Reviresco

Can't see that anyone else has posted this yet, so: British SF Scunthorpe, Friday 13 May: Harris; Auty; Wilkinson; Stead; Howarth; Bates; Garrity; Lanham; R Lambert; S Lambert; Kerr; Mear; Hall; Robson; Kennett; Morris (1st Reserve: Tai Woffinden - no, only joshing...)

I didn't really Dave, but I didn't have anything else to contribute (not for the first or last time) so I'm just pleased that you carried it on from my post and raised me - as they say in some card game or other - with Ellesmere Port's notable exploits . OK then, as the OP was referring to LCFC''s fantastic achievements, I'll counter bid with, Ipswich Town FC: 1960-61 = promoted as Champions from Football League Division 2; 1961-62 = Crowned Champions of Division 1; 1962/63 = finished 17th in Division 1; 1963/64 = relegated after finishing 22nd and bottom of Division 1 - (some would say, unkindly maybe, never to be seen again, and currently mired in the second tier for a 15th consecutive season).

Yes, I believe that to be the case too and, with his grass commitments (that's racing on, not puffing on) you can understand a 17 year old kid saying that - in fact quite a mature head on young shoulders. I believe Shanes is further forward as a speedway rider than Hume at the moment, but both would be cracking investments for the future of the club - if CL is interested in that of course - his asset signings ain't been great to date. So, too early, and possibly damaging for Hume. Mountain is a great shout too - got a lot of time for him, but is there an undisclosed issue which prevents Ipswich signing Mildenhall riders - and if so will that change now that James Easter is involved? TBH, I have not seen Ritchings ride for the Witches this season and cannot comment - but would guess at both - off the pace and not good enough. I honestly do not think that he is a speedway rider. (that's 'full stop') That's a great sponsorship for both Shanes and specsavers (where I spent three hours this afternoon), but that may suggest a link up for James with Poole Pirates, especially as he is from Dorset - Drat, Drat and Double Drat - in fact, Triple Drat - Curses, Foiled Again - Mutley, Do Something! (I wonder if their Store Manager meant to say that they were helping James ' set his sights on further victories'?) Sorry, Scotsman, is my admiration for young James' talents not as well hid as I'd hoped? Triple Drat again...... Oh well, it was worth floating the idea again, but please let us know if you change your mind any time in the future - PLEASE. (PS: I see that your attempt at this season's Beat The Bookie GP competition was only slightly worse than mine. Shows you I don't know what I'm talking about - but most people knew that anyway) Don't forget the Pairs, Fours and PL Riders Championship (if Danny doesn't have a pre-booked Polish commitment on the day...) I would be inclined to change it immediately (and with Master Shanes, the entertainment levels would triple in one lap - sorry, my admiration is peeking through again). Please refer to reply to Post above, but yes, basically you are right, lose to the Rye Mouse Rickets in the Cup and that's the Witches season gone up in a puff of smoke by 9pm on Saturday week, 14th May 2016 - that is why changes have to be made now, imho. Maybe Kevin Hawkins wasn't joking when he said he wanted to put himself out in Heat 15 at the OTA last Friday and we will see him back on a bike this season - a retrograde step, imo. Currently, and the way CL rode at Oyster Card's Testimonial, getting CL back on a bike wouldn't be the worst idea - and maybe his dad could still swing his leg over too. (For those of you in the slightest bit interested - my transport woes have brightened over the past 24 hours. I bought a cheap air compressor from Argos and inflated my deflated offside rear tyre and bought a new fuel can from Wilkinsons (other depart mental stores are available). Having charged my flat battery, I then managed to fire up the old Seat Leon's engine and even drove it up and down my drive for a foot or two. Plus, the DVLA have agreed that I can drive my car on the public highways again, as long as I can acquire insurance and get said car an MOT and then tax it. So, Yipee, I may be able to get to Foxhall next Thursday using my own transport, carrying a dozen blue clappers with me.)

Haha, probably slightly better going italic than Italian, Knowle, or maybe I should underline that that is too bold a statement and strike through my comment?

Romford Bombers who didn't exist in 1968, finished third in British League Division Two in 1969. Ipswich Witches - didn't exist in 1968 - eleventh in BL2 in 1969 - sixth in BL2 in 1970 & BL2 Cup Winners - third in BL2 in 1971 & BL2 Cup winners - sixth in the BL in 1972.

