in the world to take part, who would they be? PHILIP RISING

QUOTE (Robbie B @ Oct 8 2009, 11:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Can't wait for my copy to through the post, Tony. Nice to see a article on Roger Johns, a true Wimbledon legend Will there be a second installment of the 1970s magazine soon ? Good to hear. Yes, it's about time we interviewed Roger - what a loyal servant he was to the Dons and always good value. He must have been the first rider to be sponsored by an Indian restaurant and I recall some great nights with him and a group of friends (inc the Tatum brothers) down at the Somraz Tandoori in Worcester Park after Thursday night home meetings at Plough Lane. Wonder if the Somraz is still going? We have no immediate plans to produce Part 2 of the 70s mag. To be honest, we'd hoped Part 1 would have sold better than it has and we have to look closely at whether a second instalment would be worth it - especially in the current climate. Never say never, but not in the immediate future. Watch out, though, for a big announcement soon about our next DVD...

For those eagerly awaiting our next issue, here's a sneak preview of what's in store in issue 34: BRUCE PENHALL on Kenny Carter (seriously no-holds barred stuff from the American) MALCOLM SIMMONS column - more hard-hitting, no-nonsense stuff from Super Simmo, who, as usual, tells it like it is. ROGER JOHNS - exclusive, in-depth interview. LAURIE ETHERIDGE - on his NNLRC victory in '75. JOHN LOUIS - time the 'Tiger' was honoured. LEN SILVER - on his sacking (1976) and resignation (1981) as England team manager. RADFORD'S TRAVELS - Bob takes us on a return trip to Canterbury, Castleford, Coatbridge, Coventry, Costa Mesa, Cradley, Crewe, Dackarna (Malilla), Elgane, Eastbourne, Ellesmere Port, Exeter and Fredericia. WORLD FINAL or GP SERIES? John Berry and Tony Mac re-write history and predict how GP series throughout the 70s could have turned out. How many wins for Ivan, Ole, Mich, PC and co.?

ISSUE 6 (Autumn 2009) can be ordered direct from our Retro Speedway website now: http://www.retro-speedway.com NIGEL BOOCOCK ­ - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW England's leading rider of the 60s Nigel Boocock talks exclusively from his home in Queensland, Australia, while we also reflects on the ups and downs of a remarkable career that spanned 29 years and made him a popular speedway hero on both sides of the world. The Coventry legend looks back on his 18 seasons at Brandon and talks of his relationship with promoter Charles Ochiltree. He talks about his never-say-die attitude that thrilled thousands throughout his career and left him nursing some serious injuries almost from Day One, when he was a young rookie at Bradford. Booey also explains how he came to wear his famous blue leathers, why he was disappointed not to make the top three in at least one of his eight World Final appearances and the riders he admired most. BOB ANDREWS ­- EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Speedway was in turmoil in 1964 and Bob Andrews was at the centre of the National League/Provincial League conflict. Here the 'rebel' Kiwi, explains why he ended up in the high court at the Old Bailey after being sued by his club and briefly shunned by team-mates. Bob talks candidly about his early days with California and then progressing from novice to heat leader in the great Wimbledon team of the 50s before his bust-up with Ronnie Greene caused by his brief switch to Wolverhampton. He provides a fascinating insight into his World Pairs championship success with Ivan Mauger at Stockholm in 1969 ­ and reveals why a late-night visit to a Swedish sex shop played its part in their unorthodox build up to the big night! VIC WHITE ­- EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW He wasn¹t the greatest rider in the world, but Vic White has done more than most in a sport that has seen him succeed on both sides of the fence. We caught up with the driving force behind the WSRA, who had spells with Cradley Heath, Long Eaton, Newport and Leicester before becoming a team manager and promoter. ERIC WILLIAMS & LOUIS LAWSON We pay tribute to two former favourites who recently passed away. The ŒLittle Welshman¹ Eric Williams and Belle Vue legend Louis Lawson, who went close to winning the World Championship. Plus: How the Provincial League came into being in 1960 and much more in this latest feast of pre-70 nostalgia.

