billybikespeedway

One of the Few Riders to come to Newport Somerton Park and give his all, where others winged Nigel just got on with it Great Guy

in 1965 Scotland rode against the USSR , not all Scotish By Birth George Hunter Ken McKinlay charlie Monk Ross Gilbrtson Bert Harkins Colin Mckee Gorden McGregor and Willie templeton

Dont Know when he Stopped Riding but Olle Nygren is 86 next week, I dont know when or if he stopped his training schools

61 when he won his 20th swedish ch in 2009

I have only been to a few meeting since Newport closed Twice to somerset but dont like a track with no straights, but my main point in lack of attendances is the noise and smell , when I went to Somerton Park In 1964 the noise and the smell made me addicted, the racing was rubbish the score irrelevant, as it was the noise but maily the smell which kept us coming back week after week, that intense smell seems to have diminished somewhat

no it's Capstick comes home

I dont think a lot of riders are interested, this was brought home when on a SKY interview about how close the meeting was did not even know the score.

This is Nothing new ask any old wolves fan about Ivor Brown back in the 60's

Going back to 1964 when speedway 1st appeared at Newport Somerton Park, I got talking to an official about speedway and I mentioned that the safety fence didnt look all that safe to me, his reply was that the fence was foe the safety of the spectators not the riders, he said they knew the risks that said I wish Darcy all the best wishes in the world for a full recovery.

I remember back in 65 Olle Nygren and Trevor hedge turned up at Newport ( somerton Park in a Morris 1000 van, Trevors equipment was deemed excessive as he had a spare engine, these were both international riders in the british league, I know cos I helped them unload the bikes.

can anyone else remember the dog at Newport, who used to stand at the exit of Turn 2 ,The solid part of the fence at the start of the straight was Lower ,the dog would stand on its hind legs Looking at the starting gate on the far side .as the riders came to the tapes the Dog would become exited and run out of the exclusion zone where his owner would pick him up so he could follow the whole race ,which he did and appeared to love it

As for Myself I've never been impressed with just sheer speed cant stand F1 , but speedway offered so much more, I'm going back to 64 when I first became addicted ,not the speed but the thrill of the action, some of this has been lost ( for me ) with faster bikes, but I still like to watch TV only these days,frank smart ,stuart robson and the like did it for me .

I cancelled my Sky Subs a few years ago when poole were at Belle Vue and to all intents and purposes Neil Middleditch refereed from the PitsCalling all the shots in Pooles favour, that was the last Straw for me and the Elite league on sky

I think a percentage of opposition riders met v riders beaten is a far better way of judging a riders worth EG riders met 8 riders beat 4 = 50%, no point in points grabbing off you team mate it wont make any difference, this could be used instead of CMA or alongside it

When I saw promotion and relegation my first thought was whoever wins the elite league would be promoted to the Swedish or Polish league which are the next step up from our Elite League, just a thought ?

Chris Neath rode the race of his life to hold off Les Collins Who was on his back wheel for all 4 laps, after the race had finished Chris went to a section of the crowd that were going mad, Les came round to congratulate Chris but could'nt get a look in, great days.

I invited a jehovah's witness in the other day Sat him down with a cup of coffe ,and asked what he wanted to talk about he said I dont know I've never got this far before.

Have to agree with all before me Wimbledon ,the Internationale was something special, are there no BBC clips around Highlights used to Shown on the Thursday night After the monday

Jim Tebby also became favorite with Newport fans at Somerton Park for his never say die attitude

Dont Worry I'm Sure MAIN MAN will come up with a Location / Stadium with ready made Promoters and financial backing, as he always does

Any new news on Milton keynes I have a relative who lives that way and he has not heard anything.

I'm with you Team Racing for me every time I do watch the GP's on Eurosport ,I live in Newport but have only been to the cardiff GP twice due to mylack of interest in individual meetings, back in the old days I used to Go to Wimbledons Internationale but as part of a Whole day of Speedway

but at least your using your own riders, and guests for reserve riders is ludicrous No 8's Should Be promoted

What has Happened to Rider replacement ,surly this would take out 2 guests and maybe promotion of No 8s to get rid of another 2 just a thought

I Did not Go to the Fog Off , But yes its great when your team is involved, but as a neutral I find it Flat and uninspiring