Being an Essex lad by birth, Norman, I know a bit about the attempts to bring speedway to various parts of the county over the years, and was involved in bringing the sport back to Essex, at what is now Lakeside, after the closures of Romford and Rayleigh. I understand that the reason that speedway did not occur at Clacton-On-Sea was not because the application was turned down, but that they had an issue with the third bend, with (sea) water seeping up through the sandy sub soil and causing issues on that bend, even though there had been declarations by the promoters, Sponge Bob Squarepants and Patrick, that the track was suitable for racing. The problem persisted after the Clacton Cockleshells had to abandon their opening meeting when riders, including the then World Champion, Tide Woffinden, declared the track unsuitable for racing. Attempts were made over the next few weeks and months to get speedway up and running at the track, but despite the best efforts of track curator, King Canute, no signs of speedway were ever seen at the track. Waves of protest letters were sent in by disgruntled fans who had attended the Grand Opening Meeting, but after the promoters had had a word in everyone's shell like, the dissatisfaction levels ebbed away totally, like Castles in the Sand.

You want more time Baldy? For what? Do you want to have more time to think about stopping going, or more time to work out why the current Witches side has started the season so poorly after, probably, being the best prepared pre-season with their Italy jaunt? Or more time to consider why the club has gone back so far since the halcyon days of 1970 to 1984 (plus a couple of years in the EL, including the grand slam year)? Or why there have been so few Thursday meetings so far, or why CL's proclamation of Interactive Fans' Involvement has not got off the ground yet? Or just more time, on this earth, in bed in the mornings, or at the bar? Without meaning to be nasty to the lad: Will Ritchings improve if he rides four heats in every match for the Witches this season? Will he start looking like a speedway rider, rather than a motor bike rider on a speedway bike? Will he benefit from the Two Louis' tutoring - like Heeps and Tungate have(n't)? My answer to that is: No, I don't think he will. A record of beating two opponents (Peter Karger and Zach W) in twelve Premier League heats to date is, frankly, poor and converts to a real average of 1.00 - a third of his assessed average. Now convert all of the Witches riders MA's by a third and what do you get..... Well, it would be a team that finishes last in the League by some distance. Should CL give him more time? Maybe another home meeting. Should CL use the two week break in fixtures to bring in a new No. 7? Yes, he should. Who should CL bring in as a replacement No. 7? Well, you know my answer to that ..... Master James Shanes. Why Shanes? Because, even if he then only replicated Darryl's scoring to date, I can guarantee you that James would entertain the backside off of you whilst he is doing it. Would he fall off more? Undoubtedly. Would he score more points? Most probably. Would he do that while racing in a style that is different and would catch your eye, bring a smile to your lips and a feeling of good will to all men? Oh yes sir he would. Would he improve and be a great asset for the Club to sign? Bet your little cottons. Right, that's my latest 'We Want Shanes' post done and dusted. Off now to see if I can get any air in my offside rear car tyre. Oh, and I am not related to James Shanes, I do not sponsor him, he does not owe me money, I do not know his family - or anything similar. I just think he would be a perfect fit for the Witches and we would have fun watching him develop into a British international over the next ten years. In fact, when I get my car sorted out, and the DVLA lets me drive again, I am driving to Dorchester, kidnapping the little fellow and bringing him to Foxall with me. If Carlsberg made speedway promoters - macca56 would probably be the best speedway promoter in the world... well, maybe Suffolk - then there's Mr Jolly over at West Row - OK, probably the best speedway promoter in my own mind. That'll do.

Well, if you guys are claiming Kildemand and Woffinden as reps of PL sides, I will claim Jarek Hampel as Ipswich's rep. What, injured you say, and missing the first part of the season? Perfect rep for the Witches then.... EDIT: meant to say how pleased I am with Romance's early season form for the Rebs. He was always going to go well at home as the OTA suits his riding style well, and it should help build his, sometimes fragile, confidence up and boost his form on his less favourite away circuits. A happy, confident Chewi is a very fast and stylish speedway rider. I've been very impressed with the way he handled the two meetings against his former club and the professional manner he has commented on social media. Well done Rohan, keep it going buddy.

Well, we could always do a swap deal involving Tom and Darryl, P89?