The new Len Silver autobiography - AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT: A COCKNEY'S TALE - is to be published by us at Retro Speedway. You can order it now via our website at http://www.retro-speedway.com/page.php?60 ALMOST since the day he was born in February 1932, it seems Len Silver has been dicing with danger. Whether it was avoiding German bombs in his native East London during The Blitz or the low-flying aircraft that nearly ended his life in the RAF, gaining a reputation as a tough but accident-prone young speedway rider or ski-ing at high speeds in the Alps . . . this ebullient Cockney character has faced numerous potential life-threatening situations head-on. As luck would have it - hence the title of his book - he has survived all the above and more - and lived to tell the tale. At 77 but with all the zest of a lively teenager, he looks back on a remarkable life that has seen him excel at pretty much everything he has attempted to do. Not that he has ever had it easy, as you will discover. Len recalls his battles to overcome the doubters who didn't think he would make the speedway grade as a rider and how Johnnie Hoskins gave him an unexpected boost after a spectacular second-half crash at West Ham Speedway. But after struggling to hold down a team place at Ipswich, where he was harshly treated by his first promoter, in the early 60s he became a Provincial League star with Exeter Falcons and the top rider in the second division. He explains why the biggest night of his career, winning the PL Riders' Championship in 1962, was tarnished by the attitude of the Belle Vue management. He tells how he had to supplement his speedway income, as both rider and promoter, with other businesses - most notably through the East End motor trade. Len reveals some of the ‘tricks of the trade’ that served him and his colleagues well during difficult times. And why he once feared a visit from the notorious Kray twins, who dominated the East End underworld crime scene in those days. Years later, Len’s passion for ski-ing inspired him to launch Silver Ski and he made the company the success it is today - despite resistance from the French authorities and one or two others (including a former fellow director) who tried to get in his way. Twice divorced, he talks about his early struggles in marriage, how his complex private life developed and why, despite the break-up of his marriage to second wife Hazal, they have remained very good friends and business partners to this day. He writes, too, about the rapid progress of his son, former Rye House, Arena-Essex, Swindon and Eastbourne rider Andrew Silver, and also explains why he suddenly quit racing in 1994. In 2009, at the age of 42, Andrew made a brave comeback at Rye House – and you can read what his ‘old man’ thinks about that as well. Len Silver will be best remembered, however, as one of British speedway's most prominent and successful promoters of his time - a genuine showman very much in the mould of his hero Johnnie Hoskins. He reveals his ongoing slog to keep Hackney going for 20 years and the many different PR stunts he pulled to get speedway established at The Wick against all odds. He twice revived Rye House and, at great personal expense, transformed it into the prime Premier League venue it is today. In between times, we also gain an insight into his involvement as co-promoter at Rayleigh, Crewe, Sunderland (the track that was “all run in one day”) and Weymouth, where, in his only season there, he was once moments from death until his track man saved his life. “It was a miracle and yet another example of how my ‘Guardian Angel’ came to my aid at just the right time,” he says, still moved by the experience. Len recalls some of the rider characters he encountered along the way, including all-time Hackney favourite Zenon Plech. Read how Silver smuggled him into England in the boot of his car and why the former Polish No.1’s full-throttle style led his angry boss to aim a punch at a referee and suffer a one-month ban for his actions! Len also provides an insight into ‘Crazy’ Jack Millen, who lived up to his name the time Silver went looking for him at Crewe. “I cried for a week when he died,” says Silver. He talks candidly, in the chapter titled Tragedy, where he reflects on the death of his own Hackney rider Vic Harding, and the career-ending injuries suffered by Eastbourne’s Steve Weatherley in the same horrendous crash at the East London track in 1979. Len was devastated by that fatal accident and he explains why he felt guilt after Reading’s Denny Pyeatt was also killed at his Hackney track three years later. “I couldn’t believe a rider could be catapulted as high as Denny was. What happened will live with me forever,” he admits. This multi-talented speedway legend brings us the inside story on his behind the scenes efforts to prepare the acclaimed World Final tracks at Wembley. Read how he overcame a succession of problems posed by the Football Association (and one club’s manager, in particular) – and why he was dismayed to receive such little thanks from his BSPA contemporaries for producing the perfect racing surface at the last World Final ever to be staged beneath the Twin Towers. Len is the most successful England team manager ever, uniquely guiding the lions to three consecutive World Team Cup Final victories during the golden era of the early 70s. In fact, in 39 senior Test matches spanning four seasons, his team lost only three matches - but that still wasn’t good enough for the people who appointed him. He lifts the lid on his controversial sacking in 1976 and, having been re-appointed in 1981, why he angrily resigned as the national boss and vowed never to manage England again. “I still can’t believe how badly treated I was,” he sighed. There is plenty to appeal to speedway supporters of all age groups in this absorbing tale of a Cockney kid made good. The 272-page softback As Luck Would Have It includes more than 150 pictures, many previously unpublished and a number of rare and fascinating images from Len’s personal collection. Len's story is supplemented by a substantial Tributes section - compiled by Gareth Rogers - in which many of his former colleagues, team-mates and others who rode for him for club and country record their own personal memories of the man widely recognise as the best post-war speedway promoter of them all. Contributors include: Bruce Penhall, Michael Lee, Ray Wilson, Malcolm Simmons, Dave Jessup, Chris Morton, Dennis Day, Barry Thomas, Colin Pratt, Laurie Etheridge, Malcolm Brown, Finn Thomsen, Bo Petersen, Dingle Brown, Terry Stone, Graeme Smith, George Barclay, Russ Dent, Dave Parry, Glyn Taylor, Tai Woffinden, Reg Fearman, Terry Russell, Peter Thorogood, Ian Thomas, Chris Van Straaten, Peter Sampson, Chris Neath, Kevin & Luke Bowen, Karl Fiala, Steve Naylor, John Sampford, Robert Mear, Stuart Robson, Tommy Allen and Daniel Halsey. Finally, for the statistically minded, there is a comprehensive season-by-season analysis of Len’s career as rider, promoter and team manager. For just £15,00, As Luck Would Have It represents tremendous value for money and the perfect gift at any time of the year. And typical of Len’s generosity, he will be donating all his profits from his book to the Speedway Riders’ Benevolent Fund.

