moxey63

Don't know about llanguage on here being called into question... Thamsanqa Jantjie, at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service, he needed moderating.

Still think I'm right.. I do have a slight insight into speedway's history, thank you... I know the boom and bust years off hand. Must also add, never before has there been a period of money coming into the sport via live TV coverage (SKY)... but where has the money gone? Never before has the sport warranted as much airtime. But what good has come of it? Possibly the same people still attend that did 15 years ago (minus me, o' course) Regards promoters (a loose term of phrase) propping up clubs so they can survive... isn't that why the sport is a come day, go day sport? If the animal is suffering, then let it drift off with some dignity. It'll only cost more in vets' bills if you dilly-dally. Perhaps the reason the sport is as it is, is indeed because we let people run the sport who are (um de dum) quite hapy to lose money hand over fist. Perhaps, had they intended to make a profit, surely they would try to lessen their mistakes... and speedway, fans and anyone with and interest, would be better served. Instead of all the hassle, wouldn't any sane person just open up his wallet on a windy day and wave a grande bye to his hard earned cash (even five or ten pounds), instead of putting his home, his family's lifestyle at risk, just so a group of dwindling fans can have their night out? If they are so intent to lose money, I know of someone who'll gladly accept it. It doesn't make sense. Anybody losing money the way promoters do (apparently) must be ape sht crazy. You wouldn't, would you.. even buying a bag of crisp, getting outside the store and throwing them away... is that what the promoters are doing with their money, which they have built up through hard work and business sense, only to go mad and throw it away for the speedway. The debate continues. SKY are still aboard and yet, I bet, this time next season we'll still be discussing the sport and its one year closer to greeting the grim reaper. I hear the Speedway Star has at least one week's edition set aside in the winter to discuss it.

For crying out loud, don't threat who leaked the details... the good news is, SKY have given us another shot at stardom. Let's repay them by whipping the sport back into something like the shape we are proud of. The only negative is that Stay-At-Homes (like me) won't be persuaded to leave their four walls if there are matches every week, but that's fine for the likes of me. I a believe that track shoudl begin allowing any youngster under a certain age in for free, as long as they are linked with an adult. I mean, we go on about advertising, but how many of us actually found out about speedway through advertising? How many were taken along by someone else who attended regularly? I know I am in the latter group. I also introduced my younger brother, the both of us would never have known about speedway (despite its high-profile back then) and have followed the sport 30-odd years. Just glad SKY remain on board for now.

Have taken time to give constructive criticism, in my time stood on the terraces, but my advice wasn't listened to and I therefore followed the only other avenue I knew... no longer attending, which I would have stopped doing sooner but really prayed the old girl would change her ways. Alas, like Mr Mox, many others turned off and headed right down the very same avenue.

People should give their heads a wobble. defending the people who have taken SKY multi-million deal over 15 years and have nowt to show for it. The boom years of the 70s and post-war, you could say the same. Posts that believe there is nothing wrong with speedway and the way it's been run over time should perhaps begin questioning why it is in such dire straits. The sport is hanging on by the skin of its teeth; clubs relying on landlords not selling for redevolpment soon after the last heat time is given. Speedway is a come day, go day sport. Come on... you know it's the truth.

Speedway has a history of wasted opportunities, so why should today`s lot of promoters be an improvement? A the big crowds from the various eras were taken for granted, the gate monies vanished instead of planning for the future. Speedway is a entity without a base, a little like a homeless person, and relies on kipping under somebody else's roof instead of forward planning when times were better. The Sky money long gone, all that's left is a list of rundown stadiums where shady businessmen turn up once a week to run a once highly-regarded sport from a porta-cabin, two if the track's doing well.

Leaving out details shouldn't be encouraged and all information should be admitted where possible. Otherwise it is like a Man U fan supplying only their victories (deleting losses) in the season record, which I'm sure they would like to. I admire anyone who wants to put a record together... but ignoring Tai Woffinden's Conference League actviity is akin to getting a shock when a big name celeb crops up on that Before They Were Famous tv show. Tai actually dabbled a little in official competition before making it big at Wolves - and anyone new to the sport in, say, five years time will be robbed of this information... without the data available to compliment the full CV. If compiling records is worthwhile, let's not cheat and supply only the figures we think are worthy.