17 June 1983 - Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg - Australia's heat against Germany - and I would have added a bit of spring to Billy Sanders' bike to enable him to bounce straight up from his, uncharacteristic, fall to enable him to complete his 18 point maximum and be crowned World Pairs Champion. A title he fully deserved that day. (I might have chosen 04 September the same year, and found a way of nobbling Egon Muller's bike so that he wasn't so blinking fast that day. Having already sneaked into Dennis Sigalos' workshop a few days before the Final and nicked his best bikes, I had already eliminated one of Billy's biggest rivals for the Title..... .) I know that a certain someone had already started - and then probably deleted, a thread about 'horse harness racing', but I hadn't realised until very recently that trotting races were held at Foxhall Heath - just can't find the blinking info again now - blinking memory cells.

No, not heard or read anything just wishful thinking and, as beerhut says, its gotta happen one week, maybe.

In twelve heats over the Witches three PL matches, Darryl Ritchings averages 1.00 (excluding his one bonus point). 0,0,0,1+,2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0 Chin up son, the ' baldyman clangers clappers' will be a catalyst to a better atmosphere, which will roll like a wave on to the track and inspire the riders to post a 20 point KOC first leg advantage on Thursday week. Plus we will have the first instalment of CL's promised Interactive Fans Activities to look forward to. (Looks from the forecast as if this Thursday night would have been perfect for watching speedway.......)

Cracking memory and description of the incident skydog. I was up on the 3rd/4th bend terrace so a long way away from the clashes. I remember Bill was on the outside of UJ and him coming off his bike twice in almost identical incidents on turn 1. I think its great that two sets of supporters can see an incident in two totally different ways. All part of speedway's rich pageantry.

Maybe Guy has spoken to Marcus Evans since then and has seen how you can use a sports club to offset tax in his other businesses? Shanes? Just my opinion of course which a few others share and I would say that he was the most exciting rider I watched last year. Guess you have included this race in your assessment? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAjAS3ivT_s Think his talent on a bike hasn't been fully tapped into yet and the kid certainly has a lot of bottle. That was a post from the heart. The decline of the speedway team's stature, mirrors that of the football club. I used to be proud to say that I was a supporter of both. When you lose that pride in your team, you often walk away...

He did have a habit of thumping one or two Steve. He was known as the 'Pole Basher' by the Witches fans for a while in the late 70's. He certainly clouted a 'Swindon fan' after one heat at Blunsdon when the guy jumped onto the greyhound track and started giving Bill the w@nker sign. Bill stopped and beckoned him over, inviting him to get on his bike and show Bill how he would do it better. The guy had a pint in one hand and that was obviously not his first of the day, and he moved closer to the track until he was within range for Billy who, still sitting on his bike, threw a quick right hook to the guys jaw, knocking him backwards and into the grasp of the advancing security staff. I also remember Bill taking a dislike to Uno Johansson at Smallmead in 1982, when Johansson took Billy off in the first two attempts to run a heat. By the time Bill had dusted himself off and walked back toward the pits, Johansson was sitting on his bike by the pit gate - but wasn't sitting on his bike a few seconds later after Bill had unloaded another one of his famous right hooks. Bill decided to walk out of the meeting before he was thrown out of it, I think. He had been a boxer, of course, during his school days and knew how to look after himself in need.

My thoughts too... I think old age has caught me Sidney. I remember Fred playing on at a great age and he always came across as the wise old uncle enjoying his time playing with his young nephews and, as you say, he was 64 when he made he semi final in 1978 - with his brother passing away a few weeks after. A golden age for snooker. I was a massive fan of the nugget especially with his Romford connection and haven't take too much interest in the sport since Hendry took over his mantle. There was an interesting link between Steve Davis and Bily Sanders in that Steve could often be seen in the company of one of Billy's sponsors. A top five in men's tennis is difficult, but as for my favourite five, I would go for: Murray, Borg, Roy Emerson, Mansour Bahrami and Guilermo Vilas. Stefan Edberg would be my No. 6.

I was a big Borg and Davis fan, Sid, but have warmed to McEnroe over the years.