ROB … I THINK you will find, especially over the next few weeks and months, that the SGP is an integral part of IMG’s future plans, especially within their growing motorsport division. IMG have moved from from being a client-based company, which as you rightly said, represents high profile sports starts like Tiger Woods and Roger Federer. But the relatively new CEO of IMG, now owned by a giant US investment company, comes from Nascar racing. They are more and more into owning the commercial rights of events and the SGP fits neatly into that category. They have a long-term plan because, as I understand it, their contract with the FIM runs until 2021 at least. Having that security allows them to look and plan ahead, unlike the Rugby World Cup for example for which they hold the rights for 2011 in New Zealand but not necessarily for England in 2015. Rob Armstrong, Vice President Motorsports, is the man who brought BSI into the IMG fold. During his first spell at IMG he had amongst his clients Sir Jackie Stewart. He then left IMG to run the Jaguar and Ford F1 teams for Stewart before returning to IMG where he still has the Stewart portfolio. Rob has this month switched his base from London to Auckland and Sydney as IMG’s motor sport interests there and across Asia expands. How will all this help speedway in Britain? Probably not a lot in the short term. IMG presumably hope that if the profile of the Speedway Grand Prix is raised across the world then more and more people will become aware of it, largely through increased TV audiences, the rewards for riders will grow significantly and aspiring young motorcyclists will look to speedway rather than, at present, motocross for a bright and lucrative future. I was at an early BSI meeting with the Grand Prix riders soon after John Postlethwaite had taken over at the helm and he said even then that while prize money was unlikely to raise dramatically, sponsorship income was where they would get their just desserts. Of course, that was easier said than done and while some, notably Tony Rickardsson, benefited hugely, others have not. A Grand Prix series, with six, seven, 11 or whatever rounds, is obviously a much better sponsorship prospect for international or even national commercial enterprises to become involved with than a one-off World Final with a fairly narrow audience. That is the theory. British riders have always found it a tough market to crack, those from Denmark and Sweden less so. And, for a while, there were several Polish companies eager to join the bandwagon. As IMG look more towards the sub-continent, where the recession has hit less hard, perhaps income for riders will increase. It is a big if and unlikely to affect crowds here but, of course, they look at a much bigger and very different picture. PHILIP RISING