All this modern tech... try bluetacking your bloody exteroid (whatever it's called) to you bedroom wall when your favourite star is on the front cover. It don't work... so I'm out and will stick to the paper version. I'll have to be dragged into the new tech era and am just coming to terms with the barcode on the front.Regarding old srars being on the cover... PC this week... and people saying it won't attract new fans. Maybe so. But in ASDA before, I picked up a vopy of the Star (with PC on the cover) and, low and behold, a fellow right behind me picked up the other copy!

There's a fine line between darts and whether it's a sport or a game. Sad thing is, people know the names of more darts' players than any current-day speedway riders. Is snooker a sport or game; is golf? More so... is fishing?

Yes, indeed I was taking the pee...

Here are several reasons BBC should hand Tai Woffinden the award right here, right now... The first... is, well... because I like speedway. Second is easy... I feel good when speedway is mentioned on TV. It gives me extended muscle (if you know what I mean). Third: Tai Woffinden rides speedway... and I like speedway, speedway drivers, team colours and even Jon Cook's one-season ideas... but I do not (DO NOT, I hasten to add) take to anyone that disagrees with me on speedway forums. I study the rules, points limits, and take anyone who disagrees with me as badly as if they'd cut me up in my Morris Minor. I will argue all day. But, looking at it selfishly, If Tai wins, I would feel encouraged and not feel responsible for being nerdy for liking speedway. If Tai wins, I would liken it to finally, after many years o trying, to persuading my mate that Daniel O' Donnell really is the nuts and I was right all along to have followed his entire hit machine. I would be proved right and, despite my hairstyle having not altered much since 1976, the fact that Tai won (that's if his nomination hadn't mysteriously fallen (hidden by the BBC top brass - this reminds me of the Briggo affair, and BBC haven't changed) down the One-Show couch), then I know at least that speedway will be mentioned on the SPOTY show and I won't feel such a loser watching three hours of mind-clunching tat in the hope that speedway will get mentioned and am forced to put off my bath time. Another matter I await... with great anticipation... is will the presenters actually pronounce Tai's name correctly... or will I be ready with pen and paper in hand, prepared to jet off a letter of complaint. After all, I have had to put up with countless hours of SKY TV's live coverage these past 15 years, the shouting and getting names wrong by them of my favourite drivers. I will not stand BBC - who I pay my licence to - for getting Tai's name wrong on the one occasion they may bleeding well say it. I can't wait for the show to arrive now... or Christmas, for that matter... I'm so excited, I could sniff a Wolverhampton speedway fan's armpit. Come on Tai... YOU CAN DO IT! Make my Christmas all the more memorable... My big present this year is a pack of 2013 speedway programmes. I'm even allowed a small drop of QC. Tai winning will be the icing on my cake. Sorted!

Although fans are distressed at BBC’s ignorance, failure to place a speedway rider in the nominations for their sports thingy. Look at it this way: Whereas not many outside speedway would really know Tai Woffinden’s existence; not many outside most of the 10 nominees’ circles will know much about them either. I know I don’t.

It says something of speedway in general that we are sparring amongst ourselves about supplying this professional sport - which we all support - with the stats that should already be in the public domain.

Great idea to be able to print the stats. It will be my winter's plan to print all team stats and make my own little booklet covering the 2013 season, that's if Speedway Star doesn't mind my freak-like attention to collecting stats by using their work. There's no harm in it, is there?