I had a fleeting thought last night that multumessy thingy's comment about the new sponsorship being sufficient for CL not to be financially bothered this season - not running on Good Friday and the like,and possibly Guy Nicholls taking on the club next season, may have been closer to the mark than I had thought. Well done Gino, particularly after his hospital stay recently. Good lad. Keep that up and a visa should be no problem for next season. Agreed, it is galling seeing riders that have been let go doing as well as they are, but I guess that is why they were released, to ride at more favourable tracks and to gain confidence. Romance has tweeted that he is pleased to be at a home track he enjoys racing on this season. (Must say, well done to Rohan for being very professional with his recent tweets.) I noticed also, that the Ipswich Team Manager has said (joked) that he wanted to put Rohan in Heat 15 on Friday - presumably for Ipswich... No worries Scotsman. There's always another speedway meeting on a Thursday - or Saturday - or Thursday fortnight - well, sometime, hopefully. There's a clapper with your name on it - well, not your name, as I don't know what it is, it is just labelled: 'The Inveresk Moanarch'. Hope that will do? P.S. - no reply from Ed Sheeran yet. Probably too busy duetting with Taylor Swift or something...

Great post, Downsman, and apologies for overlooking the 71 Double winning side. My dad was born and brought up in North London and was a massive Arsenal fan until the day he passed on. He was born in 1909 and told me that Charlton were a big rival back when he was a' jack the lad bachelor' and that the Gunners and the Addicks would play home and away on alternating Saturdays, so he would go and watch his beloved Gunners one weekend then go to The Valley the next, and cheer for the away team - whoever it was, I missed off a lot of sports events for my 1971 review (thank god), but that was the year a great Ajax team won the European Cup, Frazier beat Ali in the first of their monumental three fight series, the first ever One Day International cricket match was staged - by accident really, after a Test Match against England was abandoned due to rain, Eddy Merckx, one of those 10 famous Belgians that you get asked to name now an again, won the Tour de France, Lee Trevino won both the U.S. and British Opens, Specify won the Grand National and Mill Reef won the Derby, John (Jackie) Stewart won the F1 title, Wales won the Grand Slam, John Newcombe and Evonne Goolagong won Wimbledon in an era when Aussies dominated tennis, and in speedway, Ivan Mauger won the British title, Ole Olsen won the World title, Great Britain won the World Team title - with Mauger, Briggs and Airey in the side, and Poland won the World Pairs, with the much maligned Jerzy Sczcakiel accumulating 15 points. I remember events of 1971 far clearer than those of 2001 or 2011. Enjoy your stadium legends tour with Charlie George. next weekend. Should be great fun. Charlie is 66 two days after I am 60. Maybe best not to bring up the Keegan head-butt or the 'V' sign flicked at the County Ground. (Not sure Charlie can do a 'V' sign since he lost a finger in that lawn mower accident.) Thanks Sid. I was there, of course, in 1977. That was a 'shock' win on maximum points and I have the back page of the Express from the following day with the report of his win. Gee, speedway was big back then. Won it with a five ride max if memory serves correctly and signalled his elevation into true world class and led to his first appearance in his first World Final. Billy never really bothered with individual meetings that much, as he was so much of a team oriented rider - again, John Berry would disagree. I think he won a Golden Wonder Olympique, a few Golden Sovereigns and a 16 Lapper and a Star of Anglia - and a few back in Oz, but, apart from his world title exploits, I far prefer remembering him in team and pairs events, being part of three British League title winning sides, two of which were Doubles and a couple of British Pairs titles, admittedly at Foxhall, with John Louis. Oh, and of course a World Team title in 1976 with Crumpy in the Aussie team together, with Bill getting a maximum in the Qualifying round at Foxhall and Phil top scoring with 11 points in the final at White City. I think they would have celebrated together that night, and long into the next day too. I'll drop you a PM when I am able to make it down to the Abbey and look forward to a chat and a half a shandy. Hopefully Romance (Rohan Tungate) will still be in the side then, as I have a lot of time for the lad, despite what some at Foxhall say. He certainly did OK against them on Thursday and Friday. Thanks Steve. Appreciated, and glad you enjoyed my rather long ramble down Memory Lane.