HUMPHREY … SPEEDWAY’S World Championship is property of the FIM not the promoters of the various speedway nations and SVEMO and the PZM (unlike the BSPA of course) are affiliated national associations of not just speedway but all forms of motorcycle racing in their respective countries. If, for example, the BSPA set up its own series any riders taking part would not be licenced by the FIM and unable to take part in any other speedway or motorcycle racing outside of the UK. British representation at the FIM is through the ACU and they, like SVEMO, the PZM and the DMU, can make their voices heard in Geneva should they object to the selling of the SGP commercial rights to BSI and now IMG. The FIM’s income from the Grand Prix comes not only from their contract with IMG, which more than covers prize money, but also the inscription fees charged to each staging track. I am not sure what that is but it is in the region of $20,000. As with revenue from all other motorcycle disciplines, it goes into the FIM pot and we could discuss all night what happens to it after that. IMG would surely argue that they make a contribution to those actually running the sport at all levels via the FIM and if it doesn’t filter down then it is in Switzerland that the questions need to be asked. Owning the commercial rights does not give IMG total control. IMG own the rights to the Rugby World Cup but I doubt they would be allowed to move the goalposts if they wanted. They can no more control what happens on the rugby field than they can what on a speedway track. It is a partnership each with its own clearly defined role. Of course, they would hope to influence certain aspects but, as with the proposed new silencer regulations, the FIM have the final say. PHILIP RISING

