lucifer sam

So, do you honestly think that people inside their own vehicles can somehow catch the virus? How exactly?

The fact they had a run-off for eight (right to be first reserve?) bodes well for Palin.

Yeah, not sure, but I think he might have made it through!

Yes, the updates seemed to come to a halt.

Interesting - at the moment, Palin clinging onto 7th due to his second place.

No races for over half an hour - has it been rained off?

In any case, I think Kemp will be in the top six/seven. Hopefully Palin can make it too - certainly got the talent, even if he's a couple of years younger than most of the riders on display today.

Both Kemp and Palin looking good on 5 points after two rides: http://online.speedwaylive.eu/international/junior-european-cup/pardubice/2020-08-14/

Ah, got ya. So top Brit today gets a place whether is in the top six or not.

Yes, and now it looks like Brennan creates a seventh blank spot to be filled.

Ah, seven I think!

How many qualify from Pardubice?

Latest fixture news: http://scunthorpe-speedway.com/?p=11315

Mimmo, it's a bit late in the day to fix up anything for today's meeting, but if you want to go to the next one, once details are announced (after, fingers crossed, all goes well today), then please let me know and I can arrange something. Anne, who does the turnstile, is fantastic. We can sort out something for you.

There is a reason why. Don't worry, it's not in the thousands Seriously, though, when I spoke to Rob G his main priority is for everyone is attendance to feel safe. There will be further items added to the website to explain the measures in place, so that everyone knows that there are safe to come along and enjoy some speedway.

Sorry hadn't spotted any questions until now. It's not possible to order a ticket for 6902 people. I wouldn't advise it, because it might take a while to retrieve the 40 grand! Sales are monitored. And no, the capacity at Scunthorpe hasn't been made common knowledge as yet, but hopefully it is high enough for everyone wanting to attend a British Youth Round. But if you definitely want to come, book now to avoid any disappointment.

Hurri-Ken almost repeated the feat of Jack Young. In the '56 World Final, while still a second division rider, he fell in his final race at Wembley. It cost him a run-off for first place with Ove Fundin. There was much less gap in standard of riders between the leagues at that point.

It was less unusual in the days before the points limit - teams often moved up with the same team (1957 was a different situation, because there was an influx of riders from the teams not running - for example, the closure of Poole took Ken Middleditch to Robins). The likes of Graham Warren, Alan Hunt and Jack Young (already World Champion when he moved up!) went from Second Division to First Division and took it in their stride. But that's not taking away how good Bob Roger was and what he may achieved without that serious injury early in 1958.

Getting things back on topic, Swindon's 1957 league victory was astonishing when you look at the London domination post-war from 1946 to 1961, although sadly there was only one London track in the 1957 National League. Also, you wonder how good Bob Roger could have been, but for the fractured skull early in 1958. I think Bob and Arne Pander were the riders who could have really challenged the Big Four (later became the Big Five, after Knutsson's ascension) but for injury. Wimbledon had a big miss in Ronnie Moore that year who was having a go at car racing in '57 (he also missed much of '58). On the other hand, Swindon had three good heat-leaders from the side that won the 1956 Division Two and then added to the second string side department to give them a really solid side, with Roger an outstanding No 1.

Re-opening meeting at Scunthorpe: http://scunthorpe-speedway.com/?p=11275

Re-opening meeting: http://scunthorpe-speedway.com/?p=11275

I think Erik Gundersen had a brief spell at No 1 for Cradley, but I seem to recall him being at No 3 most of the time. Most times, he would met Hans Nielsen at least twice during the night. PS And I think Belle Vue had Mort at No 3 and PC at No 5, so both were out in Heat 13 of meetings at Hyde Road.

Which is another reason I've always maintained Hans was even more impressive in 1987. He was riding for a struggling team, still recorded a 11.73 BL average, which would have been 11.87 but for a seized engine at Hackney in late October. PS Two T/S rides for Nielsen for Oxford in the 1986 BL - at Cradley Heath and Reading. Oxford still won the two meetings 45-33 and 43-35.

On the other hand, team strengths have fallen quite dramatically - very few of the world's best now compete in the UK. Whereas once upon a time, a heat leader never had an easy race, because almost every World Class star competed in the UK. For example, if you faced Oxford and you were a heat-leader, you had Nielsen, Wigg or Cox in every race. Likewise, if you faced Cradley Heath and you were a heat-leader, you had Gundersen, Pedersen or Cross in every race. I'd say that's tougher than what current riders have to face, where some teams don't even have one top rider.