Spot on Sidney. Yes, Phil and Bill had a falling out - they were the two major rivals for the position of Aussie No. 1 for a number of years, Billy the younger buck threatening Crumpy's superiority. As you say, clashes in the Aussie Championships with the famous incident at Speedway Park, Virginia, South Australia in 1983 when, both on maximum points, Crumpy knocks Billy off going into the first turn and is excluded. Billy on the deck, having rocks lobbed at him by the parochial SA crowd swelled by Crump fans from Mildura. Dave Jackson the only rider to check on Billy's well-being. Phil not turning up to accept his third place prize and Bill doing his famous 'Get Stuffed' speech. (I remember that in the early '80's you could stickers with the Aussie flag in a No. 1 sign with either Billy's or Phil's names on them, depending which camp you were in.) That was the culmination of a mini-feud, but deep down I know that Bill held Phil in the utmost respect as a man, a family man, a speedway rider, a fellow Aussie and - for having the messiest Citoen Safari in Australia... Not aided by Jason being a messy tyke when he was five. They were poles apart as characters, Crumpy quiet and reserved, Billy bubbly and out-going, but they both loved their country and they both loved their speedway. Sitting quietly, listening to them chat about the sport was an education. I was lucky enough to be at the Ekka, the Brsibane Exhibition Ground in February 1981 when Bill won his third Aussie title, to go one in front of Phil's titles up to that point, with Crumpy finishing second and John Titman third. That was a great experience. Went up to him in the pits car park afterwards as he was loading his bikes, and the massive trophy, on the back of a Ute and that was when he broke the news that John Berry was shipping him off to Hull and John Louis to Halifax. To say he was shocked, disappointed and angry was to put it mildly. He loved the Ipswich Witches and we always used Berry's infamous quote that Bill 'Only raced hard when he had an Aussie race jacket on' to motivate him, oif he needed it, and just to have a damn good chuckle. A few weeks later, I was in the pits with Bill for the practice for the Australasian Title, with four riders only progressing to the Overseas Final at White City, and gained a fantastic insight into the art of the sport. I don't know if you remember Robbie Maxfield, but he was riding for Exeter and Belle Vue at the time and had qualified for the Australasian Title meeting, but he is just about the nicest bloke that I've ever met through speedway and he stopped and chatted with me for ages - wonder what he's up to these days back in the lovely city of Adelaide? Billy, of course, had finished third in the World Final at Ullevi the previous September and, along with Ivan Mauger and Crumpy, were favourites for the Title and to qualify in the top four and gain qualification to the next qualifying round back in London. I was in the pits again for the meeting, fulfilling my role of programme recorder and provider of thumbs up, pats on the back and attempts to motivate where needed. Things did not follow the predicted path during the meeting, with Phil struggling with his motors and Billy after being beaten by Mauger in their opening heat, then being excluded under the two minute rule by Sam Bass from the re-run of a heat, after Billy had laid his bike down to avoid hitting Mitch shirra who had fallen in front of him on the second bend and, after Bill had ensured Shirra was ok and spent some time on the track with him, he arrived back in the pits as Bass put the siren on, leaving Bill no time to fix his first bike (with the Otto Latenhammer tuned engine), so switched to his second bike in the hope that his mechanics, Ron Schliebs (who was involved in the accident at King's Lynn in 1982 that claimed the life of young Brett Alderton) and Mike Meeland could fix the damaged bike in time, rode out of the pits and then saw his mechanics waving, returned and got excluded. This forced him to need a win in his last heat and Gary Guglielmi was his main rival in it and, with Billy not gating well, it was a possibility that Guglielmi would finish first being off the favourable gate too. Bill went and had a word with GG, but despite Billy effectively being his mentor and hero at the time, GG refused to 'assist' Billy and went out and beat him, meaning Bill missed out on the top four by one point, with Mauger winning the meeting and Danny Kennedy, Larry Ross and Phil Herne finishing on 11 points. Crumpy also finished on 10 points but didn't bother racing Bill for the reserve position for the Overseas Final, and so Australia's best two riders of the time were both eliminated from the World Title hunt and a chance to take part in the last Wembley World Final, as early as 28 February. At the Overseas Final at White City on 12 July, I remember Bill being interviewed on the track PA, while sitting in his leathers on top of a van and the announcer saying that Bill was producing the best filled in programme for the meeting. Results show that Danny Kennedy finished 15th on 2 points and Phil Herne finished last after failing to score. So the chance of seeing Bill riding in a Wembley World Final had gone (at least I saw him ride there in the heatwave of 1976 in the Intercontinental Final). Would he, or Crumpy have won? Probably not, as Penhall was inspired that night, but Bill had the measure of Bruce at the time and, with his fast Latenhammer motor and the confidence and experience of having had a run-off for 2nd place in the World Final the year before, I believe Bill would have made a good attempt at winning it and, most probably, would've finished on the rostrum again. There was no doubt that by the time he left us, Billy and Phil had made up and were on much friendlier terms than previously. I remember chatting away at the World Team Cup qualifier at King's Lynn in 1984 and I believe Phil was genuinely shocked and upset when Billy took his own life. Maybe, Phil had accepted by then that Billy was the better rider and that he would never get his Aussie Title or No. 1 status back whilst Bill was still riding - well, I would say that, wouldn't I Sid? I have no doubt that Billy would have been a World Title contender all the way through to the early 90's and, having won the Aussie Title once again and already qualified for the Overseas Final at Bradford - a track he would have loved and would have suited his style - the 85 Title was his for the taking, especially after he had successfully, although a year too late, switched successfully to GM's. Coverage of the 1983 Aussie Title meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJTbMh3sz0s Coverage of the World Team QR Round in 1984 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcHfJ-dT_hI Again, apologies for rambling on about Bill and those times, as I tend to do. It would be great to meet up sometime to have chat and recount experiences of speedway in the 70's and 80's. Particularly as Swindon fans with a respect for Bill are as rare as hen's teeth. Maybe I'll look at having a trip along to Blunsdon one evening - I haven't been to the old place since I Billy's last ever speedway meeting.