GHOSTWALKER … SURE Croatia will join the series, probably next year and there is no doubt that Krsko may have run its course especially now that the local municipal authorities, who have helped the club financially, are short of money. ESKILSTUNA was always a closure waiting to happen and the profile for the SGP on the global stage is obviously much higher at Ullevi. But they have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds buying and transporting materials to Sweden, which they believe will ensure they can get the track right. The problem there this year was a very hot sun from a cloudless sky and a high wind. It was impossible to stop the track from drying out no matter how much water went on it. Interestingly, a product has come to light that, if mixed with water, retains moisture in the ground. Trials are taking place. HUMPHREY APPLEBY (is that your real name?) … 077.2.3 "The Race Director is responsible for the conduct and efficient running of the FIM Speedway World Championship Grand Prix (SGP)." 077.4.2 "Track Inspection - At each Grand Prix meeting, prior to any practice or racing taking place, the Race Director, accompanied by the Referee and the Clerk of the Course, must carry out a track inspection and if necessary, order any measure(s) to comply with every security provision for riders, officials and spectators." 077.4.4 "Stadium facilities inspection - The Race Director and the Speedway Grand Prix Promoter will carry out a stadium facilities inspection prior to the FIM Conference Meetings for final approval." Reg. 077.6 "The Race Director will decide on watering, grading etc. of the track according to the conditions." ALL of the above is correct but in terms of 077.6 it is very much a joint effort with the local guys. Some times they listen, some times they do not. There is no doubt that at Peterborough for the SWC this year the ‘local man’ got it right but that isn’t always the case. Olsen only really has total authority at temporary tracks. The amount of research that has gone into the materials and procedures required for temporary tracks is quite staggering but, as I have said before, there is no perfect recipe. It is not like baking a cake where you open a book, mix a few ingredients, put it in an oven and out pops a speedway track. And, at the risk of repeating myself, Olsen is as keen as anyone to get it right. He was a rider, he still loves watching great racing, he drools over young Emil, he has a great passion. If the FIM, who earn huge fees from the commercial rights, spent more of that income on speedway development, including track surfaces, rather than wasting time proposing a new silencer that could (believe me) totally wreck the sport we would all be better off. Attendances … the only official ones that are fed to the media are BSI events but the figures I was given in Latvia was 6,000 and Slovenia last weekend 8,800. I cannot recall what they were last year but both staging clubs rely on financial support from their respective cities. A misconception often seen on this Forum is that the attendance figures are the only consideration for the series. Of course they are critical for the local promoter along with any sponsorship and the money spent at the stadium by fans. From BSI/IMG’s perspective it is a much bigger picture with TV income and audiences the crux of the matter. This year’s British Grand Prix was watched by two million in India, the highest single TV audience in 2009. Not a massive number from a country with a population counted in billions but it is a start. ROB McCAFFERY (me old china) I honestly believe that the expectations of many continental fans in terms of actual racing is very different from those in Britain who see the whole thing from different eyes. We have been brought up in speedway terms very differently. Many, who possibly see only one event a year, are enthralled by the mere spectacle of speedway bikes sliding at such high speeds, the close contact and, let’s face it, spectacular crashes. The first 12 races on Saturday were boring, no doubt about it, but the second half came alive, at least it did if you were there. Fortunately no rider was seriously hurt but the incidents involving Harris, Hancock, Pedersen and Gollob (how did it get away with that?) were amazing. BSI are no doubt unhappy with Sky shunting two of the last three GPs onto the red button. At this time of the year, with so much other live sport, SKY have options but if Emil Sayfutdinov was British I wonder whether things would be different. I am sure Sky are not totally satisfied with the fare on offer but the fact that the two British boys are 14th and 15th in the standings cannot help. MARK EVANS … YOU will never halt progress, good or bad … Ivan Mauger won six World Championships by being the best gater. Chris Morton, one of the best racers I ever saw, won none. Times haven’t changed that much. Incidentally, I enjoy debating here as long as comments don’t (as often appears to be the case on some subjects) degenerate into slagging matches. What is the point of that? We will never all agree on anything other than a desire to see speedway get bigger and better. PHILIP RISING

RACERS AND ROYAL… I AM sure BSI/IMG would like the quality of racing (entertainment) at SGP events to improve but the remedy is not quite as easy as many on this forum seem to think. I think it is important to understand that what British fans might perceive to be boring and dull racing is not necessarily seen that way by viewers and spectators elsewhere. Attendances at SGP rounds this year have been more than acceptable – Latvia had their best to date, 20,000 were at Vojens, Krsko was an improvement on last year – but nobody is resting on their laurels. Yes, the FIM Jury – which is entirely divorced from BSI/IMG - do report on all aspects of the meeting that are within their jurisdiction … racing, fairness of gates, etc. What happens to those reports is anyone’s guess, however. Another contributor here suggests that the FIM should take the rights away from BSI for making a mockery of it. He or she obviously has no conception of what BSI do or do not control. All aspects of the actual racing – track, appointment of officials, including referees, the pits, rider facilities, machinery, etc, come under the FIM umbrella. First BSI and now BSI/IMG have made huge improvements to all aspects of the actual staging and running of a SGP event. If you read Speedway Star this week you will learn what making a mockery of speedway is really all about. Ole Olsen is a favourite target here but, believe it or not, his actual influence on the preparation of some tracks is nowhere near as much as you think. And it isn’t only SGP events that suffer from poor racing surfaces. How many British tracks are properly prepared? No that many. Sadly there is no cast iron formula for making “the perfect track” but very little effort or investment is made to try and solve the riddle. And let’s not lose sight of the fact that Emil Sayfutdinov had no complaints about the track in Krsko. As Barry Briggs – in my humble opinion among the greatest motorcycle riders ever – said: “Emil can see racing lines others cannot, he used the ruts to get grip, he is a fantastic talent and the only one who actually rode properly all night.” Perhaps that is why he, the youngest and most inexperienced rider in the field, won and Matej Zagar didn’t rather than because the track wasn’t to his liking. There is also the issue of tyres, which the FIM ignore and is again pinpointed in Speedway Star (yes, another plug) this week. Efforts to produce better SGP tracks, maybe even with an artificial surface, are on going. Racing in the old one-off World Finals was, in my eyes from 1962 to 1994, never that great and the occasion was dramatic because the World Champion was crowned that night rather than the entertainment served up through 20 often processional and action-less heats. We (and that includes Olsen and BSI/IMG) love to witness speedway on the perfect track. It is the Holy Grail of the sport and hopefully standards will improve. PHILIP RISING

