moxey63

Sent home from school again, Jim, to self isolate?

Over the years, in large, speedway has relied on regular fans introducing family members or friends to keep it going. The problem arises when these regulars stop attending or pass away, and then speedway's next generation disappears with them. The sport is more than just about the racing spectacle. It sounds off-putting, but newcomers need to be introduced to the art of filling in a programme as soon as possible. Otherwise, however thrilling it initially is - four men skidding at speed into bends - it gets tedious before the end of the night when you don't know what's going on. I recall my first visit in 1975. Until I discovered the merits of keeping a programme, it was thrilling but I wasn't hooked. Perhaps clubs, if they already haven't, should make a special effort to encourage newcomers in groups. Educate them on the basics of the sport and not rely on keeping them just because it's a great spectacle. Speedway is more than that.

It is mostly pish, Jim. That's why the sport is clinging on to the few diehards who just like keeping scores in their programme. Somehow, I cannot see the young brigade rushing to save it.

Childish, JIm. Think your saw's losing its teeth.

The idiots are the ones still paying nearly £20 to attend speedway despite saying it's poor value.

They don't seem to like speedway, judging by the crowds I see on TV.

No. Totally different sports. Thought it was a speedway forum. Like asking do I prefer Frank Sinatra's version of My Way or the Sex Pistols' attempt.

Seems some disagree, going to the reaction to my last post. Some are still happy with the tedious delays and then wonder why new, younger fans with zero concentration levels aren't swarming to the sport.

Speedway matches would end faster if "promoters" actually worked on the track before the crowd was in the stadium and not during the meeting, referees chose not to call a restart umpteen times a night, and the gaps between heats were cut and didn't actually cause concern whether the club had gone bust since the last race.

Nicely put mikebv. Said it ages ago, but was ridiculed by others on here who now agree with it. Speedway is not a team sport anymore. Riders have become agency workers just trying to earn a living riding for money and not caring whose colours they wear, and fans are being robbed - or those fans are who still believe it's a team game. I would feel like Matt Hancock's missus if I supported a team that contained riders I knew were also getting their oats somewhere else and not serving my needs fully when having a bad night.

My Star hasn't arrived this week, the second time in little more than a month. This isn't a complaint, as I only read the old stuff anyway. But it has dawned on me, as the mag comes without an address and just pushed through the letterbox, I wonder is it being posted somewhere else and they just bin it thinking it's junk mail? At least with an address attached, if it goes to the wrong house they can redirect.

It is down to stadium owners. However, speedway's short-termism for almost 100 years means it owns very few stadiums and is not fully in control of its own destiny.

Fans with money, which promoters mainly are, should not be able to run the sport. They annually admit to being at the helm when their track loses thousands of pounds and learn enough to do the same the next season. Surely any bright spark would fathom out that, one day, the cash will be gone and the track will be in trouble. Living beyond your means has been speedway's problem. All the SKY cash went on keeping star riders happy, and then they all f**k*d off when it ran out. My feelings on the way the sport has been run are well documented on here. It is sad the way things are going, but I told you so.

For those not wishing to sit through three hours on a Monday night, you could watch Eurosport's one-hour highlight package. However, and they have not learned in 30 years, Eurosport has a tendency to cut out large chunks of the heats. This time they went from Heat 1 right to Heat 7. So don't rely on the highlights, it'll drive you barmy. The highlights were 55 minutes in all with numerous ad breaks. My advice is to tape the live version and whizz through the wasted space.

Always impressed with the pre-season special. On the flip side, got withdrawals because there are no nostalgia articles.

Simon Wigg rode twice in the team with Bruce Penhall and five times (of the 15 matches) after the American retired in August. I don't think Wigg was used as Penhall's replacement and Cradley could only operate R/Re.

The four reserve rule was utilized at Belle Vue during 1982. Ian Thomas had been appointed team manager at Hyde Road during the year and introduced Rod Hunter and Bobby Beaton from his National League Newcastle team to the BV squad. I seem to recall Thomas signed Beaton for the Aces from recently defunct Hull so he could use him with Newcastle in the lower league on a bargain 7.50 average. Out-of-sorts Peter Ravn was the early casualty to make way for the reserves shake-up. Sixteen-year-old Andy Smith was also given a few appearances for the Aces. In fact, Hunter and Smith were called up for the second leg of October's Knock-Out Cup Final (vs. Cradley) to replace regulars Jimmy McMillan and Peter Carr. Both had endured a disappointing first leg the week before at Dudley Wood. McMillan was still miffed about being axed, almost 40 years later, when he recalled it in a recent Speedway Star interview.

Thank you, TWK. Look after yourself.

I am glad I visited the site today. Before then, I felt my problem with other members was all of my doing.

Steve Roberts contacted John Hyam and got a reply. You also contacted him, but he chose not to converse with you. I also got sick of your constant jibes why I no longer attend matches (because I don't get in for free) and stopped coming on here. I honestly felt I was being bullied and expect John felt the same.

I am sure John will explain why he left the forum and has disappeared from other social media - when he replies to your emails. Or you could get Steve Roberts to ask for you. By the way, I have no problem with you. It was the way you thought you knew me more than I knew myself I didn't care for. When I turned the tables on you and did the same, you had a hissy. I don't come on the forum much nowadays. Since tonight's visit, I find I am not alone. Same reasons too.

Thanks, White Knight. I felt sorry for the way some treated John as if he was some doddering old fool whose opinion counted for little. I fully understand why he felt enough was enough. God forbid you to have a different opinion than some of those on here. Like you, I also no longer post as much as before. In fact, I forget this forum even exists. Best let the people with the same opinions keep it going. Not worth the hassle to disagree with them and have the gang surrounding you. I am just surprised they are shocked Mr Hyam doesn't reply to their emails! Think that says it all.

I thought that too. The forum became a playground for and controlled by bullies. Because of this, I guess John Hyam lost the passion to post on a sport he's loved for decades. Sad really.

Think the News Team delivery service must have delivered mine this morning, very early too (before 8 am). Couldn't understand how it was on my doormat despite having no address on it (or no envelope). Thought I was going daft, maybe it had been delivered to the wrong address and opened. Great service though.

Here is Graham Warren's career record. The facts are taken from Matt Jackson's brilliant disc of information from the 1940s (more please, Matt!). Year Club Division M R P BP TP CMA FM PM 1948 Birmingham NL2 40 178 416 25 441 9.91 12 5 1949 Birmingham NL1 40 163 403 14 417 10.23 9 3 1950 Birmingham NL1 36 151 388 16 404 10.70 11 9 1951 Birmingham NL1 27 111 200 17 217 7.82 2 - 1952 Birmingham NL1 40 170 291 37 328 7.72 1 4 1953 Birmingham NL1 19 80 131 14 145 7.25 - - 1955 Birmingham NL1 16 71 70 23 93 5.24 - - 1959 Coventry NL 9 29 11 2 13 1.79 - - 1960 Coventry NL 15 41 54 6 60 5.85 - - 1961 Wolverhampton PL 17 76 182 3 185 9.74 4 - 1962 Wolverhampton PL 23 96 185 5 190 7.92 2 - 1963 Wolverhampton PL 11 42 76 4 80 7.62 - -