I know I've said it before but I'll say it again - Darryl seems a really great bloke, who has come back from a terrible injury, but there were, and still are, better PL No. 7's around than him. One second place, beating Zach W, in eight heats against the Rebels, I think, reflects Darryl's true ability in the PL. I remember some of the comments when pictures were tweeted from the Trattoria Castagna, along the lines of 'who's the big lad' and 'he seems to have spent the close season on the sofa eating doughnuts'. There are motor bike riders and then there are speedway riders. There may have been a reason why he didn't, and why he won't, but CL should have tried to bring James Shanes in as the Witches No. 7. The most entertaining young rider I saw last season and seems to be a terrific kid. He would've made a great Witches asset and along with Hume could have formed the basis of a Witches future team for ten years or more - just like in the successful days in the 70's. I would also have liked to see BWD at Foxhall this season, and CL must have been considering it as he tried to have a look at him in a meeting last season, but it didn't happen in the end. Witches loss, at the moment, appears to be Rebels gain. Now, let's start dispelling all the doom & gloom following back to back losses to the Rebels. Ipswich have twelve days to draw breath before the KOC match against the Rickets. Will CL make a change? Should he? I think he should but he won't. I am useless at math, but I would like to see both Shanes and Ty Proctor brought into the team - though, of course, Witches won't have a sponsor's licence I suppose. The Witches should always have one Aussie in their team. The boxing kangaroo in the pits demands that. So what can we, as fans, do about it. Well, supporting and not sniping is a good place to start, and to that end, I will be making my first visit to Foxhall this season on 12 May - weather, health, transport and the absence of a plague of locusts willing. I will bring along a dozen blue clangers clappers, as brainstormed by Baldyman, for the Forum members to utilise to generate a bit of noise and, hopefully, keep us warm and have a bit of a laff. That's if you guys don't go and hide and I'm left with a dozen blue clappers to get a right dose of the clap on my own. I have tweeted my old mate Ed Sheeran and asked him if he fancies popping along to Foxhall for a watch and to knock out a tune - if you don't ask, you don't get - and he can only say 'No' - or just ignore my tweet, I suppose. There was a mention about the PA system on the back straight being poor - so we won't hear Ed when he warbles. Has anyone brought this to the General Manager's attention? OK it is not the Club's problem to fix, but it is a problem that affects their fans and it should be up to Mr Smillie (whatever he does) to arrange to have this issue resolved with whoever owns the stadium and the sound system these days, I do not want to assume the role of Ipswich Forum spokesperson, but I am on Facechat, Snapbook, Twatter, etc. - though not Tinder as yet, and can always put a stamp on an envelope and put it in one of those funny red box things that I see on the streets. If the problem still exists at the Rye Mouse match, I will get onto the GM. Ok, that's my little contribution, anyone else got any ideas to brighten up the current situation? I'll leave it to you, Baldyman to get the girl with the big Tatts and her haunted Gothic mansion friends to come along and entertain us - and give you a thrill and a little lift in the right direction. Remember that, at least until Sunday 14 May, the Witches have the League (tenuous I know), KO Cup, Fours and Pairs to try and win.