Absolutely. Our new in-depth interview with Bob Andrews for the next issue of Classic Speedway includes a two-page personal account from him about how he and him won the 1969 World Pairs Final in Stockholm. Some funny and interesting stuff from BA...you'll have to read it to find out how Swedish sex shops got a mention as part of the Kiwis' pre-meeting build up! In fact, Bob didn't even want to ride in it at first because his bike was all ready to be shipped back to NZ. Bob says that not only do Ivan and he both consider their FIM medals as official, but that Ove Fundin also 'counts' his 1968 WP victory with Toby Harrysson as one of his official World Championship wins. I, too, can't understand why the FIM have, as has been widely reported, not granted the 1969 WP official status. The fact is, the programme for the Western zone semi-final held at Wimbledon in August '69 has the FIM's name and logo all over it.

Coventry fans, brace yourself for something a bit special coming your way very soon... Issue 6 (which went to press tonight) includes an 8-page exclusive interview with Bees legend Nigel Boocock. Booey looks back over the highs and lows of his illustrious career from his Brisbane home. You won't be disappointed...

OLE Olsen has a contract with the FIM until the END of 2010 and, as far as I know, intends to honour it. Tony Olsson was appointed assistant race director on the basis of being Ole's deputy for TWO years. The 60 minutes Grand Prix highlights programme, finalised the Thursday after each round, is in fact shown in over 100 countries. It is, of course, now marketed by IMG who have huge TV interests around the world. The total viewing figures for the SGP are being significantly improved by the fact that each event can now be seen live, along with the Sky commentary (good or bad) via the internet for around £5, though this is naturally blocked in certain countries, including the UK, Sweden, Denmark and Poland, which take a live TV transmission. It is, however, proving extremely popular in Australia and New Zealand. It is EXTREMELY unlikely that the SGP will go to Australia and New Zealand before 2011 and the number of GPs in Europe next year will probably be the same as this. While I wouldn't and couldn't argue that prize money in the SGP is nothing to shout home about, most riders (and this is undoubtedly an area where the Brutish contingent suffers) secure lucrative sponsorship in the back of TV exposure. PHILIP RISING

Thanks, it's nice to hear. For anyone who hasn't yet tried our free 7-minute DVD sampler yet, here's the link: http://www.retro-speedway.com/news.php?extend.31 We hope it gives potential buyers a decent flavour of the kind of candid, controversial and always entertaining stuff we've come to expect from Simmo. Love him or loathe him, he's good value and never dull. I can't think of too many riders, past or present, who could hold your attention for five-plus hours, in quite the way Simmo does.

You must have been on holiday on the nights Simmo went down to the County Ground and scored maximums for Poole against the Falcons! Seriously, on the DVD, there is a section devoted to Exeter and Malc's thoughts on the CG track. He admits he, like many, had a phobia about the place but the move to Poole - and 'local' derbies between Falcons and Pirates - forced him to get used to the fearsome circuit. He says there was nothing wrong with the Exeter track whatsoever and that all those who moaned about it (including him in his pre-Poole days) were wrong, and that it was 'all in the head'. He is very complimentary about Exeter - if not the robust tactics employed by Messrs Julian and (especially) Blewitt, which scared the life out of so many visiting riders.