The black and white covers are different and I suppose aren't meant to attract new readers, an arguement I find daft, as I doubt Speedway Star shows very little increase from completely new buyers every week, just by the magazine being on the shelves of ASDA etc? There are hundreds of magazines on the shelves, so what makes Speedway Star with another tepid picture of, say. Tai Woffinden more appealing to a non-speedway fan than someone who buys the magazine regularly? If he was with a member of the latest pop fad or near naked model, perhaps non-speedway fans would pick up the mag. Speedway fans do live in this world of theirs, that they have this little secret that they wish everyone would share with them and enjoy, that they know what is best for any non-believers. Afraid that isn't so.. and possibly showing old pictures on its covers may persuade an ex-fan who no longer attends to pick up, say, a copy with Peter Collins on it. The ex-fan at least will then dabble inside it and realise what the magazine is... and he might be nudged back into attending. Although I get the Star from my newsagents, I do tend to flick through the new copy when I'm at ASDA. I see other mags - Homebrew Weekly, In Doors With Me Fishing... but I don't waste flexing my arm trying to pull them off the shelf. Speedway Star, to non-speedway fans, will leave the same impression.

I think there's room for both old pics and new ones - least you'll be able to remember the old pictures, unlike modern ones that all look the bleading same.

At a time when people are relying on foodbanks, living on the streets and losing their jobs... why must people argue about trivial things?

It shouldn't really be up to fans to put up a website detailing the history of what's supposed to be a professional sport.. Any sport worth its salt should have a website which details everything you want to know, presnt day right down to 1928. Speedway, especially the early years, has had a shoddy approach regarding the keeping of facts and figures about itself... It is really sad that serious magazines of the time failed to even bother including some matches.. and leaves sites like The Speedway Researcher trying to rewind and fill in all the gaps.

Anyone interested in speedway stats - and, let's be honest, every serious fan should be - then I can tell you with utter glee that I am about to update my British Speedway Leagues Book 1991-13, which I last bothered with after the 2009 season. Anyone who hasn't had a copy in their grubs in the past should get a move on... it is intended as a follow on Peter Oakes' 1965-90 book and contains all the same stuff - averages, results, tables. Somebody has to keep the stats buffs out there off the streets, and I am that person. For those who like to delve through all the three main leagues, which this effort includes without trying to save ink, then I am pleased to point you towards this... and will transport you, with a fondness for facts-and-figures, to your own personal space for what you may aptly call "Me Time." Without fans like us, speedway wouldn't have a serious archive of stats - we have Peter Morrish's 1946-64 book, Peter Oakes' 1965-90.. and then, of course, this one... compiled by yours truly. Almost forgot... there is Matt Jackson's superb work also.

Nice one young Phil... thought you were forgetting us speedway nerds. Always like to have them... but did prefer the old block version (when each rider had a grid), not the present format (riders placed in the position they rode the match in) ... if you know what I mean. Never mind... still worth having. Think it's a bit mystifying they aren't in the mag though, for future historians etc. Although I like the winter stats, my post was termed in a way to take the urine out of fellow speedway forumers. Out of interest, which glub can we blame for persuading you not to jump. Never mind, would have been a shame to ruin your programme board, tucked in your left side patch-pocket trouser leg..

Is anyone else alarmed that Speedway Star aren't supplying scorers in their winter review sections? Please say it's just an oversight and normal service will be resumed...

The introduction of the two-National League rider policy is merely aimed at reducing costs. I can't see these boys being on that much per point and makes it easier for so-called promoters to introduce than them asking the bigger lads to take a pay cut.

That's one positive I suppose... I can't see these changes requiring them not to freeze in front of big crowds.

If NL riders only race each other, what good is that? We tried this scheme in 1993 and I can't recall anyone coming through that season with flying colours. I remember, because juniors raced each other only, average calculations were halfed... meaning youngsters couldn't progress out of reserve into the team and stayed racing the same fellas all year, despite some looking to have upt another level and were capable of going against second strings.

Fry and Phillips also learned much on grasstrack... but it isn't the point. Few names can be provided for so many seasons of junior league racing. Without the junior league I suspect these riders would have still came through. Many riders became professional juniors and settled for being after-interval stars, thinking it was job done... then spending the early hours Hollywooding it in the bar. If posts reflect on a few names that the Junior League supposedly produced over 10 or so years, how many riders did the old second-halfs bring on?