Ah, yes, of course. Thanks for the reminder Dave.

Good Shout Sidney, but the Billy Sanders League and Cup winning double the following year makes it 1984 for me. 1983 was a fun year too, with Billy back at Foxhall and nobody believing what good mates he and Siggy were - Bill, got on so well with 99,9% of other speedway riders, but Mike Lee and Sigalos would rate amongst his better friends - Billy and Dennis sharing workshops in 1982 helped form the bond. And Bill finishing as runner-up in both the Individual World Title and the World Pairs in 1983 too, of course. If he had won one of them, then maybe I would have gone for '83 too - and maybe he would've still been with us today too, but that's another story of course. I enjoyed watching my speedway at King's Lynn in 1982 too. A poor team overall but a great track and the banter in the bar afterwards (or in Michael's transport) was an education. Colin Richardson was part of the Stars team that year and Lee would've been three years old at the time, running around chuckling while 'the adults' had a drink and a chat. Great memories.

1971 - I was 14 at the start of it and a day into it, one of the worst sporting disasters occurred when 66 folk did not return home from a football match at Ibrox. The year of decimalisation in the UK, the IRA bombing of the Post Office Tower, my running the 200 metres in the London Schools' Championships and being beaten by an athlete who went on to represent Great Britain, Tsunamis (no, not the Forum version) close to Japan and the Bay of Bengal, Mount Etna erupts, oil production in the North Sea begins in Norway, the Aswan Dam is completed, Apollo 14 lands on the moon, Email is invented, kevlar goes on the market, Walt Disney World opens in Florida, Greenpeace comes into existence, Fed Ex starts up, the Anzac troops withdraw from Vietnam, TV advertising of cigarettes ends in the States, Idi Amin takes control in Uganda, the Pentagon Papers are published in the New York Times, Qatar and Sierra Leone gain independence from Great Britain, Charles Manson and his followers receive the death penalty, Love Story, The French Connection, Ryan's Daughter and the Andromeda Strain are popular films, BBC Open University broadcasts begin, ITV staff refuse to work with colour television equipment, Elizabeth R, The Two Ronnies, The Old Grey Whistle Test and Upstairs Downstairs debut on British TV, Samantha Cameron, Damian Lewis, Lance Armstrong, David Tennant, Ewan McGregor, Denise Ricahrds, Michael C Hall, Sacha Baron Cohen, Martin Freeman are born, Charles Engelhard (the owner of Nijinsky), Ogden Nash, Audie Murphy, Jim Morrison, Louis Armstrong, Nikita Khrushchev, Duane Allman, Dick Tiger, Bobby Jones, Igor Stravinsky all pass away, Richard Nixon is the US President and Ted Heath the British PM. And in music: Queen's line up is completed, The Rolling Stones farewell to Britain tour commences prior to them leaving to become tax exiles in France, Led Zeppelin debut a live version of Stairway to Heaven, Monaco win the Eurovision Song Contest, mick Jagger marries Bianca, John Lennon and Yoko Ono jam with Frank Zappa, the first Glastonbury Festival to take place in the summer solstice is held with David Bowie, Traffic, Fairport Convention and Hawkwind all playing, Grand Funk Railroad play at a sold out Shea Stadium, The concert for Bangladesh is held at Madison Square Gardens, Who's Next is released, The Jackson 5ive premiers on ABC, Led Zep release their fourth, untitled, studo album which goes on to become the top selling album the following year, Elton John has his first international hit with Your Song, Rick Wakeman joins Yes and the album that essentially kick started the UK glam rock craze, Electric Warrior is released. I loved 1971 and it was my first year attending speedway on a 'full time' basis, after dabbling with it the previous two years, but 1984 for me was my speedway golden year.

Yes indeed Steve. One of the happiest days of my life, and his - captaining his beloved Witches to a league title - followed by a Cup double initiated by a 33 - 45 away win at Hyde Road on the Saturday, five days after the league title was won at Smallmead. Happy days which were to come to an end tragically, less than six months later. Seeing his beaming face as the Witches team walked a lap of honour, and us exchanging a hug and me saying "I'm so pleased for you, that should make Mr Berry stop criticising you for only wanting to race when you are wearing an Australian race jacket", and his, "We'll see mate" followed by a wink, will stay for me forever.