I'm sorry if we are at fault here but if you have ordered the DVD and have not yet received it, then it would be better if you contacted us directly and we can try and resolve the matter for you satisfactorily. You're right in saying there was a delay in production - due to the large amount of content that had to be edited, it basically extended from one DVD to three (though at no extra cost to the customer), but all orders should now have been processed and despatched. No-one else has contacted us to say they haven't received theirs. Our number is: 01708 734 502. Thankyou.

Simmo couldn't have been that bad. He rode 40 matches in 1985 - more than any other Robins rider - and averaged virtually eight points overall. I'm in no way defending what Simmo did. But If you listen to the DVD, he admits he felt bad about what he did to reduce his average at the end of '85 and now regrets letting down the club, management, riders and supporters.

SIMMO: IN HIS OWN WORDS THE BRILLIANT BRAND NEW TRIPLE DVD! OUR much-acclaimed book, SIMMO: THE WHOLE TRUTH, sold out. Now hear Malcolm's compelling life story in his own words in DVD FORMAT, lasting more than FIVE hours across three discs! YES, THAT'S RIGHT, FIVE HOURS+, 3 DVDs AND FOR ONLY £16.00 (POST-FREE IN UK)! Listen to the former World No.2 and one of England's all-time greats as he lifts the lid on some of speedway's ‘secrets'. Hear him talk candidly about team-mates and rivals from his spells with Hackney, West Ham, King's Lynn, Poole, Wimbledon, Swindon and Arena-Essex. He reveals the highs and lows of his glittering career and how he provoked controversy on and off the track. Hear from the man himself why he now regrets deliberately throwing races in his last match for Swindon. Simmo also bears his soul about his private life - his mother leaving him at the age of 13, how he had suicidal thoughts after being sent to prison and much more. You'll be captivated by what Malcolm has to say about himself and others, while also enjoying the visual feast of hundreds of on-screen images of Super Simmo, including rare and previously unpublished photographs. There is also classic archive footage of Malcolm in typically majestic speedway action, grass-track action from his comeback period in the 90s, plus brief trials footage from 2007. Watch again that race with Peter Collins in Poland that effectively decided the 1976 World Final and hear what Simmo says he would have done differently, as well as his typically forthright opinions of PC and his other World Pairs-winning partners, John Louis and Gordon Kennett. And in a new interview filmed in July 2009, 63-year-old Malc brings us right up to date with what he's doing now, including his ongoing battle to defy his declining health to continue his passion for riding motorcycles. Every DVD sleeve is personally signed by Simmo himself and this great, new product is only available direct from us at Retro Speedway. So let Simmo join you in your living room today by ordering your copy now! ­ You won't believe your ears! TO TRY OUR FREE SEVEN-MINUTE SAMPLER AND ALSO TO ORDER THE WHOLE PACKAGE ONLINE NOW FOR JUST £16.00, GO TO http://www.retro-speedway.com

