lucifer sam

Again, very interesting. That ties in with one of the reasons I've heard behind the Oxford rumour - that he wanted to sign for Cheetahs because it would be easier to get over to the continent.

Norbold, all very interesting and further evidence that Peter Craven's plans for 1964 were much very up in the air at the time of his tragic accident. Maybe he would have stayed at Belle Vue, maybe he would have made a further attempt to move elsewhere, maybe he would have retired. No-one can know for sure, which is why I used the word "rumour" regarding the Oxford '64 move, because very possibly that's all it was. Although I was very curious when I heard it from a Belle Vue fan at the NSS, in addition from a few of the older fans at Oxford. It might be wishful thinking from Cheetahs' fans. But why would a BV fan also think that? Of course, the Brian Burford book comes down on the side of Craven starting off a handicap in his fateful race - something I just can't agree with. Especially as I have a copy of the tribute booklet published shortly after his death which states unequivocally that he started off scratch, something the Edinburgh Speedway historians agree with. As for rating the British World Champions, I consider the top three to be PC, PC and Woffinden, but can't decide on the order, as I never saw Craven at all, and didn't see Collins at his best. But those three stand above the others IMO - Craven for arguably being the second best (behind Fundin) during a very competitive era, Collins because he was unlucky not to be a multiple champion (especially in '77) and Woffy for obvious reasons (the only British triple champion).

Sid, he placed a transfer request in April 1963. It was reported in the speedway press, and also recorded in the Peter Morrish book.

Sid, first Testimonial was Eric Boocock's in the mid-70s. No such thing in the 60s.

A few of the older supporters at Oxford used to talk about it. From the Belle Vue end, the chap who sells the programmes at the NSS is convinced PC was moving to Oxford in '64. Remember Craven had already put in a transfer request at the start of 1963 (which we later withdrew). To do that, there must have been a track where he was considering to move. Maybe just a rumour, but maybe there was some substance in it.

My dad always reckoned Peter Craven was the best rider of his era around the Oxford track. It took many years for anyone to beat the track record that PC set against Fundin in a Golden Helmet match race in 1963. It was heavily rumoured that Craven was coming to Oxford in 1964. He'd put in a transfer request with Belle Vue at the start of '63, but was persuaded to stay one more season. Craven's main two reasons for wanting to join Oxford were apparently that it would be easier to get across to continental meetings, plus he'd be racing around a track that he loved.

THE 2019 season at the Eddie Wright Raceway isn’t over after all! The National League Riders’ Championship, washed out at Leicester over the weekend, will now take place at Scunthorpe on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6th at 6pm. Further news will appear in due course, but in the meantime, put this date in your diary!

The National League Riders’ Championship, washed out at Leicester over the weekend, will now take place at Scunthorpe's Eddie Wright Raceway on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6th at 6pm. Further news will appear in due course, but in the meantime, put this date in your diary!

Is Cook now peeing on parades as well as attacking innocent marshals?

Surely Sheffield can still make the play-offs, even if their away form suggests it's a tough ask.

Maybe. It doesn't say that in the statement, though.

Not true in Vissing's case - he was rejected an appeal: http://www.scbgb.co.uk/news.php?extend.88.1

That's what was announced at the stadium last week. That he'd been ill and had to visit the hospital. Where did the back injury come from?

It was a compliment.

Good meeting, and job done by Scorpions in winning it. Nice to see Stefan Nielsen have a good meeting – his confidence has taken a battering recently, but at least he can now go into the winter on the back of ‘a good one’. Those last four races meant nothing, really. It’s not that the lads stopped trying, the track just shifted as it’s likely to do during an afternoon meeting. I think the track grade was an attempt to stop that happening, but it was already too far on its way. It showed why Friday meetings at 7.30pm are the preferred option. It's also cost Scorpions nothing, since the only team we can really finish on level points with is Berwick. If they fail to take a point from their last two meetings, that would mean two away defeats by 7 or more, in which case we go back above them on race points difference. So, no damage done – it just gave Redcar an extra point. It also gave their lively group of fans something to cheer about. There was three points up for grabs for Scorpions yesterday and we got all three of those points. On this occasion, all the hard work was done in the first eleven races. Some fine racing, including in Heat 3 as Ben and Stefan worked their way from behind to change a 1-5 to a 5-1, a bit more Auty v Douglas controversy (they’re still friends off track), Josh grabbing second place in Heat 10 on the line despite being down on power, and what turned out to be a vital third place for Ryan Kinsley after a race-long battle with Kasper Andersen in Heat 11 (without that, Bears three 5-1s would have taken it to a last-heat decider). Good final meeting of the season, and plenty of interesting titbits in the clubhouse after the meeting, with the Scorpions plus Dave Peet and Rob Godfrey all giving their thoughts. Wake me up when it’s March 2020 and it’s Josh’s testimonial!

Explain how they didn't work. The meeting went ahead, with race times not far off the norm. Looks like they worked perfectly.

I think Berwick might end up feeling the backlash from the Scunny result tonight. Pride was wounded in that meeting - and I think the riders would have been left in no doubt that a response to that is required.

Track seemed quite bumpy, while there one or two decent races before Heat 15, but it was mostly from the gate. Mind you, I'm spoilt by watching much of my speedway at Scunthorpe, where the racing is top-notch. Last night compared very well with meetings I've seen at Leicester, Sheffield, etc. Heat 15 was an absolute cracker, thought the Scunny boys had done the hard work on the opening lap, but Tero then found a terrific burst of speed down the inside and go through on second lap. Both sides can point to moments of bad luck, in the case of Scunny it was Jake Allen's e/f after gating in Heat 4, but a draw was a fair result. Ref did his best to ruin the meeting by holding the tapes for too long and multiple warnings were handed out for even the smallest movement. Poor show on a drizzly and cold night.

Expected teams for Friday: HEB Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Jake Allen (captain), 2. Rider replacement for Danny Ayres, 3. Stefan Nielsen, 4. Josh Auty, 5. Ben Barker, 6. Ryan Kinsley, 7. Simon Lambert. Leicester Lions: 1. Jason Garrity (guest), 2. Ty Proctor, 3. Ellis Perks, 4.Scott Nicholls, 5. Ryan Douglas, 6. Joe Lawlor, 7. Connor Mountain.

Covered here Tosh: http://www.scunthorpe-speedway.com/?p=10386

Expected teams for Friday: HEB Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Jake Allen (captain), 2. Rider replacement for Danny Ayres, 3. Stefan Nielsen, 4. Josh Auty, 5. Ben Barker, 6. Ryan Kinsley, 7. Simon Lambert. Newcastle Diamonds: 1. Steve Worrall, 2. Ulrich Ostergaard, 3. Lasse Bjerre, 4. Matthew Wethers, 5. Thomas Jorgensen, 6. Max Clegg, 7. Danny Phillips.

RAINED OFF: http://www.scunthorpe-speedway.com/?p=10343

Forecast fine for Scunny. All Systems Go for tonight.

I mostly talked to John on forums, but never got that impression of him. To me, he came across as a very intelligent man, and one who could tolerate people with a different view, while explaining his own take on matters. I think he would have been capable of tackling the BSPA job, had he been given the chance.

Was reading through the rest of the interview earlier, with Peter York revealing not a single rider was under unofficial contract in 1986 (the year before he took over), because he found all the contracts in a box and they hadn't been counter-signed, and the VAT man almost closing down British Speedway in '87, because the previous administration hadn't paid any VAT for four years! Charles Ochiltree came to the rescue.