BRITISH SPEEDWAY IN CRISIS British speedway is in the grip of another crisis – and this time there are genuine fears that our sport is on the brink of losing its professional status. The sport’s history is littered with major setbacks – the introduction of Entertainment Tax and television in the 50s and the dreaded curse of VAT in the early 70s among the most drastic to threaten its existence – but there was always a cure on the horizon. However, this badly wounded patient is now fighting for survival on a life support machine and there are few signs of recovery. Of course, many of today’s ills are deeply rooted in the past, where problems arose and were allowed to fester to the point where they have become monumental and, in some cases, irreversible. 20 BIG PROBLEMS So where did it all go wrong? While the BSPA continue to sit on their hands and plan their next re-write of the rulebook, we’ve asked JOHN BERRY – the same man who should have been empowered to lead our sport out of this mess many moons ago – to recall the 20 Biggest Problems to afflict British speedway between 1970-90. Find out what JB believes was the worst thing to happen during the period under review . . . and see if you agree with him! IT’S NOT ALL BAD – 10 GOOD THINGS IT would be very churlish – and totally wrong – to try and claim that there were nothing but problems and negatives to arise throughout the 70s and 80s. We are all – fans, media and the people who run speedway – sometimes guilty of being too hard on our sport. That is only natural, because we care for it passionately, always want to see it make the best of itself and to appeal more to a much wider audience. The era Backtrack is all about will also be fondly remembered for a number of very positive things that served British speedway well and contributed to its self-proclaimed status as the nation’s second biggest spectator sport. Here we recall 10 very good things to come out of that period in time, which still evokes lots of happy memories for many of us . . . BRUCE PENHALL & MALCOLM SIMMONS JOIN THE BACKTRACK TEAM We are delighted to announce the ‘signing’ of Bruce Penhall and Malcolm Simmons, two of the finest riders to grace the BL scene during the 70s and 80s. They present the first of their regular columns in this issue. Double World Champ Penhall reflects on his early days in England in 1978, while former World No.2 and British Champion ‘Simmo’ has plenty of typically forthright views on the state of the sport today compared to his era. Read what he thinks of the GP tracks, the clothing worn by modern day riders, the recent SCB investigation into points-throwing allegations and more. SCOTTISH SPECIAL There is a distinct Scottish flavour to this issue. With plenty to interest fans of both Glasgow and Edimburgh. We’ve got a new, exclusive four-page interview with former Tigers and Monarchs favourite BOBBY BEATON, who also starred for Hull in the top flight. Richard Bott has unearthed some cracking tales from Bobby, who is now driving a coach for a living. Mike Hunter presents his Scotland Dream Team from the 1970-90 period. Who made it in and who was left out? Martin Neal talks to Bobby’s father, JIMMY BEATON (Senior), about his determined struggle to keep Glasgow Speedway alive through thick and thin since he first joined the promotion at Hampden Park in 1972. And our intrepid reporter stayed up in the far north to visit and photograph all eight of Glasgow’s former home venues. Talking of travel, the globetrotting Bob Radford presents the first of his reviews of all the tracks he visited during the Backtrack era – starting at Arena Essex with 11 more venues also under scrutiny from one of the sport’s most travelled scribes. In another new feature, we talk to PAUL THORP, who recalls his Big Night in winning the 1986 NLRC wearing the colours of Stoke Potters. From Australia, we catch up with the hard-riding CARL ASKEW, who looks back on his days with Birmingham and Oxford. In the south-east, we popped along to the recent Romford Bombers reunion, where old Bombers Des Lukehurst, Frank Wendon, Stan Stevens, John Hibben and general manager Maurice Morley were reminiscing about the early 70s at Brooklands. http://www.retro-speedway.com/

I do welcome genuine opinions - good or bad - and you are, of course, entitled to yours, just as everyone else is. Doesn't mean that I will agree with it, though! Just think you are completely wrong with your 'bottom of the barrel' style comments because there is still a great deal of ground for us to cover within our existing timescale of 1970-90, without the need to extend it. You mention your interest in defunct tracks. Hopefully, if you decide to buy the latest issue, you will particularly enjoy the start of our new Bob Radford's Travels feature, where he reviews the venues he visited during the period. Martin Neal has also visited and photographed all eight past and present venues of Glasgow Speedway as part of our Scottish special. We've appointed two new star name columnists in Malcolm Simmons and Bruce Penhall. Simmo, as expected, has plenty of very forthright things to say about the state of speedway today compared to his time. Bruce will be dealing with his feud with Kenny Carter in his second column. I wouldn't describe those you have mentioned as sychophantic. They happen to like Backtrack and have simply said so as their kind way of supporting and endorsing what we try to do. It's always nice to hear that we are appreciated and makes it all worthwhile.